Page 64 of The Santas Who Stole Me

“The year you melted my heart.” Her eyes are watery again.

“I figured this would be a new tradition.” Zeke clears his throat and looks away. If I didn’t know him I would say he’s nervous.

“An ornament to represent the year,” Zeke murmurs.

“It’s beautiful and perfect. I love this new tradition” She walks to him and he rubs his thumb across her cheek then claims her lips. I would be irritated that he has her attention, but she’s so happy I can’t help but watch and enjoy. He knows her well enough now I don’t need to explain these are happy tears. After a few moments Keeper grabs his gift and brings it to her for her to open on Zeke’s lap. I notice how much better he seems to be once holding her. It’s Christmas so I won’t call out his sneaky ways of getting Georgie’s attention using his injury.

Georgie opens the next gift. It might not be the best but I do love it as she begins to read.

“Chad Porter, Lenny Schmitt, Taylor Thomas …”

Keeper beams at her and I can’t help but be proud of my brother’s gift. It comes in close second place with Zee’s.

“There are eight names on this list. I don’t recognize Taylor Thomas. What is this?”

“A list of people who contributed to Chad, hurt you, and anyone we felt like needed to die.”

Georgie looks surprised and then the biggest smile cuts her tiny face in half.

“You gave me a list of people you killed for me. On Christmas. As a gift.”

Keeper nods, and I swear my dummy of a brother is nervous too.

“They weren’t on the nice list,” Georgie says, then giggles and I can’t help but join her laughter. Before I know it, she is teary all over again and I try not to punch Keeper over his smugness for giving her a completed hit list for Christmas.

“Thank you guys, for doing this, for my gifts. This is the best day. My turn for gifts.” Georgie hops up with a few little claps of her adorable hands. “Zeke, close your eyes.”

A laugh huffs out of me when I see him squeeze his eyes together without hesitation. I rush to get his gift that Georgie has had me hiding for him. Zeke is such a sap for her. No judgment though. I bring in the wiggling box from the laundry room and set it at his feet, then Georgie wrings her hands together and I rub her back for reassurance. He’s going to love it.

“Open them.”

Zeke does and the cutest golden retriever puppy hops to the edge of the box on her hind legs trying to get to him. Georgie already put a pink collar with small candy canes on her. She said our dog wanted to be festive too.

“A puppy!” Georgie shouts, announcing her gift to Zee, and Keeper groans. He was not part of this plan. We don’t invite a pooper to the party, especially when Georgie is so excited about something. And Keeper wouldn’t have agreed to a dog messing up this house. But what Georgie wants she gets, so his opinion wasn’t gathered for this decision.

“Hey girl, aren’t you the cutest thing?” Zee says as she hands the wiggly puppy to him.

“You will be the best puppy dad!” Georgie says.

“You really think so?”

She grins at Zeke and shakes her head in glee.

“Well, she is cute, what should we name her?” Zeke asks snuggling the dog to his chest.

“I was waiting to decide with you but she looks like an Olive, maybe a Daisy?”

“Holly?” Zee suggests.

The dog yips and then it is decided she’s Holly. Zeke fawns all over the dog, not even caring if the thing is jumping on his bandage, while telling Georgie how amazing and thoughtful she is.

We love on our newest family member for a while before Georgie has enough and brings out our next gifts. She hands me a neatly wrapped box with a big golden bow, which I don’t even take time to appreciate before ripping open. Inside is a small red frame, the three of us together in Santa costumes and Georgie right in the front in a red sweater that says, “Santa’s Baby.” It is a terrible Photoshop job and I can’t imagine how she got this together, but I love it. I turn it over and see what she has written. Calum, thanks for keeping us together, love Georgie.

“I sent it to Grams,” she says, and I can’t help how much my mouth hurts from smiling.

“It’s amazing, thank you.” I try to hide the crack in my voice. She is such a ray of sunshine but she thinks I hold us together. I continue to be in complete awe of her.

“Okay, now for you Keeper.” She passes him a gift.