“Well then, if we only have a week, we have to think about this very quickly. We need cake, flowers, and something wonderful for Devon to wear…” Mom ticked things off on her fingers.
“Mom, this is Secret Springs.” Mhairi waved her hand around in the air, like she was waving a magic wand. “Things can happen very fast here if you ask the right people. I’ll talk to Mateo and Dan about a cake.”
“And I’ll take Devon shopping.” Mom beamed at Devon. “Laird, you have to make sure that your kilt and jacket and things are pressed and cleaned? You too, Dad.”
“I can talk to some people about the flowers,” Jason said. Jason knew everybody. “Just need to tell me what kind of things you like, Devon.”
Devon stared at everyone, his eyes a little bit misty. “You’re all amazing. Thank you so much for being willing to do this on short notice, and I know Raven will be willing to help too. He’s my business partner.”
“I love Raven.” Mhairi grinned at him. “He’s so Zen.”
Devon blinked, then made a humming sort of noise. “Still waters run deep, but yeah, he is.”
“Well, that’s settled then. We’ll start tomorrow getting a hold of everyone. But today is for presents, and food, and Christmassing.” Mom waved her hand in the air. “Someoneelse is going to have to hold Savannah so I can go work in the kitchen.”
“I got her.” Mhairi bounced the baby in her arms. “It’s probably about time for her to have some lunch anyway.” Mhairi grabbed a blanket and then went to sit with the baby on the couch.
“Need anything from me, babe?” Jason asked.
“Nope, I’m good to go. Unless you want to get some fudge for after. You know how it makes me feel weak and puny.” She giggled then, as if she couldn’t keep a straight face while saying that.
“You got it. That way you can try it too, Devon. I’m telling you, it’s the best thing ever.” Jason got up and headed for the kitchen.
“I have to tell you, son, I couldn’t be more pleased about this outcome.” Dad was a totally results kind of guy, and Laird felt like he was super happy.
“Thanks, Dad. I have to admit, I’m kind of over the moon myself.” He grabbed Devon’s hand and squeezed it gently.
“Well, you have a good one there. Hang on to him, okay? I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go get some presents to put under the tree for everybody.”
Dad left the room, and that just meant Mhairi was in there with them, and she wasn’t paying them any attention. So he looked at Devon, who still looked a little wet around the eyes. “Are you okay, baby?”
“I am. I just didn’t realize how much your parents were hesitating over us not having a plan.”
“They like to know where everything stands. It wasn’t that we weren’t getting married. It was just, they weren’t sure how permanent this was going to be, I guess. Now that they know, they can go all in.”
“I’m glad they feel that way. I didn’t want to be the problem child in this family.”
Laird chuckled. “No, no, that’s totally Mhairi.”
When he glanced over, his sister flipped him off, but otherwise she stayed out of it.
Laird leaned over and kissed Devon gently on the mouth, letting it linger enough to show Devon exactly how he felt. “Merry Christmas, baby. There’s no one I’d rather have right here with me.”
Devon reached up to stroke his cheek, meeting his gaze. His smile was so happy. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you. Thank you for this. I really feel like a part of something now.”
“It’s only going to get better.” He raised Devon’s hand to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. “That’s a promise.”
And everybody knew that wishes and promises made on Christmas always came true. Or at least that was what Laird had always been told.
Chapter
Sixteen
“Are you ready?”
Devon stared at Raven and nodded. He was all dressed in his suit. He had to admit, it looked very nice. The green echoed the colors in Laird’s tartan since he was going to become a McCallum. That was important.
They were getting married in a little chapel set back into the mountains. Fiona had managed to create a miracle of transformation. The place was festooned with tartan ribbons and ranunculus in oranges and yellows and deep purples and pinks.
