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“Stop!” Carlos hisses. TK playfully rolls his eyes but makes his way to the sink to wash his hands instead of licking the cookie dough off his fingers. “I can’t tell her not to eat the dough if you’re gonna do it right in front of her.”
They both watch as she reaches into the mixing bowl and scoops out some dough and pops it into her mouth. Carlos gives TK a look as he swoops in.
“You can’t eat the raw dough, Princess,” Carlos says. “Come wash your hands and I’ll get you one off the rack.” She meets TK at the sink, and side-by-side, they wash their hands.
“Cookie, please!” she demands. When Carlos hands her one off the cooling rack, her eyes light up when she sees it’s one of the gingerbread cookies she decorated. “Why did we make so many cookies, anyway?” she asks, biting the head off the cookie.
“We are going to a party tonight,” TK says. He picks Mari up and settles her on his hip while they watch Carlos fill two large trays with cookies. “We are taking those cookies to Aunt Grace and Uncle Judd’s.”
“All of them?”
“No,” TK says. “But we’re going to take a few dozen.”
“Is everyone bringing cookies?” she asks. She finishes her cookie and TK is quick to grab a napkin and wipe her hands before she can smear frosting on either of their shirts.
“Yes, everyone is bringing cookies. Some people are going to take our cookies home, and we’ll bring home different ones.”
“Peanut butter ones?”
“Maybe. But if no one brings peanut butter ones, I bet your dad will make some with you, okay?”
“Okay.” Mari kicks to be let down, and TK sets her on the counter right next to the mixing bowl. “Can I have another?”
“Not right now,” TK pulls a few more ingredients out of the cabinet. “We have one more batch to make.”
“Are we taking these?”
“No,” TK says. “These are just for us.” His voice cracks a little, and Carlos pauses behind him, pressing a hand to the small of his back.
“You going to be okay?” Carlos whispers. “You don’t have to make these today.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” TK swallows hard and turns to his daughter. “I used to make these with my mom,” he explains. “And now, it’s time for me to teach you how to make them. And when you’re older, you get to teach someone very special how to make them.”
“But what if I don’t remember?”
Carlos laughs. “That’s what recipes are for, silly girl.” He reaches into TK’s back pocket and pulls out an old, faded recipe card, in a plastic sleeve, written in Gwyn’s precise handwriting. “You hold onto this, Princess.” Carlos presses a kiss to the top of her head and one to TK’s cheek. “I’m gonna go wrap a couple more presents while you two finish these up, okay?”
“Stay. Please,” TK says. “It’s a family recipe, and you should be here to help.” He reaches for Carlos’ hand, and Carlos squeezes it.
“Alright! Let’s get started.”
TK knows how to make the cookies by heart, but he waits, adding ingredients one by one, as Carlos patiently teaches Mari how to read the recipe. He measures the important ones and cracks the eggs himself to ensure the cookies will come out properly, but when it comes to the extras, he gives Carlos and Mari free reign.
Mari laughs as she dumps in tons of chocolate chips and only a little coconut. Carlos swipes the bag and sprinkles in a little more. Carlos and Mari each add a handful of candied pecans, walnuts, and pretzel pieces, but save the toffee, TK’s favorite, for him to add.
The three of them roll messy balls of dough onto the baking sheets and TK places them into the preheated oven and sets the timer.
Mari loses interest in waiting and disappears into the living room, but TK distracts himself by helping Carlos clean up the kitchen and by the time the timer dings, the kitchen is clean, with the exception of dishes in the sink.
TK loads the dishwasher while Carlos pulls the pans out and sets the cookies on the cooling rack. When TK deems them cool enough, he takes the cookies while Carlos grabs the napkins, and they join Mari on the sofa.
“Are they good?” Mari asks.
“Try it and find out,” TK says. He watches while Mari takes a bite and her eyes light up.
“They’re so good!” she exclaims.
“They’re the best cookies in the world,” TK agrees.