Page 81 of Treasure and Tarot

“Well, we’d love to meet them while they’re here,” Sebastian said.

Colton just laughed. “If you think for one minute you’re not going meet Gent’s family, you’re crazy. He’s going to bring them over here to meet Abby, and then he’s probably going to kidnap her, and they’re gonna go do something over in Secret Springs. That’s what they do.”

Iago raised an eyebrow. “They kidnap children?”

Gent shook his head. “No, we spoil them.”

Abby clapped her hands. “Uncle Gent’s gonna have a granny and grampy for me.”

Sebastian teared up a little bit. His folks had been gone for so long, and Colton’s people wanted nothing to do with Abby, and that really hurt his heart, but Gent had already said his parents intended to call Abby their granddaughter. He just couldn’t believe how, in such a short amount of time, he had all these people. It had been him and Xavi and Xander and their parents for so long, and now there was just this huge group of friends and family who were there to support them. And it was Christmastime, which made it even better.

“Are we going to do the Secret Springs thing like we did for Halloween? They have a big Christmas bazaar.” That was Xavi who just loved to go over and do all sorts of shopping among the weird crafts and food, and the antique store always did a sidewalk sale.”

“Absolutely.” Colton grinned hugely. “I also understand that we have a fabulous tree lighting right here in Hot Springs Junction.”

“We do.” Sebastian felt laughter bubble up. “Mrs. Berry coordinates it every year, and we put it in the park. In fact, I would imagine that she’s going to try to rope all of the new residents of Hot Springs Junction into helping her string lightsaround the street lamps at the park. It’s a big deal, and frankly, everybody who normally does it is getting a little bit old.”

“We don’t want somebody slipping off the ladder,” Colton said.

Gent gave him a look. “Especially you.”

Sebastian had to agree with that. He didn’t think Colton needed to be on the ladder, but he could certainly coordinate from the ground. He was really good at telling people what to do.

“I can figure out somewhere to be useful,” Colton said.

“Papa Colton always helpful,” Abby said.

Xander gave him a hard stare. “Unless he’s supposed to be wrapping presents.”

Abby perked up. “Presents?”

“Not until Christmas, baby girl,” Sebastian said. “Not until Christmas.”

But he had to admit every day felt like Christmas right now. It was just amazing, and he couldn’t wait for the tree lighting. These guys had no idea what Hot Springs Junction might have in store for them.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Colton didn’t think he’d ever been so tired or cold in his whole life, and he had done a ghost-hunting story from a cellar in Maine at one point, where the ghosts had dropped the temperature twenty degrees in three minutes.

Still, the tree lighting in the square had absolutely been worth it. The guys had worked their asses off putting up all the lights, Mrs. Berry directing them like a general directing her soldiers.

And then they had gone to the Christmas walk in Secret Springs. His knee was killing him. Abby was sound asleep in his arms, and Sebastian was drooping like a butterfly that had been tormenting a dog all day. What? He had seen videos of that on YouTube. The guys had all decided to sleep at Gent’s house, because they didn’t even want to drive or walk any farther than it took them to drop off Sebastian and Colton and Abby.

Besides, they were going to get up and help Gent clean the house tomorrow. He had been procrastinating about putting in all sorts of window coverings and furniture and stuff for his folks’ visit, and then all of a sudden, it was time, and they were going to be there. So the guys were going to help. If Colton’s knee worked tomorrow, he would help too.

Sebastian yawned hugely. “Are you okay, babe? You look a little like your knee is killing you.”

“Are you trying to say I’m limping really hard?”

“Well, yes, but I was trying to be more diplomatic than that.” Sebastian patted his arm.

“I appreciate the diplomacy, but you’re right. My knee hurts. I’m going to have to sit down and take a load off as soon as we get Abby to bed.”

“I was thinking of something even better,” Sebastian said. “Maybe a hot shower with that shower seat that you put in.”

“Mmm. I can see where that would be a good idea. But I’m not sure I have the energy to knot here tonight.”

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