Page 40 of Christmas in Kiwi Country

Gwen snorts as Isla slams her hands down in the general location of her hips. Her belly looks bigger than I remember, but I’m smart enough not to mention that as I step out of the car.

“Merry Christmas, Isla,” I say over the lump of emotion clogging my throat. Tears stream down her face, and she holds her arms open.

“If I come down there, you’ll have to help me back up and I’ll be winded and no one wants that,” she says and I laugh as I round the front of the car, taking Gwen’s hand and walking up the porch to my daughter.

Isla wraps her arms around me in a fierce hug. Her belly makes it awkward, but the way she’s holding on to me like a lifeline, I’d gladly stand like this forever.

“Merry Christmas, Daddy,” she whispers, her tears soaking my shirt and my own rolling down my cheeks and into her hair. Pulling back, she wipes her face with one hand, her other one clenched around mine.

“Merry Christmas, Sweetie,” Gwen says as she pulls Isla into a one-armed hug.

“Merry Christmas, Gwen, ah!” she gasps as her eye catches the ring on Gwen’s finger. “Oh my God! It’s beautiful! Nice job, Dad.”

Releasing me, Isla hugs Gwen again as Hank steps out onto the porch. He grins and shakes my hand before hugging Gwen.

“Oh good Lord, what is taking…” Cheyenne says as she steps out onto the porch and launches herself at her mother. “Merry Christmas, Mama! Dammit, I’m not even pregnant and y’all are makin’ me cry.”

“Just wait till they tell you their news,” Isla says pointedly, and Cheyenne squeals before reaching for her mother’s hand and gasping.

“Did y’all know?” Gwen asks and our daughters nod, my cheeks heating the slightest bit as her gaze meets mine.

She mouthsI love youand I do the same and wink because there are no other words worthy of this moment.

“Are y’all…” Flora starts as she steps onto the porch and stops, disbelief written all over her face. Throwing her head back, she laughs before waving us all inside. “Well, now my Christmas wish came true. How about y’all?”

“Mine too,” I say and Flora smiles knowingly before Gwen takes my hand as we follow everyone inside.

Just like at Eve and Riley’s, it’s pure chaos. Greetings and congratulations are exchanged and it’s everything I wanted and more. My brother is sitting next to Otto listening to an animated story, and my niece is talking with the other wives in the kitchen.

Taking a seat next to Isla, I grin as she places my hand on her belly and giggles as the triplets dance around inside her.

“Did you ever think it could be like this? Did you ever think you’dwantthis?” she asks after a minute.

“No, I didn’t,” I say honestly because until the last couple of years, you couldn’t pay me enough to be in a room with this many people who didn’t report to me.

“Pretty great, huh?”

“The best.”

“Can you believe the babies will be celebrating with us next year?”

Shaking my head, I smile. “I’m looking forward to it.” I wait until she looks at me, brown eyes that look so much like my own staring back. “I’m just excited to spend this one with mine.”

EPILOGUE

CULLEN

The room is quiet as I hold Nova Jane in my arms. The sleeping baby looks so much like Isla my heart squeezes. I remember holding my daughter for the very first time in the hospital and knowing she’d move mountains someday. And I know without a doubt my daughter’s daughter will do the same.

Nova fell asleep with her little hand wrapped around my finger, and with my feet kicked up on the ottoman in the nursery, I have no reason to leave.

Her middle name, Jane, is in honor of Naomi Jane Andrews. We’d all cried at the announcement. Gene, Emerson, Isla, and I had both mourned a life taken too soon and celebrated the beautiful little girl that had made her grand entrance just seconds after her brothers.

Crew Mannings, named in honor of Hank’s friend, Deke, and Duke Mackay, named for Sorren and Marlee, are both sleeping on Gwen and Hank respectively while Isla showers and naps. They’d come into the world screaming and nothing short of perfection.

Isla had alternated between loving Hank and wanting to murder him for putting three babies in her, but in the end none of that mattered. They created this beautiful family, and I am damn proud to be a part of it.

Nova yawns and then burrows a little farther into the blanket I’d purchased with Gwen in New Zealand, now with her name embroidered in the corner.

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