Page 48 of Dear Santa, Send Me a Cowboy
LAWSON
Two years later…
“You think we should run by that coffee place Mom really likes and get her something? Maybe that’ll make her not puke so much,” Silvan suggested beside me, causing a wave of warmth to surge through my heart from the love that he had for her.
Even if she’d been hormonal and short-tempered lately, he still tried his best to make this pregnancy easier on her.
Today marks six months that she’s been carryin’ our little girl. It seems “taking things slow,” wasn’t meant to be our reality, especially now that she’s my wife too.
I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.
“I’m sure she’d like that.” I nodded in agreement, taking in his new cowboy boots that I had bought him a few months ago.
It warmed my heart to see how much he liked them, it seemed like he never wanted to wear anything else.
“They feel alright now?” I nodded toward his feet. “Took me about a week to break mine in.”
“Yeah, they feel better now. Never owned a pair of boots before, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them.”
“And do you?”
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the corner of his mouth tilt.
“Yeah, I like them. My dad doesn’t, but I don’t care.”
The mention of Jaxon had my muscles tightening. As much as I disliked the fuckwad, I had to admit he was at least trying to step up and be a dad now. Since meeting his new girlfriend who has a daughter, I think he finally realized how badly he screwed up things with Silvan and was now trying to make amends.
And I was so damn proud of Silvan for remaining strong through all of it.
For giving his father a chance and accepting me in his life.
After running through the drive-thru of Diana’s favorite coffee shop, we were finally pulling into our snow-covered driveway where I was hit with the familiar rush of emotions that greeted me every day that I came home.
It was a blend of amazement and profound gratitude that this was my life now. I had a family—a gorgeous fuckin’ wife, a son that I proudly called my own, and my baby girl that was already weaving her magic, sure to have me wrapped around her damn finger before I knew it.
And it was all because I decided to drop that tree off for my dad. The second she opened that door, I was a goddamn goner.
I never stood a chance.
After shifting the truck into park, Silvan had run inside to deliver Diana her coffee while I was left to unstrap the rope binding the tree down in the back. Then slinging it up and over my shoulder, I trudged through the snow-dusted sidewalk up toward the front door.
Once inside, I was smacked with the change of temperature that contrasted sharply with the outside elements. The fireplacewas burning and the smell of holiday candles wafted in the air, a signature touch of Diana Boone during Christmastime.
Setting the tree down onto the ground, I laid it up gently against the wall before searching for my wife.
“Baby? You in the kitchen?” I shouted through the house while shrugging off my jacket and placing my hat onto a designated hook.
Seconds later, my pregnant wife came waddling out of the hallway with a decaf coffee in one hand and a relieved smile spread across her face.
“Thank god you're home.” She rushed toward me, her wild mane of brown curls dancing in the air behind her as she collapsed into my chest.
In an instant, my heart raced as a wave of worry crashed over me.
“Why? What happened? Are you okay?” I cupped her chin softly, and tilted her head back in search of any signs of distress or pain.
“I’m fine, I just… I just missed you. I missed you both.” She pouted as a single tear formed in the corner of her eye.
Fuck.
