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“Like it?” I repeat. “This is the most Christmas gifts they’ve ever had. They’re going to love it.”
A torrent of emotions floods through me—gratitude, relief, and above all, love for these incredible men who’ve gone out of their way to ensure my children’s happiness. I blink back tears, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Thank you,” I manage to whisper, my voice wavering with emotion. “This means more than you could ever know.”
“Seeing you and the kids happy is what matters to us, Harper,” Hudson says softly, his eyes shining with sincerity.
As I stand there, surrounded by the three men who’ve captured my heart and become an indispensable part of my life, I realize just how fortunate I am. My unconventional family may not be what I ever expected, but it’s everything I didn’t know I needed.
And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The moment my kids spot the gifts beneath the tree, they wriggle free from Hudson’s arms and dash toward it, their eyes wide with excitement. “Mommy, look at all the presents!” Olivia exclaims, her voice high-pitched with glee.
“Wow!” Peter echoes, mirroring his sister’s enthusiasm as he bounces on the balls of his feet. “Santa must have gotten my list after all!”
“Can we open one?” Olivia asks.
I can’t help but smile at their reactions, my heart swelling with love for my children and gratitude for the men who have made this possible. “Go ahead,” I encourage them, giving them a nod of approval. “Pick one each, but just one, so make it a good one.”
“Really?” Olivia asks, hardly able to believe her luck. My nod is all the confirmation she needs before she dives in, riffling through the pile for the perfect gift.
“Thank you, Mommy!” Peter chimes in, following his sister’s lead as he searches for a present of his own.
“Here, Livvy,” Hudson says, helping her choose a brightly wrapped box adorned with a sparkly bow. Her little hands eagerly tear away the paper, revealing a realistic cooking set that she’d been eyeing for months.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she squeals, throwing her arms around Hudson’s neck. He chuckles, ruffling her hair affectionately.
“Look what I found!” Peter shouts, holding up a box of Legos. Antonio steps in, kneeling beside him, and helps him open the package. “This is so awesome!”
“Santa must have known you’d like that, buddy,” Antonio grins, giving me a conspiratorial wink.
The warmth of the room wraps around me like a comforting embrace as I take in the sight before me. My kids, their faces lit up with pure joy, are completely engrossed in their new toys, while Antonio, Hudson, and Benedict stand nearby, sharing amused smiles. The flickering light from the Christmas tree casts a soft glow on their strong features, and I can’t help but feel like this is as perfect as it gets.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “You’ve made this the best Christmas ever.”
“Hey, we’re family now, right?” Hudson says, draping an arm around my shoulders, his warm scent filling my senses. “This is what families do.”
“Yep,” Benedict murmurs, his eyes searching mine, as if understanding that this moment means more to me than just the presents under the tree. “You can’t get rid of us now.”
“Speaking of family,” Antonio says playfully, his dark eyes dancing, “I think you owe us something, don’t you, bella?”
“Antonio!” I chide, but I can’t help the warmth that floods my cheeks or the way my lips automatically curve into a smile. His innuendo-laden words send a shiver down my spine, and I bite my lip in response.
“Harper,” he whispers, leaning in closer until his breath tickles my ear, making me shudder, “you can pay us back later.”
“Alright, you two,” Hudson interjects, rolling his eyes but chuckling softly. “Save it for when the kids are asleep.”
“Roger that.” Antonio winks, stepping away from me, but not before giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Mom, can we open one more present?” Peter asks, his eyes pleading. Olivia joins in, bouncing on her toes as she echoes her brother’s request.
“Please, Mom?”
“Alright,” I concede, laughing softly. “Just one more.”
“Thank you!” they cheer in unison, scampering back to the tree to select their next gift.
I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas Eve.
46
