Page 103 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

"Good."

The phone went dead, and I sat at my desk feeling numb. Was I a coward? I suppose I was, but that was only because I wanted to protect Lindsay and the girls from my and Liam’s past. Didn’t he know that being away from Lindsay and the girls was slowly killing me? Every day, I woke up and it was like another part of me was dead. It wouldn't be much longer before there was nothing left.

I didn't doubt that whoever texted me had sent a threat. But maybe I could tell Wally or whoever texted that I understood the message and that I wasn't going to fuck things up for them. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.

So now, the only question was whether I was a man who could give Lindsay and the girls everything they deserved. My initial response was no. I was a broken person who came up in a broken life. But I knew I could be whole. I knew it because I’d felt it the times I’d been with Lindsay and the girls.

31

Lindsay

Although the original plan had been for Grayson to stay with me and the girls at my house while my dad and Miranda went up to the cabin a day ahead of us to get ready for Christmas, we all agreed that we needed time away from the city. We needed the solitude and comfort that came from being at the cabin. We needed to be together as a family and celebrate the joy of Christmas, and this year, the extra joy that we were together and safe.

Well, at least most of us were together. Oliver wasn't here, and each time I thought of that, I was equal parts angry and sad for him.

We came up yesterday, settling into the cabin, which was a bit of a misnomer since it was nearly large enough to be considered a mansion. Even so, it felt rustic and cozy, and when we'd finished decorating the tree and the rest of the house, it was almost enough cheer to make me forget that less than a week ago, my baby had been kidnapped.

Today was Christmas Eve, and after a day of fun in the snow and making holiday treats, it was about time to put the girls to bed. Along with Grayson, the girls put out a plate of milk and cookies near the fireplace for Santa’s snack.

"You're going to put the fire out when you go to bed, right?” a worried Georgie asked as she looked at the flames in the fireplace.

"Of course, baby. But even if we left it going, Santa's magic."

All the girls looked at me, their blue eyes twinkling. "How much longer before he’ll be here?"

Grayson sidled up next to them with a tablet. "Let's look at the satellite." All four of them looked at the screen as the NORAD Santa site tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve ride around the world.

“He’s getting close.” Georgie bounced with excitement.

"I've got hot chocolate. The grown-up kind and the kid kind."

We each took a mug, and I settled into a chair watching the kids, feeling grateful for this moment. I told myself to remember this feeling of gratitude. I couldn’t ever take life for granted again.

There was a knock at the door and all of us jumped.

"I wonder who that could be?" Mira asked.

My father stood, striding to the door. "I'll answer it." He looked through the window next to the door. He jerked, turning to look at me.

“What?” I asked.

He opened the door.

“Ho, ho, ho. My magic snowball tells me there are some good children here."

All four kids jumped up, rushing to the door. I stayed rooted in the chair because while the man looked like Santa, he sounded like Oliver.

"Santa’s here, Santa’s here.” The kids jumped up and down and clapped.

Oliver stepped into the house, taking the bag off his shoulder and setting it down on the ground.

Olivia got up close to him, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at him. She held out her index finger, making a come here motion toward him. Oliver squatted down to her and she took hold of his beard, pulling it down.

"Daddy?"

At that, the other kids stopped pawing through Santa's sack to look at him. Georgie ran over, pushing the hat and fake hair off Oliver’s head.

"Daddy is Santa Claus?" Cassie asked.

---