A Little Christmas: Aster by Della Cain

Author:Della Cain [Cain, Della]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Decadent Publishing LLC
Published: 2022-12-08T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Aster

It was getting close to Christmas and, for the first time in three years, I was looking forward to it. Work had been busy for both Theodore and me as we got ready for our Christmas vacations, and we weren’t able to see each other as often as we wanted. It was worth it, though, because we were both lucky enough to work in fields where the expectation was to be closed from Christmas to New Year’s. We would have a bit of downtime to enjoy each other’s company and our new relationship. I always felt bad for people whose jobs that had them stuck working the entire time, regardless of their family plans.

“What are you bringing for treat day?” Collin, my co-worker, asked.

I’d completely forgotten about treat day. Someone higher up decided we needed to be jollier and having theme days throughout December was the way to accomplish that. It was nice in theory and, on days when the company did things like buy us lunch, nice in practice, too. Treat day, however, just added something to everyone’s already busy to-do list.

“Sugar! I didn’t sign up yet, did I?” I’d meant to the day the list came out but got distracted by tech fail. You always wanted to be first on these things so you got to pick the easiest item there. Given it was tomorrow, I had a feeling I was going to regret past Aster’s distractibility.

“You did not.” He tapped the clipboard, the one I walked past in the break room countless times.

“What’s left?” And please let it be easy.

“Iced sugar cookies.” He at least had the decency to feel badly about it. “You can go to a bakery. It’s an option.”

An option, yes. But also, not one that the culture of the office would appreciate. The expectation was that everyone would bring something homemade to share on their assigned day.

“No. I got this.” I signed my name on the space. “It’s fine.”

My dinner date with Theodore was shot, but I’d get it done. It had been years since I even helped with iced cookies, but I remembered that from beginning to end, they took forever. Or maybe that’s because ten-year-old me just wanted to eat one already.

Collin left, and I looked up a recipe. No. They were going to take time and supplies I didn’t have.

I messaged Theodore.

Sorry. I need to cancel tonight. I forgot tomorrow was treat day, and I need to bake and ice a bunch of cookies.

He messaged back almost immediately.

You still need dinner. How about I help?

Of course, Papa was going to make it better. That’s what they did.

I need to get some supplies. See you when I get home?

My phone rang in my hand.

“What kind of cookies?” He cut to the chase. “Any particular shape?”

I hadn’t even thought about that. I was in over my head.

“Just that they need to be iced sugar cookies.”

“How about you come home, and we’ll go shopping together?”

That sounded absolutely perfect.

“Great. I’ll text you when I’m leaving.

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