Page 44 of Savoring Christmas
Before Logan could answer, Cannoli gave a sudden wiggle, slipping right out of his arms. She hit the ice with a tiny scritch of claws, legs splayed for a second before she started a determined shuffle toward Mia. Her little paws slid this way and that, sweater bobbing with every wobbly step, but somehow she kept moving forward, tail wagging like she was born for the rink.
The other skaters slowed to watch, laughter and cheers breaking out as the tiny dog navigated the ice. Someone shouted, “Go, Cannoli!” while a group of teenagers clapped in rhythm to her awkward little glide.
Bianca skated over to them, her eyes wide with delight. “She’s skating. Uncle Logan, she’s actually skating. Can we teach her tricks next?”
By the time Cannoli reached Mia, even people on the sidelines were grinning and calling encouragement. Mia scooped her up to a round of applause, holding her high like a champion figure skater with her gold medal. As the applause died down, Cannoli let out a proud little bark.
Bianca skated away, heading toward Mia and Cannoli.
“That dog’s famous now,” Max said. “You’ll have requests for her to skate every night.”
“This is how town traditions start,” Logan said, laughing.
“You look happy,” Max said. “Which is all because of me. So you’re welcome.”
“If this works out, you’re never going to let me forget it, are you?”
“Heck, no. This is the greatest accomplishment of my life,” Max said.
“I thought it was adopting Bianca and marrying one of the best women on the planet?” Logan asked.
“That too, brother. That too. Isn’t life sweet?”
“Sweeter by the day,” Logan said, meaning every word.
Logan arrivedwith Mia and Cannoli for the cookie decorating party after it had already started.
“You okay?” Logan asked as they headed up the stairs of his mother and father’s front porch.
“Sure. A little scared.”
He kissed her quickly before holding the door for her to proceed him into the house. “You’ll be fine. If you get overwhelmed, we can leave.”
He opened the door without bothering to knock. With the noise coming from inside, no one would hear them anyway. Coats were piled by the door, and from the kitchen came the chatter of voices and the smell of sugar cookies.
They followed the noise into the kitchen, where the warm, buttery scent of sugar cookies wrapped around them like a hug. Laughter and the clink of icing knives on plates filled the air. The big farmhouse table was crowded with Hayes family members, sleeves rolled up, heads bent in concentration as they decorated cookies in every shape imaginable—stars dusted with sparkling sugar, trees laden with green frosting, gingerbread men sporting lopsided grins. A rainbow of sprinkles, bowls of glossy icing, and cooling racks of fresh cookies covered every inch of the tabletop, evidence of both skill and chaos in equal measure.
Grace was in her element, apron dusted in flour, and surrounded by her grandchildren.
“Mia, hello and welcome.” Logan’s mother drew Mia into a quick hug. “We’re so glad you could join us.”
“Thank you for the invite,” Mia said.
“We’re honored to have a real chef joining us,” Grace said.
Walter appeared behind her, already carrying a tray of sugar cookies ready for icing. “Hey, Mia. Logan. Good to see you.”
Patty arrived a few minutes later, her three children in tow. Molly stuck close to her mom, Benji stared wide-eyed at the table full of cookies, and little Daisy clung to Patty’s coat until Mia knelt down and coaxed her out.
“Come on,” Mia said softly. “Do you want to try decorating one?”
A solemn nod. “Yes, please.”
It didn’t take long for the kids to be folded into the chaos. Molly settled next to Sophia Hayes, the two girls leaning over their cookies in concentration. Benji teamed up with Jack, their hands soon very sticky. Daisy sat beside Lily, happily smearing frosting across a star-shaped cookie before proudly showing it to Mia.
Logan caught sight of Max across the table, helping Bianca with a piping bag. A year ago, she’d been a shy, quiet eight-year-old, fresh from Italy, stumbling over her English. Now she was chatting easily with Lily, her words quick and confident. Logan felt a little tug of pride for his brother. He’d done so well with her.
When the kids were deep in their decorating, Logan found Mia at the edge of the kitchen, talking quietly with Patty. He moved closer, catching the tail end of the conversation.
