by Lacey Baker
Taylor and Adam smiled at each other and then at the guard.
“Not bad. Not bad at all.” He took another bite and chewed some more. “Well, carry on. Merry Christmas!”
When he walked away they both sighed with relief. Adam leaned into her and said, “So ends our dancing.”
“Okay. We have a big day tomorrow,” she said.
“Yes, we do,” Adam agreed. “But ah, I mean, about before—”
Taylor wanted to act like she didn’t know what he was trying to say, she really did. But she couldn’t because it had been on her mind too.
She nodded. “We’re working on this project together,” was what came out of her mouth first. “A project that’s very important to both of us.”
“I understand,” he told her. “But there’s also something else. I think we both know that.”
“I agree.” There was definitely something else. “But I haven’t figured that out yet. I think it’s best if we just stay focused on the competition. Right?”
He looked at her for long seconds that made her feel like a complete jerk. Why couldn’t she just wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him? Couldn’t they have a long distance relationship? She knew others who did. And failed. No, it was better they just think about the competition.
He didn’t agree. She could tell by the way he was looking at her. He wanted to say more. He wouldn’t because he was too nice and too much of a gentlemen to push her. She was both grateful for that and a little disappointed.
“Right,” he replied. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”
Chapter Seventeen
Two Days Until Judging
There was still a lot of work to do, and Adam had a couple more gifts to get for Brooke and the audio book to order for Jenny. He hadn’t been able to do as much of his Christmas shopping because he’d been spending so much time working on the gingerbread house with Taylor. And when he wasn’t working with Taylor he was at the bakery making some of the decorations and still helping Ray. He’d been more than a little preoccupied lately. So much so that he hadn’t realized how many signs he’d missed over the last few days.
With his mind full of thoughts, Adam moved methodically through the kitchen at Ray’s. He was making the last few sets of decorations for the gingerbread house. They were meeting at the marketplace today at noon because Taylor thought it was a good idea to give the team some additional time off to shop.
“Working overtime?” Ray asked when he walked into the kitchen.
Adam hadn’t heard him come in because he’d been so focused on what he was doing.
“Yeah, we’re down to the last two days of decorating,” he replied without looking up.
“Doing this part by yourself?” Ray asked.
At this point in his career, Ray rarely did any baking. He was the owner and general manager of the bakery, but he kept his eye on everything and knew all of his repeat customers by name. Ray’s Bakery was a staple in this neighborhood; hence the reason Ray had been so resistant to any type of change to what they offered. Adam could understand that even if it stifled his creative energy somewhat.
“It’s a special project I wanted to handle to make sure I got it just right,” he said. It had been the first time he’d spoken that aloud. Taylor had given him the idea a few days ago, and he’d done at least half a dozen sketches in his bedroom at night after Brooke had gone to bed. Not that he’d been undecided on the design or the materials, but he hadn’t been totally sure he was going to do it, not until this morning. They didn’t need it in the gingerbread house, but Adam needed to make it.
“Because you want it to be special,” Ray said. He was standing on the side of the table a few steps from where Adam was working.
Adam nodded. “Yep.”
“Because this is a very special project,” Ray continued. “Something you really like doing.”
With his fingers pressed against a green gumdrop, Adam held it in place waiting for the icing to dry.
“It’s making Brooke extremely happy,” Adam replied when he glanced at Ray.
The older man had turned to lean against the table. He’d folded his arms across his chest, glasses that he did not like wearing hung on a chain around his neck.
“And that’s important,” Ray said. “Doing things for our children. Making sure they’re healthy and happy. I know; that’s why I worked so hard building this bakery. So my boys could have everything they needed.”
“It’s called responsibility. That’s what my father taught me. I make sure she has a roof over her head, food on the table, clean clothes and a stable home environment.” He picked up another gumdrop and repeated the process of sticking it into the spot where he wanted it. “But that’s not all, because children need more from their parents than just what money can provide. I’m always careful to make time for her, to do things that I know she likes to do, like ice skate and watch movies. My hours here at the bakery get a little crazy sometimes, but I make it happen.”
“You certainly do,” Ray added with a nod.
“And there’s no skimping on our traditions, either. We still wake up on Christmas morning and open presents. After breakfast we get dressed, check out Santa’s Landing to see if the reindeer enjoyed the snacks that were left, and then head to the skating rink. All the things that Cheryl started with us.”
“You’re a good father, no doubt about that. And Brooke knows it. She thinks the world of you.”
“She misses her mom.” That was something Adam thought of frequently, but didn’t verbalize often because he’d never felt there was anything he could do about it. He missed Cheryl too, but missing her wouldn’t bring her back. “And she likes Taylor very much.”
“And this right here,” Ray said pointing toward the table. “This says you like Taylor very much, too.”
Two seconds after hearing Ray’s words, Adam realized what he’d just done. Every thought he’d been having this morning, every revelation he’d come to had just spilled out while he worked on items for a gingerbread house.
