Page 174 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
“Okay, that one wasn’t me.” I grinned and linked our fingers so we could continue our journey to the living room. “Actually, none of it was, it just sounded better in my head.”
She sighed. “Do you know what? Sometimes, I think you haven’t grown up at all from when we were kids.”
“Funny. I think the same thing about you.”
She knocked her fist into my arm half-heartedly.
“Neither of you have grown up,” Mum said dryly, leaning against the kitchen doorframe. “Good morning, darlings. Ooh, Sylvie, those pyjamas fit you a treat.”
“Yeah.” She tugged at the bottom of the shirt. “How did you, er, happen to have a set for me?”
Mum’s eyes glittered. “I guess Santa left a little something.”
“Can we see nowwww?” Danny asked, clinging to Mum’s dressing gown. “Please, Nanny. Pretty please!”
She ruffled his hair with a smile. “Of course, darling. Where are your mothers?”
“Waiting for Sleeping Beauty and Sylvie to get down here,” Zara said from the kitchen island. “Your coffee is getting cold, you know.”
Sylvie perked up. “Coffee?”
“You don’t drink coffee.” I frowned.
“I drink coffee when I’ve had five hours of sleep,” she countered. “And I definitely drink it on Christmas morning when the chance of a nap is near zero.”
Beth held up a mug. “Here. This one is yours.”
“I love you.” Sylvie scurried over and took it, then sipped. “Ah.”
“Don’t flirt with my wife,” Zara quipped.
“Only because it’s Christmas.” Sylvie grinned, cradling the mug close to her body.
I cleared my throat. “Okay, can we go into the living room now? Danny is about to burst, and I don’t want to be cleaning guts out of the fireplace on Christmas morning.”
“Uncle Tommy!” Danny groaned, but he was bouncing on the balls of his feet as he rattled the doorknob. “Can we? Mummy? Mumma? Nanny? Pleeeease. Auntie Sylvie, tell them!”
I shot my sister a look at that last name, and she fake whistled as she looked away.
“Told you,” I mouthed to a grinning Sylvie.
“I’m with Danny,” Sylvie said, hugging her coffee like she would die if someone took it from her. “If I have to be awake, he should at least see if Santa came.”
“Auntie Sylvie is my favourite!” Danny rushed over to her and tugged on her pyjama top. “C’mon, c’mon!”
She allowed him to drag her over to the door, and I slid in front of them, grabbing the doorknob.
“Are you sure he’s been, though?” I asked, looking down at him. “Have you been good enough?”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded frantically. “I did all my homework, and I helped you at work, and, and, and… I tidied my room yesterday!”
“Sounds pretty good to me,” Beth agreed. “At least a stocking for all that.”
Danny’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Shall we find out?” I chucked him under the chin and slowly turned the doorknob. “Three… two… one…”
I pushed open the door, revealing the Christmas wonderland that lay behind it. The lights were off, and the only illumination came from the twinkling of the fairy lights on the tree and garlands. It gave the room a magical glow, especially when they flashed and bounced off the baubles and whatever else sparkly, reflective bits my mother had seen fit to decorate with.
