Bridget: Be careful, kids. The roads are bad.
Despite the bad weather, all of the McIntyres are coming to Kenilworth this year for Christmas—Bridget and Calum and all seven of their kids. This will be the first time we’ve seen Hannah and Killian since they got married recently in Bryce, Colorado.
“Are Molly and Jamie coming?” Mom asks from the backseat.
I turn to face her. “Yes.”
“Are they bringing their new baby?” Luke asks, his blue eyes large in his face. Clearly, he’s excited.
“Yes, they are.” I don’t blame Luke for being excited to see his newest cousin. I’m looking forward to having some baby cuddles, too. I think everyone is.
“And Hazel, too?” he asks.
“Yes, Hazel, too.” I can’t believe a year has passed since Molly and Jamie adopted her.
“She’s a big sister now,” Luke says. “Just like I’m a big brother.”
Shane reaches over and pats my thigh. “Remember the last time we spent the night in a snowstorm?”
I lay my hand on his and link our fingers together. “How could I forget?”
That was the night Ava was conceived, because in the excitement of being trapped in my bookstore during an all-out blizzard, Shane and I had sex in the panic room and forgot to use protection. Nine months later, our sweet baby girl was born.
I glance back at our daughter, and I’m not one bit surprised to see she’s sound asleep. Riding in a vehicle knocks her out every time.
When we finally arrive at Kenilworth, the winter scenery is beyond gorgeous. All of the fairy tale homes and lawns along our lakeside road are covered in freshly fallen snow. The evergreen trees and stone walls are wrapped in twinkling Christmas lights. It’s barely noon, but the skies are so overcast, it looks like it’s early evening already.
“I’m hungry,” Luke says from the backseat.
“You just ate breakfast,” I say, shaking my head. That child is a bottomless pit, always hungry. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Elly will have lunch ready when we get there.”
Thank God for Elly.I don’t know what we’d do without her.
“I hope George has the driveway and parking areas plowed,” Shane says. “Otherwise, finding space to park all these vehicles is going to be a challenge.”
When we pull into the lane that leads up to the house, I feel excitement bubbling inside me. I still get goosebumps every time we arrive. I have so many memories of the first few times I camehere with Shane. Some are good memories, while others aren’t quite as good.
I smile when I remember the time Lia and I ran away from this house. Cooper aided us in our escape, and Shane’s reaction once he realized I was gone was priceless.
We pass through the two monitored security gates and finally approach the house.
Shane had my name added to the deed for this property shortly after we were married, so this estate is legally mine, too. I squeeze Shane’s hand because the trust he has in me boggles my mind sometimes. Many wealthy people demand a prenuptial agreement before getting married in order to protect their assets in case of a divorce. Not Shane. He went out of his way to systematicallyadd meeither as an equal owner, or as a beneficiary, of everything he owns.
“Good man, George,” Shane says as we pull into view of the front of the house.
The circular drive, along with all the parking spaces, has been recently cleared of snow. The snow plow is parked off to the side of the drive as if poised to shovel the snow again if need be. The porch and steps are cleared off, too.
The front door opens, and Elly and George come out, bundled up in light of the cold weather. They’re soon followed by Jake and Dominic and Shane’s father, Calum, who’ve come out to help us carry in our stuff.
Elly opens the rear passenger door, unbuckles Luke, and helps him climb out of his car seat.
“Is the new baby here yet?” he asks her.
“Not yet, sweetie. Molly and Jamie had to stop to change the baby’s diaper on the way here. But they should be here soon.”
Elly helps Luke jump down from the SUV and leads him inside the house. Mom gets out, and Shane gets Ava out on his side of the vehicle. George and the guys carry our luggage inside.
When we step in to the spacious foyer, it’s sheer pandemonium as everyone who has already arrived comes to greet us. I’d say most of the family are here now. Aiden and the twins rush forward to hug Luke. Shane hands Ava to me so he can help Luke out of his winter gear.
