She snorted. “Just wait until winter.”
He let out a groan. “I haven’t lived through a Pennsylvania winter in sixteen years.”
“It’s just one winter. Then I’m coming back with you.”
He grinned. Anywhere he went, he knew she’d follow.
Finale
Duncan shook the snow off his boots and opened the familiar purple door. “I’m back!”
“We’re in the kitchen!” Aurora’s voice rang out.
He bent over to untie his boots and left them on the rug to dry. Ryder followed suit.
“Here, I’ll take your coat, son.”
Hisson. He’d finally been making up for lost time with Ryder the past few months after moving back to Riverton, and now he was going to introduce him to Aurora and Katie. His girls, he kept affectionately calling them. Duncan hung their coats up in the closet. A green tree covered in twinkling lights and shiny baubles sat in the corner of the living room. Lighted garland hung from the banister and the fireplace, accented by gold bows. A tantalizing smell was coming from the kitchen.
“Sounds like the girls got started without us.” Eagerly, he led his son back to the kitchen.
Aurora wore a red apron covered with gingerbread men, a green top, and jeans, her long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Katie leaned over the island, wearing a snowman shirt and pressing a cookie cutter into freshly rolled dough. They looked up as the guys walked in.
“Aurora, Katie, this is Ryder. Ryder, this is my girlfriend and her daughter.”
“Hi.” Ryder gave them a shy wave.
Katie waved back, but Aurora put down her mixing bowl and came around the island with her arms outstretched.
“It’s so good to meet you!” She pulled the tall, young man in for a hug.
He was Duncan’s height, with sandy-brown hair and soft brown eyes. She leaned over to give Duncan a quick kiss.
“This first batch should be just about ready to come out. You’re both welcome to help.”
“Let me.”
Duncan grabbed an oven mitt and headed for the oven as the timer went off. He pulled out the tray and set it on the stove for Aurora to test. She prodded the nearest cookie with her finger, and it bounced back.
“Perfect. Just leave it there while I find the cooling racks.”
“I think they’re over the fridge. I’ll get the step stool.” Katie put her cookie cutter down.
“These?” Ryder reached over the refrigerator effortlessly and pulled down three silver-colored racks.
“That’s them! Thank you!” Aurora took the racks from him, set them up on the counter, and then moved cookies with a spatula.
Hours later, Aurora sat in her recliner, her sore feet up in the air. They’d baked three types of cookies and even iced the sugar cookies. It was the best kind of tired at the holidays. Ryder was such a sweet kid, with the same handsome smile as his dad. The door opened, and Duncan came stomping through.
“I didnotmiss winter one bit.” He shook fresh snow from his hair and jacket.
“You might try wearing a hat.” Aurora smirked.
“Someone promised to knit me one. Maybe she should knit faster.” He winked as he shucked his jacket off and hung it in the coat closet. His boots and gloves came off next.
“You can’t rush perfection. And we don’t usually get this much snow ‘till February. This is rare.”
“Of course it happens the one winter I live here.” He knelt at her side, and taking one foot in his hands, began to massage. She sighed and closed her eyes as his fingers worked their magic.
