Christmas Gift (Believe Book 3)

by Shea Balik

  Patrick had no clue what was on that tray, but he would find a way to thank Cabot for knowing exactly what Liam had wanted. As he headed toward the table, he couldn’t help but smile at the image the three of them made. Family. With any luck, it would be an image he would get to see often and for a long time to come.

  CHAPTER 7

  Cabot had thought he’d been ready for the festival rush that morning, but not even he had realized just how many people would be coming through his doors. He’d gotten to work by three instead of four, just so he would make sure to be able to spend the day with Patrick, Liam, and Maya, but even with the extra hour, he wasn’t entirely sure that would happen. At least not until later.

  He had three other bakers that opened on the weekends with him. For this weekend, he’d brought in Kobe, who was one of the baking assistants, training to become a full-time baker, as well as two of his cleaners, Blossom and Zeb. They helped to keep the work stations clean as well as run the dirty bowls and pans through the dishwashers to be used again.

  He and his bakers split up the tasks. As usual, Tori and Dario worked on the orders from the local restaurants, while he and Riva started on the breakfast pastries for Frosted.

  Kobe was floating between the two groups and doing really well. If he kept it up, Cabot would have to consider promoting him.

  It wasn’t until he heard Ned, Tristan, and Ginger come to open up the front that Cabot took his first break. Not a true break, but he stopped baking as soon as he got the pumpkin spiced muffins he’d been making into the oven, set the timer and asked Kobe to keep an eye on them, that he went up front to make sure things were ready.

  He trusted his staff to see to the normal things like straightening and wiping down tables, as well as making sure there were enough dishware, trays, and to-go containers available. But he always ensured all the displays were filled and made sure nothing appeared under or overdone.

  Satisfied, he headed back to the kitchen and checked on the progress of the local restaurant orders. Then, he went back to baking. It wasn’t until Ginger popped her head in the back and warned them they were almost out of… well… at least half of their menu, that Cabot began to fear they were in trouble.

  Oh, it was a good kind of trouble, since it meant business was streaming in, but it also meant he and his staff would have to work overtime if they had any hope of keeping up with the demand. On top of that, they weren’t able to switch to the cookies, cakes, and cupcakes that made up their afternoon and evening menus.

  “Maybe you should call in Pedro and Elle,” Riva suggested. “I know they have family in town, but even if they could come in for a couple of hours, we might have a chance of finishing before we close.”

  Cabot chuckled at Riva’s sarcastic remark. Though she had a point about bringing in his two weekday bakers. “Smart ass,” he tossed back at her as he started making the calls.

  Only Pedro could come in as Elle was already at one of the malls about an hour away. A glance at the clock told him it was almost nine. He wasn’t sure when Patrick had planned on getting there with the kids, but he did know that there was no way he was disappointing Maya or Liam by not having their favorites.

  He might have been paying a bit more attention to Patrick than the kids, but Cabot had heard the two discussing what they wanted this morning. Maya, of course, was a pink frosted donut with sprinkles, which Riva was already making another batch of since they were just about out.

  But it was Liam that Cabot would need to take care of. Gathering up the ingredients, he called out to Kobe. “I’m going to need you to start working on the cakes for today.”

  If they waited too long there would be no time to get them all done. Kobe was grinning from ear to ear. “Really? Me?”

  The three other bakers stopped what they were doing and clapped. It was actually a momentous occasion to be given the task. Cakes weren’t easy. They weren’t brain surgery, but to get them the right consistency and make them even took skill, especially since most of Frosted cakes were at least six layers thick.

  With a new energy in the room, they all got back to work. Thankfully, Tori and Dario were finishing up the restaurant orders and were able to jump in and lend a hand to get them all up to speed. When Pedro arrived, he worked with Kobe on cakes and cupcakes.

