Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SEBASTIAN

“ S ebastian, time is not going to go any faster staring at the clock.” Miss Rose gave me a fond smile and shook her head, causing her platinum curls to bounce.

“I know it’s been half a day since I saw them, but it’s Christmas Eve and Papa finished doing the extra decorations outside the house.” I had been so frazzled and excited I’d had to call my Daddies the night before to get them to talk to me, so I could fall asleep listening to their voices.

“I know Seb, I’m just teasing hun. I am so happy for the three of you.” She opened her arms and hugged me. “Have you got your bag packed?”

“I sure do. Daddy came round this morning to help me decide what I wanted to take for the Christmas break while I stayed with them.”

“How many stuffies are you taking? I can’t imagine you will get by with less than seven.” Rose gave me a wink and I giggled.

“Seven exactly.” Daddy had been firm that I could not take all of them, but we could pop back over the week and grab extra ones if I needed. I’d liked that idea, so I agreed.

I couldn’t wait to get back to the house. Sam was going to teach me how to get through the maze without getting lost, and Papa was going to teach me to ride his horse. I was very excited.

This week had been like a dream. Tuesday I’d gone with Papa to find Daddy the perfect Christmas present. Papa had found him a chess set inspired by Salvador Dali, and I had bought him a soft pair of gloves and a matching scarf to keep him warm. I was learning that Daddy was not a fan of the cold. He let Papa and I do all the ‘snow shenanigans’ as he called it. On Wednesday it was Daddy’s turn to take me out to shop for Papa. It seemed that the way to Papa’s heart was in the shape of a bottle of twelve year old single malt Scotch. Daddy found a bottle of The Balvenie and said Papa was going to be very happy with him, especially since he also found a nice box of cigars to go with it. I knew cigars were bad for you, but I had to admit Papa looked all kinds of sexy when he sat in his leather wingback chair smoking one. Daddy agreed with me, and said it gave Papa a bad boy vibe.

My gift was simple. Papa loved chocolate, so I arranged with the local chocolate maker to have a special collection of chocolates and sweets boxed up for him. I was feeling proud of my gifts, and I even had pocket squares for them with Papa and Daddy embroidered on each one. They and the other gifts I had for them were neatly packed in bags, ready to go when Daddy got here.

“I’m glad Marco and Roman make you happy. I just hope you won’t be giving up working here anytime soon. I’d honestly miss the hell out of you,” Rose said as she looked at the latest supplier’s list of latex clothing. I could tell by the slight tic of her left eye she really was worried about me leaving, but was trying for levity.

“Nope, I told Marco and Roman that while the whole Daddy thing is amazing and perfect and all that stuff, I also need my own time and space. I love working with you and Lilly, and I adore my little flat,” I answered, though I’d also thought about what it would be like living with my Daddies full time. How could a boy not imagine something as wonderful as that?

“I was wondering,” I said, unsure how to proceed.

“About?”

“Well, you know how I’ve been designing those little playsuits, and I’ve had some ideas for patterns and fabrics for training pants as well.”

Rose nodded. I could see she understood what I was trying, in my roundabout way, to get to.

“You want to sell them here?” she asked, pulling out her note book to jot something down.

“Well, if it would be okay.”

“Sebastian, of course it would be okay, especially now with Crimson House up and running. I’ve already noticed an uptick in business from people coming through before the events, and your playsuits and onesies would sell like hot potatoes at a midwinter fair.”

Leaping from my chair, I hugged Miss Rose. This would be amazing, and just the kick in the pants I needed to get designing more clothes. Daddy had already said they would happily set a room aside for my crafts and sewing for when I was at their house. I loved how supportive they had been when I had told them about my designs, and my dreams to create a Littles range of clothes and play clothes.

We were so engrossed in our conversation I didn’t notice the buzzer over the door going until I heard Daddy’s voice by my ear.

“Did I tell you how much I love that purple shirt on you?” Daddy’s voice purred by my ear.

I turned and flung my arms around his neck. “You’re here!”

Daddy laughed, lifting me off my feet and spinning me around. “Of course I am. I promised I was picking you up.” Daddy looked over at Miss Rose and smiled apologetically. “I hope I’m not interrupting?”

“Not at all. I was just looking over some of Sebastian’s designs and deciding where we could set up a display of his onesies in the shop.” Rose inclined her head to the crowded store. I knew she would work her magic and find the perfect place for me to display my things.

