“Yes! Santa came and there are thousands of gifts under the tree!” I really need some strong coffee before I can be half as enthusiastic as she is, so I get out of bed.
“Thousands? Are you sure?” I smile at her. “Let me use the bathroom and then I’ll meet you guys out there, okay?”
I kiss the top of her mess of curls and then walk over to my guy and wrap my arms around him. “Merry Christmas, love.” I stare up at him, still not believing that he’s mine after all this time.
“Merry Christmas.” I stand on my toes to kiss him.
“G-ross!” Kayla yells before we hear her stomping down the hallway. She’ll most likely be ripping the packages open before I even make it to the bathroom.
Oliver throws his head back in laughter. “Do you think we’ll always disgust her?” He nibbles at my neck.
“Most likely.” I easily get lost in his touch, almost forgetting that my daughter is waiting for us in the other room.”
We’ve been in London for the last week now. It has been the absolute best week of my life. I thought I was happy before, but after our talk the first night here, I feel so much better. I think I just needed him to know how I felt, but he was quick to get the ridiculous thoughts out of my head. His sister Liza ended up apologizing to me the next day when we all had lunch together. I don’t think we’ll ever be best friends, but at least there wasn’t tension in the house after that. He doesn’t care about my past. He only cares that he’s my future. That I’m his.
We spend the next hour cuddled up on the couch, watching Kayla tear through all her gifts. She’s thrilled about them all because my mother isn’t here to shower her with socks and underwear like every other year.
“What’s your favorite gift you got, Monkey?” Oliver asks her as he sips his coffee beside me. I should have known that we were destined to be together from the very start when I found out that we drink our coffee the exact same way. Black with just a pinch of sugar.
“My For Real Baby!” She jumps up and down in excitement. “Oliver, she goes pee in her diaper. It’s totally awesome.” Anyone who didn’t know Kayla would figure out right away that she’s around older children all day during the week. My best friend Sheridan’s mom has an in-home daycare and refuses to let me pay. Oliver has offered as well, but she turns us down every time.
“That is totally awesome.” He looks at me and raises his eyebrows in amusement while he sips his hot drink. He mouths, “It pees?” And I can’t help the laughter that comes out of me.
“Babe, if I recall, you’re the one that said she had to have it after she saw a commercial for it while she was with you.” I wink at him.
“I had no idea the thing was no different than a live child.” His dramatics have me rolling my eyes at him.
“How are you ever going to survive living with us if you can’t deal with all the girly shit?” I’m careful not to talk loud enough for Kayla to hear me because she’ll scold me and then repeat anything I don’t want her to.
He pulls me into his side. “If I get to spend the rest of my life with my two favorite ladies, I’ll buy all the girly shit in the world.” He gives me a soft kiss on the lips, but then we’re interrupted.
“Oliver, where is Momma’s gift?”
“I’ll go get it, Monkey.” He leaves the room and I’m wondering when they would have bought me a gift. He returns a moment later carrying a red and gold gift bag. The man can’t wrap a gift to save his life. I learned that last night when he tried helping me prepare for this morning. I put him in charge of keeping me caffeinated, so I could stay awake.
“Here you go,” my girl says with a bounce of eagerness.
“Thank you, baby.” I kiss her on the cheek and then take the bag from her tiny hands. I pull the white tissue paper out and then a small purple velvet box. I open it to see a beautiful white gold chain with a white gold rose pendant. The middle of the flower holds a sapphire stone, her birthstone.
“Momma, why you cryin’?” she asks. “You don’t like it?”
I pull her into my arms. “No, baby, I love it! It’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten.” I look up at Oliver and mouth, “Thank you.”
We exchanged gifts back home, so we wouldn’t have to worry about traveling with everything. We’ll ship the few things we can’t fit in our suitcases. I’m currently wearing one of my gifts from him, a smartwatch.
“What do you say we eat breakfast? And then I want to take my ladies somewhere.” He has an almost nervous look on his face and has me wondering what he has planned.
“Can we make Santa pancakes?” Kayla asks him, forgetting about her gifts and oblivious to the fact that I’m still an emotional wreck after receiving my necklace.
“Of course. Let’s go make your mum breakfast while she showers.”
