Work Text:
“There you go Henry- oh what a good job.” Love praises as she hands him a few more red and green gumdrops. He haphazardly puts them on but everything is covered in frosting so it sticks. She feels a sense of pride because sure it is the world of a toddler but she thinks that it’s sensational work.
She’s already imagining where she can put it in her new bakery, probably on the window sill that doesn’t face the sun but people can still see. Love had finally found a town that appreciated a baked good far more than Madre Linda. It meant she could have these little decorating events all through December both to bring in business and to meet the people of the town.
“That takes some talent.” A woman praises as she walks over to look at Henry’s hard work. She motions over to her own daughter who is only a few years older than Henry. “My little Daisy has gotten better since then but when she was your boy’s age most of the candy went in her mouth. A lot still does but she does like decorating it so I’d say we’re at fifty-fifty these days.”
The woman’s laugh, it’s so intoxicating that Love has to look up. Looking up makes her heart race in a way that no one had before, not either of her husbands or anyone else for that matter. This woman has sunkissed skin and a face splattered with freckles. It was as if her face and body became a nighttime sky full of gorgeous stars and the twinkle of those beautiful green eyes, it was almost too much to handle.
Sure Love had seen beautiful women before but something about this woman was different. Love finally realizes that she hasn’t said a word, she's just staring like a fool so she clears her throat and smiles. “Yeah- he had one taste of sour candy and he has not had any interest in the stuff since.” She looks over at the little girl’s gingerbread house and smiles. “It’s beautiful. I may have to commission her for one for the shop if she keeps that up.”
“Oh, so you’re the owner! I’m sorry that I didn’t know that I’ve been hard at work the past couple with the holidays coming. I really did keep meaning to come because Daisy has been begging to come by. All her friends have brought your sweets into school and this is all so much better than anything I could make.” The woman explains with a smile. She realizes that in all this talking she hadn’t said her name and laughs. “Well look at me- I’m not a proper southern lady it seems. My name is Wynonna and that is my daughter Daisy.”
All niceties were lost for Love as she imagined braiding the woman’s reddish brown hair while they whispered sweet nothing to each other. “Well, it’s so nice to meet you two. I'm Love and this is my son Henry.” She smiles as the little girl waves a frosting-covered hand at her with the sweetest smile Love has ever seen.
“Henry? Well, that is just the most darling name I’ve ever heard. It's so nice to meet you, Henry.” Wynonna says with a smile before she motions for her daughter to come over and say hello. As the girl walks over Wynonna wipes off her face and her hands. “Now why is your husband missing this? I mean I’ve got the excuse that it’s just the two of us- has been a while now. Now Henry’s father he sure is missing just the cutest little display of Christmas cheer.”
Was this a test? A way to see if Love was single, if this was flirting then it makes sense that this southern belle would have to make sure it went both ways. “Well Henry’s father isn’t with us either it’s… a long story but it means that it’s just the two of us.” The long story was that Joe was dead and she had barely made it out, after making sure to blame him for everything of course. Now they could start fresh, something she could do with Wynonna and her sweet little Daisy.
“Oh…” Wynonna says as she looks back at Love. She shouldn’t have been surprised to hear that she saw no ring but hearing it she feels sad. Whatever had happened to this woman’s husband the wound was still fresh enough that she didn’t seem to want to talk much about it. She walks over and picks up Daisy’s gingerbread house and sets it across from Henry’s so that they will all be close. “Well I’m sorry to hear it but if you need some friends in this new town Daisy and I would be happy to be your friends wouldn’t we, Day?”
Daisy nods eagerly helping her mother, getting her supplies before having a seat so she can get right back to work. “I’ll be here- especially if you have yummy candy like this.”
Love laughs at the girl’s eager words. “Well if you like the candy then you’re gonna love my chocolate cupcakes they’ve got candies on the inside. As long as your mom is okay with me giving you one of course.” She looks up at Wynonna for approval.
“I suppose after all that candy one cupcake won’t hurt. Here I’ll take Henry now, what do you say, Miss Daisy June?” She asks before taking the baby and having a seat in front of the gingerbread house.
“Thank you thank you! Do you want some help Mrs. Love I can help you bring it back?” Daisy offers before she stands up, eager to go choose her cupcake and help bring it over to the table. She liked helping whenever she could, especially if sweets were involved.
Love laughs and ruffles the girl's brown hair, “Of course you can maybe you can tell me what flavors your momma likes so we can bring her one too.” She says with a whisper loud enough for the other to hear. When Wynonna looks over, Love winks at her before ushering the girl back behind the counter.
Wynonna chuckles before looking at Henry. “Alright, little one now do we want to put m&m’s or gumdrops on the roof?” She asks before holding both options up for the boy. He grabs a bit of each which brings the biggest smile to her face. “Oh not one to make big decisions, huh? Well, how about you put those ones on that side- yeah right there and I’ll get started on the other side.”
Love looks over watching how Wynonna shows Henry how to put the little pieces of candy on the roof. The two are chatting and laughing along. It's so sweet and shows just how good Wynonna is with children. Finally looking away from it she looks at Daisy. “Alright, did you pick out a cupcake for your mom?”
“That one right there.” The girl says before pointing to a pretty pink cupcake. Daisy knew that her mother’s favorite color wasn’t pink but she did love strawberries. “Momma loves strawberries, she even grows them! They’re her favorite fruit in the whole wide world.”
Love gasps, “The whole wide world? Well then we have to give her the strawberry cupcake.” She puts the two cupcakes on their own separate plates before she holds out two cartons of milk. “These will go with your cupcakes. Can you bring those to the table for me?”
“Yes ma’am!” Daisy says before running over to bring the milk cartons over. She sets them down and smiles at her mother. “Miss Love, let me pick out your cupcake mom and I think you’re really gonna like it.”
“Do you?” Wynonna asks before she watches Love walk up with the two cupcakes. She sets the chocolate one in front of Daisy than the other one in front of her. She sees the little strawberries on top of it and smiles. “Strawberries, they’re my favorite. How did you know that?” She teasingly asks before looking over at her daughter.
Love smiles and looks over at Daisy for a moment before looking at Wynonna, “Oh you know… a little birdie told me.”