“Morning.” She wraps her arm around my waist while tucking her face into my neck. “Why do I feel like we just went to sleep?”
“Because we did.” I kiss her forehead. “The good news is, our girl will crash before lunch, so we can get a nap in this afternoon at some point.”
“You think she’s going to crash?” She frowns at me. “Your mom put enough candy in her stocking to last her the rest of the year.”
“She’s going to be so busy opening gifts I doubt she’ll even think about her stocking until tomorrow. Besides, Mom can deal with that monster if it comes to life.”
“Grandma and Grandpa are awake, and so are Uncle Dillon, Auntie Ashlyn, and Destiny!” Hope yells as she runs back into the room. “And Grandma says she made coffee.” She climbs back up onto the bed and begins to bounce.
“Did Grandma give you coffee?” Ellie asks her, sitting up.
“No.” She giggles, falling to her knees. “I can’t drink coffee until I get taller.”
“I forgot that rule.” Ellie pulls her into her arms and rocks her from side to side before kissing her cheek and letting go. “All right, baby, give me and Daddy a minute to brush our teeth, then we’ll see what Santa brought you.”
“He brought me so much stuff.” She starts to raddle off a list of the things left unwrapped as Ellie and I get up and get ready. When we’re done, she drags us out of the room, and then I spend the morning with the people who mean the most to me and know it doesn’t get better than this.
Chapter 7
Christmas Morning
June
* * *
“Please remind me the next time we see Colton and Gia to thank them for all the gifts they got Tia,” I say sarcastically as I walk into the living room where Evan is lying on the couch, watching Tia waddle around as she pushes one of those really annoying popping vacuums.
“To be fair, you did buy Gino a drum set that I’m sure they are equally as grateful for.”
“Oh, right.” I smile, hoping they’re enjoying that gift, and Evan chuckles, grabbing my wrist and using it to drag me down on top of him. The moment he has me positioned against his chest, his fingers slide through my hair and he cups the back of my head, dragging my mouth closer to his. Anticipation fills me as my belly dips, and my eyes slide closed.
“No, no, no!” Tia cries, losing interest in her toy, and I hear it drop to the ground. I turn my head to watch her as she stumbles over to us. “My dada.” She pushes my forehead.
“Can we share Daddy?” I ask her, and she ponders my question for a moment before shaking her head and climbing up on the couch, pushing her way between us. Sitting up, I watch her bury her face against her daddy’s chest as she rubs her eyes.
“Are you sleepy, baby?” he asks her, and she nods while her eyes drift half closed. I’m actually surprised she’s lasted as long as she has today, since she was up before seven and has been going at full speed since then.
“I’ll get her some milk,” I say quietly as I push off the couch.
“Thanks, babe. I’ll meet you in the bedroom. I think we could all use a nap,” he says, and I turn to catch the soft look of contentment on his face as he gets off the couch, holding our girl.
Without another word, I go to the kitchen to make her a sippy cup with warm milk and then take it to our bedroom. When I reach the doorway, my heart warms at the sight that greets me, and I walk to the bed and lie down with my little family. Tia, like always when it’s time to sleep, loses interest in her dad and comes to lie on my chest, and Evan curls himself around us. Listening to their breathing even out, I smile at the ceiling then drift off to dreamland with them.
Chapter 8
Christmas Morning
Dillon
* * *
I hold Destiny, who’s dozing after the excitement of the morning, with a grin on my face as I watch Hope and Ashlyn.
“Look over here, you two,” Lilly calls, and both girls look at her and smile wide while holding up their teacups. “That’s adorable.” Lilly shows me the photo she took with her phone, and she’s not wrong. With cookies on the tiny pink table between them, a teapot with hot cocoa, the two of them still in their Christmas-themed pjs with bright pink boas around their necks and tiaras on their heads, it’s perfect. Without a doubt, that photo will end up framed in our house, like dozens of other photos Ashlyn has placed around the house and hung on the walls.
“Send that to me, Mom,” Ashlyn says while Hope pretends to feed one of her dolls a cookie.
“Done,” Lilly says before pulling her eyes off her cell and looking at me. “We have a few hours before we need to leave for dinner.” She glances at Ashlyn. “So if you two want to take a nap, I can watch Destiny for a couple of hours.”
Without thinking, I hold my baby girl a little tighter and catch my wife roll her eyes at me. “Dillon is afraid he’s going to miss something if Destiny is out of his sight for more than a couple minutes,” she tells her mom.
Lilly turns my way, and her face softens as she reaches out her finger to touch the top of Destiny’s small hand before looking at her daughter. “He’s not wrong, honey. It feels like you just took your first breath yesterday. It wasn’t until I watched you and Jax grow up that I realized how quickly time passes. Before you know it, she will be walking and talking, then going to school, graduating, getting married, and having her own babies.”
“Please don’t make my husband have a panic attack.” Ashlyn laughs, and I chuckle. “I’m going to wake her up to nurse in a bit, and after she eats, I’m sure she’ll want to sleep again so we can nap with her.” She glances at Hope. “Do you want to go with me outside to see how far Grandpa and Daddy have gotten on your car?”
