Mallory
Mal woke up on Christmas morning and stretched, enjoying the light spilling into her apartment and the feeling of having slept as long as she liked.
It was probably only six or so, but she was used to waking up before dawn to start baking.
Harrison has already taken care of the cows, she reminded herself, feeling a little guilty about it, and wondered if Katie was awake yet.
The last week had been a whirlwind for all three of them.
Harrison had managed to hire two hands to help on the farm, and was negotiating the purchase of a half-dozen beautiful cows from a retiring dairy farmer a few hours away.
He still worked every milking and feeding, but once his guys were up and running, he would be able to manage his time better.
Tonight was going to be his first night off since November.
Katie had so much fun at her baking party that she decided to invite a friend to her baking session this week.
The two little girls had giggled and smiled the whole time as they made chocolate-dipped peanut butter balls.
If the kitchen got a little messier than it would have with just Katie, Mal thought it was more than worthwhile.
She expected they would have baking playdates more often now, maybe even during her winter break.
Meanwhile, Mal’s jingle bell knots had been selling like wildfire.
Just as she had hoped, people came in to try them and left with boxes of muffins, cakes, and pies.
Her savings account was looking more impressive each week.
It felt good to see her profits soar without having to stop providing large donations to Carla’s Place and the Heroes Center.
Best of all, she was interviewing part-time helpers to come on once Annie Williams went back to college. Nowadays, she wanted time off for things like baking lessons, and dates.
Harrison had outdone himself for their first off-the-farm date, bringing her to the nicest restaurant in town, making her laugh and smile, and even ordering one of each dessert when he saw her intently studying the dessert menu.
They’d been out twice more for simpler meals and bundled up walks around town.
He’d been right, of course. They didn’t feel like early dates because the two of them already knew each other so well. And Mal, who had gone on a few nerve-racking dates in the past, found herself looking forward to time spent with Harrison as the most relaxing part of her day.
The only night they hadn’t seen each other was when the snow came down so hard and fast that most of the shops in town had closed and the reporter on the radio cautioned folks not to leave the house.
One afternoon at the bakery, her friends had both stopped by for a bit, even though it was a busy time for everyone.
“It feels like we’ve been together forever,” she’d whispered furtively to Ana while Valerie grabbed herself a muffin.
Ana had nodded, her eyes twinkling like she knew from experience.
“What’s going on with you?” Mal whispered to her friend.
But Ana had only pressed her lips together and shook her head, looking like she had a doozy of a secret.
“I can’t wait for New Year’s,” Mal said, laughing.
“Don’t be silly,” Valerie said with a smile, returning to the table. “Let’s talk about our work and our families and what we’re reading. Let’s celebrate us.”
They all raised their mugs to that, and Mal felt like the luckiest woman in the world to have such good friends, women who reminded her that she was enough all on her own.
But Mal still suspected that both of her friends would have a lot to share when it was time to talk about romance again.
And that would come soon enough. But for now, it was Christmas, and Mal hadn’t been this excited since she was a kid.
She practically jumped out of bed, then showered and dressed in her favorite jeans and a pretty Christmas sweater. Harrison and Katie were planning to come by for her at some point this morning so that they could all go over to her dad’s house together.
She headed down to the bakery to make herself a nice coffee and spotted Harrison and Katie crossing the street.
“Merry Christmas,” Mal said, throwing open the bakery door.
Katie’s serious face broke into a happy smile, and Mal knew she would never get tired of seeing that small miracle.
“Merry Christmas,” Katie said, hugging Mal around the waist. “Are we going to see your dad now?”
“Once we get some treats put together,” Mal told her, giving her a hug back and a quick peck on the top of her head. “And after we’ve dropped off some at the Heroes Center and Carla’s Place, of course.”
“Hey,” Harrison said, his deep voice sending a happy tingle through her. “Merry Christmas.”
She glanced up at him, feeling her cheeks heat. Even though they had been spending just about every free moment together, she just couldn’t seem to get used to his company.
“What treats are we bringing?” Katie asked excitedly.
“Let’s go see,” Mal told her.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the house on the corner of Oberlin and Lafayette, carrying a bag of presents and a box of treats.
The vets had been happy to see them and the few folks at Carla’s Place even more so. Mal always worried about anyone who didn’t have family to spend holidays with, but there had been plenty of friendly faces in both places and lots of smiles and happy greetings.
