Page 2 of The Blessings of Christmas
Running her hands over her jeans and a tatteredSay Yes to Michigan!sweatshirt, Sarah felt frumpy. “My mother wasn’t answering her phone.”
He nodded toward the stairway. “She went up to her apartment a while ago. You should have called me instead of driving over. The streets are slippery.”
“I––I managed. Think I’ll just run up and check.”
Grabbing a sheet of caraway rye from the oven, Ryan shoved it onto the cooling rack. Then he shut the oven with a clang and ripped off the protective mitts with his teeth. “I locked the front door. No one came in after three. The snow, you know.”
“Did my mother look sick?”
“Maybe a little flushed. Lila’s getting older, Sarah.” He propped a hip against the work counter.
“I know.” As if she needed reminding. Giggling and jostling, the boys disappeared into the front of the coffee shop.
“No cookies!” Sarah called out. “You haven’t had dinner yet.”
Silence out front. Ryan chuckled and they exchanged a glance. “Double trouble,” she said.
“They’re good boys, Sarah. And I’ve got news.” His lips twisted into a smile. “Boys are trouble.”
Well, he should know.
“Just one cookie?” Nathan’s wheedling voice called from the front.
“It can’t hurt.” Ryan always took their side. “One cookie, Mom?”
“You’re no help at all.” Sarah got tired of saying no. That was her role now. Disciplinarian. Not a wife, just a mother. “Okay. Just one. Then you both get back here.” After a suspiciously long time, they burst through the swinging door, waving oatmeal cookies.
Going over to the butcher block table in the center of the room, Nathan ran a hand over the floury surface and munched. “Aren’t you cold in just your undershirt, Uncle Ryan?”
Embarrassment flooded Sarah’s face. “Nathan, don’t be rude.”
But the comment didn’t seem to bother Ryan. “I wear this because it’s hot in here. And I think you owe me a bite from your cookie.” But just as Ryan reached to snatch it, Nathan offered the cookie up. He gave his uncle a sweet smile that tugged at Sarah’s heart. Ryan was right. They were good boys. Taking a tiny bite, Ryan chewed with exaggerated lip movements.
“Nice. Real nice,” she said. He could be such a clown with the kids.
One hand smushed across his face, Justin giggled, peaking at his uncle from between his fingers.
“Are you laughing at me? I’ll sic the tickle bug on you.” Ryan made a move to scoop Justin up, but he ran around the end of the table. They adored Uncle Ryan. Sarah just didn’t want them turning out like him.
“You boys are getting cookie crumbs all over my workroom,” Ryan said.
“Now you sound like me.” Sarah chuckled. But Ryan’s comment brought the boys up short. Walking to the wastebasket, they dusted the crumbs off their hands.
“Man, it’s hot in here.” Ambling over, he shoved open a window. Muscles rippled as he moved, his limp hardly noticeable. She’d never noticed those etched biceps.
“You are hot,” she murmured.Oh mercy. “Warm. I mean warm. It’s so warm in here.” Sarah fanned herself. What was she saying?
“Yes. It is,” he said, turning slowly, the hint of a smile dancing across his lips.
Sarah clapped her hands. “Okay, time to check on Grandma.” She herded the boys toward the back stairs. “We’ll be right back. Have to check on my muscles. I mean, my mother.”
“I’ll be here.” Ryan adjusted his apron. “Still have lots of work to do.”
“Right. You just...get to work.” Why was she so rattled?
“You bet, boss lady.”
“I wish you wouldn’t call me that.” My, her nerves really were on edge.
