Page 61 of Holly Jolly July

of the night.

ANNIE

I’m sorry, does he keep you awake?

JAMES

Not really, I just feel bad for your sister

is all. Being a mother sounds like hard work.

Annie cuts out a final shape and places it on the cookie sheet.

James removes a baked cookie sheet from the oven and places the last tray in the oven.

James uses a spatula to lift a warm cookie from the sheet and tears it in half, handing one half to Annie.

Annie takes a small bite.

ANNIE

Wow, it’s even better baked.

JAMES

Many things in life are.

ANNIE

Seriously, you’re so talented.

JAMES

Just wait until we ice them. We’ll have to

wait for them to cool, though.

ANNIE

We?

JAMES

Sorry, I didn’t mean to assume you’d help

me with that. You’ve already done so

much, getting lights strung up in the

café and helping me with the garland.

It was nice having company for

everything.

ANNIE

And, you have to admit, it