Page 74 of Single Mom's Christmas Wish

“Trev didn’t stand a chance in front of all that sweetness.”

“He’s warmed up to her and then some.”

We watch them eat and exchange a few words in the process, completely oblivious to our presence.

“Is it? A good thing?” she asks after a long pause.

“What do you mean?”

She pulls away from the counter and motions for me to follow her closer to the back door, out of the children’s earshot. “Imean, Reed, we both know you’re marrying Dakota so she can get her inheritance. And it is truly commendable; you have my respect and admiration.”

“But?”

“But despite how well your relationship with her is going, I’m sure you and your brothers agree that it’s way too soon to get married, like, for-real married.”

“It’s a tad more complex than that, Chelsea.”

She shakes her head slowly. “For you three, for Dakota, maybe. I realize there’s the option of divorce afterward. Whether your relationship tanks later is entirely up to you. But Trevor and Maisie are part of this charade also. How do you think they’ll feel if it falls apart? They think their parents are getting married for real.”

The words hit me like a punch in the gut. My brothers and I did consider this, but truth be told, we’ve been so pleased to see Trevor opening up and being so sweet to Maisie that we left everything else on the back burner, at least until after the wedding.

I would’ve liked nothing more than to sign a check and hand it over to Dakota to resolve every issue in her life, but she would never have accepted it. Her pride and her self-sufficiency are not designed for that.

Besides, we’ve only been together for a few months.

It’s happening fast, really fast, and in the wrong order. But Chelsea has a point. The kids shouldn’t be a part of our shenanigans. I give her a reassuring nod and a soft smile. “Trevor and Maisie are getting along better and better. Trustme, we would never do anything to ruin that. No matter what happens between us and Dakota, we’ll make sure that the kids are never separated.”

“I really hope you mean that,” Chelsea sighs.

I follow her gaze and watch Trevor as he helps Maisie cut into the lasagna with her kiddie knife and fork. It’s so cute, so innocent, and I could melt right here, right now, dammit. “Trevor has big brother material in him, that’s for sure. His parents were, in fact, trying for another when they…” I trail off, my throat feeling tight.

“You guys are great fathers. I need you to know that. Despite his mood swings and sadness, Trevor is aware that you all love him and want to keep him safe.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“No, but I can see it. You should be able to see it, too. Think about it. He’s not getting in trouble in school anymore. He’s opening up and getting closer to Maisie. He’s accepting help when offered. It’s because of you, Reed, Archer, and Maddox. You’re all so patient with him, and I have a feeling it will soon be rewarded. The mere fact that he’s getting cozy with Maisie speaks volumes.”

I give her a surprised look. “You think?”

“Yeah. He’s getting ready to come out of his shell. And the three of you had better be ready when that day comes. He will reach for you, and you need to catch him and welcome him, assuming you still want to adopt him.”

“Absolutely, yes. I never thought I’d feel this way about someone else’s child, to be honest,” I say, keeping my voice down. “Archer,Maddox, and I… we had our doubts at first. We figured we would just foster him until we found some distant relative or a suitable adoptive family. But as the months went by, Trevor became a part of us, a fundamental part of each of us. We could never let him go now. We love him too much.”

“Then make sure he knows that, and always do right by him.”

I am genuinely glad to see him and Dakota’s daughter bonding so well. I am also wary of the risks here. Chelsea’s words will haunt me for a while, and I will have to address them with my brothers, as well.

We need to have a clear strategy for what happens after the wedding.

It may solely be on paper, but Archer, Maddox, and I do need to agree on a few things—including how we feel about Dakota. We’re not just marrying her so she can get her inheritance.

On the eveningbefore the wedding, we put the kids to sleep in their respective rooms and retreat to my bedroom for the night. I can tell Dakota is tenser than usual, and I’m not the only one. The lovemaking is spectacular as always, and my body is as light as a feather after we claim her. Yet once we rest, I see it. The sadness, the flicker of doubt in her eyes as she stares up at the ceiling.

Archer turns her over and wraps her in his arms. “What’s going on with you?” he asks her.

“Oh, just pre-wedding jitters, I suppose,” she replies too quickly for my comfort.

She’s been acting differently, not in a dramatic fashion, but just enough for us to notice. We keep blaming the wedding, yet we can tell there’s more to it. And given that she has already kept her share of secrets from us if only to protect herself and her ego, I can’t help but wonder what else she is keeping a secret. Whatever it is, it’s festering inside of her. It threatens to spoil her mood. Dakota tries to be upbeat and fresh every single day yet there are moments when I can tell she’s struggling.

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