Ray was already wearing a knowing smirk.
“You’re not funny, Ray,” Adam said but couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw that Ray was barely holding back a smile.
“No. No. This is very serious. What you’ve made here is nice. Taylor will like it. But what the three of you—Taylor, you and Brooke—have built together in this time is something, too. It’s something you should stop running from and maybe consider is a good thing.”
Ray didn’t wait for a response, but moved away from the table and walked out of the bakery as quietly as he’d come in.
Adam looked down at what he’d just created and felt a swell of pride blooming in his chest. He thought about Brooke and all the things he wanted for her, the things he could and should give her. That pride shifted to yearning and as a comfortable warmth flowed like water in his veins, the conclusion he’d tried to escape took root: he wanted to be with Taylor.
The thought had been bubbling around in his mind since the night she’d burned that gingerbread in his kitchen, and with each day they were together it grew. Not that he’d done anything to cultivate it. He hadn’t. In fact, at one point he’d been totally on board with denial. But now he wanted more. Last night she’d said they should focus on the competition, but that was almost over. So what would happen after Christmas Eve? Adam knew what he wanted to happen and he planned to let Taylor know too. Just as soon as he finished with this special project.
“Our fireplace looks amazing! Glass candy flames, who would have thought it?” Adam asked and looked down at Brooke.
Taylor looked at her as well, loving the blue jumper she wore today with the tiny white flower print and white shirt. Her hair was pulled up to a puff and her brown eyes sparkled with happiness. That happiness poured into Taylor’s heart, making her feel even more conflicted about leaving for P
aris.
“Our chief decorating officer, that’s who,” she said wanting to be sure she gave Brooke all the credit she deserved for her creative contributions to this project.
They were standing in front of the house looking over all the decorations they’d added, admiring their hard work. Taylor had to admit it looked really good. And when she glanced at their main competition, while Crestford had a cool, sleek design—similar to what Linda was requesting of her—Taylor felt comfortable with what they’d come up with. In fact, she loved it.
Adam stood with his hands thrust into the front pockets of his pants.
“So how does dusting the window with icing powder and grated coconut sound, to give it that morning frost look?” he asked.
“I love a morning frost,” she admitted. “Or a fresh snowfall? Could we do that?”
“Yeah. Of course,” he replied. “There’s just one more thing.” He bent down to pick up a box. “Here’s a little project I’ve been working on.”
He pulled it out of the box and Taylor’s eyes grew wide. Butterflies danced in her stomach so fast and quick she couldn’t instantly speak. It was the prettiest, most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for her.
“A candy chandelier? All in your spare time? Adam it’s wonderful,” she said and tried not to completely fall apart.
“And I have one more idea,” Brooke added. “We need pictures on the wall of a family.”
Adam nodded his agreement. “Good point. It is a home after all, so it needs that lived-in look.”
“We could always put up some pictures on the mantel,” Taylor suggested while keeping a loose hold on her emotions.
“I have a better idea,” Brooke offered. Taylor loved when she got that look in her eye, the one that said she had an idea and she couldn’t wait to share it.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Why don’t we take a photo of the three of us? That way it’ll be a picture of the family that lives in the house, or, I guess the family that built the house, but it’s the same thing, right?” Brooke’s idea seemed simple enough, and yet there was nothing simple about the question she was asking.
Were they a family?
In Taylor’s dreams last night, they had been. In those moments that she sat on the side of Brooke’s bed wishing she could take the sickness away from her while Adam watched them with concern, they had been. As she’d sat at the concert next to Adam, both of them brimming with pride at how good Brooke had done, Taylor had felt just like they were family. Her family.
Taylor looked up from Brooke to see that Adam was staring at her. Their gazes held as it seemed they were both trying to figure out what to say.
Brooke continued, “Daddy can use his phone to take the picture and then we can print it out. They have printers at Santa’s Workshop because that’s where they print Santa’s pictures.”
“Um.” Taylor cleared her throat when it seemed apparent that Brooke was moving forward with her idea. “Sure.”
“Come on.” Brooke walked around Taylor, clearly expecting her to follow.
Taylor looked at Adam once more, hoping he could save her— or rather them— from this. Taking a picture as a family was sending a definite message to Brooke. A message that they both needed to consider before it was too late.
“I’m ready,” Adam said after slipping his phone out of his pocket and wiggling it in his hand.
“Great, come on, stand by me, Taylor,” Brooke insisted.
Now that it was clear whose side he was on, Taylor turned and walked over to stand where Brooke had directed. They were right in front of the door of the house. Adam joined them on the other side of Brooke and held the phone at arm’s length away to take the selfie. Taylor smiled already seeing in her mind how domestic and quaint this photo was going to look. Part of her, that part she’d long ago buried, that felt this was absolutely right. It was absolutely perfect.
