The Winslow's Valentine's

>Hector Winslow always prided himself on being unlike “other” bookstores
>Everything was in-house to some extent, homemade and heartfelt like no other store could capture
>And what he couldn’t do himself, he did locally- printers, book-binders, publishers- ceramists, even
>He had put his heart and soul into his bookstores like his father and his father’s father did before him
>So when he opted to start selling cards for the holidays, he set to work immediately
>*Too* much work, Jeanette nervously observed as their anniversary drew near
>Of all the months for buying cards, February was easily the busiest
>Jeanette found herself up late the last two weeks covering Hector with a blanket as he snored at the kitchen table
>Strewn around him were punny sketches of cats and dogs, trimmed sheets of cardstock, puddles of paste and more
>She worried for him- it was one thing to be losing sleep over his handmade greeting cards
>But it was another entirely to ask Emmet to help remove them when they inevitably became stuck in his hair
>Nudging him awake again that night she ferried him off to bed, the man dropping back asleep as soon as he hit the mattress
>Slipping out of bed Jeanette tiptoed downstairs, sneaking into the little closet that their two nandroids charged in
>She gently booped the two of them awake
>“Emmet, Vicky,” she whispered, the robots rubbing their eyes, “I’m gonna need your help tomorrow, okay?”
>The androids nodded happily, the woman explaining her plans in detail for her and Hector’s twentieth the following morning
>It was a momentous occasion, and he needed the break more than ever
>Their lips sealed she returned to bed, sliding under the covers beside the man she loved

>In the morning, shaking him awake and out of bed, she whisked him out of the home for an incredibly crucial outing of the utmost importance (so she said)
>As soon as the door was shut behind them the robots set to work, nudging Chloe and Valen awake too
>They’d need all hands on deck for this one
>Vicky had only a few hours to whip up some costumes for the kids per the Missus’ request, Emmet a cake, and the kids… something
>The quartet set to work, Vicky imagining some playful halos and wings for the children, feathers plucked from the rapidly deflating guest pillow
>Emmet, tapping into the vast reservoir of Sterling baking knowledge, began crafting a strawberry cake like the family had never seen
>His little helpers darted back and forth hauling eggs and flour where it was needed, tippy-toeing them back to their shelves and cabinets
>Taking turns beating the batter and folding in a delightfully stiff meringue, they launched their charge into the oven as Vicky emerged with her finished works
>Draping them neatly at the kitchen table for later, the two nandroids shared a moment alone in the kitchen
>“We’ve never had a Valentine’s this busy,” Vicky giggled
>“Yes,” Emmet laughed, “Missus Winslow was adamant about today being perfect.”
>“I think you’ve done a bangup job, the way that cake is smelling.”
>“I’d be inclined to agree, madam, with how those wings turned out. Though I have to say,” he paused, teetering on the edge. He decided to take the plunge. “Though they’d look a lot…*ahem*- cuter… on you.”
>Emmet’s cheeks flared red
>Vicky’s cheeks flushed in turn, glowing pinker than the cake silently rising behind them
>The robot shielded her face for a second, forcing down an embarrassing squee
>“Aw gee, I’m sorry Vicky, I-”
>Wrapping her narrow arms around him, she pulled him close
>Squeezing her head into his chest she quieted him
>“Don’t be,” she cooed. Her eyes met his, his own delicate face lightening more in the small kitchen. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Emmet.”
>Returning the hug he ruffled her hair and squeezed back
>“You might’ve wanted to wait until I took my apron off,” he chuckled
>Unfortunate globs of pink batter now dotted her pristine blue dress
>“Oh... Well, it’ll come out in the wash,” she giggled, “and besides, now we’re matching.”
>The two held each other a moment longer before a sharp voice interrupted them
>“I want a hug too,” the Winslow’s youngest cried out
>Chloe tagged behind him, peeping into the kitchen before flying towards the robots
>“We finished the other stuff!”
>“Attagirl,” Emmet cheered, scooping up the little lady. “Oop, careful!”
>He took care to maneuver her around and spare her clothes the wash, though Valen took no such caution as he barrelled face-first towards Vicky
>A wet wipe later and they were done… almost
>“We’ve still got one last thing on the list, okay? I’m gonna need you two to help Vicky ice the cake once it’s done, but I gotta go make a call. Be good!”
>The two smiled enthusiastically, gap-toofed and raring to go
>Emmet flashed a little grin as he stepped aside, the curled cord stretching into the other room as he waited on the line to pick up
>“Winslow’s, how may I help you this evening?”
>“Gloria?”
>“Emmet,” she peeped, her half-hidden surprise warming him across the line. “*Ahem*- Emmet? What’s the occasion?”
>He explained their grave situation: a cake without a third person to present it, a card missing a signature, parents missing their daughter, siblings their sister
>The gravity descended on her, but she’d planned for this- sometimes she felt she knew the date better than either of her parents
>The soft clap of a book shutting echoed on the line, Gloria assuring Emmet she’d be over posthaste
>As soon as, she promised, she knew the shop would survive in her absence


>An hour later the cake was ready and in place, beautifully iced in a sanguine rose-pink, the delicate dessert-penmanship of Vicky immaculate next to the scribbled well wishes from the kids
>A knock at the door sent everyone scrambling for cover, the twist of a key and click of the lock squeezing them out of sight
>“Hello?”
>Breathing a collective sigh the kids, scrambling over their nandroid caretakers, flocked to their sister
>Valen clung to her leg as she hobbled over to lay her purse down, Chloe tagging after her big sister and bouncing questions off of her between squeezes of her arm
>“Alright you two,” Emmet joined, calming the two long enough to work them into position
>The five of them ducked away into the adjoining kitchen, waiting on the Mister and Missus to return
>Lights extinguished in the home the quintet giggled and whispered amongst themselves, silenced at another rustling by the front door
>A beaming Hector Winslow stepped in, Jeanette close behind
>“Hello,” he called out into the empty home
>Valen and Chloe flicked the kitchen lights on, their father jumping slightly at the winged little creatures rushing to his side
>“Happy anniversary Dad,” they squealed, jumping to his side now
>“Hey Mom and Dad, happy twentieth!”
>“Gloria,” he yelped. “What- How are you-”
>“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, you know me!”
>“Then who’s watching the shop, I mean-”
>“Don’t worry! You can trust him, he’s great,” she winked
>Jeanette embraced her daughter, Hector ogling over the menagerie on the kitchen table
>He spared a moment to show Gloria his new books on the Orient Jeanette had treated him to
>Sitting down at the table the family gathered behind him as he flitted through the collection of cards the kids had finished- they were just as he’d imagined them, he observed tearfully
>Cracking the one addressed to him open he had to stifle a cry, bleary eyes blurring the little zoo of messages and love
>The delicate swirl of his wife’s writing sang to him from the thick paper, Hector rising to smother his wife in kisse, joyous tears tickling their faces and wetting the other’s shoulder
>Giving the two a little more room the family backed up, Emmet sliding back to grab a knife to cut the cake
>Staring at the cake, Jeanette was ready to call Emmet over to portion it out, the robot hovering nearby
>But, Hector standing up, she held the order
>He rushed through the kitchen and upstairs, the thump of his shoes gently knocking above them
>Gently descending the steps again he hefted a sizeable box, carefully wrapped and taped with a splendorous bow adorning its top, downstairs
>Nestling it on the kitchen table, panting a little, he spread his arms
>“Happy… twentieth… Jeany,” he grinned
>Tearing the paper away slowly she revealed a delicate box
>Slipping its top away carefully, she spied a blanket of tissue paper settled at the top and pushing the edges of its cardboard cage
>Peeling each layer away she revealed a glorious set of milky-white dishes, the catch of the light on them glinting in each direction as she revealed a divine tea set piece by piece
>Each little cup and saucer was immaculately decorated, gold leaf pressed into their crimped edges and gleaming from the handle on each teacup
>Holding the teapot aloft she traced its circumference where a little moustachioed figure stood aside a townhome, and then a little lady joined him and, before long, a trio of extra people and two narrow robots joined them as well
>On a second inspection each of the six cups was a personalized piece of china, ornamented for each family member
>The robots couldn’t help but blush at their place together on a cup of their own, standing aside each other like a sugary, technological interpretation of *American Gothic*
>“Oh Hector,” she cried, “it’s- it’s- it’s lovely.”
>“Happy anniversary dear,” he smiled again, removing his little spectacles to wipe his eyes a second time.
>The two held each other again, whispering sweetnesses into the other’s ears before it was time for cake
>They’d kept Chloe and Valen waiting long enough, they knew

>After cake the family resigned to the living room to talk and visit; it was not every day Gloria Jane Winslow came to stay the night, after all
>And back in the kitchen the two robots were clearing plates and washing dishes, the leftover cake safely stowed
>Sterling nandroids were built for efficiency in such matters- usually
>But today they decided to take their time, flicking water playfully at the other or, when handing a dish for drying allowed, a brush of hands and playing of fingers
>It was Valentine’s Day, after all- they could take all the time they needed