Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
She rolled her eyes at him, staring out at the huge house where Juliet lived. Relief filled her.
They’d made it.
She hadn’t ruined Christmas.
Reuben helped her out just as the front door opened and Juliet ran down the stairs.
“Juliet!” Brick yelled as he followed her. “Slow down!”
“Don’t run outside!” Reuben added.
Juliet ignored both of them and threw herself at her brother. He captured her close, a soft look filling his face that had Faith’s eyes misting.
It wasn’t often that Reuben was soft. He had so much on his plate and he never showed that it wore him down. He was unguarded and gentle with her, of course. But she rarely got to stand there and watch him soften.
“Hey there, Faith,” Brick said, coming up and holding his arms out.
Faith stepped into his embrace.
Until she felt someone tug her away.
“Stop touching my woman,” Reuben demanded. “And help me with the bags. Juliet, Faith, get inside where it’s warm. Where is Xavier?”
“He’s on his way home,” Brick told him.
Faith shook her head at Reuben. He was so bossy.
He was just lucky that he was so darn cute.
However, she took the hand that Juliet held out to her and walked inside.
“Oh wow, you’ve done an amazing job at decorating, Juliet,” Faith told her.
Juliet gave her a wide smile. “Glad you like it.”
Like it? She loved it. There was a large table with a full Christmas scene complete with roads and bridges and snow as well as houses and other buildings. Santa and his reindeer flew around above the village scene.
The banister of the stairs had been decorated with a gorgeous snowy garland and red flowers.
Then she walked into the living room and saw the most beautiful tree.
“It’s stunning.” Faith twirled around. The fire was going and there were matching stockings on the mantel.
There was even one with her name and Reuben’s.
“Look! We have stockings!” she said to Reuben, pointing to the mantelpiece.
“So we do,” he said as he walked into the room. “Brick offered to take our stuff up. Mini, you have outdone yourself.”
Juliet flushed with happiness as he drew her close.
She was wearing a green velvet dress with red trim. It was kind of old-fashioned looking, but it suited Juliet. Faith knew she’d worn a lot of black before she found happiness with her two men.
“I’m so glad you two are here,” Juliet told them. “Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without you.”
“I’m glad we’re here too, Mini,” Reuben said.
“Christmas is always better with family.” Faith joined them both in a hug and stared at the Christmas tree with a smile.
She couldn’t help but feel that it had been a bit of a miracle that they’d made it.
A Christmas miracle.
Thanks, Santa.
19
CAT AND ALEJANDRO
Christmas Day
Gray cleared his throat as they all settled into the living room on Christmas morning. He stood, looking around at them all.
Cat felt her stomach tighten. She couldn’t tell from the look on his face whether he had good news for them or not.
“Well?” Cat cried. “The suspense is killing us!”
“We’re pregnant!” Maeve yelled, throwing her arms up in the air.
Everyone descended on Maeve excitedly, while Gray barked out orders for them to be careful with her.
“Oh my God, he’s going to be in OPD mode until you give birth,” Cat told Maeve.
“He’s always in OPD mode.” Maeve replied. “But yes, he’s going to be even worse.”
“Best Christmas present ever!” Immy said, dancing around the room.
Maeve giggled as Gray forced her to sit back down. Cat sat with a contented sigh.
“Come on, let’s open some presents,” Sampson said. “Immy, you go first.”
“Yay!” Immy squealed as she opened her Christmas present. “A walking, pooping unicorn! Just what I always wanted. Thanks, Santa!”
“Wow,” Cat told her. “That’s really cool, Immy.”
Maeve nodded, tearing her eyes away from her new sparkly gold shoes. They were so pretty.
Next it was Cat’s turn. She grabbed her present. She just knew this was going to be a jet pack and a ticket for a trip to the moon.
She pulled off the wrapping paper, revealing an entire astronaut suit with a jet pack on the back.
“Yes!” she cried.
There was also a note. She picked it up, reading it excitedly.
Dear Cat,
Unfortunately, the elves couldn’t get the jet pack to work, but I’m sure you can use your imagination. And when trips to the moon become very safe, your Papi said he would take you.
Santa.
“Santa wrote to me!” she yelled. “And I didn’t get coal in my stocking!”
“Yay!” Immy and Maeve cheered.
“That’s a small miracle,” McGrumpface muttered.
She was too happy to tell him off, though. But if he kept up that attitude, she was going to put salt in his coffee!
“Here, this is from Dahlia.” Maeve Gray a wrapped package.
Ooh, what was it?
“She knitted it,” Maeve explained to everyone.
Gray sighed and opened the present. Cat giggled as he pulled out a sweater.