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“No Mummy, they’re from Santa.”
I open my mouth to correct her, but Rebel squeezes my hand gently.
“Don’t spoil the magic. Not today. If she asks later on you can tell her the truth.”
That’s a happy medium I think, so I nod my agreement.
“Can I open some?”
“Of course baby. Shall we pick a few and go back into the lounge so everyone can see?”
“No need,” Baxter says from behind me. “We’re all here.”
I watch as my men file into the cramped conservatory, gingerly picking their way through piles of gifts and carefully sitting down cross legged on the floor, and I smile to myself.
Jax snaps pictures on the camera that I got him all those years ago and Ace passes out cookies that he must have stayed up all night baking, while Rebel and Thorn pretend to fight over Nix’s gifts and Baxter smiles warmly as he watches everything. My heart is absolutely full to bursting and everything is perfect right now.
***
The rest of the day passes in a haze of gift wrap, pink and food. So much food. Ace has outdone himself.
While Jax and Thorn pelt each other with Nerf guns and Baxter patiently shows Nix the best way to handle a gun, I sit on the sofa and slip my arm through Ace’s while resting my head on Rebel’s shoulder.
“Thank you.” I sigh contentedly. “Today was perfect. I love you both.”
They turn and kiss my cheeks in unison, making me flush with the possibility. Ace is the first to notice and he chuckles.
“Umazano dekle.”
“He just called you a dirty bitch, you know.”
“No bitch. Dekle. Girl.”
“She is a dirty girl, but she’s also a very very good girl, aren’t you, little bird? I bet you’d love a little Christmas treat.”
“You’ve given me so much,” I say, choosing to try and ignore his suggestive words and the hands sliding up my thighs.
“Too bad Nix still has one last present to open.”
I honestly don’t know how they did it. I thought we’d be opening presents until July but Thorn whipped Nix up into some sort of unwrapping frenzy and the place was organised chaos before I knew it.
“You said something about it being outside?” I say, remembering our conversation this morning, even though it feels like it was about a week ago.
“Let’s go see,” Rebel says, pulling me to my feet. “Put some shoes on and grab some for Nix. You’ll need them.”
He walks off to interrupt the gun fight which I think is mighty brave of him. I’ve been on the receiving end of a few rogue shots already today and those fuckers can hurt. I watch as bullets bounce off him like he’s invincible and smile.
Quickly grabbing the shoes, I follow him and meet everyone at the conservatory doors that lead out into the garden. Thorn has his hands over Nix’s eyes and Baxter takes her shoes from me to slide them on her feet. Ever so carefully, Ace and Baxter help guide Nix out of the door while Thorn keeps his hands in place and Jax snaps shot after shot on his camera. I follow with nervous anticipation because honestly, Rebel could have got her anything.
He leads us all like the Pied Piper, through the garden to the two massive old oak trees at the very bottom. He nods to Thorn who drops his hands away with a flourish and yells “ta-dah!”
High up in the trees, nestled between the two, is an enormous two storey treehouse, complete with sun deck, glazed windows and a spiral slide down to earth again. Three swings are spaced evenly from the bottom of the sun deck, hanging down before us. Freaking lights shine inside the windows, and twinkling fairy lights are entwined all around the bannisters.
“Holy crap,” I say.
“Bad word, Mummy!” Nix giggles.
“Wow.” I shake my head. It’s the stuff of dreams. “I want one.”
