Page 58 of Second Down Scrooge

Chapter 28: Austin Graham

Down in the Basement Where Nobody Can Hear Us

Christmas Eve

When we both have our suitcases, she texts her dad to let him know she’s on her way out. I gently take Mia out of the stroller since she’s sleeping, and I press a kiss to her cheek before I hand her to Kelly. I close up the stroller and set it on top of my suitcase, and I roll my suitcase and Kelly’s out to the curb where her dad is waiting for us.

He looks downright shocked when he gets out of the car to help with her suitcase and he spots me.

We’ve met a couple times since her parents have been out to visit her and Mia, and he’s always struck me as a great guy who doesn’t seem to hate me.

“Austin, what are you doing here?” he asks, and he gives me a hug.

“I just ran into your daughter here at the airport,” I say with a shrug, and he laughs.

“Why do I feel like there’s more to that story?” he asks.

“There is, but we’ll tell you in the car,” Kelly says through chattering teeth. She straps Mia back into the car, and she slides into the backseat to give me the front as we load the suitcases into the trunk.

The heat is blasting out at us as we navigate toward her grandparents’ house, and we finally fill her dad in on what happened.

“She was hanging out at the gate after her flight was canceled,” I say. “Mine landed, and I spotted her there in theterminal, and somehow, even though my flight was delayed and I wasn’t even sure I’d make it here, we ran into each other.”

It sounds an awful lot like fate stepping in, as if we were meant to be able to spend Christmas together, and I’m so glad we didn’t miss each other.

We pull up to her grandparents’ house shortly after that, and Mia is still sleeping soundly—as are Kelly’s grandma and grandpa. Her mom is still awake, however, and she looks shocked to see me standing behind Kelly lugging two suitcases into the house.

“Austin?” she asks, and she stares at me as if she’s hallucinating—much like her daughter did when she first saw me.

“Hey, Mrs. K,” I say, and I abandon the suitcases in the entry to walk over and give her mom a hug.

“This is sure a surprise,” she says. “What are you doing here?”

We recount the story of the airport to her, too, and she just smiles warmly.

She squeezes my shoulder as she shakes her head. “Of course that’s how it happened. You two are just meant for each other, and I’m so happy it worked out so that you can spend the holiday with us.”

We chat a little longer in the entry, and when her parents seem like they’re ready to head up to bed, I ask, “Where can I find wrapping paper and supplies? I couldn’t bring wrapped presents on the plane, and I have a few things.”

Kelly glances over at me. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“They’re not for you,” I tease, and she giggles as she holds up both hands.

“All the stuff is down in the basement,” she says. “Let me get Mia up to her crib, and I’ll take you down and help.”

I raise a suggestive brow at her that only she catches, and she definitely gets my meaning.

We won’t be alone up in the room we’re sharing with Mia—if I’m even sleeping in that room. I don’t know the rules here in this house, though I assume that’s where I’ll be tonight. Regardless, the room is out with our daughter sleeping next to us.

But maybe down in the basement where nobody can hear us…

Okay, fine.Definitelydown in the basement where nobody can hear us.

We head downstairs. The main section is furnished with a couch, a coffee table, and a television in a huge entertainment center, and a wall sections off an unfinished storage area. Against the far wall is a bar complete with a countertop and stools, and that's where I spot the supplies for wrapping gifts.

“I may or may not have been down here earlier using all this stuff, and Grandma told me to just leave it on the counter,” Kelly says. We walk over, and she shows me the supplies. She perches on one of the barstools, and I set the duffel bag packed with gifts onto the counter.

I move in between her legs and angle my head down so our eyes connect, and a heated moment passes between us. I wrap a hand around her neck and pull her in close as I drop my lips down to hers.

---