Page 60 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

“But I am dressed, Daddy.”

“Let’s get you properly dressed.” I herded her back into her bedroom and pulled out an appropriate outfit. It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t specific for Christmas. There were no reindeer or snowflakes on it anywhere. But if we were going to go in search of somebody, we needed good, sturdy shoes, a comfortable pair of jeans, and layers. I put her in a short sleeve T-shirt under a long sleeve sweatshirt and made her hold her coat.

“My turn to get dressed. Come on.”

I carried her in a football hold under my arm as I stomped down the hallway back to my bedroom. She squirmed and giggled the whole time, which helped to wake me up. I literally tossed her onto my bed, which she thought was fabulously fun and giggled the entire time.

I went through drawers in the built-in dresser in my closet, pulling out a similar outfit to hers, jeans and shirts that I could layer.

“I’ll be right back,” I said as I stepped into my ensuite bathroom to change.

I ran my hand over my face as I looked at myself in the mirror. I probably should shave, but I didn’t have time for it. We were on a mission.

However, I had to force myself to refocus. I was going to insist that we make a stop in the kitchen for some coffee before we left. As a responsible father, I needed to feed Amelia.

There was a fancy breakfast waiting to be heated up in the refrigerator, but it only took a minute to boil water in the microwave for instant oatmeal.

“Are you ready?” Amelia asked as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom.

“Let me get my shoes on, and then we’ll go to the kitchen.”

“But Daddy…”

“I need coffee. You need breakfast.” I wasn’t going to let her talk me out of my morning coffee.

“Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go,” I said as soon as I got my shoes on. Amelia scrambled off the bed and ran out the door. As soon as I took a few steps out, following her, I remembered what I decided during the long hours I lay awake staring into the dark.

We were doing this to make Nova part of the family, and that meant this had to be official.

I returned to my closet and pushed my suits aside. On the back wall was the door to a small safe. I twisted the dial, hitting the combination numbers before it clicked and I pulled it open.

I had folders of important documents, boxes with gold coins and fine jewelry. It took a moment before I found the box I wanted. I opened the velvet box. The hinge was stiff from lack of use. The contents I expected to see were there. I smiled and snapped the box closed.

I shoved the box into my front pocket and headed out after Amelia. I ran down the back steps into the kitchen. The coffee pot was all set to go. I just needed to hit the button to start it. Nova had thought of everything to make this morning easy. Everything except for how much her presence was wanted, needed. Because if she had thought of that, she would already be here.

While the coffee was brewing, I used my extensive culinary skills and prepared two bowls of instant oatmeal. Amelia didn’t want to eat. She wanted to go and she wanted to go now.

“We aren’t going anywhere until you finish your breakfast,” I said. As soon as the coffee was done, I poured it in a travel mug so that we could leave sooner than later. I ate my oatmeal like a starving dog, shoveling spoonsful into my mouth.

There was still snow on the ground from the storm, but the air felt noticeably warmer. Hopefully, the snow would last through the day.

“Let’s go!” Amelia called out as I slid behind the steering wheel.

I pulled out my phone and began looking for her address in my contacts list. I had a phone number for Nova and that was all. I bit down the urge to curse.

“We have to go back inside,” I said.

“How come?”

“I don’t know where Nova lives. I have her address in my office.” I knew I had her address. I had to so that I could pay her.

“Hurry up!” Amelia yelled.

“You aren’t staying out here while I look.” I unbuckled her and lifted her out of the car.

Back in my office, Amelia was like a perpetual motion device in a small space. The computer took what felt like an infinite amount of time to start up. I did a search for Nova’s information. Nothing. I began rifling through the papers on my desk.

I had her information. I remember getting it from her. Now where the hell had I put it?

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