She shakes her head, “Well, I like chicken nuggets.”
Liam goes to speak, but I silence him with a look.
“I’ll make a deal with you, Ivy. Do you like chocolate chip cookies?”
She gives me a look that says, ‘are you stupid’.
“If you eat three bites of chicken and two bites of carrots, then you can help me make and then eat chocolate chip cookies.”
“I don’t want to eat this,” she huffs defiantly.
“That’s fine. But that’s the deal.”
“Fine,” she huffs, picking up a piece of chicken and eating it.
She eats exactly three pieces of chicken, and two bites of carrot, no more, no less.
“Happy?” She asks.
This girl is very sassy today. It will be addressed, but not today. This is a big change for her, and I’ve not forgotten what she has been through. To be hospitalized for cancer treatment, and then your mother leaves one day and doesn’t come back, man, that’s got to be devastating for a little girl.
“You did very well. I’m proud of you, now let's make cookies!”
We go into the kitchen; I get everything we need and place it on the island.
“Let’s wash our hands first.” I turn the sink on, and we both wash our hands. Ivy sings her ABCs while washing hers. She is simply too adorable for words.
Liam looks on with an amused expression.
“Can I help you, sir?”
He shakes his head and chuckles, “No. I just didn’t know you could cook. You won’t burn the house down, will you?”
I place my hands on my hips, feigning annoyance, “I will have you know, Dr. Lexington, I make the best chocolate chip cookies in the entire world.”
He winks at me, “I have no doubt that you excel at everything you do. Don’t forget, we have to leave at four thirty for dinner with Isabella and Xander.”
“Okay, stir this,” I say to Ivy.
I walk over to Liam and kiss him gently, “I love you. Go find something to do.”
He huffs, “I already found something I want to do.” He whispers in my ear, “She’s a cock blocker.”
I giggle, “Behave.”
“Never,” he said. “I’ve got patients to check on.”
I go back over to Ivy. She stops stirring and gawks at me.
“What?”
“I knew you were his girlfriend,” she says as she begins to stir again.
“Here, let me finish that up, sweet girl.”
I stir the dough, “I’m more than his girlfriend you know. We’re getting married.”
She squeals so loud I expect Liam to run in, thinking something terrible happened. “Oh my God!” She jumps up and down.