Page 102 of Snowbound with the Santas

“Mad?” Nick laughs. “Getting Freida back is amazing. Giving her a sibling? Even better!” He surges forward to kiss me deeply. “I’m over the moon!”

“I think I speak for all of us,” Archer says, “when I say we will be happy with whatever you will be happy with, okay? We will support you because we love it, but know you have our support if you want to keep it.”

“Hell yeah,” Frankie cheers, kissing my cheek.

“Oh, my God,” I gasp, and the sobs come quickly. “I’m going to have a baby…”

“We’re going to have a baby!” They cheer loud enough that it’s a wonder the mountain doesn’t crumble.

39

ONE YEAR LATER

“Are you having fun?”

Nina, my best friend and my utter rock in the last few months of my pregnancy, stands beside me with a glass of sparkling wine in one hand and a mince pie in the other.

While our friendship had been close, my return to America after the fiasco of last year definitely brought us closer. Not only did she become my partner in crime when it came to workandteasing my men, she became an invaluable pillar of support as my belly swelled, my ankles tripled in size, and I needed to hobble to the bathroom every forty minutes. She was my support when Ashton sent threats to the school where I worked and tried to call me constantly through four changed numbers.

He’s locked away for good now, left to rot just like he deserves.

She was there, with my men, when I went no-contact with my mother. Cutting her and Cecil off was a hard decision, but it’s been worth it. They can cut me out of the will, for all I care. My life is now mine and mine alone.

So, inviting Nina here to the cabin for Christmas was a no-brainer.

“Am I happy?” I repeat softly, holding a glass of rosy sparkling water to my chest.

I admire the scene before me. Frankie is on his knees trying to construct a playpen for our adorable son, Harry. Naming our child after his brother was a no-brainer, in my opinion. I wanted a name that represented my true family and a time of connection when all four of us had finally found our peace. Harry was perfect.

Nick stands over him, trying to decipher the pamphlet of instructions in his hands, and he often tells Frankie that he has something the wrong way around. I don’t plan on stepping in until he realizes he’s the one with the instructions upside down.

Archer stands by the fireplace with three-month-old Harry in his arms, slowly rocking him back and forth while humming along to the Christmas tunes that drift through the air over the crackling of the fire. Archer is a changed man. The hard, silent soldier still exists, but whenever Harry is present, this new, softer man takes his place. He’s as sweet as sugar and as soft as melted butter when it comes to his son. He reads to him, sings to him, dances with him at all hours of the night.

A godsend in the first few weeks after Harry’s birth when I was desperate for rest. It’s the softest I have ever seen any of them, and just thinking about it makes me well up. There’s so much love for the four of us to give that I know Harry is going to grow up completely blessed. And likely, utterly spoiled.

“You idiot,” Frankie hisses, trying to keep his voice low. He smacks Nick on the thigh with the screwdriver. “Your instructions are upside down!”

Nick scoffs, then pauses and studies the pamphlet in his hands. After a moment, realization dawns across his face, and he rolls his eyes. “Fuck.”

“Language,” Archer snaps in a baby-soft voice, still cooing down at Harry. “Or I’ll break the playpen over your head for teaching our little baby all that naughty language.”

“Give over.” Frankie snorts. “Harry’s gonna grow up swearing like a sailor just like the rest of us, and we’ll be proud of him for it.”

“It really is upside down,” Nick murmurs, running his hand back and forth through his hair. “I’ll be damned.”

Nina snorts with laughter and takes a deep sip of her drink.

“Yes,” I say finally as my chest swells with happiness. I am a proud mother with three handsome lovers and I get to spend Christmas in the most picturesque cabin in existence. “I am really happy.”

“I’m glad.” Nina beams, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Although I’m a little disappointed we didn’t crash on the way up here. I half thought you fell through some magic portal to get rescued by three hunky men.”

“Are you trying to sayyouwant three hunky mountain men to find you ass up in the snow?”

Nina winks at me. “I would throw myself at their mercy in a heartbeat, darling.”

“You’re terrible!”

“I know.” She grins and flicks her hair. “A girl can dream.”

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