Near the tree, Siren held four-month-old Rory against her chest. Rory’s cheek rested on Siren’s black sweater; one small hand curled near her collar. Siren rocked slowly while Reed stood beside her with a paper cup of cider and a soft smile on his lips.
Blaze came back with two plates and handed one to Stella. Stella took it, looked at Siren with Rory, then looked at Blaze.
“I’m getting ideas,” she said.
“About what?” Blaze asked.
“About permanent babysitting arrangements.”
Siren didn’t look up. “Submit a request in writing.”
Reese smiled before she could stop herself. “Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys played under the voices. Someone laughed near the food table. A baby fussed, then settled. No one was whispering about danger. Nothing bad was happening. She was still getting used to feeling safe.
Stella crossed the room with a paper plate in one hand and stopped beside Reese’s chair.
“How’re you doing?”
The question came with Stella’s usual practicality. She looked at Reese, then at Elsie in the sling, then at the cup of water Reese had nearly emptied.
“Tired,” Reese said. “Happy.”
“That sounds about right.” Stella smiled and shifted the plate to her other hand. “Rory’s already growing out of half his newborn stuff. I’ve got a bag of sleepers and onesies set aside for you if you want them.”
Reese looked down at Elsie, who was still lost inside the 0–3 month sleeper. “I want them.”
“Good. I’ll bring them by.” Stella glanced toward the food table. “Do you need a plate?”
“Axel’s getting one.”
Stella smiled and squeezed her arm. Rory made a small complaining sound near the tree, and Stella looked back. Siren still had the baby tucked against her chest, but Blaze had turned his head at the first noise.
“I should go,” Stella said.
Reese watched her go. Stella had hired Reese six months ago with no references, no history she could safely explain, and a name that didn’t match her ID. Stella had given her a job anyway.
Axel came back with a plate balanced in one hand and a cup of juice in the other. He moved through the crowded room without hesitation, stepping around Ryder, letting Adrian grab briefly at his sleeve, pausing long enough for Dom to free him before he kept going.
He was not on the edge of the room tonight. He was in the middle of it, carrying food to his wife while Christmas music played and babies passed from arm to arm. He set the plate in front of Reese first, then put the juice beside it. The plate was fullof sliced ham, roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and a buttered roll.
“Thank you,” she said.
He bent and kissed her cheek, then sat beside her.
Reese picked up the fork and took a bite of mashed potatoes. Axel adjusted the edge of the fabric near Elsie’s cheek. He had learned all of it. Diapers. Bottles. Burp cloths. The difference between Elsie’s hungry sound and the small warning noise she made before she woke angry.
He had learned to care for her daughter like Elsie had always been his. Because she was.
Elsie shifted against Reese’s chest while Reese was taking a bite of her dinner roll. The sound was small, not a cry yet. A warning. Reese knew the shape of it now, the little restless breath that came before Elsie woke fully and remembered she had opinions. Axel set his cup down.
“I’ve got her,” he said.
Reese didn’t argue. She wiped her mouth with the napkin, loosened the sling, and eased Elsie out with one hand supporting her head. Axel reached across the small space between them, and Reese passed their daughter into his arms without ceremony.
They had done this half-asleep in the apartment upstairs, at the kitchen table, beside the bassinet, in the blue dark before morning. Axel settled her against his chest with one hand spread wide across her back. Elsie made one unhappy sound, turned her face into his shirt, and quieted almost at once.
Reese watched them while she picked up her fork again. Axel bent his head slightly, his cheek near Elsie’s dark hair, and kept one steady hand over her back while the party moved around them.
Reese ate while Adrian passed from Dom to Valeria and reached immediately for Ryder again. Colette slept through Hunter shifting her higher on his shoulder. Stella took Rory back from Siren, kissed the top of his head, and handed Blaze her empty plate.
