Chapter 16 #2
"Sugar-cookie cutouts, of course," I said, noticing that Maddox was fussing with the tree stand. He was probably trying to make sure it was straight.
"The ones with the icing and sprinkles?" Sofia asked excitedly.
"What kind do you usually make?" I asked, worried that I shouldn't have brought up old traditions.
"Mom didn't bake. She said she always forgot something important like the sugar." Sofia shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. "How do you forget sugar?"
"Well, I love to bake, and I don't have anyone to share my cookies with. I was hoping you could help me make them."
She clapped her hands together. "Can I cut them out?"
"Of course."
She danced around the kitchen. "I can be your decorator and your taste tester."
Maddox came into the room. "What are we taste testing?"
"Miss Eve is making cookies."
Maddox tipped his head to the side. "Your parents didn't name you Eve because of Christmas, did they?"
"I was born on Christmas Eve. They debated Christine but finally settled on Eve."
"That's so cool," Sofia said. "I wish I was born around Christmas."
"When is your birthday?" I asked her, curious to know more about her.
"July."
"I think that's perfect. You get presents twice a year. It was hard getting all my presents one time a year."
Maddox leaned against the counter. "You didn't celebrate your birthday on another day?"
I laughed at the memory. "I loved having my birthday on Christmas Eve. But in July, I wished I could get more presents."
"I think I would like to get double the presents," Sofia said.
"We've always loved Christmas, and when we learned the inn came with the town, we couldn't pass up the opportunity. It just felt right, you know?"
Maddox nodded, his face filled with an emotion I couldn't place. "You want to bake or decorate first?"
"I say we decorate so we can look at the tree while we bake. What do you think, Sofia?"
"Tree first." She took off for the living room, leaving us in the kitchen.
I put the butter in the fridge.
He moved next to me so that the open door was blocking our view of Sofia. "You didn't have to bake cookies."
"I wanted to, and I don't have anyone to bake with this year. I didn't want to ask Natasha in case it brought up too many memories."
He rested a hand on my hip. "Another thing you did with your parents?"
"Yes."
He glanced over at Sofia, who was placing the first ornament on the tree, and tugged me close. "I want to kiss you right now."
"Is that okay, or do you think Sof—"
"Shh. We have to be quiet." He pulled me against him, tipping up my chin to softly touch his lips to mine. It felt really good. I pulled back, and he patted my butt. "We have a tree to decorate."
"We'd better get started then." I felt happy, lighter than I had in a long time.
We spent the rest of the morning decorating the tree with the new ornaments they got from Clara. At lunchtime, Maddox made sandwiches and cut up apple slices for everyone to share.
Then I helped him clean the kitchen so we could use the counter to roll out the dough. We got out the ingredients, and I showed Sofia the steps. She eagerly measured and poured everything into a mixing bowl.
Then we mixed and kneaded the dough until it was ready to roll. I sprinkled the surface with flour and showed her how to roll it out.
Her tongue appeared between her lips as she concentrated on the task. Several times, the dough ripped, and I gently reminded her not to make it too thin. But it was an easy fix to roll it out again.
Maddox managed the holiday play list and snapped a few pictures of us working.
Maybe this was a new tradition for us. My heart pinged then because this wasn't the start of something. I was a temporary person in their lives.
They'd heal and move on. Maddox would get the job he wanted, and they wouldn't need me anymore.
We put the first two trays in the oven, then took a break. The kitchen was warm from the heat of the oven. The tree's lights twinkled in the living room, and holiday music played from Maddox's phone. It was the perfect day, one I wanted to repeat.
Soon, I'd be back at work, pretending that I wasn't missing out on everything else. It wasn't a big deal when we first bought the town, but now I wondered when I'd have another free day like this one. Maybe in the New Year.
We rolled out the dough again and cut out more cookies.
When all the cookies were baked and cooled, I set up the counter for decorating.
I'd brought over icing and sprinkles. Even Maddox joined in.
His first attempt was a reindeer with thick red lines of icing and a white blob that I think was supposed to be his eye.
When we questioned his technique, he stuffed it into his mouth. "All that matters is that it tastes good."
I exchanged a look with Sofia, and she placed her hands on her hips. "You're not supposed to eat all the cookies."
Maddox's eyes danced with mischief. "Now, what's the fun if we can't eat them?"
"You're eating them faster than I can decorate them," Sofia grumbled, and I couldn't help but laugh.
I met Maddox's amused gaze over her head. I couldn't imagine a more perfect day than this one. I was falling for both of them. If I stuck around, I'd be a goner. Dinner was out of the question. I had to end this perfect family scenario sooner rather than later.
We stacked the cookies in several tins so that Sofia could give some to her grandparents and her teachers. Then she set several aside for Santa.
I had to leave, but I wished I could be part of their lives forever.