“Mistah Jake! Mistah Jake is here, Auntie Honor!” the happy looking little girl war cried, throwing her sturdy little body at the screen door and knocking it open as she ran headlong into Jacob’s legs.
Bracing as her tiny body plastered itself to his legs, he bent to lift her in one arm, crossing the threshold and closing the front door behind him. He was relieved to find that it at least had solid deadbolt locks attached to it. He imagined he had the good sheriff to thank for that safety measure. “Well, hello there, Princess. How are you doing today, Miss Heaven?” he asked, brushing a kiss against her flushed cheek.
“I maked cookies,” the child chirped enthusiastically as she bounced in his arms. “Two kinds,” she chortled, popping up two pudgy fingers beneath his nose.
“You did?” he rumbled, shifting the energetic little girl against his chest. “What kinds did you make?”
“I maked chockie chip and peanut buttah,” she informed him eagerly, swinging one leg as she perched on his hip. “Dey is my Momma’s favorite kind. What your favorite kind, Mistah Jake?”
Laughing softly, he looked at the little girl he held in his grip. “My favorite kinds are whatever kind you make for me, Princess.”
“Den you like chockie chip da best,” she decided for him with a pat to his cheek. “I putted da eggs in dem.”
Honor chuckled softly as she walked into the room. “And only a little bit of the shell made it into her batch. Hello, Mr. Stone,” she greeted him quietly, inclining her head slightly toward him before smiling at her niece. “I see Heaven showed you inside. I’m sure Harmony will be down in just a few minutes.”
“No hurry at all and it’s Jacob, Honor. Or, Jake if you prefer,” he returned with a nod to the young woman. Bending to put Heaven back on her feet, he pulled the pink stuffed teddy bear from the plastic bag around his wrist. “Got you something, Peanut,” he murmured with a grin as he held out the toy to her. “I thought this guy could keep you and Aunt Honor company while I take Momma to eat tonight.”
“It’s pink!” Heaven squealed, eagerly grabbing the stuffed animal. “I like pink the bestest of all da colors! Look, Aunt Honor,” she yelled, holding up the bear for her aunt to praise.
“Very nice. What do you say, Heaven?” Honor prompted gently.
“Thank you, Mistah Jake,” Heaven replied, throwing her arms around Jake’s legs again.
“You’re welcome, darlin’,” Jake murmured dropping one hand to Heaven’s fine hair. “I brought a movie, too. Have you seen ‘Frozen’ yet?” he asked, showing her the DVD case. “Maybe you can watch it while you eat your cookies if it’s okay with your aunt?” he asked, glancing at Honor and seeing the woman’s soft smile.
“I think we can arrange that,” Honor agreed as Heaven hopped up and down.
Heaven took the animated movie from Jake’s hand and gave him another hug. “I like you da best, Mistah Jake.”
“Right back at ya, sweetheart,” he replied in a low rumble, returning Harmony’s daughter’s hug. God, she looked so much like her momma that every time he looked at her it made his heart clench. She was truly a beautiful child. He could tell by the stunned look on her little face that one gift was shocking, but getting two at once was almost unheard of in her tiny world. That might worry him more if he couldn’t feel the love radiating from the adults that filled this kid’s world. Heaven might not have every toy on the market, but she had an abundance of people offering her love, encouragement and support. Her pictures and drawings filled the I Don’t Care Café, and almost everybody that frequented the restaurant knew her by name and took the time to speak to the child when she was there.
Watching her niece with an amused smile, Honor directed softly, “Alright, Heaven, honey, turn loose of Mister Jake’s leg and thank him, then go wash up for supper.”
Proving she was an obedient child, Jacob felt Heaven’s grip on his legs tighten for a brief moment before she looked up at him with those wide, rounded blue eyes just like her mother’s, and thanked him again. Dropping in front of her, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You are more than welcome, Princess,” he stated quietly before she beamed one last smile at him and took off toward the kitchen.
Meeting Honor’s serene gaze as he straightened back to his full height, he couldn’t help grinning. “She’s something else, isn’t she?”
Honor nodded. “She’s definitely the best part of my day.”