Page 13 of Daycare Santa

“Right.” Seya drew out the word and started the mixer. “I know what you’re doing, but anyhow ...”

Gina didn’t want to be reminded about her forgetfulness, so she continued where she’d left off. “Knowing how the run-up to Christmas Day will be with the madness on the roads, I got my shopping out of the way.”

“Wish I had done mine already.”

Gina gave Seya a side-eye. “Please. You say that every year.”

“I know.” Seya groaned and unleashed a dramatic sigh. “With everything you have to do, I don’t understand how you’re more organized than me.”

“With a six-year-old in my life, I have to be.”

“If you’re coping, why are you so out-of-sorts today?”

Sighing, Gina let her head fall back as she explained, “I still don’t have anyone to keep Luca, come Monday, and I’m working a function in the middle of the day. I’ll have to set up early and can’t have him running around their conference room getting in the way.”

“What about Wintertime?” Seya assumed an I-mean-business expression and folded her arms. “Did you even check them out?”

“I did, but it doesn’t suit me.”

“Why?”

Gina stopped the mixer and pointed to the wine, which Seya dribbled into the mixture.

“Everything was fine until I paid the fee, and then a dog walked into the front office.”

“Had to be someone’s pet, right?” Seya set the decanter down without taking her eyes off Gina.

“Well, he wore a collar, but still ...”

“Some people take their pets everywhere.” Seya shot her an incredulous look, and turned the mixer back on. “Don’t tell me you took your money back because of a dog?”

“If I’m spendingmy money, I want to know Luca won’t be at risk of being bitten.”

Seya’s hearty laughter threw Gina, and she cocked one eyebrow. “I don’t see what’s so funny.”

“I guarantee you that pooch wasn’t any old stray dog.”

“How would you know?”

After scraping the sides of the mixing bowl and pouring more flour into the mixture, Seya continued, “First, Wintertime has an excellent reputation. I went online and checked it out. They have great testimonials.”

“But that could be from ...”

Seya held up one hand and stepped away from the counter. Her gaze went to the window, where the breeze lifted the sheer curtains. “Second, no well-thinking business owner would have a stray roaming their property, and third, Sis, did you even ask why the dog was there?”

“I didn’t,buthe had no business in the foyer. The worst part what that Luca was petting him. Ugh. And then, he had the nerve to poke Luca with one paw like he was asking him to continue scratching the back of his neck.”

Seya’s tinkle of laugher irritated Gina for no reason she could fathom. She pointed to the mixer to remind Seya to put in more wine and the last batch of flour. Her giggling continued and Gina eventually joined her, admitting that the image of the dog demanding to be petted was funny.

They worked together, adding a combination of currants, raisins, prunes, cherries, mixed peel, and chopped almonds, then stirring in wine. After they filled the lined pans with the dark batter and eased them into the oven, they stood at the sink washing bowls and utensils. Seya poked her in the side. “Please go back over there and re-register my nephew at that daycare.” She waited a few seconds before adding, “You don’t have a choice.”

“I’m sure I’ll be able to find another place.”

“That’s the best one I know, so the least you can do is try them again. We can find out why the dog was there when we go.”

“Wait, when did you get involved in this?”

“Never mind that. As soon as we take this batch out of the oven, we’ll visit them.”

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