Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.
Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I’ll take the cookies. You bring the tea.
12/7/2024
Leo closed the front door with the tray of cookies perched on his hip. “I’m home!”
“There’s a plate in the refrigerator for you if you need it.” Mom called back from another room.
“I had dinner already, but thank you. If anyone is interested, I brought cookies.”
Chris appeared in the vestibule and took the tray from Leo. “I’ll take the cookies. You bring the tea.”
“Christopher, don’t be gauche. Leonard’s social activities are his own affair.”
“Honestly,” Joe said. “I’m with Chris. Pour me a cup of that tea, if you’d be so kind.”
“Sorry, Mother, you’re out-voted. We’re brimming with curiosity.” Dad said. “Sit down and fess up, Leo.”
“It went very well. She’s lovely, sweet and we seem to have rather a lot in common.” Leo sat down on the sofa between his brothers and peeled away the plastic wrap. “And she’s a prolific baker when the spirit moves her.”
“I hope she’s got a sister.” Joe took a thimble cookie and studied it. “This egg wash is flawless. Uniform in thickness and coverage.” He bit. “Mm, currant jelly? If you don’t marry her, I certainly will.”
“Joseph!” Mom clapped a hand over her mouth.
“And Tennyson said the spring is when a young man’s fancy lightly turns to love. It would seem this photographer has captured the hearts of my bachelor sons. What say you, Christopher?”
“Shattered walnuts and Craisins in the oatmeal cookies?” Chris chewed with his eyes closed. “Consider me among the bewitched. Tell me she’s got two sisters, Leo.”
“Only child, I’m afraid. I remembered to ask on Joe’s behalf. She knows a few people she could recommend, if you’re serious.”
“If they can bake like this, I’m in.” Chris said. “My word.” He studied a pistachio macaron. “Joe, what’s the latest on cloning? Maybe someone could make some sisters.”
“Have I failed as a mother? Is that what’s going on here? Cloning sisters and marriage at first sight. What is my life right now?” Mom pressed a hand to her forehead. “Is that a pfeffernüsse? Joseph, pass that to me, please.”
He picked up the small ball coated in confectioner’s sugar and passed it to her. She took a bite and sighed. “Murray, you must try one.”
“Hand me that one with the pulverized nuts, please.” He reached out in anticipation. Chris passed it to him. “Dear me, a rum ball.” He savored the flavor of the first bite and finished the rest. “That is impeccable, but she’s still a klutz.”
“Yes, she concedes that she has made an unfavorable first impression.”
“People stumble, Leonard. I shan’t hold it against her. It’s not as if she was faltering the whole time we were in line. She was industrious, organized and pleasant to even the most obstreperous children.”
“Certainly, your mother had more time to observe her than I did. One mishap does not define a person indefinitely.” Dad reached for a peanut butter cookie. “You have to admit, it was unforgettably spectacular.”
“Murray.”
“It’s true, Mary. I thought she was going to absolutely eat the leg of Santa’s chair, poor girl.”
“Yes, she was concerned that would be the end of her seasonal job and perhaps her face.” Leo sat back and savored an oatmeal cookie. “Oh, Chris, you’re right about these.”
“Yes, and I could literally live on these chocolate chip cookies. You said you already had dinner? I assume you didn’t have that at the Zavijava.”
“No. She had an interest in a turkey dinner, so we went to Hearth and Hollow.”
“A turkey dinner so soon after Thanksgiving?” Mom asked.
Leo shrugged. “Why ask why?”
“How is Tad? I haven’t seen him in ages.” Dad smiled.
“He’s lost a lot of weight. He’d love to see you and Mom if you get the chance.”
“That sounds lovely, dear. What did you have?”
“I had the turkey dinner, too. It seemed important to her.”
“How curious.” Mom ran a finger under her lower lip. “So, how did you leave things?”
“I drove her home and thanked her for the cookies. She thanked me for the turkey dinner and…”
Everyone leaned in.