  Cabot took a peek out into the front that was bursting at the seams with customers when he noticed a very crestfallen Liam staring morosely at the display case. Grateful the trio hadn’t arrived any sooner, Cabot pulled out the new batch of quiches, and put a couple of those and a few souffles on two plates. Then he put one of the donuts Maya wanted on another plate. One more plate he filled with what he prayed was what Liam had been looking forward to eating. With the food on the tray, he went to the front and poured two hot chocolates and two coffees, figuring Patrick would need the caffeine jolt.

  Full tray in hand, he told his staff he’d be taking a short break and headed out to the dining room. “Liam, Maya,” he called out over the din of happy customers.

  Maya waved but stayed where she was by the display of colorful donuts. Liam’s frown nearly had Cabot laughing. Talk about dramatic. Only his memories of feeling just like the kid when he was that age held him back from making him feel any worse. It was hard to always be denied what you want in life. For Liam, it hadn’t happened as much as it did for those who spent their lives in foster care, but he imagined between losing his parents, then his grandmother, the kid had experienced enough disappointment to make even something as small as not getting what he wanted for breakfast heartbreaking.

  “I have a surprise for you both.” He gestured to an empty table. “Why don’t you get that table over there and we can eat.”

  But Liam was shaking his head. “I don’t want anything.”

  This time Cabot couldn’t hold back the smile when he lowered the tray and said, “Not even these?” He showed off the tray and more important, the plate with the cinnamon roll on it.

  Suddenly, Liam was beaming at Cabot. “Really?” Then he pointed to the display case. “But you were out.”

  That was true, but even as they looked, Blossom was filling the formerly empty space with his newly made batch of cinnamon rolls.

  He gave Liam a wink. “I made more, just for you. Now go get us that table before someone takes it and I’ll get Patrick.”

  Thank goodness Patrick happened to be looking at them, for with the crush of people, Cabot wasn’t sure he’d be able to navigate the room with a tray in hand. Instead, he cocked his head and indicated for Patrick to join them at the table.

  Setting the plates and drinks on the table, he put the tray on the tray stand by the kitchen door and sat down across from Maya who already was biting into her sprinkle donut. Liam, on the other hand, stared at the extra gooey, dripping in frosting, cinnamon roll.

  It wasn’t until Cabot sat that he looked up with so much happiness on his face, it had Cabot thanking whatever miracle that allowed him to have these ready when the trio arrived. “How did you even know I wanted this?” Liam asked.

  “A little birdie might have whispered in my ear last night.” Cabot wasn’t about to tell the little boy that he had overheard him. At his age, he needed to believe there was still some magic in the world. He held out a fork and handed it to Liam. “It is very hot, especially in the middle. I suggest you use a fork until it cools off.”

  Liam didn’t hesitate to take it and dig in.

  “That was so nice of you,” Patrick whispered in his ear as he sat down next to Cabot. “Thank you.”

  Cabot knew the heat that crept into his face had nothing to do with working in the kitchen. “You’re welcome.” Then he pushed the two plates, one with quiche and one with souffles so they were between them. “I got us something a little less…” He glanced over at the pink glazed, sprinkle donut and the frosted cinnamon roll and added, “Sweet. I don’t know about you, but that much sugar in the morning is a bit tough to take.”

  Patrick laughed and Cabot
swore his heart sped up at the rich sound. “Yeah. My days of binging on sweets was over years ago.”

  Cabot held out another fork for Patrick and they each dug in. The moan Patrick let out at his first bite had Cabot shifting in his chair. No point in getting too excited. Between the kids, a bunch of customers, and the fact that he’d have to get back to work as soon as he was done, the last thing Cabot needed to think of was sex.

  Oh well, maybe tonight, after the kids went to bed, he’d at least get to experience a kiss with Patrick. Now that would be a gift worth waiting for.

  CHAPTER 8

  “Shouldn’t he be here by now?” Liam said for about the tenth time in the past hour.

  “He said we could start without him,” Patrick reminded. “And he only hoped he would make it by two.”

  Cabot had hated having to tell the kids that he would have to stay and work for a while longer instead of coming home with them to help decorate. Patrick had expected Liam to go into a funk, but instead, he’d begged Cabot for a list of ingredients so they could make sugar cookies the next day.

  The required trip to the store, especially the weekend after Thanksgiving, hadn’t exactly been something Patrick wanted to do, but if it kept the kids happy, it didn’t really make much difference. But their good mood only lasted until an hour after they’d gotten home. That’s when Liam started to whine about it almost being two.

  Now that it was two thirty, he was beginning to get cranky. The thing was, there was nothing Patrick could do to fix things, nor was he sure he should. Mrs. Sanchez had warned Patrick about always trying to solve all Liam and Maya’s problems. It was just hard to let them suffer when he could do something about it.

  This time, Patrick could only wait with them. Well, and suggest they get started without Cabot, but Liam was having none of that.

  “I want to put on the lights,” Maya said as she danced around the tree.

  At a loss for how to handle this, Patrick went with what made sense. He got up from his chair and went to the box of lights he had gotten from the store a week ago. They had made the decision to use multicolored lights and Patrick had bought three boxes, just to be safe.

  “What are you doing?” Liam cried as Patrick opened the first box. “Cabot’s not here yet.”

  It was time for him to put his foot down and be the parent. Mrs. Sanchez was right. He couldn’t please them both all the time. Nor should he. They needed to learn not everything was going to happen on their timeline.

  “I know Cabot’s not here, but he warned us he wasn’t sure what time he could get here. He has a business to run. In the meantime, there’s no reason for us to stop decorating the tree.” Patrick tried to sound reasonable, but the wail of frustration from Liam said he hadn’t managed it.

  Turning to face the now angry boy, Patrick looked him in the eye. “I get that you want Cabot to be here. I do too, but right now, he is too busy. You know he’ll come as soon as he can. But it doesn’t make sense for us to put this off any longer. If you would like to join Maya and me to put up the lights, we would enjoy your company. If not, you can go to your room and wait until Cabot gets here.”

  Having learned the lesson in his youth that he needed to plug in each strand to make sure it works before putting it on the tree, Patrick plugged in the first one.

  “Oohhh,” Maya exclaimed as she came closer. “They’re so pretty.”

  What it was with kids and colored lights, he would never know, but all it took was lighting them up and even Liam came over and touched the bulbs as if wanting to be sure they were real. Suddenly, any mention of Cabot not being there yet, disappeared.

  “Do you think three strings are enough?” Liam asked excitedly as he grabbed the second box and started to open it.

  “I’m not sure.” Patrick took the lights Liam pulled from the second box and plugged them in. He had to admit, knowing at least two strings worked put his mind at ease. He was sure it would be enough for the tree. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to check the third, which was good since Liam was in the process of opening that one too.

  “Can we put on music?” Maya asked as she twirled around the tree some more.

  “How about some Christmas music?” Patrick asked as he turned on the music app on his phone and called up the Christmas channel.

  Connecting his Bluetooth to the speakers, they were soon enjoying ‘Let it Snow,’ as they worked to get the lights on the tree. He wasn’t sure how Liam and Maya did it, but they got all three sets of lights on the tree. Sure, many areas had so many lights he couldn’t see the actual tree, but they loved it, which was all that mattered.

  All three of them sat on the couch, both kids cuddling up to Patrick as they stared at the tree. The moment was perfect. Well, almost perfect. The only thing that would make it better was…

  Ding dong.

  It was as if Santa himself was answering his prayers. All three of them dashed for the door. Liam beat him and Maya, flinging it open to reveal a smiling, albeit exhausted, Cabot.

  Holding up several cloth bags filled to the brim, he said, “I brought supplies to make ornaments.”

  Both kids were cheering as they each took a bag and raced to the living room. But Patrick stayed right where he was, staring at the most amazing man he’d ever met. Cabot was everything he could ever hope for in a partner.

  Partner? Really?

