Page 58 of The More the Merrier

Watching Zanya as she stands in front of her uncle, shoulders squared, is a proud moment. She’s facing him head on. After making him wait until Christmas Eve. With a few careful social media posts, we’ve made it known that he’s taken a trip to warmer climates for the holidays.

We’re all dressed for the party at Rainbow Haven. Gifts have been wrapped and shipped off to the venue Andre rented for the event. We’ve decorated so many trees that I feel like I’ll be finding bits of tinsel everywhere for the next couple of months.

Albert swallows audibly as I take a step closer to them. My hand rests on her lower back to give her another small boost of confidence.

“I’ve made my decision and now it’s time to make yours, Uncle. You have two choices. Either we hand over everything we have, and we havea lot, and you’re put away for quite some time. And when you finally come back out, none of yourfriendswill even want to look at you.”

The man in question opens his mouth to speak up, but a scathing look from me has him closing his lips.

“Or, and personally, I like this one best, I will give you exactly what you gave me.”

The look of confusion on his face is laughable.

“Ah, I see you don’t understand, Uncle. Here’s the deal. You sign over my trust and all the shares in Dad’s company to me. I get control of my own life and finances. In turn, I will gift you the same little flat I’ve been staying in, with the same stipend you paid to me every month. If I could live off it, so can you.”

The weasely-looking man is furious. His face is bright red and you can practically see steam coming from his ears. But he doesn’t say a word.

“What’s it gonna be,boet?” My voice is a low growl and his shoulders immediately slump. I have a reputation for a reason, and being able to use it for my Little Mouse is brilliant.

He whispers something inaudible and when Cameron clears his throat, the piece of scum speaks up.

“I’ll give you back the trust. But what am I going to tell everyone when I have to move into that hovel?”

“You’ll tell them what’s good enough for your niece is good enough for you,” I growl out.

Wisely, he chooses not to say anything else. Cameron explains to him that Andre’s legal council has drawn up all the documents needed and we watch over him as he signs on each dotted line.

As soon as the paperwork can be filed in the new year, Zanya will have complete control of her finances and can finally do exactly as she wants. Until then, her uncle will remain here where we can keep an eye on him.

Finally done with the unpleasant business, we all head out to celebrate Christmas with Zanya and her kids. And when we get home, I can give her her present.

No Christmas, afterOumapassed away, has ever been this perfect.

Zanya

“Come on Little Mouse, just a tiny bit longer then you can go to sleep,” Daddy Jo says as he picks me up from the car and carries me to the cottage. In his or Daddy Cam’s arms, I always feel so safe. And now the two of them have worked together to make the rest of the world a safe place for me, too.

I stifle a yawn as he enters the front door. Daddy Cam is right on our heels and he follows us to the kitchen.

Sitting me down on the kitchen counter, Johannes tenderly kisses me on my nose before walking to the fridge.

“We just gotta get the milk and cookies out for Santa and then we can get you all dressed up in your jammies and head to bed.”

He pours the milk into a tall glass while Daddy Cam gets the cookies we’d baked with his mum the day before.

Once again I’m picked up, this time by Daddy Cam, and taken to the lounge. The fire has died down, but the room is still nice and toasty. While I stay in the arms of one of the most amazing men in the world, I watch as the other puts the cookies and milk down on the coffee table before carefully sprinkling powder on the floor so we can track Santa’s footsteps.

“Time for bed, Kitty Cat, and for Johannes’ surprise.”

Immediately, I perk up. In the excitement of our busy day I’d completely forgotten about my big surprise. Daddy Jo chuckles when he notices my renewed energy.

“Come, let’s go get our girl changed then we can go talk in the bedroom.”

I want to question why exactly we can’t just talk right here, but he’s the Daddy, so I just go with it.

When I’m finally all dressed, this time in my kitten onesie, Daddy Jo kisses me softly before excusing himself to fetch my gift. I’m cuddled in my other protector's arms when he walks in with a huge rolled up piece of paper.

“What’s this?” I ask when he hands it to me.

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