Page 12 of Huge Christmas

“Anyway, it’s too early to be sleepy,” I tell Liam. “Have a cup of coffee or a shot of something. We’ve got games to play, and we haven’t cut the cake yet.”

I glance over at the dining table, checking the children haven’t attacked myfour tierwinter spectacular cake. With its white frosting and fondant,treesand winter animals, not to mention a sugar lake, it took me the best part of three days to complete. It’s a miracle we transported it here in one piece and If I don’t get at least one festive group picture around it, I’m going to cry.

“That cake is something else,” Carrie says. “You really have broken all the records for confectionery awesomeness.”

“You should have seen the wedding cake she made last week,” Liam says. “It brought tears to my eyes.”

“Big softie,” I say, kissing my husband’s stubbly jaw.

“Big girl more like,” Bryan says.

Katelin shoots him a withering look, adjusting little Isaac on her knee. “Ignore my husband. He’s pretending he doesn’t have a sensitive side, but as you can see, he really does.”

We all focus on sleeping Isaiah, who’s cradled in Bryan’s arms. “Don’t tell everyone,” Bryan frowns with mock anger.

“So, who’s down for a game of beer pong?” Jenna asks. “We can shift the cake and set up on the dining table.”

Callum’s eyes meet mine, and he’s instantly aware of my feelings. “Tell you what,” he says quickly. “Let’s set up a group picture with the cake and when we’ve done that, we can risk moving it.”

Jenna looks between us. “Okay. That sounds great.”

I forgive my friend’s lack of understanding about cake. She wasn’t present for the early disaster in my baking career when one of my first four tier cakes collapsed just before it was going to be delivered. To say I almost had a heart attack wouldn’t be an overstatement.

“Come on then, everyone,” Ryan says, always the organizer. “Kids. Time for photos.”

“What shall I do about Isaiah?” Bryan asks.

“Hold him for the photo. It’ll be a cute memory,” Katelin says. “Poor baby has been worn out by food and fun.”

“I didn’t know my Christmas lunch was capable of such things,” Jenna grins.

“If we weren’t all concerned with being polite, we’d all be nodding off right now.” Matty pats his belly and I shake my head. It must be good genes because all my husbands have kept trim. I glance down at my own body, which has borne six children in four pregnancies. There is a lot about it that differs from when I first met my men. Stretch marks are inevitable in twin pregnancies, and loose skin is the gift that gets left behind after. My hips have widened, and my breasts are fuller and need a whole lot more support than they used to. I could feel bad about the changes, but Callum, Liam, Matty and Ryan have never made me feel anything less than a goddess. In fact, they worship my body even more because of what it’s given them. A family. A life filled with joy. A future to look forward to.

Liam is first to rise from the sofa and he holds out a hand to me, which I gratefully accept. “Molly. Rachel.” I wave my daughters over and they scramble up from the floor and crowd our legs.

Harrison finds Abbey, and Matty rounds up the rest of the children.

Ryan finds his tripod selfie stick and sets up his phone to capture the moment. It’s notaeasy group to photograph. The children are too amped up from sugar and fun to stand still. The ten men in our group are all so broad and tall that fitting them into one frame seems like an impossibility. Jenna,Carrieand Katelin are so focused on getting the kids to stand still they aren’t looking at the camera. Ryan is patient for so long before he loses it.

“Listen,youguys. All we need to do is stand still for ten seconds. Kids, think of it as musical statues. And when we’re done, you get to eat some of that delicious cake behind you. Three, two one, the music has stopped.” He sets the timer and makes the quick dash to my side, wrapping his arm around my middle.

“Make sure you’re all still and smiling,” he says through his grinning teeth.

When the shutter clicks, everyone relaxes in a collective sigh.

“Hang on a minute,” Ryan says. “Before you move, let me check the picture.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” Matty, his twin, reassures.

Ryan squints at the screen and rolls his eyes. “The kids all look like they're constipated, and Rachel has her eyes closed.”

“I think it’s the best we’re going to get,” I conceded. “And I’m sure there’s an app to fix her eyes.”

“There is,” Katelin says. “I can do it for you if you send it to me.”

Jenna produces a knife and plates from a side unit. “You can do the honors,” she says, eyeing the cake. “Just looking at it makes me panic.”

“There’s an art to cutting these tall cakes,” I say.

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