Page 8 of A Tycoon's Christmas

Andrew grinned, stretching beside me. “I guess we’re not sleeping in today.”

I nudged him playfully. “Come on, let’s not keep them waiting.”

We made our way to the living room, where the boys were practically vibrating with excitement in their pajamas. The Christmas tree lights twinkled softly, casting a warm glow over the room. Beneath it, an array of presents awaited eager little hands.

“Look, Mama! Daddy! Look at all the presents!” August’s voice was filled with awe as he pointed to the gifts under the tree.

Andrew knelt down; his arms open to them. “Think Santa did a good job this year?”

They nodded eagerly, eyes wide with anticipation, and with our go-ahead, they dove into the pile, tearing off wrapping paper with shrieks of joy and giggles. Journee toddled around, her eyes wide as she clutched a small stuffed reindeer, her own little treasure from under the tree.

Watching Andrew with the kids, I felt affection settle in my heart that went beyond words. The past few days had been a whirlwind of worry, of trying to make everything perfect, but with him here, it was like everything finally fell into place.

Once the presents were unwrapped, we all sat around, basking in the aftermath of the morning’s excitement. Wrapping paper lay scattered around us, and Austin and August were already engrossed in their new toys, chattering happily as they played.

Andrew wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. “This is what I missed most,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “Just us, right here, together.”

I smiled at him, reaching for his hand. “I’m glad you’re here. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”

He kissed my forehead gently, his thumb tracing small circles on my shoulder. For the first time in a long while, everything felt exactly as it should be.

Later that morning, we gathered around the table for breakfast. The smell of freshly made pancakes and warm syrup filled the air as we set out plates, making sure everyone had a serving of Andrew’s special Christmas tree-shaped pancakes, topped with whipped cream and berries. The kids couldn’t get enough, asking for seconds and thirds as they talked about their favorite gifts and made silly faces with their whipped cream mustaches.

“You’re the best cook, Daddy!” Austin declared; his mouth full of syrupy pancakes.

Andrew chuckled, glancing over at me with a smile. “I’ve got some tough competition, though. Your mom makes a mean stack of pancakes herself.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re both too kind, but I think I’ll let you have this title for today.”

As we lingered over breakfast, our voices mingling with the sound of the holiday music playing softly in the background, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It wasn’t about the decorations or the presents; it was about these simple moments—the laughter, joy, the feeling of being surrounded by the people I loved most in the world.

After breakfast, the kids bundled up and spent the afternoon building snow forts outside on our terrace, their laughter ringing out in the crisp winter air as Andrew helped them shape snowballs and pile up walls for their “castle.” I watched from the warmness of the living room, a cup of hot apple cider in hand, feeling like everything I’d wished for this Christmas had come true.

CHAPTER NINE

AMARA

The afternoon sun was starting to dip below the horizon, creating a soft, golden glow over the city. The kids were curled up in the living room, wrapped in cozy blankets as they watched a Christmas movie. I sat nearby with a steaming mug of hot cocoa, feeling the warmth seep into my hands and heart alike. The peace of the moment was almost surreal after the whirlwind of the past few weeks.

Andrew joined me, settling on the couch and pulling me close, his arm draped comfortably over my shoulders. I could feel the strength and comfort in his touch, the quiet reassurance that I’d come to rely on. He took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze fixed on the kids as they laughed at the screen, completely immersed in their holiday movie.

“It’s strange,” he murmured after a moment. “I was halfway across the world, but this—this is what I thought about every night.”

I looked up at him, his words softening the edges of my heartache from when he’d been gone. “We missed you, too. I tried to keep things going, to make it special for the kids, but… it just wasn’t the same without you here.”

He sighed, his hand tightening slightly on my shoulder. “I realized something in Tokyo. No matter how important the deal was, it didn’t compare to what I left behind. Being here, with you and the kids, it’s what really matters.”

Hearing him say that felt like a load lifting from my shoulders. We’d been through so much, balancing his careerwith our family, and it wasn’t always easy. But knowing he felt this way, that he saw our family as his anchor—it made everything feel worthwhile.

“I’m glad you’re here now,” I whispered, leaning into him. “We’re together. That’s all I ever wanted.”

The movie ended, and the boys jumped up, instantly clamoring for hot chocolate and cookies. Andrew laughed, ruffling their hair before leading them into the kitchen, where we pulled out our stash of holiday treats. We spent the next hour with laughter and happiness filling the air, every moment one I knew we’d remember long after the season had passed.

Later that evening, we tucked the kids into bed. Austin and August insisted on a bedtime story, and Journee drifted off almost instantly, her tiny fist clutching her new stuffed reindeer. As we dimmed the lights and said goodnight, I felt a deep sense of contentment settle over me.

Once the kids were asleep, Andrew and I returned to the living room. The tree lights twinkled softly, casting a warm glow over the room. Andrew held two glasses of wine, handing me one as he sat down beside me.

“To Christmas,” he said, raising his glass, his eyes shining with a rare tenderness. “And to family.”

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