“Drinks anyone?” I asked.
“Coffee black for both of us.” Callum smiled. “If you want us to stay awake.”
I chuckled and took Tulah into the kitchen and Drew followed behind me.
“They look exhausted,” Drew muttered.
“But happy.”
His eyes locked on mine. “Very happy. You think…someday?”
Tulah snuggled into my chest and I nodded.
“I hope so.”
Drew grabbed two mugs and poured their coffee, and we made our way back into the living room.
Only, they were asleep.
Lydia was even snoring.
“Well, I guess they can have iced coffee later,” I whispered, looking at Tulah in my arms. She was fast asleep and I eyed the pack and play that Callum had gotten out of their car. I slowly made my way over and placed her down and backed away.
“It’s as if this family hasn’t slept for months,” I said softly.
Drew chuckled and we left them to sleep, sneaking down the hallway to the family room behind the kitchen.
“You were looking at that baby like she had you hypnotized,” he said softly.
“She kind of did,” I admitted. “She’s perfect.”
He smiled, pressing a kiss to my hair. “You’d be a great mom, you know.”
I froze, then looked up at him. “You think so?”
“I know so,” he said. “And if you ever decide you want that, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
My throat tightened. “You’re sure you’re ready for that kind of forever?”
He brushed his thumb along my jaw. “Mel, I stopped pretending I wasn’t when I got that compass.”
The room fell quiet again, just the tree lights blinking, soft and steady. I leaned into him, resting my forehead against his.
“You’re ridiculous,” I whispered.
“Probably,” he said. “But I’m yours.”
I smiled, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “Forever?”
He kissed me…slow, certain, and full of all the Christmases still to come.
“Forever,” he said.
Outside, snow swirled under the moonlight.
Inside, I realized that forever didn’t look like a fairy tale.
It looked like this.
