Chapter Twenty-One

Austin

Christmas Eve’s lovemaking went on late enough that when Alice rapped on the door, I felt like I’d just fallen asleep. But I’d been in the dad business long enough to know that little girls, or at least one in particular, would never sleep past five on this most special of days. I slipped out of bed and pushed my arms into my robe before tiptoeing to the door and wishing her Merry Christmas.

“Go back to your room for just five minutes so we can get dressed and then we’ll come for you, okay?” She wore the warm footie pajamas Briar bought her for Christmas Eve, printed with pictures of Santa and his team, so I wasn’t worried about her needing to change right away.

“Okay, Daddy, but not six minutes, please?”

“I’ll try for four.”

In the end it was more like three since Briar and Shay were already dressed when I made it back to the bedroom. We all wanted to share Alice’s Christmas from the very first moment. At the bottom of the stairs, Briar reached to plug in the string of lights that ran all the way around the room —one of the surprise decorations we’d put up along with some inflatable ornaments.

“Santa came!” She’d expressed a little worry that the jolly saint might not know her new address, but we reminded her of her card and also that Santa knows everything about boys and girls. “He did find me.”

Maybe she had held a little lingering worry, but it was all gone now.

Alice oohed and aahed as the multi-colored lights twinkled, but she ran right to her stocking and lifted it down, sitting cross-legged on the floor to spill the bounty across her lap. We’d had more fun filling it than almost anything else we bought. Picking out little things at the grocery store and the other small shops in town. There was nothing very expensive —little dolls and animals, cookies and hair ties and friendship bracelets —but she held up each item and admired it as if it was the best thing she’d ever seen. We had to read the bracelets to her because she was just a beginning reader, but the words of happiness and joy and love made her smile.

While she finished with her stocking, Shay slipped into the kitchen and returned with a tray of hot chocolates and cinnamon toast. We’d have a big breakfast later, but we wanted her to have a little some something in her tummy before she managed to gobble all the Christmas treats. Not that this was a perfectly balanced meal, but it was Christmas morning after all.

Alice turned her attention to the rest of her gifts, a hot-chocolate mustache on her upper lip. We’d managed to find a doll house that resembled a log cabin —who knew such things existed —and had the most fun buying furnishings and finding little dolls to represent each of us. She had other gifts, books and a kids’ tablet, but they would have to wait while she carefully placed each piece of furniture and accessory then settled in to have the people interact. “We need the baby, too,” she muttered. “After it comes. Daddy, is the baby coming soon?”

I glanced at my mates in question. Of course, I knew that human babies took nine months to arrive, but this one was at least part shifter, and did that make a difference? They both shrugged, apparently as unsure as I was, so I said, “Not too soon, but we can order a baby for your set right away if you want.”

She tapped her cheek then nodded. “Just to be safe. We don’t want the baby to feel like we forgot to include them.”

I’d thought she’d be my only child and been sad that she wouldn’t have a sibling to share growing up with. My heart warmed with the knowledge that she would have a brother or sister now. Maybe more than one. My mates said Fate brought us all together, although technically Martin had a hand in it. What a shame he wouldn’t be here for Christmas with his brother and all of us.

As if I’d magically summoned him, the door opened to reveal Briar’s brother, his arms laden with wrapped gifts and a shy smile brightening his face. They looked so alike, my mate and brother-in-law that nobody would doubt the relationship. Would our child be big and tall and able to shift into a moose?

Only time would tell. But for now, my mate looked so happy, nothing else mattered. “How are you here?” Briar asked. “I thought you were away for business. Martin.”

“I was, but I came back.” He smiled at Alice. “How could I spend Christmas with anyone but my family. I have a brand new niece to welcome, after all.”

“I am your new niece?” Alice approached him, looking way up to see his face. She eyed the gifts along the way but didn’t ask if any were for her. I wished I could take credit for her good manners, but they seemed to just come naturally from her good little heart.

“Merry, Christmas, Niece Alice.” He spilled the gifts from his arms onto the table by the door and sorted out several. “I brought you some presents.”

“Thank you, Uncle Martin.” Smart baby picked up on his cue. “Merry Christmas.”

The rest of the day passed in a beautiful holiday haze. More present openings. Luckily we had gifts for Martin that we’d expected to have to give him after his trip, and Alice loved giving them to him and helping him open them. Helping us all open the small presents we gave one another. Shay’s handmade gift was still my favorite thing.

We ate and drank and laughed, all glad Uncle Martin had left his work thing early because family was where he needed to be. We were all just where we needed to be. How quickly my life had gone from despair and worry to security, love, and joy.