Page 81 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

“I want to smell like Christmas, and not depression or sex.”

I tilted my head and stared at her. She wasn’t making much sense to me, but that didn’t mean she was being illogical. I was sure there was a method to what she was thinking. I couldn’t figure it out.

“Well, maybe I could smell like sex later tonight?” She flipped her hair with a giggle and closed the bathroom door behind her.

While Nova was in the shower, I tossed on some sweats and went to check on Amelia. She wasn’t asleep. She had set up a new tea party in her room with her new doll.

“Daddy! Come have tea with us.” She grabbed my hand and made me sit on one of the miniature chairs.

“Where did you get cookies?” I asked as I noticed she had juice boxes and cookies.

“The kitchen. I needed them for my tea party.”

She wasn’t so little anymore. She knew how to get to the kitchen and get her own snacks. With her moving around the house likethat, I was going to have to remember to lock my bedroom door. Nova was right. I hadn’t really thought of Amelia moving about the house on her own.

“Oh, here you are,” Nova said as she stepped into Amelia’s room.

“We’re having a tea party!”

“I can see that. Cookies and juice boxes for breakfast? Why don’t I head downstairs and make us a real breakfast? You can bring your doll and Humphrey down and they can join us.”

“Can they really?”

Nova nodded. “I think your father needs to take a shower before he gets dressed.”

I winked at Nova. “I’ll be downstairs in a few minutes. Thanks for the tea and cookies.” I held up the juice box in acknowledgement to Amelia.

Once cleaned and dressed, I found my two favorite girls in the kitchen. There were an open carton of eggs, several measuring cups, flour, and an assortment of egg shells, spilled powders, and milk around. Amelia stood on a step stool, and Nova was directing her to pour a large measuring cup of what looked like milk into a bowl.

“Okay, now lower the top so the whisk goes in the bowl.”

Amelia followed the directions.

“And hitStartright there.” Nova pointed to something on the side.

The mixer whirred to life. Amelia squealed.

“What is going on here?” I asked.

“Nova is showing me how to make pancakes.”

“Pancakes for breakfast?”

“Is that a problem?” Nova asked.

“Not at all. You’re really good at this.”

“Cooking?” Nova asked.

“Teaching my daughter.”

Nova laughed. “I had better be. I am a teacher.”

“Yeah, but first grade teachers don’t teach kids how to cook.” As we spoke, Nova would pause to instruct Amelia what to do next. She had to scrape the bowl and pour the contents into a small pitcher.

Nova had Amelia move her step stool to in front of the stove. They placed a long griddle over the burners. “Now, you need to be very careful and never do this if you are alone in the kitchen, understand?” Nova looked at Amelia with a very stern expression.

Amelia nodded with her eyes wide.

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