“Okay.” Jimmy pushed a Christmas tree-shaped sugar cookie toward him. “Do you want sprinkles orstars?”
Brady slid into the chair next to Jimmy. “Can Iuseboth?”
Jimmy frowned as if considering his request. “Namma said I can only use one kind on eachcookie.”
Brady flicked his gaze to June. “Your grandma’s right. You’ve made some really nice cookies. I like the angels and the Christmas trees. Which one is yourfavorite?”
“Gingerbreadman!”
Brady picked up one of the gingerbread cookies and held it as if he was about to chomp on it. “He lookstasty.”
Jimmy giggled. “Don’t bite offhishead.”
“Where should I bitefirst?”
“His arms,silly.”
Brady laughed as he bit the arm off the cookie. He chewed with exaggeration while pops of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove danced across his tongue. After he’d swallowed the delicious cookie he said, “I think we needsomemilk.”
“Yeah!”
With the palm of his hand, Brady rubbed Jimmy’s head. “I’ll be right back,tiger.”
“I’m not atiger.”
He grinned. “You’re right. You’re more likeabear.”
At that, Jimmy scrunched his hands into claws and growled. He broke off into fits of giggles. From the kitchen, June joined in thelaughter.
As Brady turned the corner to walk into the kitchen, Rachel stood with her back to him. Her palms pressed against the countertop as if she needed it to hold herself up. Quiet sobs wrackedherbody.
“Hey,” he walked up behind her and gently laid his hand on her back. “What’sgoingon?”
June opened the fridge to get a gallon of milk. After pouring two glasses, she left the kitchen to join Jimmy in thediningroom.
As soon as they were alone, Brady rubbed his hand across her back. “What’s going on? Talktome.”
She sniffed and pushed off the counter. She wiped tears from her eyes. “It’s just…seeing you together. I can’t help but think about what it might have been like had we stayedtogether.”
He gathered her into his arms. “I’mherenow.”
“Are you?” She looked up through tear-soakedeyes.
“I am.” He pulled her against his chest and stroked her hair slowly. He would have given anything to be able to take her pain away, but he had no idea howtohelp.
“He can’t die,” shewhispered.
“He won’t. The second the doctor confirms I’m a good match, we’ll go back to the hospital and do theprocedure.”
“It’s sorisky.”
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll try to shift. If I can’t, then we should be okay. The doctor seems to know what she’s doing. If you trust her, Itrusther.”
She pulled back slightly. “I don’t know how tothankyou.”
With the pad of his thumb, he wiped a tear from her cheek. “I just want to see you smileagain.”
June cleared her throat as she walked back into the room. “If you guys need some time alone, I can watch Jimmyagain.”
