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Laughter filled the air, as they made their way inside, entering the Bishop-Donovan mountain getaway. The lavish retreat was cozy and warm.
Twinkling lights and delicate garlands danced along the walls, casting a warm and inviting glow that brightened the space. Festive wreaths adorned the doors, infusing the air with the delightful fragrance of balsam and vanilla.
Alex’s gaze fell upon the mantle, where a stocking bearing the nameXanderhung proudly, front and center. A warm smile tugged at his lips as he realized it was probably the first stocking of Xander’s life.
“We have a gift for you,” Alex announced, his eyes lighting up as he motioned towards the door.
In walked Stassi, her hand intertwined with Stone’s. Xander’s face lit up with joy as he carefully cradled little Jack in his arms. “Maman!” he exclaimed without waking his sleeping nephew.
Stassi wrapped her arms around him, placing a tender kiss on his cheek. “You’ve grown so much,” she whispered, her eyes brimming with pride.
“It’s all the food he’s eating,” Mark kidded, patting Xander on the back.
Jess greeted Stassi with a heartfelt hug, her words genuine. “This is always your home, too,” she reassured, their eyes meeting in meaningful connection.
“I know,” Stassi said, her face beaming with pride. “But, my place in the world is different from this. I’m like a flower, planted in a pot that I’ve become accustomed to. Xander, on the other hand, is like a star. He needs the freedom to light up the sky and explore his own path.”
Loving a child can be bittersweet, and that understanding passed between them. Stassi handed Jess an envelope, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “This is for you.”
With trembling hands and Mark by her side, Jess opened the envelope, her eyes welling up. Inside were the last documents required—each one, signed by Anastasia Drake.
The private adoption papers were now official and binding—a commitment to Xander’s happiness and well-being. They promised a life filled with carefree adventures, camping trips, and cherished moments spent with friends. The chapter filled with hardships and pain and longing were behind him now.
And a new life for him was beginning.
As Xander Donovan.
Alex couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride for his mother and the strength she had shown throughout their journey. As the weight of their secret hung in the air, he pulled Stone aside. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell him you’re his father?”
Stone shook his head, frowning. “I love him, Alex—enough to want a different life for him.” His gaze swept across the room. “Thislife. On this point, Stassi and I are agreed. He can never know.”
Thinking it over, Alex rubbed his chin. “Why can’t you be a relative? Like, an uncle? His father’s brother?”
“His twin brother,” Paco chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he nibbled on a chocolate-coated pretzel. “I leave it to you to decide which of you is the evil twin.”
Alex’s eyes traveled from the tip of Paco’s green and red hat to the tips of his pointy jingle-bell shoes. Alex blinked.
“What?” Paco asked. “Your kids will freaking love me in this.”
Alex nodded. “True.”
Mark interrupted the conversation with a round of frothy eggnogs, garnished with cinnamon sticks. “And, if you’re his twin brother,” Mark added, “you can show him all kinds of pictures of yourself andpretendit isn’t you. It’s his dad.”
Stone’s smile grew wider as they all raised their glasses. “And what would his father’s name be?” Stone asked, curiosity twinkling in his eyes.
Alex shrugged playfully. “Why not use your real name?” he suggested.
Stone nodded. “Sheldon it is.”
Paco grimaced. “No wonder you changed it to Stone.” He got an elbow to the gut from Alex. Paco chuckled, and raised a glass. “To Sheldon!”
“To Sheldon,” they all echoed, clinking their glasses together and taking a sip.
Xander cut in, “Who’s Sheldon?” In his arms was a now wide-awake Jack, wide eyed and alert.
Xander’s innocent question hung in the air, tugging at the heartstrings of each of the men. A sense of anticipation settled over the group, their collective breaths held as they awaited Stone’s response.
Even Alex’s baby boy was wide-eyed and waiting, held securely in Xander’s arms.