“Baby, have I told you how proud Marco and I are of you?”

I stood on my tippy toes to kiss Roman’s nose. “Not today you haven’t, so I’ll take it.”

“May I kidnap our boy, Miss Rose?” Daddy asked while I tried to clean up my spot at the counter—sadly, not before Daddy noticed the candy wrappers hiding on the shelf under the counter.

“Didn’t I pack you some healthy snacks?”

“You did,” I said slowly.

“And did you eat them?” Roman’s voice had slipped lower, into what I liked to think of as his Daddy tone.

“I actually ate them all this morning while I was cleaning my flat and packing my things to bring to the house. The chocolate bars happened this afternoon, I promise.” I fluttered my eyelashes. I wasn’t lying. I did eat the healthy snacks Daddy packed, but I also had a couple of chocolate bars I didn’t want to go to waste today.

“All right, sweetheart. Well, let’s get your bags and head out.” Daddy nodded to Miss Rose, who leaned under the counter pulling out a wrapped gift box.

“Miss Rose, you didn’t have to.” I touched the gorgeous wrapping and wondered what hid inside. I would be good and wait until Christmas day, even though it was very tempting to open it now.

“It’s nothing much, but I was browsing a favourite store of ours and found something for you that I know your Daddies might enjoy.” She winked at me, knowing I knew what store she meant, which sent my brain racing as to which lacy pretty she had found for me. It was going to be very tempting to open my gift before Christmas morning.

“Now go and have fun and I don’t want to see you or Lilly in this shop before January fifth, do you hear me?” She pecked me quickly on the cheek

“But you will see me at the pageant tonight.” I couldn’t wait. I was going to walk Amby while Daddy and Papa were going to ride Domino and Artemis. All of us were going to be dressed in holiday decorations.

Rose waved and shooed us out of the store and Daddy led me to where the Jaguar four wheel drive was parked.

“So you’re not going to show me what’s in the gift?” Daddy said, trying to peek into the box as we loaded my bags and stuffies onto the back seat.

I grinned and touched the side of his face. “Nope. You won’t get to see it until Christmas morning.”

“Papa, where are you?” I yelled as soon as I dropped my bags in the front hall. I wanted to see if the new halter for Amby had arrived. We had to get changed soon since we were all in the Christmas parade tonight.

“Did a herd of rhinos just walk into the house?” Papa exclaimed, walking down the stairs. One look at his bright green beard and jaunty Christmas hat, and I let out a shrill squeal.

“You look amazing.” I leaped into Papa’s arms, my hands going straight for his thick beard. It was so green, and he’d even woven some silver beads into it. “You’re like a sexy Christmas spirit or something.”

“Hear that Roe? I’m a sexy spirit of Christmas,” Papa said smugly, pressing sloppy kisses to my cheek and neck.

“You are something, my darling.” Daddy put down the rest of my bags, a tad more carefully than I had, and joined us on the landing, giving us both a hug before he headed upstairs.

“I’ll set out your clothes, Seb, and I want you to wear your thick jacket and mittens tonight.” I nodded from my spot in Papa’s arms. I couldn’t wait for tonight. We were going to have so much fun.

The band played Jingle Bells as Papa and Daddy led Artemis and Domino beside me. They handed out small presents to all the kids along the pageant route I followed along with Amby, handing out bags of Christmas sweets and candy canes. Amby’s halter and lead both had tiny bells attached, and they jingled at each step we took. I waved at the townspeople we passed. Miss Rose was standing with Aiden from the pub and she waved and cheered as we walked past. Papa led Domino over and handed her a small gift before gracefully bowing and heading back into the parade.

I grinned over at Daddy. I couldn’t believe how much fun I was having.

The pageant would finish by the bandstand at the centre of town. The place had so many mixed memories for me—my first kiss, my shelter when my parents had kicked me out, and the place I had made friends with Miss Rose—so it was kind of perfect that we finished the town Christmas pageant there, my Daddies and I.

We were making new memories, starting a new chapter in my life with the two men I knew beyond a doubt I loved. I wouldn’t tell them that yet. Papa would probably roll his eyes and say well duh, what was not to love? Daddy would hush him, and tell me they loved me too.

I loved them, and I was sure they loved me, and really, that was all a boy could wish for for Christmas.