Peppermint Glazed Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 28 Page 7
“And helped us,” Jung chimed in.
“And you make the best donuts in the world.” That was from Amy, of course.
“Thank you so much, everyone,” Heather said. She put the lid back on the box, then placed it on the counter beside the bow. “You’ve made my birthday really special.”
“It’s not over yet,” Ryan said. He patted Lilly on the back. “Are you ready?”
“I’m so ready,” Lilly said and danced around in a circle. She stopped, cleared her throat and stepped up to Heather, again.
“Oh boy, I get a gift from you guys too?” Heather asked. “It’d better not be a pet bird or something.”
Everyone chuckled again, but the atmosphere in the store had altered, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.
Lilly took a deep breath. “I kind of prepared a speech,” she said. “I hope it’s okay.”
“You’ll do great, Lils,” Ryan said and waved at her to continue.
Lilly swallowed once. “For a while now I’ve called you, mom. Even if it’s by accident, I mean it.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m going to cry,” Amy wailed.
“Shush, dear,” Eva said and looped her arm around Amy’s shoulders.
Heather’s heart quit beating in her chest. Everything stood still, and she focused only on the little girl in front of her. The girl who’d come into her life and changed it for good.
Lilly’s presence had provided that extra light and joy every morning.
“So, I hoped that you’d want to be my mom in more ways than just one,” Lilly said and tucked her hands behind her back. She rocked onto the balls of her feet and back down again. The cat on the front of her cardigan had a fluffy nose for decoration.
Ryan handed Lilly a package, just a plain brown folder – same as any she used in her cases.
Lilly handed it over. “Would you be my mom?”
Heather’ heart shattered into a million tiny pieces and reformed. She flipped open the folder, and her eyesight blurred from the tears. “Adoption papers,” she said, and the words turned into a series of sobs. “Lilly, of course. You’re my daughter already.”
She dropped to her haunches and Lilly ran into her arms. “I love you, mom,” she whispered.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” Heather replied, and squeezed her daughter tight as she could manage.
More applause from the watchers in Donut Delights. And laughter too. Cheering.
All of those joyful sounds paled in comparison to the feeling in Heather’s heart.
But that noise swept through the store and rebounded. The celebration had only begun and already, Heather’s birthday was the best she’d ever spent on this Earth.
THE END
A letter from the Author
To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!
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Susan Gillard