Page 107 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

EPILOGUE I

Oliver

The time that I felt the most scared in my life was when I walked into that warehouse trying to save Olivia. The second time was showing up at the cabin to win my family back. The girls acted as if I had never left, which made me wonder what Lindsay had told them.

Lindsay needed a bit more convincing. But of course, she did. I hadn't proven myself to be the man she and the girls needed. But I vowed that I would spend the rest of my life making sure that I did my damnedest to make it up to her.

The next day, I felt a poke, and as I stirred, I saw it was still dark out.

"I hear the pitter patter of little feet. It's time to get up,” Lindsay said from next to me.

I groaned. I hadn’t had a lot of sleep, but that was because I kept needing to make love to Lindsay. “It’s still the middle of the night.”

"Get used to it, Daddy. Little kids get up early on Christmas."

Christmas hadn’t been like that when I was growing up, at least not at my house. In foster care, Liam and I sometimes had families that made cookies and would have presents. But others didn’t. I realized that Christmas could be different from now on. My entire life would be different. I needed to embrace that and be grateful for the love Lindsay and the girls brought into my life.

I rolled out of bed and looked at my watch. "It's not even five in the morning."

Lindsay tossed me the pants from the bag I’d packed for this trip. "Merry Christmas, Daddy."

We exited the bedroom and passed Mira in the kitchen. “Coffee is almost ready.”

In the living room, the four kids were bouncing with excitement around the Christmas tree and Brett was making a fire in the fireplace.

"Mommy, Daddy, look what Santa brought." Georgie motioned to the tree.

"My goodness, you've all been very good children this year, haven't you?" Lindsay said.

Growing up, I’d heard about Christmases like this, usually from TV, movies, or books. I always wondered if they were true. But now, as I sat and watched the love and joy and excitement of a family on Christmas morning, I thanked God that I was there, that I'd been brave enough to get on the plane and come here.

On the flight, I knew there were a lot of decisions that needed to be made, including whether or not we stayed in Boston. Seeing Lindsay and the girls with Brett and Miranda and Grayson, I knew that they were an important part of Lindsay’s and the girls’ lives. We would stay in Boston.

So now, my decision was whether I moved the headquarters of my company to Boston or sold it. To be honest, I was leaning toward selling it because I wanted as much time as I could get with Lindsay and the girls to make up for all the time I'd lost.

Once the presents were opened, the intensity and the room’s activity settled, although the volume was still high as the kids played with their new things. While Olivia and I played with the kid-oriented tablet I bought her, Georgie strummed a ukulele as Grayson played bongos, and Cassie and Lindsay colored. Life was so fucking perfect.

Mira and Brett were in the kitchen making Christmas dinner, so when a knock came on the door, Lindsay rose to get it. She looked through the window by the door and then let out a little squeal.

“It’s Unkadunk. And he's brought his little boy, Aiden, with him."

The kids looked up for a moment but then went back to their brand-new, shiny toys. Lindsay opened the door, letting Duncan in.

"Merry Christmas," Duncan said in his loud, booming voice. When I first saw Duncan years ago, I had thought he could be an enforcer with the crew. He was big and bald, and if he wanted to, he could look lethal. Although, at the moment, with his wide smile, he made me think of Duane “The Rock” Johnson.

"This is Aiden, my son." He put a meaty hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Lindsay looked up at him with glee in her eyes. "It's done?"

He shook his head. "No. Legally, he’s my foster child. But as far as I'm concerned, he's mine.”

The boy looked around the room. His expression showed intrigue at all the toys, and yet there was still hesitation, even fear. I recognized the look because I'd seen it in Liam and other kids we’d been in care with. But Aiden was lucky. I could see that Duncan was going to provide a loving, nurturing home for Aiden. I just hoped that it lasted. Liam and I had been moved so many times, and every time, it was scary.

Lindsay knelt down and gently talked to Aiden, inviting him to come play with the other children. "My dad mentioned that you might come by, so we have gifts for you too. Would you like to open them?"

A second later, Georgie had grabbed a present and run over to him. “This one's for you."

Aiden looked up at Duncan, who gave him a smile and a nod. Aiden took the present and followed Georgie to the tree where the rest of the children were playing.

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