Page 23 of Christmas Promises

He stopped by Max’s store on the way to his mother’s, grabbing sacks of flour and sugar. Max was not there, having gone out to run an errand, but one of his competent clerks rang him up. Soon, he was pulling up in front of his parents’ house.

His dad was just coming out of the barn when Nolan opened the back of his SUV to grab the flour and sugar. They greeted each other with a half hug.

“How’s it going, kid?”

“I’m good. Off work until the beginning of the year. Feeling free as a bird.”

“Good for you.” His father took the flour sack from him. “Come on in. Your mother’s inside making enough cookies to feed a small country.”

They walked around to the back door that led into a mudroom connected to the kitchen. The minute he walked in, scents of sugar, butter, and cinnamon made his mouth water. The smells of Christmas and his mother.

Grace Hayes was bent over a sheet of cookie dough, stamping out dozens of stars, Christmas trees, and angels. She’d had those cookie cutters for as long as he could remember. Glass containers filled with small candies, sprinkles, and other cookie decorations lined one corner of the counter. He knew without having to look that she’d filled the refrigerator in the garage with frosting in every color of the rainbow.

She looked up, her expression brightening at the sight of him. “Hello, sweetheart.”

He set the bag of sugar on the counter, then kissed her soft cheek, catching a whiff of her flowery perfume. “Hi, Mom. Merry Christmas.”

“Aren’t you sweet to bring this for me? I could have gone into town myself, but I’m feeling a little crunched for time.”

“You want a cup of coffee?” His dad was already at the machine, pouring himself a steaming mug.

“Of Mom’s brew? Always.”

Soon, he was seated at the island with a hot cup of coffee watching his mother whip up another batch of cookies. Gingerbread this time. Nolan’s favorite.

His father had begged off, saying he had things to do, but Nolan was fairly certain he was headed to the living room to watch football. Nolan loved seeing his father thriving in retirement. He’d worried that without the farm to fuss over, his dad would become depressed. Instead, he’d fully embraced his new season of life. He volunteered at the church, spent mornings playing checkers with his buddies outside Max’s store, and helped out some of the elderly in their community by delivering groceries and doing small repairs and errands for those in need.

“I’m happy Laney could come. I’m dying to see her again,” Mom said. “Edna says she’s grown into a remarkable young lady. It’s such a shame what happened with the wedding.”

Was it? He kept that to himself, knowing he’d sound terribly self-serving if he admitted how glad he was that Laney was single. “I took her to dinner a few nights back to catch up. She’s as great as she was when we were kids.”

“You two were quite the pair that summer. I was worried you were going to take your affection a little too far and Edna would never forgive me.”

“Mom,” he said, scandalized. “I was a gentleman. Just as you and Dad taught me to be.” They’d only shared a few innocent kisses that summer. On the day she was to leave, he’d given her one last chaste kiss. One he never forgot.

“I know, dear, but a mother worries about these things. Especially with all the testosterone in this house.”

“It was Max you had to worry about.”

His mother laughed. “You don’t have to tell me about that boy. I thought he might be the death of me back then. There was an endless parade of girls in and out of this house. I had to watch him like a hawk.”

He snagged a broken cookie from one of the trays she must have recently taken out of the oven. “Mom, that’s so good.” The sugar cookie melted in his mouth.

“You were my one with the biggest, sweet tooth,” Mom said. “Or maybe it was that you were the baby, and I was more lenient with you.”

He grinned. “It’s because I’m your favorite, right?”

“Sure, you are.” His mother rolled her eyes before setting her gaze upon him for a moment. “Tell me more about this dinner with Laney the other night? Edna said Laney came home considerably cheered up after spending time with you.”

“Really? That’s nice to hear.”

“Will you take her out again?”

“I’d like to. But she’s kind of vulnerable right now. I don’t want to take advantage of that.”

“You can take her out as a friend and see where it leads.”

“I didn’t think I’d still feel all fluttery around her.” Nolan glanced down at the coffee mug with the Hayes Syrup logo on the front. “Like no time had passed. She’s smart and funny—kind of nerdy like me. Back then, no one could make me laugh harder than she did. Not even Max.”

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