Page 28 of Home For Christmas

“Nana’s house, ‘morrow?” Mason asked around a bite of his sandwich.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I reminded him, but nodded. “Yes, Nana’s and PapPap’s tomorrow. But it’s going to be really late. You and Meadow will probably sleep on the plane.” At least I hoped they would.

“No sleep.” Mason pouted. That was what I was worried about. He was stubborn as a mule—couldn’t imagine where he’d gotten that from—and if he didn’t damn well feel like doing something, he wouldn’t.

We ate our peanut butter sandwiches while we watched the twinkling lights on the tree. I could tell he was tired, but his sandwich was going to win any battle with sleep, so I took the time to talk to him about growing up with Ty. In twenty years, he’d never remember our midnight sandwich chats, but I loved sharing stories with him.

“Your Dada always loved Christmas, just like you,” I told him.

Mason nodded sagely. “And Santa?”

“Of course.” Ty had figured out Marla and Brice were Santa in kindergarten but had refused to tell them he didn’t believe in Santa until we were nearly thirteen. I wasn’t entirely certain he’d ever told them he didn’t believe in Santa, but by that point it had just been assumed.

“When we were younger, Santa brought Dada pretty eyeshadow.” He’d perfected his application techniques on me… then wondered how I’d known all the tips and tricks on how to get guyliner off when he’d first moved to San Diego. I smiled at the memory of Ty’s adorable O-shaped mouth and his big blue eyes when I’d told him that I’d had to learn because my mom and dad would have lost their minds over me walking in the door with a face full of eye makeup. “Part of me always loved your Dada, even if I didn’t know it at the time.”

Mason yawned. “Dada sleeping?”

“Yeah, Dada’s sleeping. Just like you should be.” I kissed the top of his head and Mason let out a big yawn. He’d finished his sandwich, so I gathered our plates and then grabbed a washcloth to clean him up. By the time I got him out of his seat, Mason was falling asleep in my arms. Our midnight bottles had turned into midnight peanut butter sandwiches. One day they’d change again, but for now I would enjoy my time with my monkey.

Once I got Mason settled in his bed and the various baby gates resecured, I made my way back downstairs and to the bedroom. I curled myself around Ty and had just closed my eyes when I heard his voice. “Always loved me, huh?”

My face flushed. “You heard that?”

I could hear the eye roll Ty gave me. “You got out of bed, and Mace isn’t the quietest. Also, you fed him another peanut butter sandwich.” Before I could even ask, Ty chuckled. “You smell like peanut butter. You two are truly two peas in a pod.”

I pulled him closer. “Of course I’ve always loved you. You’re impossible not to. Even if it took me a really long time to figure out I was in love with you.”

Ty wiggled around so he could kiss me. “Love you, sailor.”

“Love you, Doc.”

Ty slept straight through Meadow and Mason waking up the next morning, so I got up, got them changed, dressed, and into the kitchen. While I made breakfast for us, I turned the tree on and a cartoon they liked that was sure to keep their attention long enough that I could feasibly make breakfast without them destroying the house. Of course, with Mason in the house, nothing was safe, even if it was baby-gated.

I hadn’t gotten around to telling Ty I’d wrapped everything up at the office and was officially off until the new year. It was nice to have a relatively lazy morning at home with my family. We ate our cereal in peace, the cartoons keeping the kids occupied enough that Ty slept through it.

We’d barely made it upstairs and into the spare room so I could pick up where Ty left off on the packing when I heard bare feet coming up the steps. A bleary-eyed blond stood in the doorway, staring at me in confusion. “What are you doing home?”

I lifted a shoulder, focusing my attention back to the twins, who were already preoccupied with dismantling a pile of clothes on the bed. “Finished up last night. We got a little distracted and I forgot to tell you.”

Ty chuckled. “I woke up and didn’t hear anyone and was convinced the kids were up to no good. I was trying to figure out how the hell I’d slept through your alarm!”

I pulled him in for a kiss and Ty nearly burrowed into my chest. “Best Christmas gift ever.”

“Eww,” Meadow called from across the room, forgetting about the mess she and her brother were making. “Kiss.”

“I thought they were supposed to be older before they thought kissing was gross.”

Ty lifted a shoulder. “We probably let them watch too many rom-coms.”

We nothing. Those were all Ty’s doing, not mine, but I’d let him believe it if it made him feel better.

“Why are you making a mess of my piles?” Ty asked her, a genuine smile on his face. “And for your information, Miss Meadow, Dada can kiss Daddy whenever he wants.” I heard Ty mutter under his breath, “Besides, your Daddy’s a great kisser.”

I pinched his ass and took pleasure in the high-pitched squeal he let out. “Go have breakfast, get a shower. I’ve got this handled.”

Ty looked around the room thoughtfully. “Everything’s out that needs to be packed. So pack it up. I’ll get us ready to go. Oh! Don’t let me forget the stuff I got for my brothers.”

I doubted I wanted to know what he’d gotten them. If the wicked gleam in his eyes was anything to go by, I really didn’t.

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