AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No way. He’s mine.”
“Thank God.” He exhales. “A toddler is enough. A toddler and a puppy might do me in.”
“You act as if you have no help.” Emberleigh’s fake outrage is cut off by Colt’s giggles.
“Oh, Brax. Colt needs a dog. Look at him.” I’m stirring the pot and loving every second of it. I grab my mug and lean back into the sofa and Eli’s chest. It takes all I have not to snort in my coffee.
“Don’t you dare,” my brother starts.
“Don’t you dare what?” Layton comes around the corner from our old bedrooms. Sola runs for him and tries to find a toe to bite. “Ouch.”
“She better not have my boy thinking he needs a dog.” Braxton lifts his coffee mug in a toast. “Merry Christmas, Lay.”
Layton runs his hand back and forth across his head, sending his hair in all different directions. “Merry Christmas, everybody.”
He stumbles toward the kitchen, Sola nipping at the legs of his sleep pants that dance behind his heels. “Who’s this and where’s Looney?”
My girl lifts her head and pushes up onto her haunches and ambles off to the kitchen. She loves Layton and can’t get enough of him when he’s home.
“Incoming,” I throw over my shoulder as she heads his way. I whistle for Sola, not knowing if that’ll work at all. From the sound of his attempted bark in the other room, it fails miserably.
The front door opens again, and Exton steps back to let Willa go ahead of him. She enters, arms full to her chin with boxes. Braxton stands up to relieve her and kisses her cheek. Exton fidgets with something on the porch.
“Merry Christmas,” the room calls to both of them.
Exton slides an arm around Willa’s shoulders. “Merry Christmas, y’all.”
Layton comes back into the room with a large green foaming drink in his hand. Luna flanks one side. Sola springs around his other.
Exton squats and clicks his tongue. Luna lumbers over for pets, her pesky younger brother following in her wake. “How are you, sweet girl?” Exton strokes Luna and holds her eyes. She sits and soaks up his attention. “Who’s this little rascal? Is he annoying you?” As if ignoring his question, she slides to the floor and twists to show him her chest and belly.
“I see,” he says, lifting Sola who tries to climb her and passing him over his shoulder to Willa and giving his full focus to Luna.
He’s going to be a great dad, but I pity his kids if they try to lie to him. Between his skills and his creativity, they’ll be in for it. It may be the most fun thing to watch over the next twenty years.
“Oh, you are so cute.” Willa nuzzles Sola as he tries to eat her long hair.
“He’s got to nap at some point,” I mutter but only for Eli to hear.
The shaking next to me says he’s amused.
* * *
After breakfast,we sit in the living room, the detritus of all the opened gifts strewn about. Luna’s quiet snores fill the place. Colt is playing in the boxes and not with the presents. It’s a good thing his gifts came in great boxes.
Emberleigh is snuggled into Braxton’s lap—that story has come full circle. Willa leans into Exton. Layton is laid out on the floor, trailing ribbons on the hardwood for Sola who is acting like a kitten chasing them. Pop is kicked back in his recliner. All is right with the world.
“Well, there’s one left,” Eli offers. We’ve been done for a while, so this is a surprise. From deep inside the branches, he pulls a small white box. It’s flat and long and has a silver ribbon on it. He sets it in my lap.
When I open it, I’m floored. I mean, flat out stunned. My jaw drops, and my eyes flit between his and what I hold in my hands.
“You have the sun, the moon, and now the stars,” he says, kissing me chastely.
What has he done?
TWENTY-FIVE
KANGAROO COURT
