Page 55 of Nanny and the Beast

"Just have fun with it, sweetheart," Emma says.

Rosalie nods and gets started with the frosting.

"Can I do the spiderwebs?" James asks, reaching for the cookies in the shape of spiderwebs.

"All yours," Emma says, placing them in front of James.

He selects the green icing bag.

Rosalie peers over at him and huffs. "Like spiderwebs are green."

James giggles as he finishes the frosting on a cookie. Soon after he's done, he picks out another color and gets to work again. While he works, he keeps sneaking glances at the cookies that are ready to eat.

"Would you like a snack break, James?" Emma asks.

"Yes, please," James says.

He waits patiently as Emma hands him a glass of milk and a small plate for his cookies. His grin makes something twist in my chest. I could never make him happy like this.

Around me, he's always walking on eggshells. He doesn't feel comfortable to be himself when he's with me.

Rosalie is hunched over the single cookie she's been working on for the past few minutes.

"What about you?" Emma says.

I glance up to see that she's looking at me.

"Hmm?" I say.

She raises an eyebrow.

James giggles and pushes the tray of half-decorated cookies toward me.

"Your turn to decorate." He grins at me.

"I don't know," I say.

"You have to," James insists.

Emma is biting the inside of her cheek. All of this seems so frivolous, but I roll up my sleeves and reach for the piping bag. James cheers as I get to work on the cookies.

"You're so bad at this." He giggles, dunking his cookie in the milk and popping it in his mouth.

"I'm done," Rosalie says quietly.

Emma looks over at the cookie Rosalie has been working on and freezes.

"Rose, this is beautiful," Emma says.

Everyone at the table holds their breath. Even James stops eating.

Rosalie pushes herself away from the table and runs from the kitchen.

"What happened?" Emma says. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Her mother used to call her that," I say, glancing at the table. "Rose."

"Oh, I didn't know," Emma says, covering her mouth with her hand.

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