“Good.Really good,” she says with a soft smile, her eyes finding her husband, Grady, across the yard.“Look at you!You’re glowing.”
“I don’t know about that,” I snort.“It’s probably just sweat.”
She laughs, shaking her head.“It’s you.Pregnancy suits you.”
“Blair,” Ginger says, smiling as she joins us.
She wraps her arms around me, and I smile wider when I see her husband, Dallas, standing right behind her.They always seem to be together, and I wonder whether Mary and Christopher taught the boys that when they were growing up.All the men here seem to worship their wives, and I wonder if we’re just lucky or if it was something in the water around here.
“Have you seen Callie yet?”Ginger asks.
I shake my head.“Not yet.I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”
As if we summoned her, Callie and Nate head down the path toward us, their son, Danny, by their side.
“Here you go,” Cole says, passing me my hot chocolate.
“Thanks.”
I take a sip and relax as Cole wraps his arm around my waist, taking some of my weight.He looks so happy here, surrounded by family.I’ve asked if he wants to move to Montana, to Silver Bell Hollow, but he always says no.We’ve made a home for ourselves in Wolf Valley, and that’s where we’ll stay.
Cole ushers me back into my chair, and we spend the next hour and a half catching up with everyone before my eyes start to feel heavy.As if he can sense it, Cole stands and holds his hand out to me.
“Time for bed.”
“We could stay a little longer,” I argue.
He shakes his head.“You need your rest.Come on.We’ll see everyone tomorrow morning.”
“Fine,” I groan.
He laughs as he takes my hand and pulls me to my feet.
“Night, guys!”I say, waving to everyone.
A chorus of “nights” and “Merry Christmas” answers me.
I lean against Cole as he leads me inside and up to our room.
“I should take a shower,” I say through a yawn.“I smell like a campfire.”
“Come on.I’ll help you.”
“Mmm,” I hum, wiggling my eyebrows at him.
“Later,” he says, dropping a kiss on my nose.
I raise my arms, and he tugs my sweater over my head.I let him undress me, knowing he loves it.
“Love you,” I mumble, my eyes growing heavier as he turns on the shower.
“I know.I love you, too.More than anything.”
I lean against him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Come on.Time to get you clean.Then maybe I’ll give you an early Christmas present.”
I perk up, and he laughs as we step into the shower.
“What kind of present?”I ask, hoping for a hint.
“A really, really good one.”
Then his lips land on mine, and I forget about the rest of the world as I get lost in my husband.
Yes,I think, as my husband caresses my body,it’s going to be a very merry Christmas indeed.
