Chapter 10 #2
Katy launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She touched her chin to his chest and beamed up at him.
"You don't need to fill in any gaps in my life.
I had you and I remembered how much mom loved us.
We had some really tough times after she.
.. After she was gone, but that was a few years ago.
It's not ever going to be okay that Mom's gone.
But, knowing how hard you tried is the best thing ever! I think we're doing great now, right?"
Nick hugged her back and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead. "You're the best thing ever, Katie. Now... I'm starving. What do you say to SONIC for breakfast?"
She rolled her eyes. "What do I say to SONIC every time you ask me?"
Nick nudged her out the door. "Get in the car and I'll get you a shake, too."
"Sweet!" She practically jumped out the door.
His heart jumped after her.
RUTH
Ruth collapsed on her couch and sighed, tipping her head back to stare at the ceiling. Her whole body ached, but she had more to do before she could fall asleep.
Like take a bath.
For a moment she considered lifting up an arm and taking a sniff, but she was sure it wouldn't be pretty if she did.
She'd been on her feet for more than twelve hours and just moments before she'd flopped down on the couch her legs had been shaking.
Ruth liked to keep track of how many dozens of cookies she made over her career of baking, but she didn't even want to look at the numbers for the last twelve hours.
Not because she thought it would be lacking, but because she was worried that she might faint from the number alone.
Her phone on the cushion beside her came to life and she heard the soft chime of an incoming message.
As much as she wanted to ignore it, part of her, the depths of her heart, hoped that it might be from the house next door.
For them, she might even find the strength to get up and walk.
Maybe.
With her eyes only partially open, she managed to read the screen.
SANTA:
She smiled remembering the look on Nick's face when he saw how she'd changed his name in her phone.
SANTA: Are you hungry?
Ruth wanted to roll her way into her bedroom, soak in the tub, and then pass out, face first on her bed, but...
She wanted more.
That was kind of the problem.
She'd been trucking along as an adult. Working toward her dream.
Now, she had that dream.
Working for herself, out of her home.
Baking amazing things that made people smile.
Then she thought her dream was building her business more, but that had been a little off the mark.
Or maybe, she mused, just maybe, her dream had changed.
Widened to include the dad and daughter next door.
She wanted them in her life every day.
Lifting the phone in her hands and hoping she wouldn't drop the phone on her face, she typed a reply to Nick's message.
BAKERGRL:
Yes, she smiled, she was full of all kinds of cheesy nicknames.
BAKERGRL: STARVING
She had a feeling that Nick would text her again, but she was so exhausted she might just fall asleep before-
RING!
With a relieved groan, she answered the call.
"'ello?"
"Are you okay if we come over with food?"
She almost cried in relief. "Please? I don't think I can move right now."
The call ended and Ruth started to second guess her answer.
Did she sound like a crazy whiner?
Was she too pitiful?
Nick was a strong, self-made, successful owner of a huge construction company.
Katie danced on her toes! Sure, those pointe shoes were made for it, but the kind of strength it took to dance on 'pointe' and make it look like she was floating? Ruth was constantly amazed by Katie's athleticism and grace.
And here she was grumbling and almost crying at walking around a kitchen all day.
In air-conditioned comfort.
Aided by all kinds of amazing kitchen devices.
What did she have to complain about?
"Hello, neighbor!"
Ruth turned her head to see the kitchen door open and Katie walking in with a large giftbox bigger than her head. "Hello?"
Nick paused in the doorway. "Careful of the coffee table, Katie."
"I got it, dad."
Ruth smiled at the barely restrained teenage sigh.
Using the strength that remained in her arms, she pushed herself into a sitting position on the couch. "What's in the box?"
Katie set it on the coffee table and grinned. "It's a present from me and dad for you!"
Ruth heard the words, but she didn't quite comprehend what it would be.
She looked up to Katie's expectant face. "Do you want to open it for me?"
Katie looked over her shoulder and Ruth followed her gaze with her own.
Nick was in the kitchen taking plates, cups, and utensils out. He looked right at her over Katie's shoulder. "You okay?"
Ruth put a smile on her face, but she saw Nick's answering expression.
He didn't buy her answer.
When Katie looked back at her, too, she could see that Katie didn't believe her either.
"I think," Katie reached for the bow and gave one trailer a pull.
The bow undid itself and fell away.
Katie reached forward and opened the top of the box. "I think we picked the right day to bring this over."
Ruth could see Nick's smile. He was a good distance away but the lights she had in the kitchen were bright and easily showed her what was going on.
Katie pulled out the purple and pink contraption in the box, and she set it down on the floor between her own legs and Katie's.
The electrical cord and plug flopped down out of the box, onto the coffee table, and then onto the rug.
Ruth sat up a little straighter, leaning forward to look over the edge of the seat. "I think-"
"Don't worry," Katie grinned at her. "Dad and I planned for this." She reached into the box and pulled out an extension cord. Wiggling it, Katie grinned. "I'll plug this into the kitchen and be right back."
Before she had to lean over the counter, Ruth saw Nick take the plug and insert it into the wall socket.
When Katie got back, she gestured at the socks on Ruth's feet.
"Can I take off your socks?"
How embarrassing!
Ruth wanted to crawl away instead of having Katie touch her socks. "I can do it."
Before Katie could get a hold of her feet, Ruth used her toes to peel them off.
"Got it." She gave Katie what she hoped was a relaxed smile, but she had a feeling it was a little pinched.
"Okay." Katie sat down next to her with an ear-to-ear grin. "You just have to put your feet in it, and it does all the good stuff on your own."
Ruth sat up and looked down.
From that angle, it looked like a strange pod with two holes on the top.
Trusting Katie with her life at that moment, Ruth slipped her feet in.
Before she could form any words, the 'pod' surrounding her feet started to massage.
And it felt like, "Heaven..."
Katie got up and pecked a little kiss on Ruth's cheek. "I'll help dad with dinner. I hope you like it."
"Like it?" Ruth giggled and then groaned as something pressed up against the arches of her feet. "I loooove it."
Ruth enjoyed hearing Katie and Nick softly speaking in the kitchen.
She could hear them coordinating their efforts and when she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine that this was going to be her everyday life someday.
"I hope you're hungry. Katie's friend from the dance company, Eun?"
Katie agreed softly and Nick continued on.
"Her uncle opened a Korean Take Out place nearby. We stopped to get food. And I think," Nick chuckled, "we got some of everything on the sides menu. Katie knows the names of the sides-"
"More like what they are, but I don't know if there are names for it."
"Ah..." Nick chuckled again. "So it's going to be a kind of buffet style dinner."
Their voices were closer than before, and Ruth opened her eyes to watch them carrying trays into the room.
"I'm good with anything," Ruth sighed blissfully, "as long as it's edible. I'm good." She looked from Katie to Nick and gave them a smile with watery eyes. "Thanks."
"Hey," Nick set down one tray with food and one with plates and utensils, "we missed you and wanted to have dinner."
Katie picked up a plate and met Ruth's gaze with her own. "I'm going to tell you what the things are. You just tell me if you want some, okay?"
Ruth nodded, not sure she could trust herself to speak.
Around her, Katie and Nick helped her fill her plate and her world with warm smiles and conversation.
Ruth realized that beyond the food she was 'good.'
Better than good.
She felt wonderful.
With Nick and Katie in her life, everything had changed.
And her dreams, once again, opened up and filled her with hope.