Page 93 of Merry Fake Bride

Mom hovers over my shoulder doing her very best not to make a single sound but failing as every movement from me draws a small, tense squeak from her.

With only my good hand to work with, my movements are as delicate as I can manage.

Slowly, very slowly, I lower the fragile caramel nest down onto the bed of cream and take a cautious step back as if my presence changing the air around the cake will affect it.

It doesn’t move.

It doesn’t shatter.

It’s perfect.

“Yay!” Mom cheers softly and kisses my cheek. “Your dad is going to love it.”

“I hope so. Took me long enough.”

With a teasing smile, I relax fully and roll my shoulders.

There’s not much I can do to surprise Dad on his birthday when it comes to his cake, but I stayed up late last night getting the perfect caramel consistency for the best nest I’ve ever made.

I barely slept out of anxiety that I would wake up and find that it had caved in on itself while sitting in the fridge. Luckily, fate was good to me.

Puffing out my cheeks, I move to the sink and wash my hand just as the buzzer at the front door rises to life.

“I’ll get it!” Drying my hands, I rush past my mom and hurry to the door but before I open it, I pause.

I’ve worn my nicest red dress and white tights to remain festive.

I’ve poured myself into the strongest shapewear I own and curled my hair, all so I’ll look my best.

But for what? So a man I rejected will look at me?

Maybe it’s pathetic and doubt wraps its cold fingers around my wrist, refusing to let me open the door.

The buzzer repeats and I jump, then open the door with a smile. “Hi!”

Kairo stands on the doorstep in dark jeans and a light grey Polo shirt that stretches open at the neckline as he lifts his arm to brush snow off his hair.

His coat drapes over one arm and his smile warms my very core as our eyes meet.

“I’m not too early, am I?”

“No, you’re right on time. Come on in!” Waving him over the threshold, I peer past him toward his car as it rapidly gets covered in snow. “No Martin?”

“He’s actually taken the day off.”

“Does he do that?” Closing the door, I take his coat and hang it on the rack.

“Apparently, his trips out here have him taking a new look at his life. I guess you could say the town is rubbing off on him.”

“Wow, that’s got to be a good thing, surely.”

Under Kairo’s arm, he holds a long black box and when he catches me staring, he smiles.

“A present for your father. I wasn’t sure of the protocol, but I hope that’s alright.”

“As long as it’s not Christmas themed. He loves the season as much as I do, but having a birthday in December? He hates getting festive presents.”

“I promise it’s not.” Kairo chuckles.