“Oliver, you really need to learn how to talk.” She sighs and makes her way toward the kitchen.
7
We’ve been driving a while now and I still have no idea where we’re going.
“Are you going to tell me where you’re taking us? Aren’t your parents expecting us?” I stare out the passenger window, taking in the beautiful scenery. Snow-covered trees line the road. Even though it’s Christmas morning, there are still many people out and about. I then see what appears to be a castle come into view.
“We’re here.” Oliver pulls into a large, empty parking lot.
“Where’s here?” I open my door on the left side of his father’s car. I’ve been to London before, but it’s still so weird to me, driving on the opposite side of the road.
He opens Kayla’s door and helps her out of her seat.
“Oliver, where’s we at?” Her arms wrap around his leg in a tight grip. I love that she knows he’ll always protect us. “Is this where Cinderella lives?”
“No, this is the Creative Arts Museum, but behind it is where we’re headed.” He reaches for my hand when we meet in front of the car. “Come on. I want to show you both something.”
“Oliver, it’s Christmas. Are we supposed to be here?”
I take in more of our surroundings. Across the street, a little boy tramples through the snow in front of his parents. Kayla has enjoyed playing in it. The large flakes haven’t stopped coming down since the night we got here. We’re all bundled up for the weather, but I think I’ll freeze if I’m out here too long. Me and Kayla have never been in weather like this before.
I stop, so I can straighten her hat because her ears aren’t covered. I’d hate for her to be sick for the rest of our trip.
“Momma, I’m fine,” she huffs. “Oliver, are you taking us to build a snowman?” She had a blast with his nieces and father last night while they played in the snow. Nina and Leah showed her how to make a snow angel. I’m not sure she’s going to want to go home next week.
“No, we’re going ice skating. How’s that sound?” We’re doing what now?
“What’s ice skating?” she asks as we trudge through the cold slush. The snow on the sidewalk looks dirty from all the pedestrians who have enjoyed being out in this. I’m freezing my ass off, so I can’t say I’m one of them.
“It’s like roller skating but on ice. I’ll show you.” He’s oblivious to the fact that I’m freaking out beside him. I’ve never even been on roller skates. There’s no way in hell I can ice skate.
“Uh, Babe. This sounds like a really bad idea.” I don’t want to ruin his plans, but I really don’t want to make a trip to the hospital on Christmas.
He stops walking and grabs me by the hand with his that isn’t holding Kayla’s.
“You said you trusted me. Don’t you?” He looks at me with nothing but love in his eyes. How could I possibly deny this man anything?
“More than anything.” And it’s the truth.
“Good. I promise I won’t let anything happen to either one of my girls.” He leans in and gives me a light kiss on my lips. Every kiss with this man is like the first, each one making my heart skip a beat.
“Ol
iver, stop kissing Momma and take us ice skating!” He pulls away from me and we both chuckle.
I sit and watch my two favorite people slowly make their way around the large rink. I’ve never seen anything like this before so I’ve been taking pictures nonstop since we got here. As much as I’ve enjoyed the breathtaking scenery, I’ve enjoyed the sight of them together even more.
A massive Christmas tree sits center stage, adorned with white lights and a gold star on the top. All of the trees surrounding us are also covered in lights. I imagine it’s stunning, all lit up at night. The museum paints a beautiful backdrop and I wonder what it’s like inside. I’ll have to talk to Oliver about coming back when they’re open later in the week.
We’ve only been here for twenty minutes, but we decided not to stay long because it is so frigid out. Looking at Kayla, you wouldn’t be able to tell that she’s cold. The fun she’s having seems to have taken her mind off of that fact.
They start making their way toward me. “You’re already back in your shoes, Momma?” Kayla asks as Oliver guides her to the park bench I’m trying to stay warm on.
“Yeah, baby. We should probably get going.” I had tried skating with them, but after falling on my ass twice, I decided I’d watch them on the sidelines instead.
“We can’t go yet. Oliver has another gift for me.” I eye him suspiciously and he winks at me.
“Oh, he does, does he?”
He reaches into the pocket of his coat and pulls out a box and then gets down on one knee in front of Kayla. My heart nearly explodes at the sight.
