Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
15
Bryson
As soon as we got home on Christmas Day, we hurried to our rooms to change into pajamas. Dusty followed me instead of Embry for some reason. He stood there wagging his tail while I pulled some wrapped gifts out of my closet, and he was right on my heels as we left the room.
Embry and I arrived at the top of the stairs at the same time. He was holding an armload of gifts too, and when he saw what I was holding, he said, “I thought we agreed to keep it to one present each.”
“Well, you definitely blew that as much as I did.”
“This is just some little stuff I thought you’d enjoy.”
“Same.”
“I don’t believe you. It looks like you got carried away.”
“So did you.”
We kept good-naturedly bickering as we went downstairs to the lounge and piled everything on the coffee table. When I retrieved one final, big, heavy present from the hall closet, he sighed. “This is a practical gift,” I told him, “so it doesn’t count.”
“Uh huh.”
I grinned at him and headed to the kitchen as I said, “I’ll go make us some refreshments while you let the dog out. Then you should open the big present first.”
“Why that one?”
“Because I’ve been dying to give it to you.”
Pretty soon, we’d settled in with hot chocolate and a plate of Christmas cookies. Dusty was watching us and wagging his tail, as if he knew something good was about to happen.
He was right. Embry picked up a lumpy package and said, “Dusty should get his present first.”
When he squeezed the package, it made a squeaking sound, and the dog went nuts. Embry held it out to him, and Dusty grabbed it and joyously ripped the paper to shreds, revealing a stuffed reindeer toy.
As the dog happily began chewing on an antler, I hauled the big present onto the couch, placing it between the two of us. Embry tried to frown. “You shouldn’t have.”
“You don’t even know what it is.”
“It’s big and heavy. That means it was expensive. You’re going to think I’m a cheapskate with the stuff I got you.” He was still trying to frown, but he was also eyeing the present and looking like he really wanted to tear into it.
“I promise I won’t think that. You’ve seen the way my family gives gifts. Anything more personal than a bottle of wine is going to mean the world to me. Now please, open your present.”
He took a breath and grasped both sides of the big box. Then he tore off the paper as quickly and dramatically as Dusty had unwrapped his gift, and threw it over his shoulder.
When he saw that it contained a pale pink KitchenAid stand mixer, he immediately burst into tears. I exclaimed, “Oh, no! Did I do something wrong?”
He got up and threw himself into my arms, crushing me in a hug as he stammered, “It’s the most perfect present ever! I wanted one my whole life.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it.” He grasped my face between his palms and planted a teary kiss on me. Then he rested his forehead against mine as he caught his breath. After a moment, I told him, “You should open your other presents.”
“You got me too much.”
“I wish I’d gotten you more. You deserve the world, Embry.”
It took some coaxing, but he finally moved the mixer over, sat down beside me, and let me hand him another present. “This is big and heavy, too,” he said, as he ran his hands over the rectangle on his lap.
“It’s just something I thought you could use.”
He ripped off the wrapping paper and threw it over his shoulder again. I loved his exuberance. The gift was a large, plastic carrying case with over a hundred piping tips in every imaginable shape, and in several different sizes. He actually screamed when he saw it, which made the dog look up from his new toy and perk his ears.
“Thank you, Bry,” he gushed, as he threw his arms around me again. “It’s the best cake decorating set I’ve ever seen.” He had a little set with twenty-four tips, which he loved, so I’d figured he’d like this.
The next box contained two professional-grade sets of nested cake pans, one round, and one square. Finally, three gift bags held edible glitter in many colors, a variety of fun sprinkles, sheets of gold leaf, and a selection of gel food colorings.
After he opened all his presents, he climbed back onto my lap and dotted kisses all over my face. In between each kiss, he managed a few words. “Thank you! You’re the sweetest—most thoughtful—most generous—man in the whole world.”
“I hope you have fun with all of this. It’s practical too, though. I wanted to set you up for success when you start your cake business, and I thought this stuff would help.”