hot cocoa in a moment as well,” Constance called out.
“You putting the cinnamon and vanilla in it like you usually do?” Lowell asked.
“I am,” Constance answered.
“I’ll wait for the cocoa, then. Thank you,” he said as he walked into the back of the convenience store to get the push broom and spray cleaner so he could get the pumps cleaned and ready.
“He’s a very nice man,” Constance said as Libby went back to her donuts.
“He is. Instead of concentrating on my love life, maybe you should find out if he would like to have coffee or something with you,” Libby suggested.
“Oh, no! He’s only a few months after losing his wife. And I’ve got my hands full with Moe, anyway. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but he’s about swept me off my feet.”
“Yeah, men’ll do that to you,” Libby mumbled, lifting the tray of finished donuts in preparation of taking them over and putting them in the display case.
“I can get those for you,” Constance answered.
“I got it, you make better gravy than I do. You do that, and I’ll get the donuts put in the case,” Libby answered.
“Deal,” Constance said.
~~~
Maia rolled over in bed, luxuriating in the feel of the silky, smooth Egyptian sheets Riley had bought her when she’d given birth to Sebastian. He’d gotten her three sets, and though it had been four months, she still smoothed her hands and legs over them each time she lay down, and woke up. With a lazy smile she looked over toward the window and her eyes widened when she sat bolt upright in bed as she hurriedly untangled herself from her beloved sheets. “Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!” she repeated over and over again. The sun should not be this high in the sky. It should be rising, but still not quite up. She’d overslept, big time!
Maia ran directly into Cristie’s room. Cristie’s bed was pulled up neatly and her slippers were on the floor beside her bed. Maia looked over at the hook on the wall where Cristie’s backpack usually hung, but the backpack was gone. “Daddy must have taken her,” Maia mumbled to herself as she spun on her heel to rush to her son’s room.
“Sebastian?” she called out as she hurried to the side of his baby bed. She looked down at him. “Mommy’s sorry, little man,” she said, reaching for him.
Sebastian lay on his back, gurgling and cooing at the mobile hanging over his bed. The moment Maia appeared, he let out a squeal of happiness and reached his arms out toward her. He was a very patient, even tempered little boy, unless you had food and he didn’t. Then you better hurry up and get him food, or give him yours, or he’d release a scream the likes of which could burst eardrums.
“I’m so sorry I overslept,” Maia said, lifting him into her arms. The moment she held him against her chest he snuggled into her, grabbing her hair in both hands while he grinned toothlessly at her.
“I can’t believe Daddy didn’t wake me up when he left,” she said. “Let’s get you changed, then we’ll have breakfast before our bath, okay?”
Maia carried Sebastian down the stairs, bouncing him and making silly faces as she went. He laughed so much he gave himself hiccups. When she walked into the kitchen, he figured out it was time to eat and started whining.
“I know! I know. Here, let’s get you situated,” she said, strapping him in his highchair while she went for the grits, and eggs. Maia quickly scrambled some eggs, then made a couple of packs of cheese grits. It was less than ten minutes before she sat down in front of him with his breakfast and began feeding him. While only four months old, he was a shifter and had strengths and nutrition needs human children didn’t. When he finished his first small plate of food, Maia stood up to get a little more for him, and pour herself a cup of coffee.
As she reached for the coffee pot, she noticed a post-it-note on the pot. “I took Cristie to school. Let you sleep in. Love you, baby.”
Maia smiled and pulled the post-it-note off the coffee pot and stuffed it in the pocket of her pajamas so she could put it with her keepsakes later. She had all sorts of notes and trinkets Riley had given her throughout their time together, and this note would get added to them.
Maia sat down with