Page 166 of Reckless Vengeance

Good thing my concussion was gone, or all the tinsel and lights would have given me a blinding migraine.

“Need help?” I asked Josie as I wandered into the kitchen, finding her pulling cookies out of the oven.

“Yes, actually. I need someone to taste one of these,” she grinned, placing the tray on the stovetop and grabbing a small plate, placing a hot cookie on it for me. “Is there anything you’d usually do on Christmas Eve?”

I shrugged, picking at the cookie. “Not really. I’m usually by myself.”

“Last year?”

“Alone.”

“That awful man,” she growled, snagging a hot cookie for herself and taking an angry bite. “He was here enjoying my hot cider and baking, while you sat at home alone?”

“I do recall last Christmas we had no electricity too, so I was alone in the dark with a blanket,” I said dryly, popping some of the cookie into my mouth and groaning. “It’s so good. You’ll make these for me every Christmas, right?”

“I will as long as you promise to call regularly once you run off to college,” she hummed, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m not going.”

“One day, you will. I can see your future, and it’s bright.”

“Nothing is as bright as your Christmas tree,” I teased, finishing the cookie. “Tell me about my future. I grow old and gray here, don’t I?”

She smiled, patting my hand warmly. “I’d love that, but no. You’ll find your purpose one day. Probably have all those boyfriends still. Which means you’ll probably have lots of kids.”

That thought made me snort.

“No, thank you.”

“Not the future you’d like?”

“No. Sorry, but you’re not getting grand babies out of me. Caden will need to find another girlfriend,” I answered, and she huffed.

“Nonsense. I’d rather have no grand babies than that boy find someone else. You’ve been a blessing for my family, Rory. I really hope you know that.”

“I haven’t felt blessed in a very long time,” I said softly, motioning to the room around us. “But this feels pretty blessed. I wish Mom was here to see it.”

“We’ll make sure she’s here next year. Heard anything else?”

“Nothing since finding out my uncle’s alive in prison,” I sighed, placing my head on the counter.

“Something will pop up, I’m sure of it,” she insisted, patting my arm before returning to her baking.

It was nice just sitting with her while she hummed along to the music, and I was still sitting there when Skeeter walked in a few hours later.

“You staying for dinner, honey?” Josie asked him as she handed him a hot coffee without him asking.

“If you can fit me, sure,” he replied, taking his coffee in one hand and placing his other hand on my thigh.

“There’s always room at my table for you, and you know it,” she promised, placing a cookie on a plate for him with a grin.

She scurried off to check something in Karl’s kitchen, he’d been doing meal prep so he could take the next few days off, and Skeeter sighed contently as he took a bite of the cookie.

“I’m going to get fat if I keep coming here.”

“Tell me about it. I’ve put on so much weight,” I grumbled, stealing a mouthful of his coffee. “Is Diesel⁠—”

“Baby girl,” he said gently, patting my leg. “Leave the man be. He did ask how you were today though. I nudged him to ask you himself.”