He followed me down the ladder and then chased me back to the house. “You didn’t get enough?”
I laughed and spun around just as he grabbed me. Standing in the snowfall, freezing but happy, I shook my head. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get enough.”
“I’m a lucky man.”
The door opened behind us and Alex stuck his head out. “Oh, thank God. I was terrified I was going to have to interrupt something. Come on in. We’re opening gifts.”
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face when Tucker took my hand and led me in. Everyone looked up at us and the expressions on the adults’ faces said it all.
I blushed, but ignored them as I sat down behind Abby.
She looked up at me and grinned. “We got presents!”
I looked at the big pile in front of her and felt my heart swell in my chest. “You did!”
Joey popped up next to her and pointed to his pile. “How are we even going to get these home?”
Abby suddenly frowned. “We don’t… I don’t know, Joey.”
I scooped her into my arms and pulled her onto the couch between myself and Tucker. “We need to ask you something.”
She looked at the both of us, her eyes still round and sad. “What?”
“Would you like to live with me? I have a big house and a cat named Tony. I promise I will take care of you and your brothers. And…Tucker would be there, too.”
She was instantly in my lap with her arms around me. Giant tears rolled down her cheeks. “You want us?”
I nodded and shed a few of my own tears. “Of course, we do. No matter what happened with your mom, Abby, you and your brothers are the best gift I could’ve ever hoped for. I promise that I’ll do my best to make sure you’re all happy.”
Her little body shook in my arms and she let the tears fall freely. Joey and Bear rushed over to join her in my lap. They hugged their big sister, clearly worried about her. She gathered herself, though, and smiled at them. “We’re going to live with Lettie, guys. She’s going to take care of us. And Sheriff Tucker. They’ll keep us safe.”
Joey tilted his head. “Do you have cartoons?”
I nodded. “All kinds of them.”
Bear gave a pitiful roar. “Can I be bear?”
I nodded. “You can be bear.”
That was all it took. The boys jumped down and went back to their presents. Abby was slower. She hugged me for a long time before hugging Tucker and then crawling back to her gifts.
Tucker pulled me into his chest and kept me there. “They seem happy.”
I looked down at them, opening the piles of gifts, each one seemed to be perfect for them. I didn’t know how Carolyn did it, but she’d made their Christmas. She’d made everyone’s Christmas. I looked around at the beautiful scenery with the snow falling outside and the Christmas carols being played, and I felt almost like a little kid myself. Then, Melissa brought out a big tray of cookies and the scene was complete.
Matt and Leila sat together, holding their two children. Lucas and Sammie were cuddled up, staring at each other with so much love it would’ve made me jealous to see if I hadn’t had Tucker at my back, holding me. Mason was on the floor with Joey, racing their new cars. Michael and Daisy were on the floor with their boy, watching him try to walk. John was sitting behind Bunny, on the couch, rocking their crying baby. Then, there was Alex, pacing as Elizabeth tried to find a comfortable position for her belly while their two boys ran wild around everyone.
Carolyn stood back and watched her family with a twinkle in her eye, Baily at her side taking pictures, making sure the memories lasted.
It couldn’t have been more perfect. I felt like I’d stepped into a framed Thomas Kinkaid painting. My own Christmas miracle.
At least I thought so until Tucker leaned forward and nibbled my ear. “You said you have a cat named Tony?”
“Yes. Why?”
He laughed. “I have a dog named Thunder. This should be interesting.”
I turned to face him and frowned. “Thunder likes cats, right?”
“Hmm… sure.”
“My house is going to be destroyed, isn’t it?”
He pressed a kiss to my lips. “Welcome to motherhood, little mate.”
I looked back down at my three precious gifts surrounded by their new toys. Abby glanced up at me and flashed a big smile before going back to fastening her new charm bracelet.
I settled back against Tucker’s chest and sighed happily. “So, we’ll have a few messes. How bad could it be?”
I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into, but I knew that no matter what, it would be worth it.
THE END