  It was way too soon to think about long term. They’d only just met twenty-four hours ago. Yet, as he gazed at the clearly tired man, who thoughtfully brought supplies to do an activity the kids would love, even though it would mean more effort for the already overworked man, Patrick just knew Cabot was the one for him.

  It was with that thought in mind that had him helping Cabot out of his coat, putting it on the hook by the door, right next to his own. Then, after Cabot sat on the bench under the hooks to take his boots off, he helped the man back up once he’d done so.

  But instead of letting his hands go, Patrick tugged him closer. He didn’t stop until their lips were mere inches apart as he stared into those crystal blue eyes that always seem to sparkle brighter than any star in the sky.

  “I’m going to kiss you,” he told Cabot, giving him time to pull away if he didn’t want Patrick’s advances. But Cabot only leaned in closer, meeting him halfway.

  He smiled as the word, ‘perfect,’ flitted through his mind once again. He didn’t want someone who had to take the lead or needed him to do so. He wanted a man who would meet him halfway. That’s exactly what happened as their lips met in the middle.

  The cool touch of Cabot’s skin reminded him that this amazing man had braved the elements to be with him and the kids despite the fact that he should have probably headed straight home to get some much needed sleep. But that lush mouth that always wore a smile, warmed up quickly under his own.

  They were fairly evenly matched in size, and again, the word, ‘perfect,’ floated in his mind as he sipped at Cabot’s lips. He kept it light, even though what he really wanted was to push the man against the door and ravage him. But there was no point in starting something they couldn’t finish.

  Reluctantly, he finally pulled back. The dreamy expression on Cabot’s face was a real boost to his ego. “Thank you for coming,” he whispered as he kept their bodies close.

  “You’re welcome.” Cabot’s blue eyes, which had been a softer shade after their kiss were starting to subtly darken to their normal color as the reality of where they were sank back in. Considering the kids were yelling for them to come help, it was hard to stay in the moment of that kiss.

  “Come on,” he said, taking Cabot’s hand. “We better get in there before everything ends up on the floor.” Something that would be a pain to clean up, but totally worth it if the few minutes he took to kiss Cabot caused it.

  For that kiss was a gift he would cherish forever.

  CHAPTER 9

  It wasn’t until he entered the living room to find the three bags he’d brought full of crafts to make ornaments du
mped over the coffee table and floor, that Cabot finally came out of his dreamlike state after that kiss. Even then, he wasn’t all that concerned with the fact that they would need to pick up everything before being able to start making anything.

  Thankfully, everything was kid friendly and the glitter was in tubes that had so much tape around the top neither kid had figured out how to open them.

  But, oh, that kiss. The feel of Patrick’s lips on his still lingered like a gentle reminder of how good it had been. He hadn’t expected it, at least not upon first arriving. Maybe before he left for the night, after the kids had gone to bed.

  It had been soft, sweet, and all too short, yet it still made his toes curl. If he’d had any doubts about whether it was the allure of a complete family that was drawing him in, instead of Patrick, there wasn’t any longer. He could have kissed that man all damn night and still wanted more.

  Maya came running up to him with a tube of pink glitter. He had decided, for her, to not stick with the typical red, green, white, gold, and silver glitter. Considering that she was there, in front of him, talking to him, he would say it worked.

  “Can I use the pink glitter? I want it on all of my ornaments.” She shoved the tube into his hand. “Can you open it for me?”

  Cabot knew he was grinning like a fool, but he’d felt like he just won the lottery. Based on the look Patrick was giving him, he knew exactly what Cabot was feeling at the moment.

  “I can, but first we need to decide which ornaments we want to start with,” he told her. Then he glanced over at Patrick. “I don’t suppose you have some old sheets or towels that we can put down if we’re doing this in here on the rug.”

  But Patrick was already starting to put things back into the bags. “Actually kids, we need to take all this out to the kitchen. That way, if we make a mess, it will be easier to clean up.”