“Not that I’m comparing you to a horse, but she is usually dead on when she guesses the new foals. But I don’t care as long as it’s healthy and happy.” I slide my arm behind her pillow and wrap her up so I can nuzzle her neck which gets me a butt wiggle against my cock. “No.” I mumble into her hair.
The doctor said she needed bed rest for the next week and was firm when he said no sexual activities so her body can rest.
The huff she blows out of her nose is the cutest huff of derision I’ve ever heard, “Fine.”
I chuckle in her ear as she pulls my hand back up to her chest with her good hand. I kiss her ear and whisper, “Go to sleep.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
SLOANE
THINGS SETTLEDdown at the ranch after Mason’s team left and all the damage was repaired, the last few days have been peacefully quiet. I’ve been in bed most of the time, Mason gets bent out of shape if I get up and move around when he’s not with me, so he comes in from working outside several times through the day to check on me. Even though Opal is in the house and can help me.
He’s become quite bossy.
I like it.
With the events of the past couple of weeks, and since I haven’t celebrated holidays in quite some time, I forgot that it’s Christmas time. Presents have been showing up under the tree for the last week and Lainey Rai has been taking stock of how many are hers. Her excitement practically has her buzzing.
I’ve learned the past few days that the Harlow family Christmas isn’t just on one day, Lainey Rai gets to open a present on Christmas Eve, and any of the siblings if they want to, so last night Breanna and Kinley opened one of their presents with her.
Tucker spiked the cider and the eggnog again, but Mason made it clear that some non-spiked had to be set back for me. So, Christmas Eve night was a night of games, drinking, and laughing together. It was the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had.
“Hey sleepyhead, time to wake up.”
Mason’s whisper is next to my ear and a quick peek at the window tells me that it’s still dark out. “No.”
The deep timbre of his chuckle makes me smile as he tightens his arm around my waist. “Santa’s been here and if you don’t get up now, Lainey Rai will be pounding down the door demanding you get out of bed. She can be mighty persistent when it comes to opening presents.”
I groan and turn on my back to stretch and find the little bit of light that is peeking through the window reflecting from his shining eyes over my face, “Nobody got me anything, did they? I wasn’t able to get anything for anyone.”
He pushes my hair from my face with his palm and kisses my forehead, “No, but I have something for you.” I suck in a breath to protest, and he sets his finger over my lips, “It’s not from me, I’m just the messenger.”
Leaning over me, he turns the bedside lamp on and light floods the room, almost blinding me. He sits up and I realize that he’s fully dressed and on top of the covers, with an envelope in his hands. I push myself up to sitting and then push my hair behind my ears.
The logo on the sender section of the envelope looks official and my heart starts to beat faster as I wonder what it could be. I lift my gaze to meet Mason’s, he has a pained smile on his face, the type of smile that someone gets when they arenervous.
“What is that?” I whisper, “And why do you look like someone kicked your puppy?”
A more sincere smile tips his lips up and he hands me the envelope. It’s just an envelope, how bad could it be? Curling my fingers into fists, I hesitate to take it because it looks kind of thick.
“It’s good for you, you’ll be happy.” He pushes it closer.
Slowly taking it from his hand, I tear the top open, it looks like legal papers and some other official paperwork, but I see the edge of a piece of notebook paper with my mom’s cursive script on the page. I pull the folded mystery out of the envelope and look up at Mason as I am unfolding it. He’s watching me closely.
I pull the notebook paper out first and drop the rest on my lap, It’s a letter from my mom. My eyes instantly start to fill with tears, and I cover my mouth with my fingers as I start to read.
My dearest Sloane,
I never told you this, but you are my miracle baby. The doctors told me it was unlikely I would ever carry a child, so when I found out I was pregnant with you, I knew there was good in this world. You are my good in this world and you have made me proud, my beautiful girl. Always know that.
A sob chokes from my throat and the tears start to fall.
If you are reading this, then something has happened to me. I’ve tried to keep you sheltered from the bad in the world, I tried to make your life as normal as possible, but like it or not, there is bad out there. I’ve always known that the life I chose was a gamble. Before marrying your father, I never imagined I’d have to worry about a child’s wellbeing.
We tried to keep the life that Daddy was involved in as far away from you as we could, I want you to know that. I set up an account for you that I’ve been putting money in for a few years. If anything happens to me, take the money and get as far away from your half-brother as you can. Start a life somewhere he can’t find you.
Daddy tried to get Austin help for his mental illness, but he refuses to take his medication and his morbid preoccupation with you is the reason Daddy won’t let him live in the house. There is something wrong with him, do not let him get close to you. I’m so sorry, love.
