Page 44 of Heat Haven Holidays

She nods her head, and I hear a sniffle. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I just wish my parents could have seen this, ya know? Me and my huge family and Smith with his small but amazing family. I think they would have been so proud. They would have loved our Christmas. But this party tonight, with all the people we love. They would have really loved that,” she says and I nod my head. It doesn’t matter how long ago you lost someone, that feeling is always still there. Kelsey doesn’t get upset, usually talking about her parents. I think it’s the happy moments, when you realize that they aren’t there, are the hardest.

“They would have been so proud, I know I am.” She nods her head and sniffles.

“I’m just so happy that we gave our kids such a big family, ya know? So that they always have someone who’s looking out for them. So they can see firsthand what love is supposed to look like,” she says, sighing and putting her head on my chest. I stroke her wet hair.

“We did make a beautiful family,” I say, and she nods her head.

“Sometimes I can’t even put into words how much I love you and all the kids. I’m just so happy, Cameron,” she says. Squeezing me tight, I hold her back, giving her the comfort she needs. We stand in silence for a while, just holding each other and letting the sound of the water hitting the tile soothe us.

“We should get ready, people should start getting here soon,” I say, and she nods her head. We work together in washing each other’s bodies and I wash Kelsey’s hair.

When we leave the quiet solitude of the shower, it appears chaos has taken over the kitchen.

Kelsey

AssoonasCameronand I walk into the kitchen, it’s like a bomb went off.

“Mommy, it’s not what it looks like,” Lana says immediately. Talia just shrugs her shoulders and keeps mixing the bowl of whatever the fuck it is they are supposed to be making.

“What are you two doing?” I ask. They’re both covered in flour. There are hundreds of chocolate chips on the floor.

“We thought we could make cookies for our cousins,” Talia says in her sweet, soft voice. Trying to get them out of trouble. I won’t lie, it works a lot of the time.

“Where are Mama and Daddy E?” I ask.

“Jacob had a poop explosion all over Mama’s outfit, so she had to get changed and Daddy E is giving baby Jacob a bath,” Lana says.

“And your older brothers?” I ask, and they both shrug their shoulders.

“We don’t work the oven without an adult present, you know that,” I say. Taking stock of how much damage they did in such a short amount of time.

“Mommy, we didn’t turn on the oven. We were going to wait for that. We just made the dough first,” Talia says. I give her an unamused look, but they definitely followed the oven rule.

“The caterers are bringing cookies and your cousins will be here in the next half hour. I need you girls to clean up your mess and then go get cleaned and changed,” I say.

“We just wanted to do something for our cousins,” Lana says sadly. Getting down closer to the girls, who are covered in flour, I open my arms to give them a hug. They are so fucking precious.

“And what a sweet thought that was. I’m so happy you have big hearts and love your cousins. But, If you wanted to make food, then you should have asked an adult, okay?”

“Okay, Mommy,” they say. Cameron sighs.

“I’ll help clean up if you want to make sure everyone else is ready for the party,” he says. I kiss him on the cheek, thankful I don’t have any part in cleaning up this mess. Cameron takes out the broom, paper towels and other cleaning products to help the girls get started.

I walk back upstairs and head over to the boy’s room and cross my fingers that they are dressed and not wearing orange basketball shorts and white t-shirts. I tap my knuckles on the door and hear one of them say I can come in.

When I look around the room, it’s cleaner than normal, and I smile at them. “You guys sure did clean up nice,” I said.

“Easton wants to show Adeline our room,” Theo says dramatically. Well, if that isn’t confusing as fuck. Easton is biologically mine and Dom’s child, while Theo is mine and Emmett’s. Which makes Adeline, Emily’s daughter, Theo’s cousin, but not Easton’s. I rub my hand over my temple, trying to think of the repercussions of that happening.

“Whatever, you cleaned the room because you want mom to let Jenny come to the party,” Easton says back. They’ve both been driving each other crazy lately, and I’m sure it has to do with their age and possibly designating soon. I’ve been doing my best to be patient and to let them express themselves however they need to.

“Jenny can come to the party, Theo,” I say, and he smiles. His smile looks exactly like Emmett’s. It’s honestly not a surprise to me that he has a girlfriend. He seems to have his father’s charms as well. I’ve met Jenny a few times. She seems like a nice girl. And Theo can’t seem to stop talking about her. “But no girls up in your bedroom. I’m happy you cleaned though,” I say and give them both a smile.

“But, Mom,” Theo starts.

“If you need a place to hang out, there are plenty of spaces on the main floor or you can go to the basement,” I reply.

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