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My mom is driving me crazy. Can I come over, friend? I promise not to bug you.
Bebe
If you come over, I’m putting you to work.
JAY
What are you working on?
Bebe
Baking Christmas cookies.
JAY
Bet. I’ll be right over.
Well, as soon as these crutches let me.
Bebe set her cell phone on the countertop. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she remembered the warmth of lying on Jay’s shoulder Tuesday night. She’d felt a chink in her armor at the closeness but had managed to remember forgiveness didn’t mean forgetting. Bebe was all too happy to have walked away unscathed by memories or the attraction that hadn’t been erased by time. Maybe it was a Christmas miracle.
“Jay’s going to come over and help us bake,” she told her daughter.
“Awesome.” Hope clapped her hands. “Do we have a football-shaped cookie cutter?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“I don’t know, sweetie. Wearemaking Christmas ones, though.” Bebe pointed to the cutters in the shapes of a Christmas tree, stocking, candy cane, snowman, and gingerbread man.
“Yes, but football season still goes through Christmas. Plus, Mr. Walker is a football player.”
Bebe loved that Hope was respectful by calling himmister.She also loved how her daughter wanted to make cookies that meant something to Jay. God willing, he would take the olive branch and not be offended, considering the Desperados placed him on the injured list.
“Go see if we have one in the cookie cutter bin,” Bebe instructed.
“Yes, Mama.” Hope scurried off, quickly searching through the plastic container that held all the cookie cutters. “Found one.” She held up the offering, a big smile on her face.
“Great.”
The doorbell rang.
Bebe wiped her hands on a towel and went to the front door. She opened it and took in the sight before her. Jay had on a UT sweatshirt and black joggers. A weary look drew his mouth down.
“She’s hovering, huh?” Bebe asked quietly.
“Too much. Between her asking me if I need anything every five minutes and my dad grunting with disapproval...” He sighed. “I just needed some fresh air.” He sniffed. “And cookies smell a whole lot better than parental shame.”
Bebe chuckled. “Christmas cookies make everything better.”
“You’re determined to bring the Christmas spirit, aren’t you?”
She smiled. “Jahleel Walker, I know you once loved Christmas as much as I still do. Your current Scrooge state is because of the company you keep, not the holiday season. So come on in, listen to some holiday music, and make football-shaped cookies.”
“Football cookie cutters?” His eyes crinkled as his lips curved upward. “That Hope’s doing?”
“How’d you guess?” She stared at him curiously.
He tapped the side of his temple. “I knew.”
She wasn’t so sure if Jay really did know or if that was simply a lucky guess. Nevertheless, she led the way to her kitchen. Her gaze flitted left and right as she mentally tried to figure out just how Jay could perch on a barstool to help without aggravating his leg.