“Yes!” Hope shoots to her feet, her energy seeming endless even after being up since six this morning.
“Let’s go.” Ashlyn stands, taking off her tiara and boa. “Are you okay here with Destiny?”
At her question, I raise a brow then order, “Kiss me before you go.”
“Right.” She walks toward me and leans down to kiss the top of Destiny’s fuzz-covered head before meeting my gaze, cupping my cheek then kissing me. When she pulls back, I look into her eyes, and like always, I’m overwhelmed. I knew I loved her long before she was ever mine, but there is no way to describe how I feel about her now. Not only did she bring joy into my life, but she gave me the little girl in my arms and a happiness that is indescribable. “I love you.”
“Love you too, baby.” I watch her walk away then look at Lilly when she touches my arm.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” I ask, and her eyes get wet.
“For being you, for doing everything you had to do to give her what she has now. I know when you two first got together, we weren’t the most understanding, but I’m glad you fought for my little girl, and I’m proud to call you my son.” She pushes off the couch, then leans over to kiss the top of my head. When she leaves the room, I look down at my daughter and know I’d have reacted just like them. I’m just glad things worked out in the end.
Chapter 9
Christmas Morning
Kim
* * *
“Merry Christmas, my sweet boy,” I whisper as I lean over the side of Nash’s crib to pick him up, and he starts to wiggle his tiny body. “Are you hungry?” I hold him against my chest, kissing the side of his head while I take a seat in his double rocker. When he begins to coo, I place his bottle to his lips and smile as he starts to drink.
Smoothing his hair away from his face, I tell him softly, “I know you don’t know what Christmas is right now, but I imagine one day it’s going to be one of your favorite days of the year. When you’re a little older, you’ll look forward to the food and all the toys you’ll get, but most importantly, you’ll enjoy spending the day with your giant family.” I kiss his tiny fingers when he reaches up for my face. “My favorite thing was always the lights and the magic that seemed to fill the air. I hope you feel that sam
e magic.” I skim my fingers across his forehead.
“Baby.” Sage steps into the room, looking half asleep wearing a pair of sweats and nothing else. “I told you I’d get up with him.”
“I know, but I couldn’t help myself,” I tell him, and he shakes his head before leaning over to kiss my forehead.
“You need sleep.” Knowing he’s right, I shrug one shoulder and ignore his sigh. Since the moment Nash was placed in my arms, I knew I would do everything in my power to make sure he always knows he’s loved and wanted, even if that included me going without sleep for days at a time.
“Are Nalia and Willow still sleeping?” I change the subject while he takes a seat next to me on the rocker and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“I think I heard them moving around.” His hand covers the top of Nash’s head as he watches him eat. “When he’s done, I’ll make us all breakfast, and then we can open gifts.”
“French toast?” I ask hopefully.
“Anything you want, baby.” He touches his lips to my shoulder, and I smile at the contact while my heart warms.
“I love you.”
“More, baby, always more,” he says quietly, but I know he’s wrong. There is never a day where I’m not thankful to God for putting Sage in my path, and there is no one else I would rather go through life with.
Chapter 10
Christmas Morning
Harlen
* * *
With Harmony still asleep, I carefully get out of bed so I don’t wake her and go to the kitchen to start a pot of decaf coffee—something I’ve gotten use to drinking through her pregnancy. After I flip on the pot, I head down the hall to the nursery and open the door.
Last night, I finally finished putting together the last of the furniture and decorating while she was at her parents’, and she didn’t think to peek in the room when she got home. Stepping inside, I try to imagine what it’s going to be like in a few weeks when we bring Ava home, but it’s impossible.
“Oh my God.” I spin at those gasped words and meet my wife’s gaze. “You….” She looks around with tears in her eyes. “This is so beautiful.”
I watch her take in the wall behind the crib that looks like the night sky with pink and blue cottony clouds and shooting stars, and the black furniture that makes the pastel colors of the bedding and decorations stand out. I knew Harmony wanted pink everything, but I still wanted to add my touch, and I think I pulled it off with her sister’s help. “You know I don’t like your tears, angel.”
“I know.” She wipes her cheeks before resting her hands on her round stomach. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe how she looks carrying our daughter, and honestly, it’s going to be difficult to not keep knocking her up.
Closing the distance between us, I pull her into my arms, and she tips her head back to look at me. “Merry Christmas.”
“All I got you was a few T-shirts and the promise of a blowjob,” she mumbles, and I grin.
“Then I think you’re gift’s a lot better than mine.” I move my hands to her stomach, and feel Ava roll against my palms. “How are you feeling?”
“Good, tired as always.” She rests her hands against my chest and looks around once more. “I can’t believe she’s going to be here in just a few weeks.”
“Not much longer.” I lean in and touch my lips to her forehead then take her hand and lead her to the kitchen. Once I have her settled on a stool, I make her a cup of coffee and then frown when she hands me a card. “What’s this?”
“Open it,” she says, taking a sip from her mug.
Sliding my finger under the edge of the envelope, I pull out the card and unfold the letter inside. When I see it’s a reservation for the day after tomorrow for a three-day stay at the same cabin where I proposed to her, I drop the paper to the top of the counter and walk to her, dragging her into my arms.