“I invited her to come with us to church.”
“Is she Catholic?” Joe asked.
“No, I told her about the Eucharist, but it didn’t seem to bother her.”
“She just wants to be where you are.” Mom said with a smile.
“And vice versa. How can you say no to someone who wants to have a second date at church?”
Dad took a gingerbread man. “I certainly can’t argue with that. Will she meet us there or will you go pick her up?”
“I’m picking her up so we can go for breakfast after Mass.”
“Tell you what.” Dad sat back, waving the now-headless cookie. “Let’s plan on all of us having breakfast at Hearth and Hollow. If we can’t share the Eucharist with her, we can still break bread together afterwards.”
“That’s a lovely idea. I’ll let Joan know.” Mom smiled as she pulled out her phone. “Are Sarah’s parents local? Perhaps they can join us.”
“Unfortunately, they passed some time ago. She has no people to speak of.”
“Poor thing. Do you think she’ll be overwhelmed by us all coming to breakfast with you?”
“No, I believe she’d welcome it. I’ll check.” He pulled out his phone.
Hey, how do you feel about breakfast with the whole fam after church?
Sarah was curled up in a blanket on her sofa, listening to Christmas music when her phone buzzed. ‘Hmm.’
Even your niece and nephew?
She nibbled at a Snickerdoodle while she waited.
Munchkins, too.
‘What am I going to say? No?’ She mashed the rest of the cookie into her mouth and took a drink of milk.
Looking forward to it
😊 See you tomorrow 😊
‘Probably too soon for hearts.’ She reviewed the conversation. ‘But I want to.’
She reached for her glass, but found it empty. “Out already? I guess that’s what happens when you shotgun all the Snickerdoodles.” She twisted around to look at her kitchenette and back to her phone. ‘Don’t want to get up, but I don’t think I can have this conversation without cookies and milk.’
Fortunately, when Grace gave her Leo’s card, she had put her own number on the back. She looked at the empty glass again before unraveling from her comfy blankets.
“Definitely can’t handle this conversation without cookies and milk.” She stuffed her phone into her pajama pocket and shivered as she trudged to the fridge. “Running low. Nuts.”
😱 Aaaaaaaaaaaa! 😱
She poured the last of her milk into the glass. It didn’t quite fill to the top. “Should have gotten some Egg Nog.”
Hi, Sarah
What’s the matter?
She put the glass of milk on the coaster on her end table and gathered up the last of her Snickerdoodles. “Out of milk. Out of Snickerdoodles. I might just have to go to bed at this rate.”
He said his whole family is coming to breakfast after church.
She swaddled herself again and curled up on the couch beside her milk and cookies.
Big step
Are you okay with that?
‘I think so. It should be alright.’
Mostly
Just surprised me
She munched a cookie while Bing Crosby crooned about being home for Christmas.
Sure
MQM is a lot, but they’re pretty nice
That made her giggle.
What’s an MQM?
She turned to find she was down to her last Snickerdoodle.
Leo’s dad
Murray Q Murray
She thought back to Maslov’s. He just seemed like a doting grandfather trying to help.
What’s the Q for?
Quincy? Quigley? Quentin?
She nibbled at the final Snickerdoodle to make it last.
Maybe Leo knows
How was your day?
She thought back and it gave her butterflies.
Magical
Sarah sighed as she put the last morsel into her mouth and licked the brown sugar and crumbs from her fingers.
🥰
I’m so happy for you
She stared at the empty glass.
I’m out of milk
I’m out of Snickerdoodles
It’s too cold to go out
😢
“Just as well I ran out. I’m likely to get an upset stomach.” She tipped the glass up to get the last few drops of milk.
Guys love to solve problems
Sarah gasped. ‘No way.’
I was thinking it was too soon to put 💖 in my reply
It’s got to be way too soon to ask him to go shopping for me
‘Maybe I can switch to cocoa and chocolate chip cookies. Maybe I’ll just make myself too sick to go to church in the morning. Stop while you’re ahead.’
