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Clearly,it sparked additional resentment.

“And let’s not forget dragging my assawayfrom the waves that were begging to be carved to go watch a stupid sport you sponsor!”

“I was trying to spend time with you!”

“You don’t wanna spend time withme! You want me to spend time withyou! Doing whatyouwant! Andonlywhat you want!” Defiantly he rises to his feet. “So, what do you want me to do now,Dad?” His shoulders bounce in obvious exasperation. “Decorate the window? Poke the fire? Put antlers on the dogs?”

Two grumbles of disapproval immediately come from the fluffy creatures.

Yeah.

They’re not real big on “accessories”.

The jingle bells they’re wearing are more than enough.

“I want you to go to your room,” Wes retorts without a second thought.

“Happily,” grunts Wy at the same time he prepares to storm off.

“ButFinnnnssss,” Blake whines while wiggling out of her dad’s grip back to the ground. “What about making reindeer food with us?”

“And the paper snowflakes for the door?!” Brae adds, dashing closer to her brother.

“And hot chocolate bombs?!” reminds Blake sprinting to her sister’s side.

His shoulders instantly sink towards his bare feet in tandem with him to a squatting position to be eye level. “We’ll do it later.” He playfully pokes each sibling in the tummy to get them giggling. “After my timeout, okay?”

“Okay,” they agree in unison around their giggles that lead to warm hugs.

Despite his obvious unhappiness with the man across the room, Wy winds his arms around the twins and squeezes.

Softly smiles.

Looksexactlylike the very man he swears he hates.

Post parting, Mom sweetly suggests, “Girls, why don’t we take a peppermint bark break?” She tosses me a brief all-knowing look during Wy’s exit. “I think Mom and Dad and Gramps need a minute alone.”

“Peppermint barkkkkkkkk!” They victoriously shout on a high five further proving they possess at least a smidgen of my DNA.

I mean who doesn’t love a dude five?

“Board, Betty,” my head tips towards the threshold the girls are crossing, “go check on Wy for me.”

Both dogs trot out of the area, yet its Betty who uses to her mouth close the door behind them.

“That isextraordinarytraining,” Clark compliments, gaze collecting mine. “Although, Lucky isn’t the fondest of it when he’s trying to unload groceries.”

I helplessly toss him a smirk before shooting the man I married a sneer. “Speaking of things people aren’t the fondest of…”

He firmly folds his arms across his black “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” t-shirt the girls picked out for him last year. “I will not apologize for disciplining our son.”

“Then how about apologizing for disregarding yourwife?” My arms take an identical position across my “Do It for The Hos” Santa sweater. “For choosing to parent like only your shittystrategymatters?!”

“Not doing anything is not a strategy!” An unexpected stomp forward is taken. “And letting him have his fucking way because he’s pouting isn’t you being strong! It’s you being weak!”

“Did you just fucking call me weak?!”

Unfortunately for me, the opportunity to let my shouting soar is interrupted by a surprising face peeking into the room. “Bad time?”

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