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“Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
When I lifted my gaze, he was holding another gift bag. “I get the feeling you enjoy this?”
He grinned. “I love it. There’s something in there from Grace Wagner. It will go well underneath the sweater and pants. I picked it out. If you don’t like it, I have another one under the Christmas tree.”
“The giant one in the foyer?”
“I recommend opening the gifts in privacy. We should get going. The family likes to start things off early on Christmas Day.”
I loved the excitement in his voice. I adored his efforts to involve us all in the family activities. They restocked a table with snacks and drinks from morning to night. Long gone were the days of burnt turkey dinners and over-salted green beans because the gourmet food the Silvers prepared was of MasterChef quality.
I yawned. “I’m starting things off with a coffee. Double espresso.”
“Note to self: infuse Nutella with coffee.”
I snickered. At least my fatigue gave him a chuckle.
The kids woke up, and we dressed them in matching snowflake pajamas and walked hand in hand to the family room. Foxy held my hand and Laila’s, who was also gripping her dad’s fingers. Everyone turned as we entered. Someone snapped a picture of our family by the fireplace. Teresa wiped off a few tears, and Jacob stood tall with pride. Flames crackled behind us, and the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls filled the room. The family gathered around the Christmas tree, and Emma dug underneath the branches, pulling out gifts. The merry chatter and excitement, warmth, tears, hugs, and love nearly completed me. I’d heard about this kind of Christmas since childhood, and now Foxy would have it all. Only one thing could make this day perfect: my missing daughter.
“James, I didn’t get you a gift.”
“Are you kidding me? You brought back my son. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and brought me to his side. Laila and Foxy joined their grandmother by the tree and began opening the mountain of gifts. Sam and Gabe had already left for their honeymoon, and we had a day filled with charades and sleigh rides. Hopefully, somewhere in between there I could find a moment to nap.
I never found that moment. James kept us busy until nighttime, when we fed the kids, bathed them, and I collapsed on the bed beside them. He disappeared into the bathroom. Somewhere in the distance I heard the district sound of a new phone notification, but I couldn’t open my eyes. My eyelids felt too heavy, and my body was so spent I couldn’t lift myself off the bed. I was paying the price for staying up for over forty hours, and my brain was barely working.
I don’t remember how I woke in his arms, wearing his t-shirt and secure with his warm body behind me. He draped his arm over my front and cupped my breast. He pinched my nipple, and I moaned, wiggling my behind over his hard dick. I parted my legs, and he slid inside me from behind. He pumped slowly and steadily, our bodies in synch. His hand roamed over my skin, caressing my breasts and keeping the arousal on fire. We made love until I fell asleep with his dick and cum inside me.
I woke up at noon the next day in an empty bed. The kids were gone, and the other bed had been made. The man was a superhero. I hopped out of bed, cleaned myself up, and dressed before calling my parents with Christmas wishes. Today was the only evening they had off work.
I turned on my phone, and a new notification pinged for my email. I opened the app, and my hands began shaking as I opened the link and read the most beautiful message. My legs ached as I raced to the family room, covering the twenty-second walk in five, the way James had said he would. I stopped in front of him and gasped for breath. The room spun, and my vision blurred. I pulled my hand across my eyes.
“Laura? What’s the matter?” He gripped me by my arms, and I let the sobs break through my breaths. Tears dripped down my cheeks in streams.
“Talk to me, Laura.” His hold tightened.
I caught my breath and straightened. A beautiful wave of relief spread through my body.
“I don’t know what you did, Santa, but it worked. I’m going to see my daughter.”
CHAPTER 18
JAMES
Laura handed me her phone, her hands shaking. I read over the message I’d written to her on the DNA match site.
Dear Laura,
Thank you for reaching out to our family about our daughter. We’re sorry to hear your baby was taken from you. We are currently away on Christmas holidays with the kids, but we’re looking forward to meeting you early in the New Year. When we return to the country, we will reach out.
Merry Christmas.
Sincerely,
The Millers
If I did things right, maybe Laura wouldn’t bring charges against Tiffany for buying Kensi on the black market. Maybe Laura wouldn’t sue for damages, or worse, custody. Putting my daughter, our daughter, through the courts wasn’t an option; just the idea made me sick to my stomach. I didn't know if I could pull it off. I just knew that I had to. The resolution between Tiffany and Laura would simply have to be an amicable one.
