Page 60 of Truck Me
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Pish posh.” Mom tsks. “No such thing in this house, and you know it.”
“You might as well sit,” I say as I give the hot chocolate in the pan another stir. “I made some for you too. Plus, they’re not going to let you go easily.”
I meet his heavy gaze. He nods but still doesn’t smile. There’s no more laughing or playful demeanor in him now. He’s back to being grumpy Garret.
But he removes his coat and gloves and hands them over to Mom. She hangs them on a hook by the back door and shoos him into the kitchen. “Might as well get washed up. Char will have the hot chocolate ready in a minute.”
Garret heads to the sink to wash his hands while Rayne sidles up next to me. “Can I have a cookie?”
I frown down at her. “You need to go change first like I asked.”
She clasps her hands together and holds them close to her chest. “Please!”
“No.” I chuckle. “The faster you get out of those wet clothes, the sooner you get a cookie and hot chocolate.”
“Just one?” She begs.
I roll my eyes. I don’t know why I’m arguing with her. We both know I’m going to give in to her. “Alright. Just one, and then you go put on some dry clothes.”
I plate up a cookie, but before I hand it to Rayne, I say, “Give this one to Garret. Guests first.”
She doesn’t argue with me. Just smiles broadly before she takes the plate and bounces over to where Garret is still standing. When she returns, I have two plates ready for her. “One for you and one for Grandma.”
“Who are those for?” Rayne points at the two other plates I prepared.
“One is mine and one is for Grandpa. I’ll go give it to him after I pour the hot chocolate.”
“Oh, honey, I’ll do that. Just let me know when it’s ready.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I give her a quick smile before I prepare all the mugs of hot chocolate.
I hear a chorus of moans and a smile slowly spreads across my face.
“Charlotte Lois Weber,” Mom says. “These just might be your best cookies yet. Aren’t they good, Garret?”
He grunts, then his words that follow cause me to suck in a breath. “Gives Grams a run for her money.”
That’s the second time now he’s suggested he likes my cookies better than Grams’ cookies. That’s a high compliment for sure.
“Jim and I keep telling her she should have a booth at the bake sale coming up. She’d sell out in a heartbeat.”
“I’d buy them.” Garret’s rough voices rolls out of him and right down my spine, leaving me trembling all over.
“Thanks, Aunt Char. Can I have another one after I change?” Rayne’s sweet, cheerful voice cuts through my lust-filled reaction to Garret like a knife.
I take a deep breath before I glance over my shoulder and smile. “Sure thing. Now go change before your hot chocolate gets cold.”
She runs off to her room while I place some cookies and two mugs of hot chocolate on a tray for Mom to take to Dad. I’m hoping he’s calmer now and she can enjoy this with him.
“Okay, Mom. This is ready for Dad. Let me know if you need help.”
When I turn to hand it to her, she’s giving me a not-so-subtle smile. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll be fine. Thanks for making this for everyone.” She turns with the tray in hand and pauses next to Garret. “Be sure to ask Char to get you some chili to take home with you before you leave. I made way more than we’ll eat.”
Garret nods at her but doesn’t speak. A moment later, we’re alone in the kitchen and the silence between us is awkward. I don’t like awkward.
I keep busy by fixing up his mug of hot chocolate. I add an extra dollop of whipped cream and extra chocolate shavings because I’ve already learned he has a soft spot for sweets.