She slid the egg mixture into the pan she’d heated up and began dropping the diced peppers and onions in. The eggs sizzled as she turned down the heat on the stove and then walked over to Nick.
He’d picked his paper back up, and she leaned over his shoulder. “What are you reading?” she asked, their cheeks nearly touching.
He turned to look at her. “The business section.”
She reached over and took the paper out of his hands. He watched her, his forehead creasing in interest. She turned one page after another and then stopped. “Here,” she said, sliding the paper back over to him. “This is the only part I read.”
He looked down at it. “The comics.”
“Yep.”
“I’ve never read this section.”
“What?” She pushed the paper a little further down so it lined up with his line of vision. “Look at this one,” she said, pointing to one of the comic strips. “Read that.” While he was reading, she walked over to serve up the omelets. Her back was to him when she heard a laugh escape his lips and she turned around.
“That’s funny,” he said, scanning down the rest of the page. He stopped on another one on the opposite side and chuckled again.
“See? You don’t have to always be all business.” She winked at him as she slid his plate toward him. When she’d prepared her own plate, he folded his newspaper and set it aside, allowing her to sit on the barstool next to him.
He took a bite and swallowed. “This is delicious,” he said.
“I’m glad you like it.” After a moment’s silence, she asked, “Will you have time today to make ornaments with us?”
“What time?” he asked.
“I can work around you,” she said, trying not to let her excitement get the better of her. “What time would you be free?”
“How about around noon?”
“Done.”
* * *
Abbey had spent the day finalizing the music and favors for the party. The house looked amazing, and Robin had already sent photos to two of her friends who were going to call Abbey for price quotes on her decorating services. She’d had a busy day, and she hadn’t seen Nick, but she’d promised to make ornaments at noon, and she was there and ready. She looked at her watch. He had one minute. Thomas and Max were sitting at the bar in the kitchen, the bowl of ornament dough waiting to be rolled out.
“He’ll be here,” Abbey said despite her reservations as Robin stood up to go get him. “Let’s give him a chance.” He’d proven himself at Max’s Daddy Day at school, and she wanted to believe that he would be there today.
“Hello, everyone,” Nick said, coming into the kitchen and Abbey let out a breath of relief.
“I thought you were going to be late,” Robin said to him.
“Nope. Not for this. I am intrigued with how to make a hand-ornament.” He walked over to the boys. “Thomas, have you done this before?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Max? Have you?”
“Yes. Mama and I do it every year. She has one for every age I’ve been.”
“Then you’re the pro at this. Will you show us how it’s done?”
“Yes,” Max said with authority. “You have to roll up your sleeves.”
Nick complied, unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirtsleeves and folding them up to his elbows. “Now what?” he asked, reaching over to help Thomas roll his sleeve up. Robin was on the opposite side helping with the other sleeve.
“Mama, would you put the flour down, please?” Max said.
Abbey dusted the surfaces with flour.
“Now, grab a big glop of dough.” Max reached in and grabbed a fistful of the white mixture. He dropped it onto the floured surface.
Nick followed his lead and put a wad of it in front of himself.
Abbey handed each of them a cup. “For rolling the dough,” she said.
“Would you like a rolling pin?” Robin suggested. “Nick, you have one, right?”
“That’s okay,” Abbey said. “We always use a cup and it works just fine.”
Nick rolled his cup, his ball becoming flat but lopsided due to the shape of the cup. He rolled again, looking over at Max. Max had done it so many times that he had a perfectly round, flat shape, ready for his handprint.
Abbey reached her arms into Nick’s space to help him smooth his out. As she did, he whispered, “Thank you,” in her ear, and a prickle of excitement slid down her spine.
“Well, you looked like you needed help,” she said with a grin, their faces dangerously close.
After Robin had helped Thomas with his, the boys and Nick each sat in front of a round piece of dough. “Use the end of the cup to cut the dough into a circle. Then press your hand in. I like to do my right hand,” Max said. “You press it like this.” He placed his hand in the center of the dough and pushed down. When he withdrew his hand, there was a perfect print in the center. Abbey scooped it up with a spatula and set it on a cookie sheet. Nick and Thomas followed.