“Oliver, what are you doing on the ground? It’s dirty and your momma is gonna kick your butt for getting your clothes yucky.”
We both laugh and I wipe at the tear that’s dripping down my face.
“It’s okay, Monkey.” He opens the box and lifts it to her level.
She squeals, clearly liking whatever she sees. Not wanting to interrupt the sweet moment, I quietly stand from the bench and walk closer. My heart melts. Inside the box is a necklace with a monkey charm on it. He’s called her that since we first started dating and it’s rare that he calls her by her name. She loves it because it’s special between the two of them.
“That’s pretty!” she shouts and throws herself into Oliver’s arms. He looks up at me, emotion overtaking his handsome face.
“I’m glad you like it.” He hugs her and then kisses her cheek before pulling away so she can look at him. “There’s something I need to ask you.”
“What is it? You can ask me anything.” Oh, my word. I don’t know how much more of this I can handle. Seeing these two together makes me a blubbering mess.
“Would it be okay if I asked your momma to marry me?” Now the tears are coming full stream. He looks up at the sound of a sob slipping from my lips.
“Yes! You wanna be my daddy?” He looks at me again, searching my face for permission. I give him a smile and a slight nod.
“I want that more than anything.” Now my guy also has tears pouring out of his gorgeous hazel eyes.
“Momma, did you hear that? Santa gave me a daddy for Christmas, just like I asked!” I nod at her because I’m unable to speak. I have never seen my little girl as joyful as she is right now. I wish I could freeze this moment. I don’t ever want it to end.
She hugs him one more time and then looks up at him. “You better go talk to Momma if you wanna marry her.” She says it very seriously.
“You’re right. Will you help me?” He pulls another box out of his pocket, this one smaller. I knew this day would come soon but never imagined it would be today.
They both walk toward me, a nervous smile playing on his face. He has no reason to be nervous though. He’s my yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
“Hi,” I look up at him as he grabs both my hands, Kayla standing right beside us.
“Hey, beautiful.” He kisses my cheek and then my left hand. “Last year, when you walked into my life, I knew right away that I had to have you as my wife. I thought maybe I was out of my mind for feeling that way so soon, but now I know that I wasn’t. You and Kayla came into my life when I needed you the most and made me realize that I wasn’t living before. I wasn’t loving before you. There is no love without you, Monica Phearson, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.” He turns toward Kayla. “Loving both of you. Would you please make me the luckiest man alive and be my wife, my forever?”
“Momma, please tell him yes. I want him to be my daddy!” Kayla bounces on her feet.
“Yes!” I exclaim, and in the next instant I’m being lifted off the ground into his arms. In the arms that make me feel safest. He sets me back on my feet and then runs his gloved hands through my hair before giving me a breathtaking kiss. Neither of us minding that Kayla is yelling about how gross we’re being.
He slips his gloves from his hands and then opens the box and there sits a beautiful ring that holds an emerald and ruby stone. Our birthstones. The colors couldn’t be more perfect since we got engaged on Christmas. On each side of the stones sit three diamonds. It’s so unique and so perfect.
“It’s beautiful.” I hold my hand out and he slides it onto my ring finger. I lift it up into the air to admire it up close.
“A beautiful ring for my beautiful girl.” He lifts me up again and spins me around and then sets me down, so he can hug Kayla again.
I watch the two most important people in my life radiate joy and it makes me finally realize something. In life, we often make choices that we deem as unforgivable. Oliver Donovan gave me something I never thought I’d get, a love refined.
Did you enjoy Love Refined?
Thank you so much for reading Monica and Oliver’s story! If you enjoyed Love Refined please consider leaving a review.
Also by S.E. Roberts
A Gray Christmas
The Unexpected Series
Revived
Renewed
Reawakened
Love Remotely
Love Refined
GIRL POWER COLLECTION
Fighting for Love
THE WRIGHT KIND OF WRONG
Her Arrogant Boss
About the Author
S.E. Roberts was born and raised in the cornfields of Central Illinois, but now lives in sunny Arizona with her husband, two children, and her rescue cat, Stanley. When she isn’t spending time with her family, she enjoys writing steamy romance, reading, and sipping on coffee.
Love Refined: An Unexpected Series Christmas Short (The Unexpected Series) Page 4
