(Corey) I Just Want To Be Right By Your Side (Taylor) [22]

(Corey) I Just Want To Be Right By Your Side (Taylor) [16]

Sorry for the wait guys this isn't that long and I apologize for that as well. I have been kind of blocked for a while on this story but I'm going to do my best to muddle through. Hope you enjoy it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I exited my bathroom and glanced at my door. It was weird to think my dad was across the hall instead of down it like usual. I made my bed quickly and then exited my room only to stop midway across the hall. Should I knock? What do I say?

The door opened and I saw Nici looking back into the room.

"Um...hi?"

She turned around startled. "Oh hi Angie did you need something?"

"I was kind of hoping to have a word with my dad."

"Oh he's in his room, I think," she smiled at me.

"Oh I thought...."

"No he's always up to be back at his room before Griff and Aravis wake up. We didn't want to confuse them."

"Yeah I guess they are kind of young to understand. Do they know what happened?"

"Not all of it."

"Are you going to need help in the kitchen this morning?"

"Well I can always use help but you don't have to feel obligated I can manage on my own. Have some last minute shopping?"

"Yeah...I haven't really bought anything. Think Dad will let me borrow the car?"

"He keeps the keys in the tray by the door."

"Nici!"

"If you don't he'll just try to make a 'quick' stop by the studio." She smiled at me and we both laughed. "Go on just be careful. Lunch will be at noon and I'm sure that everyone will be excited to see you."

"Thanks. Hey can you help me wrap?"

"Sure no problem."

I skipped down the hallway to the steps and then turned to give Nici a cheeky smile before I hopped up on the banister and slid to the bottom. 

I heard her chuckling in the hallway as small footsteps padded the way down the hall. Griff and Aravis both came into view at the top of the stairs at the same time and hopped up on the rail as I had. They each gave a cheeky wave before sliding down. I caught them at the bottom, one in each arm causing us to end up in a giggling pile in the middle of the floor.

"Can we go with you Angie?" Aravis said.

"Well..."

"Please!" Griff said.

I looked up at Nici at the top of the steps. She was smilling down at us.

"Ok you little rule breakers. Let's lay off Angie."

"But..."

"She's going Christmas shopping she can't buy for you if you go with her."

"Oh..." they said in unison.

"But if you stay with me we can make some cookies this morning before I make lunch and I'll let you guys each have one fresh from the oven."

"Oh hey! I'm going to make this a quick shopping trip if you're making cookies!" I half joked.

"Do you want me to make you a quick breakfast before you go?"

"Nope! I'm all about those cookies. I'm going to go shop and be back in time to have one fresh from the oven too."

"Alright then."

I took my coat from the peg by the door and slipped it on before grabbing the keys from the tray. I heard a door open upstairs and flashed Nici a smile before slipping out the door. I took a deep breath and looked at all the snow. It was something I usually missed with a south western christmas. I got in the car and started it. I would have to make this shopping quick. I hadn't been to an Iowan holiday in years and I wanted to see everyone for lunch not to mention we would have to wrap this afternoon.

                                                                       *****

I came down the stairs to giggling in the kitchen. I smiled and followed the happy sounds pausing in the doorway to admire the view. Aravis and Griff still in pjs were covered in flour and busy filling measuring cups.

"How many cookies are we making?" Aravis asked.

"A few dozen probably. We'll have to have enough for your uncles and you guys but then we need a few left over for santa tonight."

"Do you think santa will know to find me here?" Aravis asked.

"I'm sure your mom told him you'll be here. You know what. I think she is coming  too."

"Really? Mom's coming too?" Griff asked.

"Yes, I think so."

"Can we help with lunch too?"

"If you guys want to but with the fresh snow last night I thought you guys might want to make a snowman before lunch."

"Can we go make one now?" Griff asked as he dumped the last of the ingredients in the bowl.

"You have to get dressed first."

"Yes!" They yelled climbing down off their stools and zooming out of the kitchen.

"Hi Dad!" Griff yelled.

"Good Morning, guys," I chuckled. "Looks like you lost your cookie crew."

"No, they will be back in time to cut them out." Nici said mixing the dough.

"You think?"

"Yes, because I'm saving this for later."

"Oh?"

"Angie said she wanted one fresh from the oven."

"And she can't have one fresh from the oven now because?" I asked coming up behind Nici. I felt her tense momentarily then she relaxed.

"She's doing her christmas shopping."

"Oh well then maybe I'll...hey wait how's she getting to the store?"

"She might have borrowed your car," Nici said trying to hide an impish smile.

"Now how do you like that? Just yesterday I was worried about how you two were going to get along and this morning you are already conspiring to keep me home." I leaned in and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm glad you two are getting along."

"She's a wonderful young woman Corey. How could we not?"

I chuckled. "She's very opinionated at times..."

"And stubborn, hard headed, passionate, quick tempered, and basically every inch her father's daughter." Nici smiled at me.

"True, very true I guess. You know now that you put it that way. I'm not sure why I was worried in the first place."

She hit my arm lightly then covered the dough and set it in the fridge. "I have a lunch to prepare. Unless you want to be put to kitchen duty I suggest you run."

"Yes ma'am I'm running," I said with a wink.

I turned around and wondered out of the kitchen into the living room and then into my studio room. I sat down with my acoustic and started working where I'd left off a few days ago. I had barely touched the strings and the phone rang.