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I physically turned her to the library where she could find some peace and helped my mother get the kids dressed for outside. Luckily for me, someone from my kinky family had gifted me a bondage set underneath the tree with a note: “Don’t fuck this up.”
I chuckled and dimmed the lights, checking the last-minute details. Rose petals were scattered over the bedsheets, and candlelight glowed over the furniture. My heart gave a kick underneath my ribcage, and I steadied my breaths. Laura stopped three feet inside the room and spread her fingers out in a fan against her breastbone.
“James?”
I dangled the set of fluffy handcuffs from my finger. “Are you ready to scream, baby?”
* * *
We spent the remaining days taking kids on the toboggan, making snow angels, and sipping hot chocolate by the fireplace. On New Year’s Eve, Allie married my cousin Tristan. Laura stood beside her best friend as the maid of honor, and our kids carried the rings. I imagined the two of us up at the altar one day soon, once Laura forgave us. She’d agreed to move in with me so we could raise Foxy together. Standing at that altar, I secretly vowed to never break my family apart nor let them go ever again.
We took a private flight home the first week of January. Laura had questioned me about the Millers throughout the trip, but I couldn’t give her the answers she sought. Her knees bounced as we drove from the airport. I parked my car in front of my house, and my mother came outside to get the kids. Laura pulled on the door handle, but I stopped her.
“Wait, we need to talk.”
“That never sounds good.”
“No, this is good. I have news for you—”
“You found the Millers? I don’t have to wait until they get in touch with me?”
“Technically, not the Millers. Hold on, let me try this differently. I have something for you.”
I reached inside a bag behind the passenger seat and removed the rectangular box from a bag. I set the bag her parents had given me on her lap.
“This is your daughter’s baby box, with her first nightgown and a photograph.”
Her face fell ashen and her gaze dropped to the box, her chin trembling.
“A picture? You have a picture of her?”
I held my breath through her shaky ones. “Yes, and there’s more.”
“More?”
I gripped her hand with mine, but she brought it immediately back to the box. “Promise me you won’t panic.”
“You’re making me nervous, James. What is it?”
“Your daughter is inside, waiting to see you.”
“What?”
“She’s not aware you’re her biological mother, and—”
“What?”
“I said, your daughter is inside—”
“I heard what you said. Youfoundher? How?”
“I had some help. Laura, this little girl doesn’t know what happened to her at birth.”
“I won’t say anything. I… I just want to see her. Is this really happening?”
Her teeth flashed white and broad. I nodded and let go of the square box on her lap. She lifted the lid and parted the tissue paper, removing the baby’s gown. I was unsure how she could see through the tears. She wiped them away on her sleeve, set the garment aside, and brought the photograph closer to her face.
“That bracelet looks familiar.”
