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Meg does. Then she stares at the key fob, not quite comprehending. I suppose it looks similar to the spare key to the truck she’s had since she got her license.
“You guys got me a Pikachu keychain?” Meg gives us a puzzled look. That was Saint’s special touch to the present.
“Yep, just a keychain. What do you suppose that other thing dangling off it goes to?” Saint teases, eyes alight with humor.
“Get out!” Meg doesn’t seem to quite believe the realization shining in her smile.
“Ah, sorry. No can do, darling. My therapist says I’m supposed to stick around and talk through conflicts,” Saint teases. Meg is too excited to even roll her eyes at his corny humor. To be fair, he’s worked hard at not pulling away from us when his insecurities get the best of him.
“No! You didn’t?” Meg dances in place, not quite daring to fully embrace her glee. There’s no way this would have been possible a few years ago. Saint offered to pay for the gift when I mentioned wanting Meg to be able to get home from university whenever she wants. For all his reservations about being a step-dad, he dotes on our kids like a giant sap. But Marcus knows his way around a vehicle, so he helped me find a reasonably priced, reliable used car.
“We did.” I nod.
Saint winks. “Merry Christmas, kiddo.”
Meg flings herself at us, hugging each of us in turn.
“Where is it? Can I see?” Meg asks.
“Pop’s had it in the garage at Uncle Carl’s all weekend,” Owen says with a smirk, not looking up from texting his friends. Kid doesn’t miss a thing. We’re going to have to be sneakier when it’s his turn. I don’t want to think about my baby leaving the nest yet though, so I ignore that thought.
“Can I go take it for a test drive?” Meg pleads.
“Sure,” I agree.
“I’ll text Carl to open the garage.” Saint tugs our girl into another hug, then he pulls out his phone.
“Ask when he and Nick are coming over for brunch,” I remind Saint. That’s become a tradition for us. That and a Christmas Eve movie marathon. Carl and Nick are as much family as Saint and my kids. So even if things are going to change, I’ll be okay. Meg will never stop being my kid and owning a huge piece of my heart, no matter what bigger and better things she moves on to.
“Come on, loser! We’re going cruising. If you play your cards right, I might even take you to see your boyfriend.” Meg grabs her brother’s arm.
“Shut up. For real?” Owen flushes at the attention on his relationship. He and Mikey have only been dating for a few months, but I’ve suspected he had a crush since before he came out to me, so that wasn’t a surprise.
We all bundle up in jackets, boots, and toques to check out her car. Saint and I stand back, just drinking in Meg’s exuberant appreciation of her gift, and the bond between my kids as they chatter excited plans to each other.
I field a few questions as Meg sits in the driver’s seat with the window down, running her fingers over every surface like she’s not sure it’s real. Owen sits next to her and buckles in.
“We’ll be back for brunch. Thanks, Pop and Saint!” Meg says as she rolls up the windows and backs carefully onto the road. Saint and I stand on the walkway in front of the duplex together.
“You did good with them.” Saint wraps his arm around my waist and kisses my hair as we watch the kids drive off down the street.
“We’re doing great,” I agree, because I don’t know how I’d have gotten through the past few years without his support and steady presence. I’d have made it work, but I don’t know that we’d be thriving the way we are now.
“Helps that they’re pretty much the best kids ever.”
“We make a damn good team.” I wink up at him, teasing.
“We do. Merry Christmas, Angel.” Saint brushes the hair from my face. He kisses me there on the front steps. Like we’re in one of Carl’s sappy movies if not for the hand cupping my ass with promises for later, and I couldn’t love this man more. There’s no one else I want to spend all my Christmases loving.
