Page 36 of Meowy & Bright

“Let’s make a Christmas baby.” He groans and turns to head toward our bedroom.

“Mommy?” A tiny, angelic voice.

Brendan stops in his tracks.

“Little cock blocker,” Brendan whispers into my mouth, making me giggle.

“Is it Christmas?” she asks as she rubs the sleep from her eyes.

“It is.” I wiggle so Brendan puts me down.

We have all day to steal a moment to make our Christmas baby.

“Yay!” She dances down the hallway, right under her father’s legs where she grabs my hand and pulls me back toward the living room. She stops to stick her tongue out at the kitchen, and I know it’s aimed at the house that sits over a mile behind us and their Christmas decorations.

“We totally won.” She gives a sassy grin.

“We did,” I agree. “We definitely won.”

“It’s not a competition,” Brendan says as he swoops me up into his arms.

“Daddy put her down, we have presents to open.” Holly runs over to the tree and stops dead at the sight of the giant dollhouse Brendan built by hand for her. It truly is magnificent. No wonder he could give me such a run for my money every year with his Christmas decorations. Luckily, he is now on my side where I know he’ll forever be.

“It’s beautiful,” she says. She turns to look at us with her eyes wide. “It needs to be decorated!”

I shake my head. “How could you get her a doll house and not decorate it?”

“Aunt Laura!” Holly runs and jumps into Laura’s arms for a hug. “Will you help me decorate it?”

“Of course I will, sweetheart.” She kisses her cheeks before putting her down. Holly holds her hand out to Laura’s husband, who gives her a high five, and then she runs back to start ripping open the rest of her presents.

“I didn’t know you were coming.” I give my best friend a hug.

“I’m always coming.” She gives me a devilish smile.

I smack her arm. My eyes flick to her husband who shrugs, knowing he’s the one always making her do it.

“Look what I made.” I walk over to the sofa and pick up the knitted hat.

“You finally did it.” Laura nods appreciatively.

“Yep. I was going to save it for when we have another baby, but maybe you could use it.”

She blushes. Actually blushes! Her husband wraps an arm around her. Maybe Christmas miracles are true. I know I had my own, but Laura looks to be having one too.

I spend the rest of the day sitting by the fire, surrounded by the people that are nearest and dearest to me. There’s wrapping paper strewn all over, lots of food, and the sound of laughter. When it’s late, Brendan sits on the couch with Holly reading her favorite book,The Night Before Christmas. After all the excitement, she snuggles into Brendan, a little yawn coming from her as she strokes Charlie.

Her eyes grow heavy with sleep, but she fights it so she can hear the last few pages.

Brendan lowers his voice to a whisper, his eyes full of love for our little family.“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

* * *

Want Heath’s story? Read Hitman’s Prey!

She’s a nosy neighbor. He’s a hitman. Will they end up together when the bullets start flying?

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