Leo chattered from his booster seat, filling us in on everything we'd missed during our absence.
Apparently, he and Avery had built a ‘fake igloo’ in the living room, and Jovie had let them stay up late to watch Christmas movies.
"And tomorrow Grandpa is coming!" Avery added from her own booster seat, bouncing with excitement. “Mommy said he's bringing presents and that he might build a gingerbread house with us!”
“Sounds so fun,” Estelle smiled, reaching over to smooth down Leo's perpetually messy hair. "Did you miss us?"
“Yeah,” Leo replied, still smiling. "But I knew you'd come back. You always come back."
You always come back.
The faith in those words, the trust, was everything we’d been cultivating in him. He’d been abandoned by his parents, but always trusted us to return home.
Trusted that we'd keep our promises, that we'd always come back to him.
"Always," Estelle confirmed, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "No matter what. We'll always come back to you."
As we turned into the long driveway that led to my beachhouse, I felt that familiar surge of pride at the sight of it.
The sprawling Mediterranean-style mansion sat right on the beach, with white stone and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the ocean view.
It was excessive, definitely, and it was fucking gorgeous. Just like my princess.
But more importantly, this place was home. It was where Leo had his room decorated with dinosaurs, where Avery had her pink princess room for when she stayed over, and where Estelle had slowly but surely made her mark on every space.
“Oh!” Leo exclaimed as we pulled into the circular driveway. "The Christmas decorations are still up!"
I followed his gaze to the house, which was indeed still decorated for the holidays—garland draped along the rooflines, a massive wreath on the front door, lights twinkling from every window.
Not the elaborate winter wonderland I'd briefly considered having installed, but tasteful, warm, and welcoming.
Home for Christmas.
As we climbed out of the SUVs, Avery immediately raced toward the front door, Leo hot on her heels. Estelle followed at a more sedate pace, her hand finding mine as we walked up the familiar path.
"Thank you," she said quietly, leaning sideways to brush her soft cheek against my arm.
"For what, princess?"
"For this. For them being here, for making sure Leo didn't have to wait another second longer to see us. For..." she gestured vaguely at the house, the SUVs in the driveway, the sound of children's laughter echoing from inside. "For all of it."
I stopped walking and turned to face her properly, my hands framing her face as I looked down into those honey eyes that had completely captured my heart.
"You don't have to thank me for loving you," I murmured quietly. "Or for loving him. This is what family does, princess. We take care of each other."
She stood on her toes to kiss me, right there in the driveway with our friends and family watching, not caring about anything except the man in front of her.
"I love you, Jax Easton."
"I love you too, Estelle Moore.” I gently squeezed her against me. "Now come inside before the kids decide to redecorate the living room again."
Tomorrow, Wade would be landing with his own flair, and the house would be full of the people I loved most in the world.
The smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter wafted through every corner of the house, mingling with the pine scent from our massive live Christmas tree and the candles Jovie had lit on every surface.
Christmas Eve morning at the Easton beach house was pure, beautiful chaos, exactly the kind I’d been raised with.
The entire house looked like Christmas spirit in the best possible way. Red velvet bows adorned every window, and Leo had put his own flair into decorating by placing his figurines all around the tree.
