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“Oh yes.” I nodded seriously. “But it’s a secret, okay?”
Kane pressed a hand to his lips, then he crooked his elbow and offered it to Ava. “Milady.”
It took all my strength not to chuckle at the adorable sight, and Tabitha winked at me as security arrived at the door to escort us down to the resort.
Showtime.
The drive down the mountain was smoother than expected as a lull opened up in the snowstorm, meaning we could carve a gentle, slow path down the mountainside with minimal chill or wind disruption. Bonnie remained in my lap, waving her wand and casting spells while Ava cuddled into Tabitha and Kane drew patterns in the condensation on the window.
It was comforting. Familiar.
Throughout the entire drive though, I couldn’t keep my leg steady. The new information burning in my mind from that text message was churning knots in my gut, and the closer we got to the resort, the more I was certain I would burst before I even stepped inside.
It was the first time I hoped—IprayedI would run into Marina. Seeing the look on her face when she learned exactly what I learned would be the sweetest icing on the tastiest cake.
The celebrations were in full swing by the time we reached the resort and made our way to the ballroom, and it was clear not a single expense had been spared for New Year’s or Helix’s celebration.
The company’s logo hung from the ceiling, dripping in diamonds and surrounded by glittering lights and tassels. Half the room was sectioned off for tables graced with black table clothes and decorated with crystalline sculptures, each depicting a different animal. The chairs were wrapped in glittering ribbons, and multicolored flowers dotted the placemat at each table, alongside buckets of champagne and little wrapped-up presents for each guest. Sparkling Christmas trees stretching up to the ceiling lined the room every few feet, wrapped in Happy Birthday banners and colorful lights. It took a glance or two before I realized that every tree had a different flag wrapped around the star at the top, each depicting a country Helix was successfully operating in. At the far end, a large stage was filled with a band playing lively music while the dance floor was filled with people either too drunk or too happy to care about what dance moves were in season.
It wasbeautiful. The sight took my breath away, and I momentarily forgot about the bubbling excitement in my chest while Tabitha and I guided the children toward our table. The sculpture at our table was a swan, and Bonnie clapped her hands together at the sight of it as I helped her into her chair.
“Swan!” she yelled.
“I’d rather have an alligator,” Kane decided, taking his seat.
“Maybe next year,” Tabitha chuckled, settling Ava into her chair. Next to their chairs was a chair for Jax, Luke, and Theo who had arrived hours ago to greet the important guests. Their dinner jackets were discarded on the back of each chair; jet black for Jax, purple for Theo, and turquoise for Luke.
“Now children, remember what we talked about?” Tabitha stood and looked at each in turn.
“We can eat what we want,” Kane said firmly.
“But not too much,” Ava said.
“And we have to be polite,” Bonnie recited slowly, “like a real princess.”
“Exactly, and in return what will you all get?”
“Disney World!” all three children declared excitedly. Indeed it was the safest way to strike a bargain of good behavior according to Theo, and given how well-behaved they had been on the drive down, I think it was working.
“Precisely,” Tabitha smiled. “Now if you need to go to the bathroom, speak to me or Summer and we will help you. Never leave the table without us or one of the team, okay?”
As Tabitha repeated the safety rules, my attention drifted around the room in search of the guys, mainly Jax. I needed to talk to him as soon as possible before the secret I held burst out of me like a jack in the box. I felt like a child on Christmas, so eager to deliver news that I vibrated in my seat.
“Where’s Dad?” Bonnie whined slightly as I placed a cup down on her tray and lightly brushed her curls out of her face.
“I don’t know sweetie. How about I go look for him?”
Bonnie nodded and glanced up at Tabitha. “Is that alright?”
“Yes of course!” She smiled and flapped her hands at me. “Go find them before the party gets too intense!”
I kissed Bonnie’s head, then Ava and Kane’s in turn—much to his faux disgust—then I gathered my clutch and wove into the crowd in search of my men.
Tonight was going to be a night none of them would forget.
41
SUMMER
