Page 52 of Son of a Preacher Man

He smiled.

“One day…”

He didn’t deserve Kelly either.

But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do his damnedest to keep her.

All belly on her slender frame, Linnea waddled around her kitchen like a penguin on speed. She seemed not to notice him standing there, breakfast sandwiches along with Leo’s renowned banana-nut muffins in hand, as she rifled through the cabinets.

“What in the hell are you doing?”

“Looking for the cookie cutters.” On a mission, she didn’t even bother to look up.

Setting their food down, Kodiak picked up a Ziploc bag filled with metal objects. They sure looked like cookie cutters to him. “What are these?”

“Those are the Halloween ones,” she answered, finally turning around. “I need Christmas.”

Glancing around the house, there wasn’t a Christmas decoration to be seen, save for a snowman cookie jar on the counter. Maybe she was trying to keep busy, a trait he and his sister both seemed to share, to keep her mind from dwelling on the fact that her husband was dead. The baby was due in a few weeks, and this was her first Christmas without him.

Or maybe she just wanted to fill up her sad, empty cookie jar.

“I brought breakfast.” Brooking no argument, he pointed her to a chair. “Sit.”

“So bossy.” Pressing a hand to the small of her back, Linnea complied.

“When I have to be.” Kodiak smirked, taking a seat across from her. “And only because I love you.”

“Yeah, well, I love you too.” Biting into her fried egg sandwich, she licked the runny yolk from her lip. “So, what are you up to today?”

“Oh, a little of this and a little of that.”

Kelly left early this morning to spend Christmas with her family, not that she seemed to be thrilled about it. And thanks to Leo, he had an agenda.

“Jesus, Seth, you’re exasperating sometimes.” Linnea sighed, a strand of caramel hair blowing out of place. “Can you ever just answer a question?”

“Christmas isn’t the time to be asking any.” He chuckled, popping Leo’s muffin into his mouth.

She let go of her sandwich, and with a slight grimace, Linnea sat up straighter in the chair, her hand on her back.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.” She waved her hand, pooh-poohing his concern. “I just can’t seem to get comfortable anymore. She’s heavy, you know.”

His throat tightened, a sudden wave of melancholy washing over him. Fleeting thoughts of the dreams he once had, what was supposed to have been. Uncomfortable with where his mind was taking him, Kodiak got up to leave.

“Not much longer now, little one.” Kissing the top of Linnea’s head, his hand rested on her belly. The baby kicked his palm. “I’ve got to go.”

“Where do you have to go?” She looked funny with her head cocked to the side.

He responded with a soft chuckle.

“You’ll be back for dinner, right?”

“Not tonight,” he said over his shoulder, strolling toward the door.

“Tomorrow?”

“Christmas Eve with you and Dillweed?” Grinning, Kodiak snorted. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

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