Page 32 of A Bridge to a Troll's Heart
Arlo shook his head. “No. Those are all things to look forward to.”
“Well, yes, just rather busy, I’d thought.”
“Not if we take it one task at a time.”
Toby kissed the closest thing he could reach, which happened to be Arlo’s lovely gray collarbone. “Sometimes you’re very sensible.”
Arlo patted him on the rump. “Up you get. Put the kettle on, will you?”
Burrowing farther under the covers, Toby draped his thigh over Arlo’s. “Are you positively sure you want to get out of bed already?”
Arlo never needed much convincing in this department. With a mighty tug, he pulled Toby on top of him. “Now that you mention it, I’m positively sure I don’t.”
Toby chuckled and set about making their morning a fine one indeed.
* * *
When they arrived at the wolves’village, it was already afternoon. The sun hid behind clouds, and light snow was falling. The snowflakes had gotten bigger and puffier as the day wore on. A dozen or so kids swarmed Arlo with pleas to play outside, so Toby resigned himself not to see his sweety again until the cookies were out of the oven.
“Have fun.” Toby waved good-bye to Arlo and the giddy pack of children surrounding him.
Arlo wiggled his fingers to wave back, but he couldn’t lift his arms because each already had a child clinging to it.
Laughing, Toby made his way into the kitchen, where Surry was buzzing with the same happy, radiant energy the children displayed.
“You look well, sister.”
“Thank you, I feel it.” She patted her tummy. “Even this little one seems to know it’s a holiday. She’s been bouncing around in here all day. Feel.” Surry grabbed his hand and placed it on her swollen stomach.
“She?” Warmth radiated through his palm but not much else.
“That’s what I think. Your brother thinks she’s a boy, but I’m certain he’s wrong. What do you think we should call her?”
“Anything but Liosa.” Toby held back his grin. “I don’t feel anything.”
“Be patient. Who’s Liosa?”
“You don’t want to know.”
The baby moved, or she kicked rather because a pokey bit jumped against his palm.
“Whoa!”
“I told you!” Surry smiled.
“She’s strong.”
“And playful. So are you going to help me with these cookies or what?”
“Why don’t you sit and tell me what to do?”
“Sounds good to me.” Surry pulled up a kitchen chair and propped her feet on the counter. “Fetch the eggs and milk. Everything else is already out.”
Toby went to do as bid. He glanced out the window. Arlo was being scaled like a ladder, and a massive snowman grew under Arthur’s direction. Toby put the eggs and milk on the counter, grabbed the mixing bowl, and settled in for a busy afternoon in the kitchen.
* * *
Arlo
