“Virginia, you can let those customers in,” I tell her when she enters the shop. “Make sure they head to cash three. Jacinth already knows she’s to take care of them.”
“Sure.”
Customers have been waiting for the past half hour for our two most popular flavors in December. Every year, we bake tens of thousands of our chocolate donuts infused with peppermint flavor, topped with white chocolate and crushed candy canes, and our vanilla and peppermint marble topped with crushed candy canes donuts.
“Let me run back to the kitchen and grab some more,” Mom says.
“Thanks. With the lineup, it won’t take long for us to sell out again.”
“Well…” she tilts her head from left to right, “there’s no business like the Christmas donut business,” Mom winks.
“Good Lord. Did Callum brainwash you as well?”
“Your cousin knows what he’s doing,” my mom tells me.
“I can’t argue with you. Speaking of the devil, where is he?”
“Haven’t got a clue,” Mom says in a high-pitched voice.
Okay. She’s been acting strangely all day.
“Let me run along.” She adjusts the wings on her angel costume. Her crown receives the same treatment. “We don’t want customers to be waiting.” And she’s off.
She insisted on playing the part of Cinderella’s fairy godmother. It doesn’t match the theme of the day, but she looks sensational in her silver dress.
We nixed our usual Flashback Friday because tomorrow is Christmas. Instead, we decorated the shop to match the holiday spirit. Naomi selected the movie ‘Frozen’ as our theme. Let’s just say, it’s a winter wonderland in here. Callum and the team aced it.
As for my cousin, he’s suddenly disappeared. He went out an hour ago to run an errand and never came back. What gives? He’s usually so adamant about not missing a second of this mad rush.
“Sweetheart,” my father beckons my attention.
“Yes,” I say, meeting his grey eyes.
“Princess Naomi, Princess Luna and I are going back out to recruit more disciples. There are still two hours on the clock. That’s potentially several thousand donuts sold.”
He cracks me up.
Yup, Luna is also decked out in a festive costume. Today, she’s dressed in a peppermint blue and white lace ballerina dress and the obligatory tiara. Think Nutcracker.
I move my attention to the tiny blonde looking up at me with big blue eyes. “Aren’t you too tired, Noni?”
“No. I’m okay, Everly.”
She still has a cute little British accent.
Mom was watching over her while she—and Luna—took an early afternoon nap upstairs at my apartment. Still, I don’t want my father to exhaust her. Before you know it, he’ll have her running up and down the main street peddling my goods.
“You’re sure?” I press.
She nods. “This is fun. I like being Uncle Red’s princess helper. And Luna likes it too.” Daddy’s name is Redford Hayes Bickford-Smith. Naomi calls Mom, Auntie Lindsay—it’s less complicated.
Holt and I have been officially dating for a year now. It’s been an incredible ride from the start. Each day, I fall more and more in love with him.
How is that even possible?
After so many months together, I’m still gaga over him.
A big, goofy grin stretches my face.
Holt.
I think I fell in love with my rock god the first time he invited me over to his place. Seeing him in his surroundings and witnessing the strong bond he has with his daughter melted my heart.
Naomi knows I’m her father’s girlfriend. Holt sat down with her to make sure she was okay with it. She was thrilled. So was I. Still, we’ve been careful around her. I stay over at his house on weekends, but I’m back at my place during the week. Leaving Holt’s warm body at the crack of dawn to drive my ass to my shop is cruel. Being upstairs is more practical for me—even if I miss him like crazy. This arrangement is also less confusing for Naomi. Holt and I were on the same page on this. Many times, she’s asked her father when do girlfriends become mommies. She’s been quizzing me as well.
“Do you want to be a mummy one day?”
“Do you think I’m the kind of little girl you’d like to have as your little girl?”
“Do you want to have babies?”
“Do you want a lot of babies? Because I can help. So can Luna.”
“Do you think I’d make a great big sister?”
“Don’t you want to live with me, Daddy and Luna all the time?”
I can’t even tell you how heartbreaking those conversations are. For now, Holt and I are at a really great place in our relationship and I don’t want to push things. We’ll move onto the next level when we’re both ready.
“All right, you can go, but stay close to Uncle Red and don’t try to unfasten Luna’s leash from his belt. Okay?”
“I won’t,” she says.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“I’m sure she’ll be a good girl,” my father says.
“I will,” Naomi nods. “Luna will be good too.”
“See. You have nothing to worry about, Everly. Both girls will be on their best behavior. Luna just needed a little adjustment time, but now she’s okay with the Loop 'N Lead child wrist and belt loop,” Daddy pats the belt around his waist and flashes me a smile beaming with pride.
He bought this nifty safety belt for children to prevent Naomi from wandering off while he’s recruiting. The belt has two loops––one for Naomi and one for her Staffie. Alas, Luna wouldn’t have it at first. It took a lot of cajoling, but in the end, she conceded. Still, she has her days. Like today, for instance.
“Yeah, but she was finicky earlier.”
“I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Why don’t you leave Luna here? Just take Naomi with you.”
He shakes his head.
“It won’t be the same. I need my two princesses,” he argues. “Not to mention Luna’s been sitting out there for the past couple of hours greeting clients and eating doggy donuts. She needs a walk.”
“I can take her for a quick walk. Isn’t two too much to handle?”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Someone seems to forget this isn’t my first pony show. It might be my first go at it with a dog, but I’ve dealt with a rambunctious five-year-old who couldn’t stand still for longer than three seconds and her bouncy older sister in tow. I’m well-versed,” he winks. He looks down at Naomi. “By the way, I’m talking about her,” he points at me. “You wouldn’t believe how much of a troublemaker she was when she was your age.”
Naomi giggles.
“Me? No way,” I feign innocence.
“Sure. Take the Fifth,” Daddy purses his lips.
Naomi laughs her head off.
I look down at the adorable face. “If you’re going back out, make sure to wear a sweater, Noni.”
Her laughter quickly turns into a pout. “But it’ll hide my pretty princess dress,” her tiny hands smooth down the fabric of her dress. Of course, she’s dressed like Princess Anna.