Maybe, just maybe, Cal would have a gift or two for her under the tree. She didn’t want to get greedy, but it would be nice. Her hand rose to rub at her chest; it was aching but it wasn’t time. She rubbed the ring on her finger, smiling as she remembered Cal giving it to her. Already he had given her so many thing. The most magnificent of them was his love.
She grinned as she thought about her conversation with Vick and Mckayla yesterday.
“Is everyone ready for a visit from Santa?” She was sitting on the floor with them playing a board game and sipping hot cider. That was the life.
“Santa doesn’t exist,” Mckayla said, using her most grown up voice to impart that bit of wisdom.
“Yes he does,” Vick replied in his manliest of voices, “but he doesn’t come to our house.”
“Then how do you know he’s real?” Mckayla’s chin jutted up in the air.
“Because I know him.” Vicks arms went across his chest to counter her move.
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do.”
“Then why doesn’t he bring you presents?” Mckayla’s voice took on the high soprano note that only little girls seemed to be able to reach.
“He said mommy and daddy have way too much money and don’t need him to give me gifts.”
“Oh.” She was a little deflated by that news. “He never brought me gifts.”
Tears shimmered in her big brown eyes and she wiped them away with a shrug.
“Not that I need gifts from him anyway.”
Paige leaned over and picked her up, holding her tight in her arms.
“Everyone needs gifts, Mckayla. There will be lots under the tree for you.”
Mckayla nodded her head and sniffed before kissing Paige on her cheek.
“I like you, Miss Paige.”
“I like you too, Aunt Paige.” Vick hugged her around her neck and kissed her on her cheek.
“Is there really a Santa Claus?” Mckayla asked, her voice low with longing.
“There really is, but he goes to the houses of the kids who may never know love first. I don’t know where he goes after that.”
“Oh, my mom loves me.”
“Your blessed, Mckayla. To be loved by a parent is amazing.”
Mckayla beamed at them. “Your mom loves you too, Vick.”
“My dad love’s me, too.”
“I don’t have a dad.”
“That’s ok, maybe your mommy can get you a new dad and then you will have one too.”
Mckayla perked up. “That’s a perfect idea. I can help to pick him out.”
“Wait, Mckayla I think you should let your mom do the picking if she even wants a new man in her life.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Vick’s voice was low when he said it. Mckayla nodded and they both cast Paige sideways looks. She pretended she didn’t hear them.
She chuckled, moving on the bed trying not to wake Cal. They both held special places in her heart. She would miss them. Shaking her head, she thought positively. They would win—end of story.
Cal’s body morphed; one moment the Arbrin laid there, now the Matra took over. He reached over and lifted her, placing her on his chest. She snuggled into him. There was nothing quite like lying on his huge chest listening to the beat of his heart.
“What’s wrong, Sunshine?” his deep voice rumbled low and soft.
She giggled because she couldn’t help it. Every time he tried to whisper in his Matra form she would dissolve into laughter. It simply amused her to try and listen to his deep voice come out softly and reassuring.
“I’m starting to feel a few twinges, they woke me up, but I’m ok. I was just thinking about Christmas day.”
“We’ll greet Christmas together, Paige, no matter where we are.”
Nodding her head, she closed her eyes. She would need whatever energy she had later. Steeped in the masculine smell of Cal with a smile on her face, sleep claimed her.
“Victor,” Cal reached out to his brother.
“It’s late, Calix.”
Cal smiled; his brother always resorted to his full name whenever he was concerned about him.
“Were you able to get it?”
“Yeah, now go to sleep, you will need your energy.”
“Night, big brother.”
“Night, little brother.”
Cal closed his eyes. The love in his brother’s voice made him feel a little less worried.
*~*~*~*
“Stop stalling or we’re going to miss breakfast.”
“Cal, it’s ok, I can cook a little. Believe me, I’ll feed you.”
He walked over and gave Paige a lingering kiss on the lips. “It’s not that, Sunshine, I just want to…”
Paige stood and dressed quickly, she didn’t want to face the day. Didn’t want the time to slip through her fingers when once again she would be fighting for her life. In her reluctance, dare she admit it, her selfishness was preventing Cal from spending time with his family.