“Do you like it? I wanted us to get away for a few days before Ava gets here, and I figured the cabin is close enough that we don’t have to worry if I somehow go into labor.”
“You know I love having you to myself.” I kiss her gently then lean back and smile. “But I still want that blowjob you offered up earlier.”
“Of course.” She rolls her eyes while laughing, and I cover her smiling mouth with my own, knowing it doesn’t get any better than this, than us, than the beautiful life we’re creating.
Chapter 11
Christmas morning
Cobi
* * *
Exhausted but still wired after working overnight, I pull my ride into a parking spot, shut down the engine, and get out, grabbing my duffle from the passenger seat. Seeing Christmas lights still shining from the condo’s windows, I walk toward the open garage then hit the button to shut the door and plug in the key code. Once inside, I move Maxim out of the way and shut off the alarm, not wanting to wake Hadley or Chloe if they’re still sleeping.
“Did you take care of our girls?” I rub the top of Maxim’s head as I kick off my sneakers, and he leans into me as I walk up the steps. When I reach the top, I find the tree still lit and the TV in the living room on, with Hadley asleep on the couch and Chloe in her rolling bassinet pulled up next to her, the two of them surrounded by piles of laundry. With a shake of my head, I set down my bag and walk to Chloe first, resting my hand on her back. I feel her breath coming in slow, even drags and pull her thin nursing blanket over her back, then go to my wife. I don’t even bother trying to wake her. Instead, I pick her up and start for the bedroom.
“Chloe.” She wiggles to get down, but I hold her tighter and keep walking.
“I’ll bring her in here with us, and she can hang with me while you get some sleep.”
“Aren’t you tired?” Her hand comes up to cup my jaw, and her thumb runs under my eye.
“I’m wired, baby.” I kiss her forehead then lay her down in bed.
“Busy night?” she asks as I jerk the blankets out from under her then let them float down around her.
“Christmas tends to bring out the best and worst in everyone. It was a long night.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” She rests her hand on my chest, and I lean in, touching my forehead against hers and soaking in her touch.
“As long as I get to come home to you and our girl, I’m good dealing with whatever I have to.” I pull back, watching her expression soften before she leans up to press her mouth to mine. When she rests back on the pillow, I head out to the living room, pick up Chloe from her bassinet, then shut everything down. Since I showered at work, I go back into the bedroom while pushing the bassinet, expecting to find Hadley asleep, but she’s sitting up holding a small wrapped gift.
“Merry Christmas.” She passes it to me once I’m sitting on the bed, and I carefully hand her Chloe, who instantly starts to nuzzle her mom’s chest, wanting to eat. I watch her slip her loose T-shirt off her shoulder, and like always, I’m awed by the beauty of seeing my wife feed our child. “Open your gift,” she whispers, and I meet her gaze then look at the box, quickly removing the paper. I open the lid and find a leather bracelet inside with a thick metal clasp covered with letters and numbers that look like some kind of code. “It’s the coordinates for where we met and the hospital where Chloe was born. Now we can always be with you.”
With my chest feeling tight, I put it on then look at my wife and lean over to cup her cheek. “You and Chloe are always with me, no matter where I am or what I’m doing.” I kiss her softly when her eyes start to water. “I love my gift, baby, and you.”
“I love you too.” She starts to lift Chloe to pat her back, but I take my girl and hold her against my chest and rub her back.
“Come here,” I order Hadley, and she curls against my side, resting her hand on Chloe’s rump. “Sleep, baby. I’ve got our girl.”
“Thank you.” She yawns.
I wait until both Hadley and Chloe are asleep to flip on the TV, and then I spend the early hours of Christmas morning with both my girls safe in my ar
ms.
Chapter 12
Christmas Morning
December
* * *
With my belly filled with nervousness, I glance from the test in my hand to the bathroom door then back again. When the test stops flashing and the one word I’ve been praying for appears on the screen, I fight back tears. When Gareth and I decided to start trying to get pregnant, I knew it wasn’t a guarantee, not after witnessing July and Kim’s infertility and knowing so many other women who have tried and failed. Honestly, I didn’t think it would happen so quickly for us, but I guess I was wrong. Grabbing a piece of toilet paper, I take a seat on the edge of the tub and try to dry my tears as they fall, not wanting to freak Gareth out with my crying.
“Ember.” I jump up and stub my toe on the vanity when Gareth calls my name while jiggling the door handle.
“Oh God,” I moan in pain, which I realize is stupid when the door is suddenly shoved open, sending pieces of wood flying around the room. Holding onto the vanity with one hand and massaging my foot with the other, I meet my husband’s wild gaze, and whisper, “I’m okay. I stubbed my toe.”
“The door was locked.” His eyes leave mine, and he scans the room, looking for a threat that isn’t here. Then his gaze catches on the floor at my feet, and I glance down, seeing the test I dropped when he broke down the door.
“Umm…” I hold my breath as he bends down to pick it up and bite my lip when he flips it over to see the screen. “Surprise,” I whisper, and his head flies up.
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