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He rested his finger over my lips. “Shhh, it’s already taken care of. The dough was already prepared, so Ivy’s got a group lined up to go in and make the cookies.”
“But the icing and the decorating.” My moan was loud when it filled the room but his laughter ran over the top of it and quieted me.
“I know you like to be in control of everything, so Ivy and I decided when the cookies are ready to be frosted and decorated, you can be at the bakery to supervise.” I went to speak and he held up his finger. “Supervise. That’s it. Right?”
“Yes, daddy,” I promised, crossing my heart.
He leaned down and kissed me carefully so he didn’t knock the ice pack off my head. “I love you, my sweet angel. I’m so sorry about what happened tonight. Not just my part in it but Brenda’s choices too. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Brenda made her own choices, Lance. There was nothing you could do about it.”
“Except be there with you. I should have at least locked the door behind me when I left.”
I smoothed my hand up his cheek and rubbed my thumb over the puckered skin at his temple. “I had just hung up with Ivy and was going to go lock it when Brenda burst in. Let’s chalk it up to a series of unfortunate events and move on.”
He nodded with his cheek pressed into my hand. “We will because you love me enough to forgive me. I’m never going to make that mistake again. I want you to promise me something.”
“I’ll try,” I whispered, waiting while he rested alongside me and tenderly stroked my arm.
“I want you to promise me you won’t let this happen again.”
“Lance, this wasn’t your fau—”
He put his finger to my lips. “I mean allowing me to sabotage what we have together. I don’t do it on purpose, and sometimes I need someone to tell me that’s what I’m doing. It comes back to that stressed brain path thing.”
“You want me to help you check yourself before you wreck yourself?”
He laughed and leaned up to kiss me. “You always know how to make me laugh, Gumdrop. Essentially, though, yes. That’s what I want you to do. Promise me, even if I yell or get mad, that you’ll have my back.”
I brought his lips to mine to kiss, my tongue sneaking in to taste his before it ended. “I promise. As long as we work together, we’ll get through this crazy, wonderful life with happiness.”
He settled in next to me and rubbed my arm rhythmically, my eyes drooping closed from the events of the day, the pain, the heartache, and the swell of love I had for him. Lance Garland was mine and I was never letting him go.
Lance kissed my lips before he shrugged his coat on. “Are you sure you’re okay to stay here with Ivy?”
“Of course,” I promised, sipping my coffee. “I have work to do at the bakery when I’m done with breakfast.” He opened his mouth, but I held up my casted hand. “Paperwork. I’m not going to do any hard work. When I’m done with the paperwork, I’m going to supervise the cookie decorating. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!”
I was so excited for the cookie decorating later today. I had been resting for the last two days and I was bored to death of staying at home. I needed to move around, and being at the bakery would at least give me something to do.
“I know,” he grinned. “I’m excited to taste those cookies. Save me one?”
“You know it,” I said, winking. “Go. Shep needs help in Saginaw, and I’ll be fine with Ivy.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promised, kissing my lips and heading out the door.
Ivy swung through the swinging door with a plate in one hand and Lucy’s hand in the other. She set the plate in front of me then helped Lucy into the booth.
“Lucy Lu,” I cooed at the sweet cherub. “Are you hanging out with us today?”
“Cookies!” she said, clapping her hands the way only a two-year-old can.
“That’s right! We’re going to decorate cookies today. Are you going to help?”
“More like hinder,” Ivy said as she brought out a plate of pancakes for her little girl. She cut them up and tucked a napkin in Lucy’s shirt before she handed her a fork. Lucy dug in, her head flopping left and right as she chewed. “Eat. You need good food to help heal that bone.”
I chuckled and shook my head at the woman who was more my mother than my friend at this point. I grabbed my fork and dug into the pecan encrusted eggnog French toast. I moaned quietly as I chewed.
When I swallowed, I pointed at the plate. “Ivy, this is amazing. I’ll have to tell Mason he’s a God in the kitchen.”
