“That’s not funny, George,” said Bridget. “Don’t mess with Lily. We like her. She’s nice.”
“Yes, we do,” said Hannah.
All right, so George had had ulterior motives. It was just a prank. It wouldn’t hurt anyone and Lily would’ve laughed right along with George if she had fallen into his snare. But she couldn’t help being touched by the way the girls had stood up for her. Apparently pranking was serious business and only executed on those who deserved to suffer—physically or emotionally.
The boy’s face turned bright red.
“Say you’re sorry,” said Megan, in full big-sister mode.
George puffed up, as if his sisters taking Lily’s side was the ultimate betrayal.
“Say it!” Megan stood up. Even though George was taller than his older sister, the girl still seemed to hold the authority.
“I’m sorry.” George’s words were barely audible, but Lily was amazed that he complied.
“No harm done,” Lily said, smiling at the boy. “Why don’t we put the first batch of sugar cookies in the oven? It won’t take them very long to bake. I think we all need a cookie and milk break.”
The boy lifted his head and looked Lily in the eye, and for the first time she saw past his petulance and bravado and glimpsed the scared little boy. It dawned on her that his pranks were a way of driving away people before they could leave him. She wanted to reach out and hug him, but she knew better. That would only embarrass him.
The best thing she could do would be to show him that he had a steadfast friend in her. She wasn’t going anywhere. Though she might not have control over where the kids ended up, she certainly could make sure they felt safe and wanted while they were in her care.
Chapter Four
Cullen got home shortly after seven, early by his standards. When he walked through the front door, he was welcomed by the sweet aroma of heaven. Something smelled delicious. His stomach growled its appreciation.
It had been a long day at the hospital. The egg sandwich he’d grabbed in the cafeteria on his way to his office held him for a while, but he hadn’t had time to stop for lunch.
He was ravenous. Whatever Lily was cooking smelled exactly like what he needed.
The sound of running water, clanking dishes and Christmas music emanated from the kitchen. As he took off his coat and turned in that direction, something white and sparkly in the living room window caught his eye.
Apparently the kids had made paper snowflakes. Upon closer inspection, he discovered they’d covered them with silver and white glitter before stringing them on a piece of twine and placing them in the window that overlooked the backyard.
He remembered the fleck of glitter that he’d brushed off Lily’s cheek last night and the softness of her skin.
He wanted to touch her again.
He gave himself a mental shake and forced the thought from his mind.
Instead, he focused on how they’d swagged the same window that housed the snowflakes with a cranberry and popcorn garland. There was a small wreath on the wall above the couch, made from dozens of kid-sized hands traced and cut out of green construction paper and attached to something round so that it resembled a holly wreath.
The homemade decorations were a sharp contrast to the room’s modern furnishings, but they added a homey touch that was…nice. At least they added warmth and festivity to the room. It took him back to when he was growing up. His mom had worked two jobs to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. There was no extra money for trees and fancy decorations. One year his mom had gotten creative and they’d done little projects like this. But in subsequent years, she’d been too busy working to make decorations again. Even though that one Christmas had been nice, memories of it made him realize what he was missing out on; it made him think that sometimes it was better to go without than to have a little taste of something you could never have.
Now Cullen never bothered to decorate for Christmas. What was the point when it was just him and he spent most of his waking hours at the hospital? The nurses and staff always put up a tree and hung small stockings with everyone’s names on them. That was enough.
But it was different for kids.