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“Oh oodness” Juliet pointed at ”

I glanced around the garage and grinned While it was a lot of stuff, Mr Shields had kept everything neat and organized “It’s a lot of machines and tools to play with, for sure”

“Well, I’ll leave you to it” She squeezed my hand

School ended up being cancelled for Juliet Good thing It took forever to get the snoer running and clear the driveway But it felt good to be useful and do stuff withit apart

Cold, but happy, I stoe and stripped off my boots, overalls and coat The warmth of the house blasted my cheeks when I entered the hallway The oven hummed in the kitchen Music drifted froain, I’d be in heaven

She had her back toover the counter, working on so “Hey, I’m all done”

“Oh!” She juainst her chest

I hurried over to her “I didn’t mean to startle you”

“It’s okay”

I glanced over her shoulder

My jaw dropped as I tried to process what she’d been working on “Is that…are youme a cake?”

“Well, it was your birthday, right?” She curled her fingers in my shirt and pulled me closer “That’s why you finally came home to me”

“Yeah,” I rasped, still staring at the cake Round and covered with thick, white frosting, she’d been spelling Happy Birthday across the top with little chocolate chips when I interrupted “I don’t think anyone’s made me a cake since I was five”

“It’s chocolate, with vanilla frosting” She let out a frustrated huff “Because that’s what I had here But you can pick out soo to the store—”

“Nope That sounds perfect” I glanced at the oven “What’s in there?”

She shook her head “Cookies Just leave me a couple to take to school tomorrow”

“I’ll do ain “Can we have some?”

“It should go in the fridge for a bit It’s still warm-ish”

I wasn’t above a little begging “Please?”

“As if I could say no to you” She whirled around and opened the utensil drawer