Free Jessica Beck - Donut Shop 18 - Dangerous Dough by Jessica Beck

enough on its own any time, Dot.   I’m going to get three plates.   Are there any objections?”
    “I made another pie
just like this one for Phillip, so you two can share this one,” Momma said.
    “If you’re sure,”
he said with a wicked grin.   The man
certainly loved pie, especially the treats my mother made.   Mine were good enough, but I’d have to take
another lesson from Momma to bring my skills closer to her level.
    “I’m
positive.   It does me a world of
good seeing how much you enjoy my little offerings,” Momma said.
    “Then far be it
from me to disappoint you,” Jake said as he stepped out of the dining room and
into the kitchen to retrieve two plates, two forks, and a knife.
    “You said earlier
that there was another reason you came by?” I reminded Momma once Jake was out
of the room.
    “Yes.   I need to give you this, Suzanne,” she
said as she reached into her pocket and pulled out two keys on a small silver
ring.
    I was about to
ask what locks the keys worked for when I realized that they were both to the
cottage.   “Momma, this place is yours.   You should always have your own set of
keys.”
    “That’s the
second order of business,” my mother said as she reached into another pocket
and pulled out a sheaf of papers.  
    “I don’t
understand,” I said as I took them from her.
    “It’s all fairly
self-explanatory.   This cottage is
my wedding present to the two of you.”
    “Jake, get in
here right now,” I called out.  
    There must have
been something in my tone of voice, because he came immediately, even without
the plates and utensils.   “What is
it?   What’s wrong?”
    “Momma’s trying
to give us this cottage,” I said, barely able to get the words out.
    “That’s too
generous of you, Dot,” Jake said in protest.
    “Nonsense.   Besides Phillip, you two are all that’s
left of my immediate family.   I want
you to have it.”
    “But this place
has always belonged to you,” I protested.
    “We both know
that’s not true.   When your father
and I married, his mother signed the deed to this cottage over to us, and now
it’s your turn.   Besides, I already
have a place to live.”
    “I’m not trying
to talk you out of letting us live here, but that doesn’t mean that we have to
own it ourselves,” I said.  
    “Suzanne, do you
honestly think that you have a prayer of winning this argument with me?”   As she asked her question, I saw the
line of resolve in her face, and I suddenly knew that there was no point
fighting her on it anymore.   Besides, did I really want to win this particular argument?   It was the perfect beginning to my new
life with Jake, and I knew that my mother could easily afford the gesture.   She was probably the richest woman in
April Springs, and this wouldn’t even touch her major holdings.   Still, it was the most precious gift she
could have given me, besides the love she gave me every day.
    “Are you
absolutely sure about this?” I asked one last time.
    “I’m positive,”
she said with a twinkle in her eye.
    I hugged her, and
even though I towered over her, I felt like a little girl again in her
arms.   “Thank you, Momma.   I love you,” I whispered.
    “I know you do,
and I love you at least as much right back,” Momma said.
    Then I felt
Jake’s arms enfold us both.   “Wow,
you surely just won the contest of best wedding present ever,” he said with a
laugh.
    “Good.   I always enjoy coming in first place,”
Momma said as she extracted herself from our embraces.   “Now, I really must be going.   I don’t trust Phillip alone in the house
with that pie, and we haven’t had our dinner yet.”
    “If it were me,
it would already be a lost cause,” Jake said with a smile.   “Thanks again, Dot.   For everything.”
    “It was my pleasure,”
she said as she started for the door.
    “Hang on a
second,” I said as I grabbed my coat.   “I’ll walk you out.”
    “That’s