I took a step forward, my fists still balled and my anger rising. “You’re doing this because you’re jealous? What the fuck? If Roman and Marco had any interest in you they would have acted long before now. But they don’t.”
“They just don’t know what they want,” Devon said quickly, and I almost laughed at his answer.
“Oh, I am pretty certain they know what they want—and it’s not you.” I stepped closer to Daddy’s desk. “Look, I don’t want to play your stupid game. Where is my stuffie?”
Devon, for the first time, looked hesitant, as if he realised what he’d done.
“Please, Devon, don’t be an arsehole. I’ve not done anything to you.”
Devon chewed on the corner of his thumbnail, looking at me then back towards the door. “I threw your stupid stuffie over into the hedge maze. The wind caught it, so I have no idea where it landed.”
“You colossal dickwad!” I stormed out to the hallway and then through to the cubby holes where Daddy had put our shoes and socks. I grabbed the pair of snow boots Daddy had given me and a thick coat before I stomped back to Daddy’s office. I probably should have gone and told them where I was going, but all I could think of was poor Mama Cass stuck out in that dark hedge maze.
The large open area at the back of the house was lit by garden lights, and I followed the paved path down towards the hedge. It was darker down here. There were lights that lit the hedge every hundred metres or so, but they weren’t very bright.
Once I entered the hedge it was even darker.
I patted my jacket and realised my phone was still sitting on the bedside table. I couldn’t call my Daddies if I got lost, or use my phone as a light source. The smart thing to do would be to head back inside. I glanced back at the entrance of the maze, then back at the house.
I hated the thought of Mama Cass being stuck out here all night, getting buried in snow. I was big and brave. I could do this.
I just had to remember the rules for being in a maze. I had to keep my left hand on the maze wall, and remember landmarks. I knew there was a granite gazebo at the centre of the maze with a bench. Papa had shown me a photo, and promised to take me into the maze tomorrow.
The deeper I walked into the maze, the more I wished I’d told Marco or Roman what I was doing, or waited until the morningto find Mama Cass. But I was here now, and I wasn’t going to give up. I would find her, then I could head back inside and cuddle with my Daddies.
The snow had started coming down a little heavier, and I could see my breath plume out in the faint moonlight. A little further in, I saw a familiar black and blue fluffy shape on the ground and I ran towards her.
“Oh, thank goodness I found you.” I brushed the snow off Mama Cass and cuddled her to my chest.
I could head back inside now, which was a good thing. My hands were starting to hurt. I’d forgotten to wear gloves and I knew Papa would tell me off, because he was very adamant on dressing properly when going out in the snow. But I thought he would forgive me this time.
I stood up and started to backtrack the way I thought I’d come. Only I must have turned myself around at some point. I wasn’t sure where I was. I wandered aimlessly until a dark stone structure reared up before me.
It was the gazebo.
The gazebo at least offered a little shelter, and I sat down on the bench. I needed to get back out of the maze, but I was really cold now and my hands were hurting. I shoved them deeper into my pockets and stuffed Mama Cass inside my jacket while I tried to figure out how to find my way back.
I wasn’t sure how long I sat there shivering in the darkness, but then I thought I saw lights.
Then I imagined I heard Papa’s voice calling me. Suddenly Marco was striding across the snowy ground towards me. He looked worried and wild, his hair spilling down around his shoulders, his chest heaving as if he’d run a mile.
“Oh, thank fuck we found you.” Papa wrapped me up in his large arms before I could move. He was so perfectly warm. “Wewere worried about you then we saw the office door was open and Devon was close by looking more than a little guilty.”
“He threw Mama Cass in here. I couldn’t leave her out all night, and I was so angry. I’m sorry. I should have come to tell you or Roman, but I was just so mad with him. He tried to blackmail me, saying he wouldn’t tell me where she was unless I promised to leave Crimson House and never come back. I told him that if you hadn’t picked him to be your boy by now, making me leave wasn’t going to change anything.”
I heard a deep laugh and saw Rhys’s Daddy standing nearby… with Santa Claus.
I blinked twice then rubbed my eyes.
“Your boy has got some fire in him. That’s a good thing.” Rhys’s Daddy said, but I was more focused on the man in red.
“Papa, did you enlist Santa to help find me?” I gaped as Santa came closer and knelt down in front of me.
He had kind blue eyes, and his beard was very soft looking and real not the horrible fake ones the town centre Santa’s had. “You gave us a bit of a fright, little one. Are you hurt anywhere?” I noticed Santa had tattoos on his arm when he reached out to look at my hands. I was pretty sure Santa Claus didn’t have tattoos, but what did I know?
“Lets get him inside and then you can check him over, Doc. Sy, did you want to run ahead and let Roman know we’ve found him?”
Papa picked me up in a bridal carry and hugged me tight to him. I snuggled against his chest, soaking up his warmth. I wanted to sleep, but Papa kept talking to me and asking me questions as we made our way back to the house.