He said they’re all coming to breakfast?
Yes
How do you think that came up?
‘Hmm, good question.’
He shared the cookies with them
They asked him how your date went
He told them
They told him to ask if it was alright
to have breakfast with all of them
They want to get to know you
Sarah’s eyes grew wide. ‘No way.’
Srsly?
Promise
🤯
I can’t even
‘I’m definitely going to throw up now.’
Look, you have already skipped the hard part
‘Huh?’
How?
What’s “normal”?
You meet a guy
You get to know him
You have a couple dates
If things go well,
you meet the family
etc. etc. etc.
Been there
Done that
You already met everyone
but his brothers
You gave them cookies
They already love you
But I face-planted right in front of them
If they held it against you
you wouldn’t be having breakfast with everyone
They like you
because Leo likes you
See you at church
What should I wear?
Do you have any nice dresses?
‘Good question.’
Let me go see
She hatched from her cocoon of blankets and opened her closet. ‘Hmm, nice dress?’ She slid hangers left and right. ‘Oh, my God. I’m a complete slob.’
Not really
Send me a picture
Sarah lined a few things up on her bed and snapped a picture.
Navy dress
Green cardigan
Do you have a cross necklace?
No
I have a locket with my parents’ picture
That’s good
How about stockings?
It’s pretty cold for bare legs
Not really
Like I said,
guys love to solve problems.
Are you sure?
Give Leo a chance to be your hero
totally makes their day
Thanks, Grace
See you at church
‘What if she’s wrong?’ Sarah hung her clothes back in the closet. ‘What if he doesn’t want to be my hero?’
That thought made her stomach churn. Maybe it was actually because of all the Snickerdoodles she’d eaten, but she was worried about how Leo would react to her bothering him already.
Hey, are you busy?
No, I was just thinking about you
She couldn’t get the smile off her face if she tried.
Same
What’s up?
Wardrobe problem
I don’t have anything nice to wear to church
I want to make a good impression
Good thing it’s Christmas shopping season
There’s probably a bunch of stores still open
Want a fashion consultant?
No, silly
I want you
I’ll be right over
She twirled around the bedroom merrily until she got a look at herself in the mirror. ‘Oh, my. There is no way he’s ready for comfy bum mode.’ She jumped in the shower and hoped she could dry her hair before he arrived.
I’m not sure which doorbell to use.
I’ll be right down
She ran around flicking off lights and sliding her coat on when her stomach tensed up. ‘Calm down. Everything’s fine. Be calm.’ She gripped the doorknob for support and took several deep breaths. ‘Okay. It’s going to be okay. Just go downstairs. Leo’s waiting.’
She stepped out into the frigid evening and looked around. Leo was leaning on the hood of his car. When he saw her, he smiled and all of her tension melted away. She smiled and ran to his car. He met her at the passenger door and opened it for her.
“Thanks for coming to the rescue.”
“Thanks for giving me a reason to. I’ve got it nice and toasty in here. Buckle up.” He closed the door and hurried over to his side.
“Oh, it is nice and warm in here.” She smiled and snuggled into the seat. “Where to?”
“Anywhere the lady wishes.”
“You’re going to spoil me talking like that.”
“I just want you to be happy.”
‘Oh, my God! Are you trying to kill me?’ She smiled and thought a moment. “There’s a place on Vistula Avenue.”
“Right next to the jewelry store? Sure, they have nice stuff in the windows.” He shifted into reverse and pulled out of the parking space. ‘The jewelry store? Don’t tempt me. I’d put a wedding ring on you in a heartbeat.’
“And…”
He glanced at her as he pulled out of the parking lot of her apartment building. “Hmm?”
“Can we stop at the grocery store, too? I’m out of milk.”
“Binging on Christmas cookies?”
The radiant shade of red on her cheeks and ears said it for her.