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I, Ava Pierce, on this day, December 25th, accept Xander Jacobs as my uncle.
He pointed to the space underneath. “If you want me, you can sign your name there. That will make it official, and you will be my adopted niece and I’ll be your adopted uncle.” He winked at Ava and touched the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry if you don’t want me.”
Ava grabbed the pen and scribbled her name. “Idowant you, Uncle Xander. I love you!”
Grady swallowed as he watched her fling herself at Xander and wrap her arms around his neck. Then she pulled a limp piece of mistletoe out of her pocket and held it up. “Do you do the mistletoe thing?”
Xander laughed, and his voice sounded low and gravelly when he spoke, “I do do the mistletoe thing.” He kissed Ava’s cheek. “And you might not understand this yet, but over the years, I’ll be the uncle who keeps an eye on anyone who tries to do the mistletoe thing with you.”
Grady had to laugh. “And I thought she was going to have enough problems with me running them off.” He held his arm out and Hannah came and leaned against him as they watched Ava sign her next uncle adoption paper with Jacob. When they were done, she held up her mistletoe again, and Jacob kissed her cheek. “I promise to be the best uncle I can and to always watch out for you.”
Hannah squeezed Grady’s hand and looked up into his eyes. He nodded; he didn’t trust himself to speak, and he didn’t need to. There weren’t enough words to describe how full his heart was, and he knew she felt it, too.
When Jacob was done, Xander brought the last piece of paper to them, and Ava climbed up onto Grady’s knee. She watched as he signed his name and then Hannah signed hers. Then she took the paper and signed it herself.
When she was done, she folded all three pieces of paper and put them into her pocket. “I’m going to keep these forever.”
Then she held up her mistletoe and smiled at him. His gaze locked with Hannah’s as they each kissed her cheek. He’d known the first time they did this that the moment marked the beginning of their little family, and now, it was official.
“I love you,” he whispered to them both.
~ ~ ~
By late afternoon, they were all sitting around the living room. It had been a great day, a comfortable day, with good food and easy conversation. Grady laughed as he watched Ava trying to organize Jacob, Xander, and Scooter exactly the way she wanted them as she took photos.
Hannah came to stand beside him, sliding her arm around his waist and hooking her fingers though his belt loop. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“Can we make this a Christmas tradition?” she asked. “This has been so wonderful, being with you and Ava. Having Jacob and Xander here. This feels like it’s the first real family Christmas I’ve ever had. And I want more.”
He kissed her again. “I do, too. We’ll make it happen. We’ll tell the two of them how much it means and ask them.”
Hannah laughed. “I don’t think we’ll need to ask twice. They’re both happier than I’ve seen them in years, maybe ever. You were right you know, when you said that you can give me family. We’re making one of our own, you and Ava and me, and you’ve given my brothers back to me. I didn’t think we’d ever have this again. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I …” He stopped and frowned when his phone dinged in his back pocket.
“You should check it,” said Hannah.
He pulled it out. “It’s probably Molly saying Merry Christmas.”
He smiled when he checked the display. It was a text from Monty.
When he opened it there was a photo of his buddy at the beach. He was smiling as he leaned on his board.
Monty: Merry Christmas! I hope you’re having fun with Ava,
but I bet you wish you were here. Whatever you guys are up to,
have a good un.
Grady laughed when an idea hit him. He held his phone up so Hannah could see. “It’s Monty, who was at the airport with me when we met.”
“I remember.”
“Guys!” Grady called Ava, Jacob, and Xander over. “I want to get a picture of all of us. Even Scooter.”
They all sat on the sofa, and he managed to hold his phone up at an angle to fit them all in. “Hannah, would you show off the ring?”
She held her hand up and they all laughed when Scooter sat down in Jacob’s lap and put his paw on his shoulder.
