Page 21 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

Cheers of excitement go up around us and I smile. My gaze snags on Cheyenne and Jake as he holds her, her back to his front and his chin resting on her head. If Gwen agrees to marry me, I’ll have another daughter and son-in-law. The thought has my smile growing wider.

I’d never wanted a big family with Carmen, and it took me until I landed here to know that the problem was always her that held me back. Her presence and then betrayal had me in a chokehold for far too long.

Being here, surrounded by people that love my daughter and by extension, me, has my heart swelling again in my chest.

“Okay!” Emerson yells. “Let’s see what baby number one will be!”

Hank and Isla share a secretive look and then he reaches for the box top at the same time she places her hands on her belly. Gwen’s hand slips into mine and she squeezes.

Blue balloons emerge as soon as the top is removed and sway in the breeze, the anchor preventing them from flying away. Whoops and hollers go around as Hank places a less than appropriate kiss on my daughter.

Gwen squeezes my hand harder, and I see her shake beside me with silent laughter. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, she sighs happily. “You have a grandson.”

Grandson.

I have a grandson. Tears spring to my eyes as Sorren shifts the new box into position and Emerson repeats her mantra for baby number two.

Boy.

Two boys. I wipe at the tear running down my cheek, and Gwen wraps her arms around my waist and places her head on my chest. I hold her tight against me as the third box is placed in front of my daughter and son-in-law.

Pink balloons.

Cheers go up around us, Emerson is jumping up and down, my brother is crying, and I watch through my own tears as Hank drops to his knees and rests his forehead against Isla’s belly, where his children are growing inside the love of his life.

Joy.

Pure, unadulterated joy flows through my veins at the absolutely raw and stunning show of love between a husband and wife. Isla’s one hand is tangled in his hair while the other frantically wipes her tears away.

Hank stands, and I have to look away as he places a kiss a father should never see on my daughter’s lips. I’m happy for them, but a guy can only take so much seeing his baby girl all grown-up.

“Can you believe it?” Gwen asks quietly.

“Two boys and a girl,” I say, and I can’t stop the smile from taking over my face.

“That little girl is gonna have the lot of you wrapped around her tiny little finger.”

I chuckle. “I don’t doubt it.”

“She’s gonna get her brothers in trouble, isn’t she?”

“Without question.” My chest rumbles with a laugh as I imagine a tiny version of Isla bossing around two hulking boys like their father.

“Let’s go, Pappy. Let’s go congratulate them on the calm before the storm.”

My breath catches as the name pings around my brain. I’m going to be a Pappy. Standing a little taller, I stride across the lawn, determined to be the best damn Pappy there ever was.

12

CULLEN

4 WEEKS LATER

Seeing Gwen’s eyes bright and shining as New Zealand comes into view is something I’ll never quite forget. I’ve been living better than I have in my entire life, but she’s vivacious and passionate in a way I never knew could be real.

She makes me feel like I’m experiencing everything for the first time, and it’s equally incredible and heartbreaking to know that I’d been going through the motions for so long.

“Cullen, look!” Her red painted nails poke the window of the plane, and I rest my chin on her shoulder to see the city of Auckland come into view. The city and the landscape are exactly like the pictures we saw online, but the color of the water is something the Internet couldn’t compare to. It’s stunning and not unlike the woman sitting next to me.

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