Page 3 of One More Yule Log
“Fran?” His aunt took care of Olivia most days, and she should have been there helping Liv with her homework. Ben headed to the kitchen, looking for a note. He also checked his phone, just in case he’d missed a call.
Nothing. Okay, weird. He pushed down the panic that tried to rise. He called up Fran’s name on his favorites list and dialed.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Frannie. Is, uh, is everything okay?”
“Hmm? Oh, of course! We’re doing great. Liv just wanted to do some, um, shopping.”
He blinked. Fran was lying to him. She was a terrible liar.
“You’re not at the hospital, right? Promise me you’re not at the ER.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Ben.” Now that sounded like her normal voice. “Liv wants to surprise you with something.”
“With what? I was supposed to take her somewhere.”
“You were late.” She sighed. “Why don’t you come meet us for an early supper? We’re just down the way from White House, huh? We can meet you there in about an hour.”
Disappointment hit him hard. He was sure this was how Liv felt because he was late, and why they’d decided to go without him. “Sure. Okay. It will take me about that long to get back in.”
“No rush. Just text when you’re parking.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye.” She hung up, and he shook his head, looking around the super quiet house. Maybe they should downsize. The big A-frame with all the glass seemed ridiculously huge and ostentatious now. Dale had loved to throw weekend house parties or have a dozen of Olivia’s friends over. They just didn’t do that kind of stuff anymore.
He changed into jeans and a sweater, then pulled on comfy boots. God, he loathed dress shoes. He grabbed his wallet, then headed to the kitchen to get the keys he’d left there. On the counter, Ben saw a printed sheet of paper with an information page from a local business. Piece of Cake Bakery. Grand Avenue in Carbondale.
Huh.
He would peer inside when he went by, maybe. What the heck could Olivia want at a professional bakery? Well, besides a cupcake. She did love those.
Tucking the paper away in the cubby by the front door, he headed out, and it only took him about forty-five minutes to find his way to a parking space on a side street. He texted Fran after he locked up the big SUV, hoping she and Liv were ready to eat because somehow it was almost six.
They met him at the door to the pizza place, Liv running up to him to demand a hug. “Hi, Daddy! You look nice.”
“Thanks, honey. Did you have a good afternoon?” She had a smear of flour on her nose. Curiouser and curiouser.
“I did! How was your day?”
Ben blinked. Usually she would go on and on about what she’d done if he wasn’t there when she did it.
“It was busy, kiddo.” He stroked her hair, kind of surprised at how tall she was. She had to have grown an inch since he’d last really noticed.
“You’re always busy.” She patted his arm. “I want a gyro.”
“Okay. Hey, Aunt Fran. What was the errand?”
Fran made a zipping motion on her lips. “Been sworn to secrecy.”
“Huh.” Ben was pretty sure he didn’t approve of being left out of the secret.
“Silly daddy. It’s a surprise, is all.”
“Well, I guess surprises are good this time of year.” Kind of. A little. Oh, who was he kidding? Ben hated surprises.
“That’s the spirit,” Fran told him, winking broadly.
