His hand slides to my waist, firm and possessive even now.
Seven years later and he still touches me like I’m something he chose deliberately.
Not out of desperation. Not out of fear. Out of certainty.
“Merry Christmas!” Lacee bursts through the front door then, her arms piled high with presents. “Woh! I see Santa already stopped by!” She bursts into giggles as a puppy runs between her feet.
“Lacee!” Ellie runs to her sister and wraps her in a fierce hug. “Santa brought puppies!”
“I see that!” She presses a kiss to her little sister’s forehead. “How about I make pancakes with red and green sprinkles?”
“Can Inferno have some? I bet he likes them!”
“We’ll see you crazy girl.”
Sawyer goes to his girl then, pulling her into a bear hug. “I missed you. Ready to transfer back to Devil’s Peak for college yet?”
“I missed you too, Dad.” She giggles then kisses him on the cheek.
“Hey, honey.” I wrap Lacee in a hug. “He’s been talking about finding ways to convince you to enroll in online classes just so you can move home.”
“Not happening. I love Boulder.” Lacee grins. “But nice try.”
“I told him that.” I smile. “He’s proud of you for graduating early and starting university classes at seventeen. I think he’s also worried that you’re smarter than him already.”
“Well, I think we both knew that by the time I was fifteen.”
Sawyer rolls his eyes as Lacee and I laugh.
Ellie squeals then as Inferno jumps up to lick her nose. Grayson is now being dragged across the rug by Sir Barks-A-Lot, who apparently thinks he’s a sled dog. Sprinkles has crawled directly into Rosie’s lap and is chewing on her braid.
“Mom!” Ellie shouts. “Inferno likes me best!”
“No she doesn’t!” Grayson protests. “Sir Barks-A-Lot’s gonna be a firefighter!”
Rosie looks up at Sawyer with serious eyes. “Can Sprinkles ride on a fire truck?”
Sawyer crouches immediately, big hands gentle as he strokes the tiny pup’s back.
“She can visit,” he says carefully.
Rosie beams.
I watch him like I always do. He isn’t bracing anymore. He isn’t holding himself rigid like happiness is temporary. He laughs easily now. Teases. Wrestles. Lets the noise fill the spaces that used to echo.
“Dad,” Ellie says, hugging her puppy tight. “Are you happy?”
He doesn’t answer right away.
He looks around first.
At the tree.
At the dogs.
At Grayson trying to train Sir Barks-A-Lot to “stop, drop, and roll.”
At Rosie whispering secrets into Sprinkles’ ear.
