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Grinning, they passed them around until they matched the right owners while Ella twirled around, clapping her hands at all the presents.
They decided as a group to let the kids open their gifts first. Charlie let Ella help with his, and the kid seemed to get as much joy from watching her and the others as he did from opening his own.
Ella squealed happily with every present she opened. He was glad he’d ordered a toddler puzzle and books for her, as she didn’t have the slightest interest in the savings bonds he’d started for her.
Charlie’s eyes widened at his, though. “This is amazing, Burke. You didn’t have to do that.”
Burke grinned. “It’s never too soon to save for your future. You can build it, and it’ll help you with college when you’re old enough.”
Charlie nodded along. “Thank you. Maybe I’ll be able to narrow down the courses I want to take by then.”
Nash grinned at his son. “Or you can take a few and see what you like. No rush to decide.”
Rissa smiled. “Some of us take some time to find the perfect job. You’ll figure it out.”
Charlie nodded. “There are so many interesting things to do.”
Burke loved that the kid was so enthusiastic about everything. It was easy to imagine him following in any of their footsteps or creating something brand new as well. It would be fun to watch him grow up.
Everyone teased Burke about the kids’ savings accounts and the top-of-the-line car seats for both Amber’s and Gray’s vehicles.
When he handed Rissa the large envelope, she waved her ring finger at him. “I’ve already got my present.”
He laughed. “Indulge me.”
Suddenly, his own nerves flared. Sensing them, she tilted her head and studied him. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. If he’d overstepped, he’d figure it out. Frizzle bounded over from where she’d been snoozing with the other dogs to put her legs on Burke’s knee. He lifted her onto his lap. “Are you sensing my nerves, Frizzle? Let’s see if Rissa likes it.”
She kissed him lightly then opened the envelope. He’d stapled the papers together and printed a cover sheet that read “Q Lab 2”.
Her eyes shot from the paper to him and back. She flipped the first sheet to find a photo of the exterior of a brand-new RV. The next pages showed blueprints of the interior. “Burke?”
He pointed to the paper. “I found a company that builds custom interiors. The woman I spoke to had a blast designing this. I took photos inside your Q Lab and explained to her what you needed it to do. It’s electric with multiple solar panels.”
Rissa rolled her lips together and studied him. “Thank you, but I can’t afford an upgrade like this.”
He brushed his free hand under her hair and squeezed her neck lightly. “It’s a gift, Rissa. I’ve been saving for rainy days for years.”
Beside him, Lawson laughed. “He’s been saving for rainy days for all of us for decades. That’s an amazing RV, Rissa. It’s perfectly tailored to you, and you wouldn’t have to worry about repairs for a long while.”
“You’ve got time to make any changes you want before they start the build.”
“It’s too much. It’s way, way too much.”
Burke grinned at her. “I want us all safe and comfortable when you drive us to your jobs.”
“But—”
He kissed her again. “Do you like it?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course I like it, it’s perfect, but that’s not the question.”
He laughed. “It’s the only question.”
Amber, Jolie, and Knox moved to see the plans, then the others joined in. Rissa was flustered, and her gaze shifted constantly between the plans and Burke. He probably should have done this privately, but he was worried that she’d completely refuse. This way, their family would help convince her.
Amber dropped her hand on Burke’s shoulder. “It’s wonderful, Burke. An amazing gift to keep your fiancée and Frizzle safe. All these years, you’ve been saving and saving. I’m so happy you found something worthwhile to spend a small portion of it on.”
