brought things to make cookies,” Lily said. “If you’ll let me mix up the batter and start them baking before dinner, the girls can decorate them afterward. Or take them home to decorate, if the party winds down.”
“This party isn’t winding down until midnight!” Long John said indignantly.
Lily lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head to one side, the corners of her mouth turning up. “You think you can outparty me? Game on.”
She was obviously just joking, but Long John chuckled as he patted Lily’s arm, and Carson’s heart warmed. He hadn’t been sure Lily really wanted to join in the gathering, but she was entering into the spirit of it, being kind to the girls and to Long John.
Long John led Lily to the kitchen area, showing her where things were and opening pots to stir them. A sweet-tart smell, ham baking, filled the air. The girls took turns placing ornaments on the little tree, for once not one-upping each other, but having fun together.
Unexpectedly, Carson’s eyes prickled with tears.
This was what he’d wanted for his girls. A warm family Christmas. And if the family wasn’t one of blood, well, that didn’t matter. What mattered was the caring in their hearts. He let his eyes close, to keep the tears from spilling, but also to offer up a silent prayer of thanks.
* * *
Later in the evening, Lily wiped frosting from the twins’ faces, then attempted to clean up the multiple splatters on the kitchen counter. In front of the fire, Long John plucked at his banjo while Carson strung lights on the little Christmas tree.
“Daddy! Mr. Long John! Come see our cookies!” Sunny crowed.
“They’re soooooo beautiful,” Skye added, admiring the two colorful platefuls.
Lily bit back a laugh. Piled high with frosting, plus sprinkles and colored sugar they’d found at Long John’s friend’s house next door, the lopsided cookies wouldn’t be considered beautiful in any standard sense.
The twins’ happy faces, though, made up for any imperfections in the cookies they’d decorated. And the fact that Lily had found a way to help these motherless girls—Pam’s girls—have a little more Christmas joy opened a corner of her heart that had long ago closed down.
“Now ain’t those the prettiest cookies ever,” Long John said, leaning down to admire them. “Do I get to sample one?”
“Choose mine! Mine are on that plate!” Sunny begged.
“Mine are these,” Skye said, pointing to the other plate.
“I think I’d like to try one of each,” Long John said diplomatically, and a moment later Carson did the same.
“This is the best Christmas ever,” Sunny said, and Skye nodded solemnly.
At that, Lily’s good warm feelings drained away. This was most assuredly not the best Christmas the twins had ever experienced, nor Carson, either. Because Pam wasn’t here. She looked uneasily at Carson and caught the stricken expression on his face.
“I don’t think I’ll make it until midnight after all,” she said quickly. “I’m going to head back to my cabin. Thank you for your hospitality.” She gave Long John a quick hug and then knelt and did the same for the girls.
Sunny yawned hugely and leaned into Carson’s leg, while Skye ran to get Lily a cookie to eat later. Long John scooped ham and vegetables into a plastic container and insisted she take the leftovers along for Christmas dinner tomorrow.
“I’ll walk you back,” Carson said as she shrugged into her parka.
“No need. You stay with your girls.”
“Then I’ll watch from the porch to make sure you get there safely,” he said, plucking his own parka from the hook.
She couldn’t think of an argument against that, so she hurried out onto the porch. And gasped.
Snow blanketed everything—the trees, the fence, the cabins. There had to be six or eight inches.
“Whoa.” Carson came to stand beside her, tapping at his phone. “Snow’s not letting up anytime soon,” he said, holding up his weather app for her to see.
She blew out a sigh. “All the more reason for me to get settled inside. Thanks for driving me to town and...and for sharing your girls.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Thank you for entertaining them. They loved baking cookies.” Suddenly, his gaze grew more intense. “They don’t remember, but they did it with their mom, too.”
“I know. She talked about it.” Lily swallowed hard and started down the porch steps, picking her way carefully, but as quickly as possible.
“Lily,” he said, and she turned. “Since it looks like we’ll be snowed in, I’ll stop over tomorrow to make sure you have everything you need,” he said.
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“And,” he interrupted, his voice decisive, “so we can finish our conversation about Pam.”
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