While she scribbled notes in her notebook, I created a list on my phone. Just as I finished, Ronan placed my laptop on the table in front of me.
“Thank you. I just about to go get it.”
He winked. “I know. While you’re placing orders, I’m going to work on getting some employees for Tinsel Town.”
I spent the next few hours placing expedited orders for most of the items on our list, as well as a few others that popped into my head as I went along. All the while, Gabby was quietly sketching out the inside of Santa’s house and adding details to her previous drawings.
“Ladies, ladies, ladies! All work and no play is no fun for anyone. How about some lunch?” Ronan asked and produced a bag of fast food that smelled divine. I didn’t eat it very often, but sometimes you just needed a big, greasy hamburger.
“You shouldn’t have,” I playfully admonished.
“Yes, I should have. We all need to eat and you have more than enough things to do right now,” he smiled. “Plus, I know how much you love their burgers.”
Seth and Ian arrived a few minutes later with their own bags of food. Silence fell over the table while we ate and it was all I could do to contain the moan of pure delight after my first bite.
“What’s on the agenda today, Mrs. Marks?” Seth asked.
“Well,” I said slowly and drew it out for effect. “Today, we’re going to put up all the lights!”
“Yay!” Gabby shouted and crammed the rest of her hamburger into her mouth. “Immm gomma merph erwsh urm unnnds. Thhhnnn shermesh amm corrrt.”
Using my hand to hide my smile, I reminded her, “Gabby, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
She swallowed quickly and jumped to her feet. “Sorry, Gigi. I said I’m gonna go upstairs and wash my hands. Then, I’ll get my shoes and coat on.”
We worked nonstop until dinner time and we were filthy. I helped Gabby take a quick bath before I rinsed off in the shower. I was so tired I couldn’t even formulate a plan for dinner, but I knew Gabby was hungry.
“No sleeping yet, sweet girl,” I said and gently woke her from where she was dozing on my bed.
She quickly sat up and rubbed her eyes. “I wasn’t sleeping. I’m ready to do more,” she said through her yawn.
“No more for tonight. Just dinner and then bed,” I laughed.
“What are we having?” she asked as we made our way downstairs.
“I’m not sure. What would you—?” The question died on my lips when the mouth-watering aroma filling the kitchen hit my nose.
Dressed in a button-down shirt and jeans, Ronan looked as delicious as the food smelled while he stirred something on the stove. He glanced over his shoulder and winked. “I hope you like spaghetti, Gabby.” He knew she did. We’d had it on more than one occasion when she was visiting.
“I love it,” she beamed. “Can I have sprink, too?”
“Of course, you can. Let’s set the table while Ronan’s cooking.” Sprink was what Gabby called grated Parmesan cheese. The first time she asked for it, I had to call Keegan to find out what it was.
I reached for the plates in the cabinet right beside the stove. “I’m so tired and didn’t know how I was going to make something to eat. And here you are, cooking dinner. I could kiss you right now.”
“When the little one goes to bed, I might let you,” he murmured with a sly grin.
Unsure of how to respond without making a complete fool of myself, I quickly turned and carried the plates to the table. While Gabby placed the plates and silverware on the table, I started working on the drinks, and seriously considered opening a bottle of wine for a brief moment before I decided against it.
As soon as everything was done, we sat down to eat. Gabby immediately shoved a huge forkful into her mouth before I could stop her. Correctly reading the panic on my face, Ronan whispered, “I made sure hers had a few minutes to cool.”
I closed my eyes and exhaled in relief. “Thank you.”
The rest of the meal was uncharacteristically silent as we all shoveled food into our mouths and didn’t bother to pause long enough to carry on any sort of conversation. I was down to the last few bites on my plate when Ronan nudged me with his elbow and jerked his chin in Gabby’s direction.
I dropped my fork and reached for my phone. “I have to get a picture and send it to Jacob and Keegan.” After finishing her spaghetti, Gabby had fallen asleep with her forehead on her plate and a garlic breadstick in her hand. “Bless her little heart.”
I started to get up, but Ronan stopped me. “Let her be. She’ll be fine until we’ve finished. Then, I’ll carry her upstairs and help you get her cleaned up.”