Page 14 of Ribbons and Roses

I come in close to drop a kiss on her lips then cradle her face in my hands. “A man can’t be held accountable when his woman looks as good as you.”

“Jon!” she giggles, smacking my chest.

The sound of Delphine’s laughter will always feel like an accomplishment. From the time we were teenagers, I learned it was something I liked earning from her. Twenty years later, her laugh hasn’t changed much—it’s just as cute and infectious as ever.

“Ready to hit the road?”

She glances up and down our circular driveway, taking in the fleet of other unmarked black cars that will be escorting us. Our security that will be covering our car from the frontandback. Over the years, she’s grown used to the high level of security I insist our family has at all times, but she’d still prefer life without it.

“It seems like our chaperones are ready… so that must mean we are.”

“It’ll just be us in our car,” I reassure her, kissing her again. “And who can forget Stitches, Sasha, and Bryce in the car behind us? What about your father and brother?”

“Flying in. They’ll make it to the cabin a couple hours after we do.”

“Then let’s roll.”

We slide into the seats up front, and I press the button to turn on the engine. With a final glance at our home in Westoria, I put the SUV in drive and head out.

The afternoon’s fading away when we finally arrive in Mount Halsey. The upscale winter village looks exactly like it does in the brochure, with two-dozen-odd large cabin-style homes that are spread out among the woodsy landscape. Snow from last night dusts the ground and the surrounding trees, making Dominic and Serena gasp in awe.

“Daddy, Mommy, look!” Serena squeals. “It’s snow! Is Santa coming?”

“Yes, baby,” Delphine humors. “Santa’s coming soon.”

Serena makes another breathy sound of excitement and hugs her favorite babydoll close.

Dominic’s preoccupied with the snowfall in a different way—he’s craning his neck to admire the snowy hills and wondering aloud if he and Bryce can build a fort.

Dante’s passed out in his car seat, dozing away with a thin train of spittle on his chin.

I pull up to the curb outside the chalet style cabin we’ve rented for the next seven days. It’s the largest one in the entire Mount Halsey community.

Almost as big as our mansion in Westoria.

A sleek slanted roof covers the two-story home that has tall arched windows and a double terrace and chimney.

If I were a mountain terrain type of guy, it wouldn’t be so bad to live here full time.

Delphine and Sasha unbuckle the kids and take them inside while me, Stitches, and our security tackle the luggage.

“That wasn’t such a bad drive,” Stitches says, hoisting two pieces of Sasha’s luggage out from the trunk. “We snuck Bryce half a melatonin, and he was out for the count, and then me and Sasha listened to one of those audiobooks.”

“Let’s be grateful we made it before any snowfall.”

“Word is we’ll be getting some more tonight. Mrs. Phi’s dad and brother still flying in?”

“Last I heard.”

We head inside while my security embarks on a check of the premises and surrounding area.

The cabin home has eight bedrooms and six bathrooms, which just so happens to fit us perfectly. Delphine and I are in the master bedroom, Stitches and Sasha in their own bedroom, Dominic and Bryce sharing a room, Serena in her own like the little princess she is, another room turned nursery for Dante, and then two more rooms for Ernest and Delphine’s brother, Marcel.

The furnishings fit the rest of the chalet cabin’s vibe. Expensive, hand-crafted wooden furniture, warm lighting everywhere and lots of animal-themed décor.

“According to the flight tracker, Dad and Marcel are on time. They should be landing soon,” Delphine says. She smiles up at me. “Thanks for inviting them.”

“And have them miss all this holiday cheer?” I tease back in a sarcastic tone. “I would never deprive them of so much tinsel.”

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