Chapter 14 - THE COOKIE JAR
Two years after the night in the foyer, Nicholas and Maria stood in the kitchen making cookies.
Lucy was five.
She had grown taller and more confident.
Daniel visited regularly and had become an important, trusted part of her life.
The family arrangement was unusual.
But it worked because the adults stopped treating Lucy as something to possess.
Nicholas burned the first tray.
Maria laughed.
“You own a mansion and can’t operate an oven?”
“I used to employ people for that.”
“That explains a lot.”
He grinned.
Lucy climbed onto a stool.
“Uncle Nicholas?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to marry Mama?”
Maria nearly dropped the mixing bowl.
Nicholas looked at her.
Then at Lucy.
“That's something your mother and I would decide together.”
Lucy frowned.
“But do you like her?”
Nicholas smiled.
“Very much.”
“Does she like you?”
Maria laughed.
“Most days.”
Lucy nodded thoughtfully.
“Then you should make more cookies.”
Nicholas looked at Maria.
“That seems unrelated.”
“Not to her,” Maria said.
He laughed.
Later that evening, Nicholas proposed privately.
No grand ballroom.
No audience.
No pressure.
May you like
Just a quiet question.
Maria said yes.
