Page 85 of Wed to You

“What are you doing?”

Chelsea jerked at Miss Z’s shrill tone.

“We’re making cookies. Look, I’m stirring.” Kaden showed her the bowl.

“I see that.”

Kaden missed Miss Z’s disapproving tone as he kept stirring.

“We have plenty of cookies.”

“Now we’ll have more.” Chelsea worked to keep her voice unaffected.

“These are snickerdoodles. We don’t have those.” Kaden pushed the bowl toward Chelsea. “Is that good?”

Miss Z’s lips pressed into a thin line then she turned on her heel, and left the kitchen.

Good riddance.

“I don’t think she likes us in the kitchen.”

“You caught that, huh? Well, good thing we’re almost done.” Chelsea picked up the spoon, scooping up some of the batter. Then she dropped the dough in her hand and rolled it into a ball. “Once you have a ball like this, we roll it in the cinnamon and sugar here. Then put it on the cookie sheet.”

“They’re round?”

“They’ll flatten when they cook.”

She supervised as Kaden worked to ball the dough and roll it in the cinnamon sugar.

“I never did this before.”

“Cookie making is an important life skill.”

Kaden had filled half the cookie sheet when Miss Z returned with Jagger in tow.

“Great day! You tattled?”

“I told you she doesn’t like it.” Kaden dropped his spoon, looking reprimanded.

Chelsea fisted her hands, hating that Miss Z could make a little boy feel he was in trouble simply because they were making cookies. Why would Jagger have hired someone so mean and insensitive?

“How am I going to make dinner in this mess?”

Chelsea sucked in a breath to rein in her temper for Kaden. If he hadn’t been there, Chelsea was sure she would have let a few colorful words fly. “Kaden and I will clean up as soon as the cookies go in the oven.”

“Jagger, we’re making snickerdoodles. Miss Chelsea used to make them with her mom.”

Jagger’s expression was a mixture of annoyance and anger.

“Her mom and brother and father died. We’re her family now, right, Jagger?”

Jagger jerked back, surprised by Kaden’s statement. He nodded. “I don’t see what the problem is here, Miss Z.”

“I can’t cook in a crowded, messy kitchen.”

“We’re almost done.” Chelsea then remembered the court letter. “I’m sure Jagger has more important things on his mind than worrying about this.”

Miss Z’s nostrils flared and Chelsea was sure she saw steam coming from them. “Dinner will be late.”

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