By the time I walked to the kitchen, the cookie dough sat on the counter, along with cookie sheets, and the oven was preheated.

“You are amazing…” I chuckled and patted the counter. With the tree decorated upstairs, all that was left was cookies, wrapping presents, and decorating the living room. Actually, that was a lot more to get done, though I had plenty of time today to do it.

I scooped cookie dough onto trays. It wasn’t complicated. Balls of cookie dough were placed three inches apart and then baked in the oven for the required time.

In no time at all I had chocolate chip cookies, plus peanut butter. I added two dozen of the cinnamon from the oven onto the island.

I’d forgotten to make another cup of coffee when I’d come down, so I took a moment to scoot to the front of the shop.

I went for a mocha with a little peppermint, and some whipped cream on top. Picking up my mug, I headed back into the kitchen to box the cookies up in the seasonal tins I’d gotten.

Giant snowflakes covered one of the larger tins, and that was the one going to Onyx. I packed some of each of the cookies into that one tin and wrapped a ribbon around the top, keeping it in place with a small piece of tape. The name was easy enough.

The rest of the cookies I put on a large platter that I’d take upstairs once I was ready. The soft music still played in the living room, and I could barely hear it if I strained.

“This will be okay,” I whispered to myself.

Another rush of warmth rose from the floorboards.

“I’m okay, Betty…” I let out a sigh. “Once I wrap and pack up all the presents, I’ll need to call my mom and let her know I’m not coming home for the holiday. And that is okay. I’ve come to terms with it. It’s just the conversation is going to suck, you know?”

I wasn’t sure if the shop understood, but I appreciated the warmth soaking in my toes.

“I appreciate your help today with the tree and making cookies. You make this place feel like home.”

I still had plenty of time before I needed to make the call. Instead, I picked up the tin and my coffee mug and headed for the stairs.

With Betty's help, none of this had taken long. It wasn't even lunchtime yet. Back upstairs, I found the Cat napping next to Indigo, who clutched a golden oak leaf in her claws. She lay next to him with her eyes closed, snoring ever so lightly.

I didn’t wake them as I set the tin down and pulled out the wrapping paper. The coffee table was the best place to get all the gifts for my family wrapped. The basket of things I’d gotten earlier in the week rose from the floor next to me.

Then I very slowly got to work cutting wrapping paper. Some people could wrap gifts and make them look amazing. I could do okay, but I needed to be very intentional about it and take my time. Otherwise, it looked like a two-year-old did it.

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I started with the easy one, the books. I’d slowly move onto harder items after that.

Indigo stopped snoring at one point and watched what I was doing.

I placed a small square of wrapping paper in front of her and she tried to fold it with her claws. It didn’t go so well, but she kept at it.

Eventually, my pile of presents sat in the center of the coffee table, wrapped with name tags and even ribbons with bows. I might have gone a little overboard, but it provided me more time to put off the phone call.

“Are you mailing those today?” asked the Cat, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“I am,” I said with a frown, glancing at the time. “I scheduled a pickup with the delivery guy. I still need to get them into a box and labeled for delivery to mom’s.”

It was a good reminder that I couldn’t just zone out right now. Especially not if I wanted the package to get to my family on time, and not cost hundreds of dollars to ship.

I grabbed the cardboard box and carefully stacked the wrapped presents inside, using tissue paper to fill in any gaps and protect the bows.

“Me too!” Indigo held up a roughly star-shaped object she’d made out of the wrapping paper.

“That’s pretty,” I said, taking it from her claws. “I can add it to the box, or hang it in your room, which do you prefer?”

Indigo’s eyes grew wide as she looked between the cardboard box and me.

“I can make you a paper star for your room if you want…”

“Give to family, my present.” Indigo nodded her head at her statement and I added it to the box.

I set it on top, though it’d probably get moved around during shipping. Who knew what my family would make of it, but it didn’t matter.

“They’ll love it.” I’d need to weigh the package and get it taped up, but I still had a few hours until the pickup time.

“I’ll make you a star,” I said, pulling a piece of white paper with snowflakes on it closer. I cut it into a square and then slowly folded an origami star. It was one of the few things I could fold like that.

“Ohhhh… can has more?” she asked, claws outstretched for the one I’d made.

I chuckled as I cut out several more squares and got to work folding them.

Indigo watched like I was a superhero as I made each star for her cat tower. The pile slowly drew bigger, and she flew around the room holding one in her claws.

Eventually, the alarm on my phone went off, and I paused the folding.

“Time to get the box mailed,” I muttered to myself. I taped the box up and carried it downstairs, careful not to trip.

A scale sat on the counter by the time I got there, and I weighed it before printing the label with the label maker that happened to be next to the scale.

I slapped the sticker on the box and headed to the front door to unlock it. I’d just turned back to the counter when someone knocked on the door.

Quickly turning, I caught sight of the delivery guy on the other side. I waved quickly at Adam and pulled it open.

“You have perfect timing, let me grab the box.”

“I can get it,” he said with a smile. He followed behind me, which made me nervous, but I caught sight of the Cat watching from the balcony.

Adam grabbed the box after scanning the barcode on the box. “This looks good, have a nice one today!”

“You too,” I followed him out this time and locked the door behind him.

Indigo chirped from upstairs. “Stars, more stars…”

I chuckled and headed in that direction.

***

Sable did her best to hide her emotions today with a bright facade, but the shop could feel it, and so could I. Packing the box up and getting it out the door brought her down a little more, but Indigo didn’t even notice.

Maybe there was something I could do to make this better. Just a little.

I’d need to be sneaky, even for a Fey Lord. But I was sure I could do it.