Page 38 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

“Ah,” Aidan said, smiling. “She does love to bake cookies.”

Walt got quiet and when Aidan glanced in the rearview mirror he saw the boy looking out the window, his little mouth moving like he was murmuring something to himself.

“Are you singing something?” Aidan asked him. “That last one you were singing was a new song for me.”

“I’m not singing,” Walt said firmly.

“Okay,” Aidan said, leaving the boy to his own devices, since he seemed content.

Parenting was a roller coaster for Aidan. Sometimes it felt like he was nailing it, and other times Walt was so mysterious that Aidan wasn’t sure what was going on. It was all part of him getting older, Aidan supposed. He was starting to get a lot of his own thoughts and ideas that Aidan hadn’t put in his head.

They had just turned onto Ambler and were approaching the village when Aidan’s phone rang.

“Anna Webb,” the car speaker announced.

Walt immediately began chuckling. There was something about the robotic voice that really tickled him.

“Hi, Aunt Anna,” Aidan said. “You’re on speaker.”

“Hello boys,” Anna said, her voice weak and dry. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m not feeling so hot this morning.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Aidan said.

“I can still watch Walt, if you need me,” she went on. “But I’d hate for you all to catch this.”

“We’ll be just fine, Aunt Anna,” Aidan told her firmly. “You should get some rest.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, sounding relieved.

“Very sure,” he told her, trying not to let himself worry about what he was going to do with Walt. “I’m stopping by the Co-op and the pharmacy for a few things for Aunt Leticia today. What can I grab for you?”

“You are as sweet as you were when you were a little boy,” Anna said fondly. “But I’m just fine, love. Nothing the chicken soup I’ve got going in the crock won’t cure.”

“Well, call if you change your mind,” he told her.

“You don’t feel well,” Walt said suddenly, but not loudly enough for the speaker to catch all of it.

“What’s that, my sweet boy?” Aunt Anna asked.

“Are you sad that Aunt Anna doesn’t feel well, bud?” he asked, impressed that the boy had clearly been following along with the adult conversation.

“Yeah,” Walt sighed sadly.

“He’ll miss you today,” Aidan told her. “But we both hope you feel better soon. Tell her feel better soon, bud.”

“Feel better soon,” Walt called out, his little voice sounding happy. Aidan figured that he was feeling content, now that he knew what to say.

They signed off on the call and Aidan tapped his fingers on the wheel. He had automatically taken them to Kenzie’s house as they talked. Maybe he could just pop in and explain what was going on.

“Walt, I need to stop in and see Kenzie for a minute, okay?” he said, pulling into her driveway.

“Me too,” Walt said.

“You do?” Aidan asked, resisting the impulse to chuckle.

“I want to show her my books,” Walt said.

Walt had brought his library books with him today to read at Anna’s house. It made sense that he wanted to show them to Kenzie, since most of them were about ballet.

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