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“Of course. Merry Christmas.” Her voice was garbled in the shower.
It was our first Christmas, and it was nothing like I expected. I’d wanted to wake up slowly together and make love. I kept hoping we’d have time together, but if we couldn’t do it on Christmas, when would there be time? “Merry Christmas.”
I was hoping to tell her I loved her this morning. That I’d never stopped. But we’d have plenty of time. We had our entire lives.
I grabbed the red velvet Santa bag and let the puppy wander the front yard. I wished Holly was coming this morning. I understood she needed time with her mom, but I hoped it was the last holiday we spent apart.
I couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be to have a puppy of our own. It would have the run of the property, could keep us company while we worked in the shed, and sleep on the couch at the end of the night.
The puppy finally found a spot to pee, and I rewarded her with a treat. “Good girl,” I said as I lifted her onto the passenger side seat. I turned on the heater in the seat for her, and she curled up to sleep.
At Sebastian’s house, I said, “Sorry about this,” to the puppy as I lifted her into the bag. “It’s just for a few minutes. Then you’ll get to deal with an excited little girl.”
Ember had wanted a puppy for a long time. When the breeder had called Heath, Knox, and Emmett to say they had a puppy no one had claimed, I immediately thought of Sebastian and Ember. He had his cabin and a relationship with Hanna. He was as settled as he was gonna get unless he married Hanna.
I just wished I felt more settled in my relationship with Holly. Maybe I would have kept the pup for myself. “They’re probably going to name you Rudy for Rudolph or something else ridiculous,” I said to her as I headed up the steps to the porch and knocked on the door.
Ember opened the door. “You wore your pajamas.”
“You told us to wear them, remember?” I said as I came inside, immediately drawn to the warmth and the holiday music playing in the background. Again, I wished that Holly was here, experiencing this with us. I set the bag carefully on the ground and lifted Ember into my arms.
I hoped no one noticed the wiggling bag until I was ready to reveal my surprise.
She looked down at me, her fingers tugging on my beard. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
I shrugged because I couldn’t tell her I’d do anything for her, even if it was true.
Then Ember leaned closer and whispered, “Uncle Talon, Santa came.”
I grinned. “Show me these presents, Ms. Ember.”
Ember smiled at me and said, “There’s a big one. I think it’s a new dollhouse.”
I set her down and took her hand as we walked into the living room.
Ember knelt on the ground next to the largest present. “What do you think it is?”
“I have no idea.” I wasn’t close enough to my brothers that they’d share with me what they bought for their kids. Not for the first time, I wished I was more involved in their day-to-day lives. What else had I missed?
I heard a knock on the door and several voices. It sounded like everyone had arrived.
“Talon,” Sebastian called to me from the foyer; his voice sounded a little panicked.
I’d forgotten about the puppy in the bag. I rushed toward the front door to see that she’d found a way through the opening.
“The breeder who gave us the other pups called to see if we wanted another one. I was going to keep her for myself, but”—I moved my hand, and the puppy moved further outside the bag—“Hanna mentioned that she and Ember wanted one.”
Hanna appeared at Sebastian’s side, having come from the kitchen. “What’s taking so long? Is that a—”
“It’s a puppy. Apparently, you asked for one.” Sebastian’s face was tight.
Hanna blinked, her eyes shiny.
“Did someone say puppy?” Ember asked as she joined us.
“Aww,” everyone said when Ember fell to her knees in front of the puppy. Then she looked up at Sebastian. “Can we keep him, Daddy?” The puppy licked her face as she giggled. Then she fell onto her back. The puppy stood on her chest, continuing to kiss her face while she laughed. “Can we keep him? Please, Daddy?”
“I don’t know how you say no to that,” Emmett said in an affectionate tone.