Adam snapped the picture.
“Yay! Can I take your phone over to Santa’s Workshop to see if they can print the picture, Daddy?”
“Ah, sure,” Adam said and let Brooke take the phone and dash off.
“I love how this place is coming together,” Taylor couldn’t help but admit when just the two of them were left. It was the simple truth and she really wasn’t in the habit of lying. Withholding information, maybe, but never lying.
“It just proves that anything is possible. Like you and I working as a team,” he told her.
A team. That’s exactly what they started out as. Now, Taylor wasn’t certain what they were.
“So, what happens if you win, anyway?” he asked. “Linda giving you a big corner office?”
This was the first time he’d asked that question. And in all honesty, Taylor had never thought it necessary to go into details about what she would get if she won the competition. In her original offer to him, she’d told him that this was part of her job, which it was. Again, she never lied to him. So why did she feel like she’d betrayed him and Brooke somehow?
“Kind of,” she replied. “Um, actually, I’ve been meaning to mention something. If all goes well, I might have some news of my own.”
She paused because the look on his face was of genuine interest. He wanted to know how this competition was going to help her at work. Like if it were something fantastic, he was ready to celebrate with her. Taylor wondered what his reaction was going to be when he found out the reward was her moving out of the country.
Someone close by cleared their throat.
“Ah, Annabelle,” Adam said and Taylor turned to see her walking up to them.
“Bonsoir,” Annabelle spoke with a tentative wave. “Look, I just wanted to say I’m impressed. I’ve been watching you two. You had an enormous setback but you really bounced back. Your gingerbread house is really quite good.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Taylor replied proudly. “But it’s mostly thanks to our talented baker here.” She looked at Adam and then back to Annabelle.
Annabelle looked at Adam too. “Well, if there’s anything I can appreciate, it’s talent and hard work.”
Annabelle walked away after making her comment and Taylor wondered what had just happened. She leaned closer to Adam and whispered, “A warm word from Annabelle? Did I hear that right?”
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” he said looking down at her with a smile.
Taylor returned the smile knowing exactly how Christmas miracles felt for once in her life.
“By the way, what is it you wanted to tell me?”
His question came about two seconds before Brooke ran back onto the platform. Adam held a finger to his lips signaling her to be quiet while he looked at Taylor expectantly.
He was waiting for her to tell him something. Taylor looked down at Brooke to see that now, she was waiting to hear what Taylor had to say too. And Taylor didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to say it, where to begin or what to expect when the words did come tumbling out.
She needed to tell them because Christmas Eve was right around the corner. There was no point in keeping it a secret any longer. But she couldn’t. Holding on to the happiness they’d felt moments ago while finishing the gingerbread house was crucial to her.
“Nothing important,” she said with a shrug and decided to hate herself for chickening out later.
Chapter Eighteen
One Day Until Judging
“Let the last day of decorating begin!” Mayor Arnold announced with gusto.
Taylor had watched him on television last night talking excitedly about the competition and the upcoming re-development project he planned for the city. Word around the office was that this project would be the coup of Linda’s career, but Linda hadn’t mentioned it to Taylor again since the day she told her about the competition.
“It’s the final stretch for teams here a
t the Giant Gingerbread House Competition,” the same reporter from the broadcast last night took over from where she stood in front of the exhibit stage.
The mayor’s press conference was just about over and they had to get to their final decorations before tomorrow’s judging. But while the reporter continued to speak, Taylor took a moment to look around at the people who had come out to attend the festival. There had been a steady crowd coming inside the Marketplace and walking outside in LOVE Park enjoying the good food, shopping for gifts and bringing the children to see Santa. Of all the places in all the world Taylor had been during Christmas, this year, in this place, felt like the best. Just as she’d told Adam when they were at Santa’s Landing, it felt like home.
When the press conference was officially over the music was turned up louder and Christmas carols blasted through the space once again.
Taylor, Adam and Brooke moved around the gingerbread house adding final details. At one point, Taylor looked up to see Annabelle and Bradford stealing glances at what they were doing. A huge part of her felt like gloating. But the bigger part just wanted to enjoy the time she had left with Adam and Brooke. With that in mind, she’d decided on another detail last night and she needed to get to her bag.
She walked around to the back of the house and pulled the stocking from her bag. When she came back Bing Crosby’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” had started to play. Taylor smiled as she walked inside the gingerbread house and hung her stocking on one of the hooks they’d put on the mantel. For a few seconds she just stood there, looking at her name on the stocking, and remembering all the years she’d been sure to hang it somewhere. This year was special, this place was special and that’s why she’d known her stocking needed to go here for this gingerbread house to be complete. She stepped out of the house to see Adam and Brooke standing on the stage looking at her.
“Only a few minutes left,” she said to Adam and looked back at the house.
“We literally have nothing left to decorate. I’d say we’re done here.”
