Page 18 of Gumdrops and Garland

“I heard you were taking Miss Lucy this morning,” she said, a smile on her face. “That’s nice of you. I’d do it, but I’m teaching the kids how to make the new pies today.”

“It’s no problem,” I promised, brushing my hand at her. “I love spending time with Lucy and we’re going out to Evergreen Acres. She’ll get a wagon ride and I’ll get a little business done at the same time.”

“I should have known,” she said, laughter on her lips.

The bell dinged and we both turned to the door. I stepped back in surprise when a little body raced toward me. “Auntie Wumdwop! Auntie Mel!”

I scooped Lucy up and hugged her. “Hello, Miss Lucy. What are you doing here with Uncle Lance?”

I handed her off to Mel for a hug while Lance closed the door behind him. He bounced up on his toes nervously. “Isaac called and asked if I’d switch shifts with him today. He wanted to train Brittany on the eggnog special. It starts next week and he hasn’t had a chance to work it with her.”

“That’s true, we’re only a week away from Thanksgiving,” Mel pointed out.

“Cookies!” Lucy exclaimed when Mel set her down on the floor.

Her frantic pointing at the glass case had all of us laughing. I ruffled her blonde curls. “Auntie Mel will get you a cookie, baby. Go pick it out.”

Mel held out her hand and Lucy grabbed it, running on her tiptoes to get a cookie from the case.

“You don’t mind that I grabbed her from Ivy, do you?” Lance asked, taking a step closer. “Shep was going to call you and wait at the diner, but I told him to go to work and I’d bring her down. Her car seat is at the diner with your car.”

“No problem,” I promised, sliding into my coat. “I left my car there since it’s a short walk back to the diner. I’m sure Lucy won’t mind with a cookie in hand.”

“I’ll help you get her situated and then maybe you can drop me off at home before you go to Evergreen Acres?”

I tipped my head and blinked twice. “You don’t want to come with us to the feed store and out to Cam’s?”

“I mean, I do, but I don’t want to horn in on your girls’ day with Lucy.”

I punched his shoulder playfully. “I’d love the help. You know how she is out at the farm. We can tag team her to keep her out of trouble.”

That grin he hadn’t worn much the last few months filled his face. “Sounds like a great way to spend my day off. I wasn’t looking forward to being at home with nothing to do. My mind tends to wander.”

I grasped his arm and nodded. “I understand and I don’t want that for you. We can make a day of it. Crystal’s, Mrs. Beesweasel’s, and the farm.”

He held up his finger. “Shep told me that Ivy forgot about Lucy’s doctor’s appointment at two. She’s been sleeping since she went home at five, so Shep said she will be up by one and would like us to bring Lucy home by then so she can get her ready. We might have to cut out the town stops if we want to get out to the farm.”

Lucy hopped back around the bakery case with a candy sprinkled sugar cookie in her hand. Literally hopped like a bunny while chomping into her cookie. I laughed at the little tyke before I smiled up at Lance.

“I think she needs to work some energy off. Let’s go out to the farm and we can stop at the feed store after we drop her off with Ivy?” I asked, scooping her up into my arms so she could eat her cookie without dropping it.

“Sounds good to me. Are you ready for some fun, Luce?” he asked, holding the door for me as we waved at Mel.

“Oh, snow is coming,” I said on a shiver as we walked up the street. The sun was shining, but the nip in the air told me the first flakes were going to fall sooner rather than later. “We better get the Christmas display up this weekend if we want to do it before there’s snow on the ground.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Lance agreed as he tugged Lucy’s hat down over her ears. “I’m working the early shift, so I’ll be done by two both days.”

I shoulder bumped him as we walked. “I am too, but then all my shifts are early shifts.”

His laughter rolled up the street ahead of us and I smiled, loving how relaxed and happy he was today. Maybe a morning out at the farm was just what he needed. “Let’s make that a date then too.”

“Shouldn’t we see how the first date goes before we plan a second one?” I teased, handing him Lucy when we got to the diner so I could unlock my car. Lucy’s car seat was sitting by the back tire and I shook my head. Only in Bells Pass could you do something like that without worrying about it being stolen.

Lance tickled Lucy’s tummy and she squealed. “I think the first one will be a lot of fun, so I have no worries.”

I smiled and ducked my head into the car, snapping her car seat into the hooks before I backed out again. “I hope so. We live together and that’s going to be an awkward good morning in the hallway if you decide you don’t want a second date.” I winked to let him know I was kidding, but I wasn’t kidding. I’d already spent enough time with Lance Garland to know he was my kind of guy. If there wasn’t going to be a second date, it would be because he didn’t want one.

Becca handed me a glass of eggnog and motioned toward the story corner by the fireplace where comfy chairs waited for us. I lowered myself to a cushion, exhausted after the long day I’d already had. The eggnog would be a good way to recharge.

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