Page 125 of Give Me a Shot

“Don’t you mean, ‘Make you proud’?” she asked.

“No,” Jess said. “I meant exactly what I said.” She crossed her arms, leaned against the back of the house, and winked.

Mo walked through his front door, placing his smithing bag in its spot just inside. He took a deep breath, savoring the smell of Maddie’s sugar cookies in the air.

“Daddy, we’re in the kitchen!” she called out to him.

“On my way, sugar plum,” he called back.

He hung his jacket on the coat rack and ran a hand down Jess’s jacket beside it. He took a deep breath, checking that his present for Jess was snug in the pocket of his jeans, and followed the delicious aroma.

Maddie was carefully moving some cookies from a cooling rack to a large plate as Jess straightened, taking a freshly baked set out of the oven. She smiled at him.

“M’lady,” he said to her, winking and nodding. He joined Maddie, giving her a side hug. “What’s this about, sugar plum? Are all of these for me?” He reached for a cookie, and Maddie swatted at him.

“No, Daddy, this plate is for Mrs. Sargysan,” she said. “I’m trying to get the best ones.”

“Ah, makes sense,” he said. He went over to Jess, who tiptoed up as he leaned down.

“Have a good day?” he asked after a quick peck.

“Not bad,” she said. She darted a glance at Maddie. “My classes went well.”

Mo didn’t quite get the quick glance at Maddie, but he decided not to push.

“I’ll be back,” Maddie said, carefully picking up the plate piled high with cookies and leaving the kitchen. “I want to give them to her while they’re still a little warm,” she said over her shoulder.

“Good idea,” Mo called out to her. He looked back down at Jess. “Everything okay?”

She sighed.

“Tough therapy session. Don’t want to get into it; the waterworks are going to start again,” she said.

Mo nodded, rubbing her back and taking her in his arms. She’d been working hard for months. Her aches and pains had disappeared. He was proud of her, but he felt at a loss as to how to truly help. The anniversary of Cassie’s death had been crippling for her, and it took weeks to get back the progress she’d made. He squeezed tight.

“You’re doing so great,” he said into her hair.

“Doesn’t feel like it,” she said against his chest.

“You are, I promise.” He’d thought to wait until later that evening, but he decided not to. His nerves shot up, and he had to take a deep breath to calm the jitteriness in his muscles. “M’lady?”

“Hmm?” She pulled back a little to look at him.

“I, uh…”

She raised an eyebrow.

“You okay, ’phaest?”

He chuckled a little. The shortened form of Hephaestus that she’d come up with was still cute enough to tickle him.

“Pretty much,” he said, slipping a hand into his pocket. “But better soon, I hope. Brought you a little present. Give me your hand.”

She took a step back and did as he asked, her eyebrow still raised. He put the freshly cut key in her palm.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“I hope it’s the key to your new home,” he said, his voice a little weak.

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