“I want to be there when you do that and watch her kick your sorry ass.”
I sighed. Maybe I hadn’t thought this through as well as I should’ve. Caro loved animals and winning her over wouldn’t take long. The dog was supposed to be well trained, but I was having my doubts. She appeared to be housebroken, except for the incident with Steele, but that’d happened on the balcony, which was technically outside. I didn’t know if Mona liked cats either, and that could be a deal breaker, yet I had a good idea Rusty would hold his own.
“So, guys, here’s the plan. I’ll go over there in about an hour, and I’ll text when it’s time to bring the dog over. Don’t forget to wear the Santa hats.” I pointed at the Sockeye Santa hats I’d bought at the team store yesterday.
My buddies rolled their eyes in unison.
“You should be grateful I wasn’t able to rent any Santa and Mrs. Claus costumes this close to Christmas.”
“Too bad. Kaden looks great in an apron. He could’ve been Mrs. Claus.” Steele winked at me. Kaden placed his plate on the coffee table and fired a pillow at him, pegging him in the head.
Steele narrowed his eyes, ready to reciprocate.
“Hey, don’t throw that at me. You’ll hit the dog.” Mona rolled on her back, her head on Kaden’s lap, and made an odd sound between a whimper and a growl. Kaden ran his hand over her long, glossy coat. “I really don’t like dogs.”
“She loves you.”
“She’s smelly and hairy and needy. Three things I avoid in a woman.”
Steele threw back his head and howled. Mona’s devotion to Kaden was fucking hilarious, especially considering his repulsion to animals. Mona was secretly evil and getting a kick out of torturing the one person in the house least enamored of her.
Steele and I laughed our asses off until we were exhausted. Even though the scowl on Kaden’s face threatened to start us all over again, we managed to keep our emotions under control.
Kaden pushed the large dog off his lap and stood. “It’s time to prep for Christmas dinner. Who’s going to help?”
Steele and I exchanged glances.
“I’m delivering my presents to the kids.”
“I’m taking the dog for a walk,” Steele said quickly. Neither of us had any interest in peeling potatoes or chopping veggies or whatever Kaden had in mind.
“I’ll take her for a spin in the park down the street and wait for your text.”
“Do you have doggie bags?”
Steele reached in his pocket and withdrew a few black plastic bags. “Right here.” He grabbed a leash, and Mona forgot all about the love of her life, exchanging him for a new one, the guy with the leash. She danced around until Steele corralled her long enough to put the leash on her. Together, they exited out the door.
“I sure as hell hope you know what you’re doing.” Kaden shook his head as he headed for the kitchen, stopped, and turned toward his room. “I’m taking a shower before I cook. I’m covered in dog slime.”
I watched him go and shrugged. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was doing it anyway.
Caroline point of view
The kids opened their stockings first, stuffed with chocolates and socks, a charm bracelet for Hailey, and an e-reader for Heath. They were all smiles this morning, and I breathed a sigh of relief that I hadn’t seen any sadness yet, though I fully expected their loss to sink in after the thrill of Christmas morning wore off.
I insisted they eat breakfast before unwrapping the big presents. I’d spent hours fretting over what to get them and was very proud of my purchases. Both gifts had been chosen with care and consideration. I’d made lists, narrowed the options, and chosen the one perfect thing for each. They were extravagant expenditures, and I looked forward to the kids’ reactions.
After breakfast, the kids ran to the tree, giddy with anticipation, while Junie sipped spiked eggnog from her perch on the couch.
Hailey bounced on the balls of her feet, while Heath clasped his hands behind his back. He, too, was excited as evidenced by his tapping foot.
“Hailey, you go first,” I said, knowing Hailey would drive me crazy if she had to wait much longer.
Hailey lunged for the oddly shaped package as tall as she was and ripped off the colorful wrapping paper to reveal a lifelike, large rocking horse with a real horsehair mane and tail and a leather saddle. She screeched in delight and ran to me, throwing her arms around me. I hugged her back, blinking the tears from my eyes.
“Mommy, it’s exactly what I wanted. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. He’s perfect. I’m going to call him Midnight.”
Heath watched all the drama with wide eyes.
“You’re next, honey.”
He nodded solemnly and knelt down before his present. He carefully unwrapped it, taking care not to tear the paper. I blinked back the tears in my eyes. Sometimes Heath was his mother’s son. I attacked presents in the same methodical manner. Once the paper was off, he stared at the cardboard box for a very long time without saying a thing. The contents were clearly displayed in images on the outside.
“Do you like it?” I held my breath, fearing I’d made a huge mistake.
“Yes. Thank you.” He was reserved as usual, but he tore into the box with more gusto than his words showed. His gift was a puppy that walked and barked and responded to commands. The thing even did tricks. I helped him with the batteries, then watched the two of them play with their new toys. Their boisterous laughter did my heart good. So far, they were surviving their first Christmas without Mark quite well.
Rusty crawled onto my lap. With a yawn, he curled up and purred himself to sleep. Our little family was going to be okay.
Only now did I allow myself to reflect on Easton’s words from the night before. He’d come looking for me two years ago after he realized I wasn’t easily replaceable. I didn’t know how to take that. Did we have a shot at a relationship, even being a family? I’d experienced so many changes in the past several months, I couldn’t fathom what he was proposing, not yet. I needed time, and so did my children. I cared for Easton. I might even go so far as saying I’d never stopped loving him, but did we have what it took to make this work?
There was a knock at the door. I’d been expecting Easton, certain he’d come bearing gifts for the kids. I hoped he hadn’t gone completely overboard, but I doubted that’d be the case. Easton had money, and he was bent on spending it.
The kids ran to the door and waited for me to look in the peephole. At least I was getting through to them about something. I opened the door and stood back for Easton to enter. He carried a large wrapped box. By the messy wrapping, I was certain he’d wrapped the gift himself. A lump formed in my throat over his efforts.
“Easton! Did you get me something?” Hailey jumped up and down, her little fingers grabbing for the box. Heath hung back but his eyes were bright with curiosity while he eagerly leaned forward to study the package.
“Hang on, honey. Yes, I have something for both of you.” Easton set the package on the floor. “This is for you, Hailey. Heath, yours will be here in a minute.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply