Page 104 of A Very Daddy Christmas

“You mean we.Westruck gold.” I give her a wry smile.

The bell above the door chimes. In walks Mrs. Sandoval with a shy smile on her lips and a sheepish look on her face. “Hello, ladies. So glad to see this place is still open for business,” she says, her tone tentatively soft.

“Good morning, Mrs. Sandoval,” I greet her politely. “I take it you and your family enjoyed our Christmas treats?”

“Yes, and I’m here to order some more. I hope you still have those holiday specialties available on your menu?”

Eva and I give her a long, hard look, both of us knowing she was one of Orson and George’s most vocal supporters in their campaign against me. What’s done is done, my sister has repeatedly told me. There’s no point in holding grudges, especially when we’re looking to get our customers back, not drive them away. Gossip dies, but our family business must endure.

“Whatever you need, Mrs. Sandoval. I’m sure we can work something out,” I reply. “Let’s go over the menu together and see what we can bake for you.”

Mrs. Sandoval lights up like a Christmas tree as she approaches the counter. “Thank you, Cora. I have to say, I do owe you an apology. Your private life should be your business, not ours. I’m not proud of myself or my actions.”

“Are you perhaps referring to the smear campaign you and Mr. St. James actively promoted against my sister?” Eva cuts in, her tone clipped.

I give my sister a warning look. “I thought you said we should be nice,” I whisper.

“Nice doesn’t mean we can’t hold them accountable,” she replies.

Mrs. Sandoval sighs. “Eva is right. Please, Cora, accept my apologies. Your love life is your business. This is a bakery, and I have no right imposing my beliefs upon you.”

More customers file into the bakery. Familiar faces with ruddy cheeks and wide eyes twinkling from embarrassment. Eva greets them with a generous smile.

“Good morning!” she says, then glances my way. “Cora, you deal with Mrs. Sandoval’s order, I’ll take care of these customers.”

“Thank you, sis.”

And just like that, we’re mobilizing again. We’re busy. Busier than usual, particularly in mid-January.

I have three handsome men waiting for me at home. Sebastian, Riggs, and Waylan took the rest of the month off after their UP pitch went through, so we’re going to celebrate a second Christmas and a second New Year’s Eve.

My bakery is getting its life back. My pregnancy is advancing within healthy parameters, and the morning sickness has subsided. And some of the best news of all, Dario’s adoption papers went through.

I dare not call this a happy ending, but rather the beginning of something new, something beautiful and exciting. And downright scary, because I’m going to be a mom much sooner than I had anticipated.

I haven’t moved back to my apartment. Eva thinks I should rent it out, since we own the building now, and no way am I leaving Sebastian, Riggs, and Waylan, especially with twins on the way and our relationship growing stronger every day.

Evening falls over Madison as I head home. The mansion rises proudly against the starry sky as I pull into the driveway, the gates closing slowly behind me. My heart begins to beat faster with the anticipation of seeing my guys again. I’m still smiling from today’s breakfast, thinking about how Dario helped Waylan with the food preparation.

As soon as I walk through the door, Dario runs up to me.

“Cora! Cora!”

“Hey, champ!” I kneel so I can give him a proper hug. “I’ve missed you. How was preschool?”

“I made you a drawing!” he says and whips out a slightly crumpled finger painting. “See? It’s us! You, me, Daddy Waylan, Uncle Sebastian, and Uncle Riggs.”

“Our happy family, huh?”

“Yep!”

I want every day to end like this. With Dario’s bright smile as he learns to be loved again by new parents. With my three men waiting for me in the kitchen—tonight, however, they’re not alone.

“Look!” Dario exclaims as I walk in to find Sherry standing next to Sebastian, Riggs, and Waylan at the island counter. “Sherry’s back!”

“Hey, Sherry!” I laugh and hug the girl. “Are you? Back, I mean.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she replies. “Talked it over with my mom and dad. They came around after the news broke about Mr. St. James and Mr. Hamilton.”

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