Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“It was crazy up there at the counter. One lady wanted four dozen cupcakes to go. You could feel the tension in everyone waiting to order as we all held our breath hoping she wouldn’t take the ones we wanted,” Adam reported.
“Did they have any mint chocolate ones?” Rose asked, looking hopeful.
“Sorry, Rosebud. I got a double chocolate and a Malted Milk. I thought we’d try Maya’s favorite to see if you liked it. We’ll have to wait until Christmas to get more of Santa’s Kiss with the mint chocolate.”
Maya watched Rose nod, looking sad, as Adam settled into the chair next to her. “You should buy a couple dozen and freeze them next Christmas. I bet you could thaw one every once in a while for a treat.”
“We tried that. The two dozen went really quickly,” Rose said forlornly.
“I’m sorry. Maybe you’ll like the Malted Milk as much as I do,” Maya suggested as Deke unwrapped the paper liner from the cupcakes he’d purchased.
“I’m sure it will be delicious,” Rose assured her.
The Littles chatted about stuffies and cupcakes. Rose and Adam did profess to liking the Malted Milk cupcakes that were featured. Maya could tell it didn’t rate as highly for Rose as her favorite. Thank goodness mine is available more frequently than just during the holidays.
“Oh! I’m afraid I have to head back to Stuff-It!” Rose lamented.
“I understand. I have to work this evening at La Havana,” Maya commented.
“Maybe we could have a play date sometime? When the mall and the restaurant are closed?” Rose suggested.
“I’d love that,” Maya answered. She really had enjoyed spending time with Rose and Adam.
“Me, too,” Rose said with a grin.
Deke shook Adam’s hand and then directed his attention to Rose. “I’ll be in to join you at Stuff-It as soon as I drop Maya off.”
In a few minutes, the couple left. Maya picked up her plate to put it back on the tray. Deke removed it from her hand.
“My job, Little girl.”
She sat watching him take care of everything. It was a very strange feeling to have someone that didn’t want her to do anything. He wanted to take care of her. Maya could tell it made him happy.
When he returned from dropping off the tray and dishes, she asked the question that had lurked in her mind. “What am I going to do if there are roses waiting for me at the restaurant?”
“I had an idea. Let’s go run it past Mateo.”
“Okay.”
They strolled down the sidewalk to La Havana, swinging their joined hands between them. Deke talked about the new stuffies coming out and how one purple hippopotamus had a huge following already.
“The promotional poster is so cute that everyone wants to have one. We’ve presold our entire stock we’re guaranteed to get and Rose requested double that amount in her last order.”
“That’s amazing. I love that everyone wants one. It will be sad if there aren’t enough,” Maya said, anticipating the dejection that those who couldn’t have one would feel.
“Hopefully the production will speed up and we’ll have more coming every day. It’s a balancing act because we don’t know if public demand will evaporate and leave us with a bunch of unwanted hippopotamuses.” He got a funny look on his face and tried again. “Hippopotami? What is the plural of a hippopotamus?”
Giggling as she tried both out, Maya skipped happily at his side. Deke made everything fun. She sobered as she got closer to the restaurant, preferring to keep her Little side under wraps.
“Maya,” Mateo greeted her with a concerned look before turning to pick up one of the roses that had been delivered while they were gone.
“More!” she lamented. “Whoever that is needs to give up.”
“I have an idea, Mateo. What do you think about having the roses delivered to a table outside? Then Maya doesn’t ever have to see them. Just put a sign on it that welcomes someone to take one of the roses as a day brightener,” Deke suggested.
“That’s a great idea. Then you never have to see or touch them, Maya,” Mateo said with a smile. “We can doll up the table with a white tablecloth and make the sign fancy with calligraphy. Nora will do it for us. She’s amazing at all that fancy stuff.”
“We’ll tell Daisy to have the roses delivered there,” Deke added. “Whoever it is will get tired of sending them soon. They might as well brighten people’s day.”
“Can we do that?” Maya asked, looking back and forth between the two men.
“Of course. I’ll go talk to Daisy before I go to work.” He leaned down to kiss Maya’s lips and nodded his goodbye to Mateo.
“I like that man.”
Maya turned at the sound of her mother’s approving tone behind her. She could feel her face heating and knew that her cheeks were rosy. Pushing, “I’m glad, Mom,” from her mouth, she scurried off to grab an apron and head into the kitchen.