Page 72 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

“I think so. I'm already planning our first Christmas together. We'll have a big tree, stockings by the fireplace… I want it to be perfect for him."

"Sounds magical.” I was genuinely excited for him. "You're going to be an amazing father."

“I hope so. You know, I don’t think he has very much.”

“Does he have toys?” Cassie asked, her mouth covered in red sauce.

“I don’t think so. Not too many.”

“I can share,” Olivia said.

Duncan gave her a sweet smile. “You’re very kind. I hope you all—you too, Grayson—will be friends with Aiden.”

“Does he like cars?” Grayson asked.

“I don’t know.” Duncan let out a giddy, nervous laugh. “I’ll be finding out soon.”

“Is the adoption set?” my father asked.

Duncan let out a frustrated breath. “Things are moving, but bureaucracy is a bitch… excuse my language, kids.”

“But that’s why he’s coming to live with you, right?” I remembered Liam telling me all the times he and Oliver had to move as foster kids for reasons they never understood. I didn’t want Duncan to grow attached to Aiden and then have to lose him.

“That’s the purpose, yes. But at first, it’s just a foster placement.”

Thinking about Liam reminded me of what he’d been doing at the time he was killed. While his attempt to stop the crew from stealing foster children’s social security numbers was five years ago, that didn’t mean it wasn’t still going on. It was clear that Agent Marsden hadn’t done anything about it.

“You know, Duncan, you should check Aiden’s credit score.”

Everyone looked at me like I'd started speaking in tongues.

“He’s a kid. He doesn’t have credit,” Duncan said.

“I know, but…” I didn’t want to reveal all that Oliver and I had learned, but I wanted to keep Aiden safe from having his future ruined by these unscrupulous people. “Liam’s social security number was stolen and used when he was a foster kid. It ruined his credit, and it took him and Oliver a long time to fix it.”

“Surely, Social Services looks after that for the children,” Mira said.

I shook my head. “Not as a matter of course.”

“Really?” My father's expression was incredulous.

"Unfortunately, yes. There aren't many safeguards in place, so it might be a good idea to keep an eye on Aiden's information."

"Huh. That’s not something they taught during my foster care classes. Thanks, Lindsay. I’ll check into that.”

I offered a small, reassuring smile.

The conversation turned to the holidays and Duncan preparing for the influx of gym members who always came at the beginning of the New Year. My mind stayed on Aiden and all the other kids that Liam had been trying to protect. I knew it was a risk for Oliver and me to hand over the papers I found to the FBI instead of giving them to the person who’d been texting us. I had to hope that Agent Marsden would be able to put a stop to it all and that we’d all be safe.

After dinner,I checked on Georgie again. The coolness of Georgie's forehead against my lips reassured me that her fever had subsided. Tucking the blankets around her, I brushed a lock of hair away from her face.

After a game and a book with Cassie and Olivia, I got them ready for bed too. I gave them goodnight kisses and then stepped out of the room, ready to relax and prepare for tomorrow. I had a lot to do if we were going to return to the house.

The next morning,I woke early, heading to the kitchen to find my dad and Mira already in the kitchen making breakfast. All the kids, including Georgie, were at the table.

“How is it that I’m always the last one up?” I gave each of my girls a kiss on the head and then made a beeline for the coffee.

“You always were a sleepyhead,” my dad teased.

---