Page 20 of Stitch's Mercy

“Lefse! You brought lefse and didn’t tell me!” I clapped under the blankets and nearly screamed with delight. We’d been here for days and he was only now bringing it out?

“A lot happened the last few days.”

“True. Where’d you buy it?”

“I made it myself.” He spread butter and sprinkled cinnamon sugar on one. It looked like a tortilla, except it was made of potatoes, not flour.

“No, you didn’t.” I nudged him. “Did you, really?”

“Yup. Lady M taught me. Last year, I’d overheard you and some nurses talking about lefse. You’d said it was your favorite holiday treat. My next day off, I’d dug out my mom’s recipe, bought all the ingredients and went to the farm to make them with Lady M. What do you think?” He handed me the rolled treat.

I bit off a piece and hummed. “So good.” I gobbled up the rest and happily bounced in my spot on the floor. “Can’t believe my man makes lefse. I hit the lottery with you.”

“Glad you think so.” He put equal amounts of bacon and eggs on a plate for each of us, then sat next to me. “I feel pretty lucky myself.”

“You are way more accomplished than me. A doctor. Christmas hero. A lefse maker. I could go on.”

He chuckled heartedly. “Please, don’t. I hate that I’m an overachiever. There’s nothing cool about being a nerd.”

“Well, you’re my nerd and I’m the luckiest girl on the planet.”

“Okay, baby. Now eat before it gets cold.” How adorable was he? I think I embarrassed him. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible, a big bad biker like him. But there was a lot more to Brady Hayes than he’d revealed until now.

We dug into our food and ate quietly. It amazed me how far we’d come since arriving at his cabin. It was like finally coming home.

“I feel bad it took so long to let you in. I wasn’t the nicest person at times.” Jeez, I was flat out mean to him sometimes. “You didn’t have to put up with my shit, ya know?”

“I knew you’d come around and could tell you wanted me just as much as I wanted you, but you were afraid.”

“I was afraid. It didn’t help when Forrest shot you. I’ve been in love with you for a while, so seeing you bleeding out made me fear the worst. I didn’t want to lose you like I had my brother.”

“I wish you would’ve told me all this months ago. I would’ve reassured you we’d be okay.”

“That damn hindsight is always twenty-twenty, isn’t it?”

“Yup. We can’t change the past, but we can do right going forward.”

“I want to do right from now on.” I nibbled a slice of bacon. “When do you want to get married?” It was time to change the topic to something more pleasant.

“Is Christmas Eve too soon?” He turned his handsome face toward me. “I don’t want to wait another day, sweetheart. Let’s make it legal as soon as possible.”

I gaped, completely shocked.

“Unless you want a big wedding?”

“I don’t. Christmas Eve will be perfect. We can go to the courthouse and… Wait. We both work.”

“No, we don’t. I requested the day off and let your boss know you needed it off, too.” He grimaced, then shoveled eggs into his mouth.

“You are pretty cocky, Doctor Hayes.” I grinned at him. Perhaps I should be angry he’d been presumptuous, but his intentions were pure. My brother Noah would’ve liked Brady, and I could hear him telling me to give the guy a break. So, I would.

“Are you angry?”

“Not at all. If you’re sure you want to marry me on Christmas Eve, I’m totally on board.”

“I’m sure.” He set his plate down, took mine, and put it next to his. “I’m one thousand percent sure. Now let’s seal the deal.”

“Wanna doother things, do ya?” I opened my blankets and invited him to join me.

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