Page 32 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“I was kind of thinking maybe we’d skip all that this year,” he said.

“No Christmas decorations?” she asked, horrified.

“It’s a lot of trouble,” he said mildly.

She opened her mouth and closed it again. He was a grown man and if he didn’t want to cover the lawn with plastic snowmen and Santas, that was his right.

But something about it set off alarm bells in her heart.

“Come on,” he said, getting up. “I’ll walk you home.”

“You don’t have to do that,” she said, rising and grabbing their plates and mugs to carry to the sink. “I’m just a few blocks away.”

“I insist,” he told her with a smile. “Besides, I could use a chance to stretch my legs.”

She placed their things in the sink and nodded to him, and they both headed to the door to bundle up in silence.

He’s fine, she tried to tell herself. He’s going to be okay.

But one glance at the empty mantel over the fireplace made her heart twist painfully again.

8

HARRISON

The following evening, Harrison stood outside the Heroes Center with Katie, his heart pounding as he contemplated stepping inside for his daughter’s first playdate in forever.

Through the big plate glass window, they could see a flurry of activity happening inside. One of the men was up on a ladder, stringing up Christmas lights while another unspooled the string from below. A young woman set up a fluffy snowman family on the reception desk, while the toddler beside her chuckled and reached for the figures. A couple of guys tried to untangle a cardboard Santa’s sleigh that was strung to eight tiny cardboard reindeer.

He fingered the wedding rings in his pocket.

If you’re watching over her, Penny, please help her get through this…

“Are you ready?” Harrison asked Katie, not quite daring to ask if she really wanted to do this, or if she had changed her mind. He wanted so badly for her to participate that he couldn’t bring himself to give her such an easy out.

Katie nodded, resolute.

Harrison felt a surge of pride, and a sense of gratitude to Mallory Fisher.

Seeing Katie laughing her head off in the bakery kitchen last night, clinging to Mallory like they were long-lost sisters had been both shocking and heartwarming. Harrison hadn’t seen Katie like that in a long, long time.

If his daughter had the courage to have a hang out with a new friend today, he was pretty sure it was thanks to the baker with the flaming ponytail and the heart of gold.

He pushed open the door and they stepped into the warmth of the center and pulled off their coats.

“Hey there,” the young woman setting up the snowmen said cheerfully. “You must be Katie. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Sam. I’m Amelia’s big sister, and I’m married to your dad’s cousin, so we’re all related in some way. Isn’t that cool? Amelia is very excited to hang out with you today. She’s in the community room making snowflakes.”

Sam swept up the toddler, who chuckled at Harrison over her shoulder, and headed off for the community room, leaving them nothing to do but follow.

“Amelia,” Sam sang out. “Your friend is here.”

Another little girl sat at a big table, surrounded by lacy paper snowflakes. There was a pair of scissors in her hands and a stack of fresh paper in front of her. Harrison couldn’t help noticing that there was another pair of scissors beside the paper.

A black and white border collie was curled up in the corner. It lifted its head to observe Katie and Harrison with some interest.

“Hi, Katie,” Amelia said, looking up from her task. “Want to help make snowflakes?”

Katie nodded and went to sit beside her friend.