Katie ran up to knock at the front door before Mal and Harrison could join her.
“She loves him,” Harrison said with a smile.
“He adores her,” Mal said, nodding.
Her dad and Katie had decorated the tree and set out the bird feeders during two of Mal and Harrison’s dates this week. It made Mal happy to see him have a kid in his life to do all the grandfatherly things she knew he longed for.
Don’t get ahead of yourself, she warned herself inwardly.
A little dog began barking, and for a second, it really sounded like it was coming from the house, though of course her dad didn’t have a dog.
But when the door swung open, a fluffy white shape flew out, leaping up on Katie before flying down the steps and flashing around in circles on the snowy front lawn.
“Hey there,” Mal’s dad called out. “Meet Peppermint.”
“Peppermint,” Katie laughed, turning to watch the funny little dog flying around the yard.
“Don’t worry,” Mal’s dad said. “She’ll tire herself out in about ten more seconds.”
“Wow, Dad,” Mal said as she came up the walkway. “Did you get a dog?”
“Went down to the shelter yesterday morning,” he said, nodding. “Helena was sure glad to see me. I figured I’d see if there was a Shepherd mix, like the one we had when you and Dean were kids. But this little lady had just come in, and we hit it off like peanut butter and jelly.”
Just then, Peppermint came up again, her little white body flowing effortlessly up the steps like a waterfall moving backwards.
“Hey, girl,” Mal’s dad said, leaning down and letting Peppermint launch herself into his arms. “Let’s say Merry Christmas to everyone.”
“Merry Christmas,” Katie replied happily.
“Merry Christmas, Dad,” Mal said, and Harrison came up the steps echoing her.
Peppermint looked among them, her pink tongue sticking out as she panted through what really looked like a happy smile.
“Well, come on in,” Mal’s dad said happily. “Your brother will be over this afternoon. He has a lot going on today.”
“Really?” Mal asked. She’d been wondering what was up with her big brother this week, and hadn’t had a chance to call. He normally kept himself so busy with work it felt like he was a million miles away.
As she stepped inside, Mal was hit first with the scent of fresh pine from the Christmas tree. It was gorgeously decorated, but now there was a baby gate around it. On the outside of the gate were an assortment of dog toys as well as a rope, a big stick, and a small bicycle tire.
“She needs plenty to keep her busy,” Dad said gruffly, putting the dog down.
But she just trotted along with the family to the kitchen to see what was happening.
“She’s a nice one,” Harrison said. “What made you decide to get her, sir?”
“Oh, your Katie inspired me,” Dad said with a smile.
“I did?” Katie asked.
“Hearing about Benjamin Franklin made me want a pet of my own,” he said.
“Benjamin Franklin?” Mal echoed, feeling a little confused.
“I gave my cat friend a name,” Katie explained. “Benjamin Franklin was a really important person. We learned about him in school. He was very curious, just like my Benjamin Franklin.”
Mal tried not to smile at the idea of a barn cat named Benjamin Franklin who lived under the porch. For such a little kid, Katie sure had a big heart.
“He finally came inside during the storm,” Harrison said. “We opened up a can of sardines and then I went upstairs.”
“He came right in,” Katie added excitedly. “And when Dad came back down, he hid in the Christmas tree.”
“We took down the delicate ornaments so it would be safe for him in there,” Harrison explained.
“And we had to unplug it,” Katie added sadly. “But he liked it in the tree. It probably feels like outside.”
“He’s a smart one,” Harrison allowed. “He figured out the litter box right away.”
“Do you think he’ll start spending more time inside?” Mal asked.
“Dad put in a cat door,” Katie said.
“You did?” Mal asked.
“He’s a good cat,” Harrison said gruffly. “Shouldn’t have to be out there all by himself.”
“You’ll never have to worry about mice in the cellar,” Mal’s dad put in.
Peppermint barked, as if she thought they might have forgotten her.
“Are you a good mouser too?” Mal’s dad asked.
Peppermint gave another quick, happy bark and danced around his feet.
Katie’s eyes went wide, like she’d just realized something very important, and she pointed at the dog.
“Peppermint bark,” Katie said.
There was a moment of silence, and then Katie doubled over with laughter.
They all joined in, laughing right along with her as Peppermint howled and Mal’s dad assured them that he’d never even thought about that when choosing the name.