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“This family is batshit crazy,” Lincoln said, chuckling.
“To quote the great Lincoln Abbott… We wouldn’t have them any other way.”
Wade Abbott wokefrom a sound sleep and couldn’t figure out where he was for a second, until he recognized his childhood bedroom, which was really a closet that he’d repurposed. A few years ago, in anticipation of the Christmas sleepover, he’d added a second bunk above the first one, which was where he and Mia were sleeping while their kids, Carlee and Corbin, slept below them in the bed that had once been Wade’s.
“Why are you awake?” Mia whispered.
“Not sure. Something woke me up.”
She was pressed to his right side without much room to spare in the twin bed.
They slept in a king-sized bed at home but used about this much of it on a regular night, so it was no hardship to sleep in the small bed for one night. Everyone looked forward to the big Christmas Eve sleepover, even, surprisingly, Wade, who was known as the family loner. Growing up, he’d commandeered the former closet out of desperation to have a space away from his raucous family.
As a father of small children, peace and quiet were in short supply, so his original family didn’t get on his nerves the way they used to.
Wade turned toward Mia and put his arm around her. “Our sixth Christmas already,” he whispered. “How is that possible?”
“Best six years of my life.”
“Mine, too.”
“Did you talk to your mom earlier?” he asked her.
“Just for a minute. We got to say Merry Christmas.”
“I’m sure she appreciated the call.” Mia and her mother had never recovered from the deception her mother had perpetrated for most of Mia’s life, keeping her from her devoted father, Cabot.
“She did. In other news, I have a present for you that I’m hoping you’ll like.”
“I’ll like any present you get for me. You know that.”
“This one is a little different. It’s a big commitment.”
“I’ll admit I’m curious.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“You… you’re… Wow,” he said on an exhale. “I didn’t see that coming.”
“Me either,” she said with a laugh. “I thought we were done, and then I missed a period and took a test and… well… Merry Christmas, Daddy.”
Wade smiled as he kissed her. “Best Christmas present ever.”
“Is it? I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it. We already have our hands full with two kids and busy jobs.”
“I’m thrilled.” He put his hand on her face and caressed her soft skin with his thumb. “You make the cutest babies. How could I not be excited about another one?”
“We didn’t plan this one.”
“We also didn’t do much to stop it.”
“That’s true.”
“I used to lie awake in this room and dream about how my life might unfold, but nothing I could’ve imagined for myself could match the life I have with you. It’s right out of the best fairy tale I’ve ever read, and now we have another little person to look forward to welcoming next year.”
“I’m glad you’re happy about it.” Mia rested her head on his chest. “I used to picture the man I might marry, and he looked nothing like you.”
Surprised, he asked, “What did he look like?”
