Page 57 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

“And mine,” Grayson echoed, holding his star-shaped cookie.

“They’re so beautiful, I don’t know that we can eat them.”

“Yes, we can!” Georgie bit the top off her tree.

“How about you, Olivia?”

Her brow was furrowed as she carefully put each element on her tree cookie. “It’s crooked.”

I looked at her decorations. “How can that be? It looks to me like everything is in the right place.”

I tried to have it all cleaned up by the time Mira and my father got home. Unfortunately, the sprinkles had gotten everywhere. Luckily, they weren’t the type of people to get upset about such things. They both oohed and ahhed over the cookies, my father stealing one as he prepared to make dinner.

After dinner was more holiday fun, with a Christmas movie on TV and my father’s famous hot chocolate with peppermint, the alcohol kind for the grownups, and a candy cane for the kids. By the time bedtime came, I was exhausted.

"Goodnight, my cutie patooties.” I tucked the girls in.

“Can we stay here for always?” Georgie asked.

I found her question odd. “You don’t like our house?” God, had she found out what happened?

“It’s always fun here.”

“I miss my bed,” Olivia said.

“I miss my toys,” Cassie echoed.

“You know that Grandpa and Gran-Mira are happy to have you any time, but soon… hopefully next week, we’ll be back at our house.” I kissed them each. “Good night.”

“Good night, Mommy,” they said in unison.

I slipped away from the girls' room and made my way to the kitchen. I planned to have a glass of wine and settle in for the night.

“How’s things with your house?” my dad said as he joined me.

“Tired of us already?” I joked.

He smiled, but his eyes were serious. “Never. I’m worried about your safety. Have you figured out how someone got in without triggering your alarm?”

“Not yet, but the police are on it.” I poured myself a glass of wine. “Want one?”

He shook his head. “I promised Dunk I’d meet him at the gym at 4:30 tomorrow.”

“Morning?” That was the middle of night as far as I was concerned.

“Yes. I’m heading to bed.” He kissed me on the head. “Goodnight, Linds.”

“Goodnight, Dad.”

I took my wine to the family room with my laptop, deciding I’d catch up on what was happening at work. I didn’t want to be too far behind when I returned in a few days.

“Hey, Lindsay."

I looked up to Mira entering the family room. “What’s up?”

She sat in a chair opposite me, tucking her legs under her. That told me she was ready for a talk.

“I just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing?”

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