Page 50 of Snowed In With The Second Chance Daddy

We’re done.

“Everyone smile!”

I try. My cheeks ache with the effort and tears prick my eyes.

9

TREVOR

Rose tearsthe wrapping paper down the front of the box, exposing the word “House” to those watching her open her gift.

“You didn’t!” Rowan gasps, giving Iris a gaping smile.

Iris beams, her cheeks looking even rosier thanks to her bright red Christmas sweater. Her blue hair is up on her head in a ponytail, decorated with tinsel and some jingle bells. All out for Christmas.

She and Rowan sit on the floor while Oliver and I watch, sipping coffee to try and wake ourselves up.

Since Piper was born, Hawthorn Christmas starts bright and early at six in the morning. Now, it’s a flurry of torn wrapping paper, kids playing with new toys, exhausted adults who don’t mind missing out on sleep to witness all the joy.

“Did Auntie Iris and Uncle Trevor get you a doll house, sweetie?” Rowan coos, helping her daughter pull at the paper.

Rose smacks her mom’s hand. “I do it!”

Rowan withdraws her hands “I think I’m getting a little too excited.”

Oliver sighs. “This is too much, guys.”

“Says the guy wearing a shirt that says, ‘I’ve got big jingle bells’,” I say before swigging my coffee like it’s whisky.

Oliver grunts. “I lost a bet with Ro, and she made me wear it.”

Iris puts a hand on Rose’s back so the little girl doesn’t topple over. “What was the bet?”

Rowan folds her hands in her lap so she isn’t compelled to help Rose open the gift. “I bet Rose would be up at four with all the excitement, and Oliver bet five.”

“You’ve been up sincefour?” Iris gasps. “Rose, how could you do that to your mommy and daddy?”

Oliver sighs. “This is my fifth cup of coffee.”

I laugh. “Jeez, being a godparent really is the way to go, huh?”

Rowan can’t hold back any longer and starts peeling some of the paper back out of Rose’s eyeline. “Rosie, look at this! It’s your very own dollhouse!”

Rose jumps up and down excitedly.

“You can put all your dollies in there!” Rowan tickles her waist.

“Open it, open it!”

Rowan starts picking at the closure, but there’s a lot of tape. “Uh-oh, Daddy, I think we need scissors.”

Oliver grunts, pushing himself to his feet.

I smirk. “Must be hard to stand up with such big jingle bells.”

Oliver glares at me while the girls laugh.

Rose laughs too even though she doesn’t understand.

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