“Aww!” I said, touched. “You dressed up Rudolph all for me!”
“Enjoy it, because he’s been itching to scratch them off and chew them up,” he said as he pulled me in for a hug and a kiss.
The timer beeped before we could go too far. The breakfast casserole was done. As I took it out, Owen's younger brothers slumped out into the living room and went for the remote.
“Don't you dare turn that channel,” I said. “The football game doesn't start for hours. Let the Christmas spirit move you!”
They sighed dramatically. I prepped the turkeys for roasting. Owen's kitchen was huge. It held several ovens, more than enough space to cook all the meat and the sides.
“Don't you need help?” Owen asked. He sucked in a breath as if he was about to bellow at his younger brothers to come cook. They were pretending to be playing games on their phones, but I could see they were enjoying the Christmas shows.
“Just leave them. It's just assembly,” I said as I mixed up the filling for the stuffed mushrooms.
Owen's phone rang, and he stepped out of the kitchen for a moment. I heard him say, “Yes, please have them bring it up.” He came back into the kitchen, grinning. A few minutes later, he said, “I have a surprise for you! Come on!”
I wiped my hands and followed him to the front door. Owen opened it, and several men carting boxes walked in.
“Oliver,” Owen called. “Can you show them to the east rooms on the second floor?”
“What in the world?” I said, half in shock. “Those are—” I looked at the labels on the boxes; they were custom Christmas labels in my own handwriting. I opened one of the packages.
“These are my grandmother's decorations!” I started sobbing.
“Merry Christmas,” Owen said softly, petting my hair. “Do you want to put anything up?”
“Just the ornaments,” I said, sniffling and shaking through the sobs.
One of the movers found the box of carefully packed crystal ornaments and set it by the tree.
“These are really pretty,” Owen said as I carefully unpacked them, hanging them on the tree, where they glittered. “Better keep them up high so Rudolph doesn't break them.”
“Thank you,” I said. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” I blew my nose.
“You deserve someone who will do nice things for you,” Owen replied.
I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He kissed me again. “Now let's throw a crazy holiday party!”
*
The holiday partytruly was going to be crazy, I decided several hours later as the guests spilled in.
“How was the drive?” Owen asked Walker Svensson as he herded his younger brothers into the penthouse.
“Say hello to Ms. Holly and Mr. Owen,” Walker ordered, “before you descend like locusts onto the food.” The two dozen blond-haired boys were all dressed in slacks and shirts, hair freshly combed above festive little bow ties.
“They're so adorable!”
Davy waved to me. I bent down to his level.
“It's so nice to see you again!”
“Thank you for inviting me,” Davy said and hugged me.
“Did you make chicken tenders?” Henry asked.
“Geez, no,” Walker said, pushing him lightly. “I swear, I don't know what they're doing over there in Harrogate. It's so backcountry. We should move you all to Manhattan.”
