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EMMA AND BEAU
Emma
“How many more days?”
Daddy smiles. “Still five. You’re awfully impatient, Little girl. I’m so glad you’re excited about it.”
Excited is an understatement.
A full week of decorating, making cookies, eating so much yummy food, playing with my sisters, sledding, and absolutely no adulting.
I can hardly wait.
We’ve been planning it ever since last year.
If I have to go one more Christmas without snow, I might throw myself on the floor and have a tantrum. Hmm… That kind of sounds fun, actually. It’s been a while since I’ve done that.
“Okay, but we’re still going to Maddox and Brynn’s to decorate cookies tonight, right?”
Beau locks up the front door of The Cage before he turns, looking down at me. Cinnamon dances around our feet as she waits for us to head to the truck so we can head home.
“I haven’t forgotten, baby. I wrote all the activities on the calendar this month.”
Of course, he has it on the calendar. He rarely forgets anything. Which is good when I’m feeling overwhelmed, but not so good when I do something naughty. My Daddy has never forgotten a spanking, that’s for sure.
He takes my hand and, with his other hand holding Cinnamon’s leash, he leads us out into the drizzly Seattle rain to his truck. He immediately goes to the passenger side to lift me into the front seat and then our sweet girl into the back.
“Buckle up, baby,” he tells me before he closes the back door and jogs around to the driver’s side.
I obey and watch my husband in awe as he starts the engine, presses buttons to turn on my seat heat, then the back one for Cinnamon. Everything about him is so controlled and calm. He’s my anchor. He has been ever since the day he found me being attacked when I was a teenager. If it hadn’t been for Beau, I might be dead right now. I never thought a girl like me could get so lucky in life.
Before he shifts into drive, he taps on the entertainment system and turns on Christmas music. My insides melt, and I try not to squirm in my seat as I press my thighs together. He’s got to be tired of listening to this. As soon as Thanksgiving was over, I asked if I could turn the radio to this station, and he hasn’t changed it since because he knows how happy it makes me.
“I love you, Daddy,” I say as he drives through the busy streets of Seattle.
He glances at me, the corner of his lips ticking up as he reaches over, keeping one hand on the wheel while he wraps the other one over my thigh. “I love you, too, baby. Are you doingokay? You seem tired tonight. Maybe we should skip the cookie decorating and stay home this time. We can watch a movie on the couch and relax.”
Ohhh, that sounds nice.
I can’t remember the last time we did that.
Life has been so busy for the last couple of years; it feels like we haven’t slowed down. I think that’s why we’re all so excited about our upcoming vacation.
“I’m fine, Daddy. I don’t want to skip decorating cookies. Besides, do you actually want to miss eating them?”
It would be a travesty if I didn’t get to have the best sugar cookies ever. I don’t know what Maddox does to them, but they’re so soft and buttery.
Beau squeezes my thigh, and it sends a shock of tingles through me. “I would miss anything if it meant my girl is getting the rest she needs.”
“Daddy, I don’t need to rest. What I need are cookies. The only reason I seem tired is that I have no sugar running through my veins. Silly.”
Beau side-eyes me, so I offer an innocent smile. I might be skating on thin ice here.
By the time we walk into Maddox and Brynn’s house, I almost wish I had taken Daddy up on watching a movie at home. My eyes are heavy as we head down the hall until we reach the open-concept space. Most of the family is here, and pure, innocent chaos is already in process. As soon as I’m surrounded by it, I perk up, and the Little in me creeps to the surface.
“Emma!” Brynn squeals from across the room. She wiggles to get down from the stool she’s perched on. Maddox immediately reaches for her, his hands going to her hips to guide her down.
