Page 66 of Architect's Christmas Nanny

An hour later,they were all piling out of the SUV and heading up the steps of the big house.

“Grandma,” Josie yelled from the front door, before spotting the cat. “Oh, hi, Chester.”

Chester stretched luxuriantly, and allowed himself tobe patted by his nine-year-old admirer before taking a good look at Moose, deciding he wasn’t worth the trouble, and going promptly back to sleep.

“There they are,” Annabelle called out happily from the living room. “Just in time for presents.”

“Yes,” Josie said, hopping up.

“We’re going to drop these biscuits in the kitchen first,” Brad told her, handing her the big reusable shopping bag of presents. “You two go on with your cousins.”

Jillian followed him back, smiling at the sound of Josie and Moose greeting Zeke in the other room.

“Merry Christmas,” Brad’s dad, Alistair, said fondly, wrapping an arm around his son and then opening his other arm to beckon Jillian.

“Merry Christmas,” she said, going to him.

“I hear you have happy news for us,” he said.

“We do,” Brad told him.

“Well, your mother came home so excited, I thought she wouldn’t sleep a wink,” Alistair told them, releasing them from his hug. “I couldn’t be prouder of you son, or happier for the both of you, and for Josie too.”

Jillian smiled, afraid she was going to cry again.

“I also wanted to give you a heads-up that it seems like your cousin Tanner and Valentina just had a little disagreement,” he said quietly. “Or maybe Valentina and Baz? It’s hard to keep track. And there’s big news from Levi as well.”

“Wow,” Jillian said.

“I guess we shouldn’t make a big thing out of our engagement today,” Brad said, nodding. “Besides, Emma’swedding is coming up next week, and we don’t want to steal her thunder.”

“Funny,” his dad said with a crooked smile. “Your brother said the same thing.”

“Do you want me to take the ring off, just for today?” Jillian offered. She really,reallydidn’t want to, but she wouldn’t hurt Brad’s cousin for the world. “Family is more important, and we know we’re engaged. We can let everyone else know later.”

“Absolutely not,” Brad said immediately.

“That’s very sweet of you, Jillian,” Alistair said. “But this young man has been wanting to put a ring on your finger since the day you met, so you’d better keep it on. Plus, his mother is awfully proud that you love her mother’s ring so much.”

Jillian smiled in relief, and Brad took her hand, worrying the ring with his thumb as if to be certain it was right where it belonged.

“The biscuits smell great,” his dad said. “Why don’t you two get out there and join Josie? I’ll be right there for presents.”

They did as they were told, snuggling up on the sofa to watch the kids sitting on the floor and opening presents until the whole room seemed to be a foot deep in crumpled wrapping paper and every child had a new hand-knitted sweater or scarf and a treasured new doll or toy.

Jillian smiled to see Josie hugging the books she had bought her to her chest. There was the first in the series she had spotted at the big bookstore, and also some age-appropriate books on dog ownership that Sarah hadpointed out to Jillian when she visited the local shop to make her purchases.

One by one, the grownups exchanged gifts as Moose napped by the fire, clearly worn out from a busy morning. It was relaxed and fun, but Jillian couldn’t help but worry that she didn’t have anything for Brad. She normally just got him a nice treat, and she had already given him the peppermint bark she had ordered for him this year.

“What’s wrong, butterfly?” Brad asked her.

“Oh,” she said, smiling at the funny endearment. “I… I don’t have anything for you.”

“You already gave me the only thing I could ever want,” he told her, taking her hand. “This is my favorite Christmas ever.”

“And you already gave me mine too,” she said, smiling in relief.

“Not quite,” he told her. “Hang on. Mom, is Jillian’s present under there somewhere?”

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