“Oh, he’s not going anywhere. He loves it here, he’s just worried about Talie,” Lazarus said.
“Hopefully he’ll hear from her soon,” Riley said.
“You sure this is where you want it, Reigna?” Lazarus asked.
“I am,” Maia answered.
“Okay, I’m gonna secure it. It might never come down, but maybe we could add a flag for the fourth of July, and an Easter Bunny for Easter. We’ll figure it out,” Lazarus teased.
“I kinda like that idea,” Riley said.
“Ya’ll going to get everything up this afternoon?” Maia asked. “If you need to space it out…”
“No need, we can get it all done. And then we’re going to do the trailer park, too,” Lucas said, somberly.
“Thank you for that. I know Christmas lights aren’t a big deal to you, but for the kids to look out over the yard and see ya’ll across the street decorated, and the diner and gas station decorated, will make them smile,” Maia said. “And don’t forget we’re going tomorrow evening to cut down our tree and do whatever Travis has managed to set up at his place. And before anybody whines, we are ALL going!”
“You know, I think our Reigna kinda likes the decorations and the lights, too,” Lazarus said on a chuckle.
“Only a little,” Maia said haughtily with her little upturned nose in the air. Maia glanced down at her watch. “Oh! I have to go. Cristie is getting out of school shortly. You’ll listen for Sebastian?” she asked Riley.
“I will. Go get the girl!” Riley said, smacking her on the ass as she shoved the baby monitor at him and rushed back toward the house to get her keys.
“What is your fascination with my ass?!” she snapped at him.
“It’s mine! That’s the fascination,” Riley yelled, laughing.
Maia came out of the house a few minutes later with her purse and her keys. “You better watch it. I’ll give you an imprint of my ass for Christmas,” she threatened.
“Sounds like a perfect gift to me,” Riley answered, teasing his wife.
“I’m gonna hang it on the wall so everybody that visits can see it,” Maia said, pausing to peck his cheek as she rushed to her truck.
“Yeah,” Riley said, agreeing that it was a good idea. Then he realized everybody would see it. “Hey! That ain’t funny!” he yelled as she started to back out of her spot.
Maia nodded at him through the windshield as she laughed.
“Love you!” Riley shouted, and blew her a kiss.
Maia blew a kiss back at him then headed off down the drive that leads to the highway so she could be on time to pick up Cristie.
~~~
Travis rolled over and opened his eyes. He blinked twice, not believing what he saw. The sunlight was peeking through the curtains covering his bedroom windows. He sat up and looked around, then, the scent hit him. He rumbled low and appreciatively. Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg. All the wonderful scents that had gradually faded the night before were back again this morning, but with the added bonus of maple and bacon. That could only mean one thing. Libby was here early again this morning.
Travis reached for his prosthetic leg and strapped it on, before getting up and dressed. Once he was dressed to face the day, he opened his bedroom door and walked into the living room, his aim to head toward the kitchen, but he stopped in his tracks when he noticed a pillow on the sofa with his mother’s afghan folded on top of it. Hmpf — maybe Scotty spent the night on the sofa.
“Morning, sleepy head,” Libby called from the kitchen.
Travis glanced up and saw her watching him across the breakfast bar that separated the two rooms. Her hands were out of sight below the surface of the bar, but it was obvious she was busy as she kept looking down at her hands.
“Morning,” Travis answered. “Sorry I overslept.”
“Don’t give it another thought. I know how much trouble you have sleeping, so when the sun came up and you weren’t, I decided to let you sleep and take advantage of the morning to make some more Christmas cookies,” Libby explained.
“What time did you get here,” Travis asked.
“Well, see, that’s the thing. Last night when I left?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he answered.
“I got about fifteen minutes away, rethought my decision to drive all the way home, and turned right around and came back. Scotty let me back in, and I opened the door to your bedroom to let you know, but you were already snoring. Scotty said the falling asleep isn’t hard for you, it’s the staying asleep. I didn’t want to wake you while you were able to sleep at all, so, surprise! Here I am,” she said, doing a quirky little in place dance.
“You slept on the sofa?” he asked.
“I did. Hope you don’t mind,” she said, pausing as her hands came up and he realized she was decorating cookies.
Travis smiled humbly, then walked around the breakfast bar and into the kitchen. He walked slowly, determinedly, directly to where Libby stood, watching him approach her. He came to a stop right beside her, so close she could feel him breathing, then he gently reached out and took her face in his hands while he kissed her.
Libby stayed where she was, an offset spatula in one hand and a couple of sugar pearls in the other, her face turned toward him while he kissed her. When finally he released her lips, her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself breathless and lightheaded.
“Why would I mind? You belong here, you always have. You are welcome to spend the night any time you want. I have only one condition,” Travis said, his voice grumbly and seductive.
“What’s that?” she asked shakily.
“You don’t sleep on the sofa. You don’t sleep any damn where but with me, in my bed, where you’re supposed to be.”
Libby took an uneasy breath. “But…”
“No buts. If all you want is sleep, that’s all that will happen, but you will be sleeping beside me. Period, if you’re under this roof,” Travis said.
Libby nodded. “Okay,” she agreed.
“Good,” Travis answered. “Now. Do I smell bacon, too?” he asked, stealing one of her cookies.
Libby nodded. “Look,” she said, proudly, walking over to the oven and pulling it open before using a potholder to remove a cookie sheet from it.
“What have you done?” Travis asked, walking closer to her with his eyes glued to the cookie sheet in her hand.
“Maple butter cream frosted donuts with broken pieces of crunchy bacon on top,” she said, holding the pan out so he could choose.
Travis’s eyes widened and he lifted one of the maple bacon donuts she offered and bit into it. Travis chewed, then shoved the rest of it into his mouth and took two more, which had Libby laughing happily.
“You eat yet?” he asked, as he finished off another one of the donuts.
“Yes, so did Scotty. I let him take my jeep again so you could sleep in,” Libby answered.
“You full?” Travis asked, nodding at her explaining that Scotty had taken her jeep. He was actually very happy with that. It meant that she couldn’t leave anytime soon.
“Yes,” she said, looking at him curiously.