Chapter Thirty
C hristmas Day dawned clear and cold. Val had told Liam to wake her so she could help with the chores, but he hadn’t. Which, of course, didn’t surprise her. He never did. Whenever she asked him about not waking her he said she needed her rest.
She threw on some clothes and went downstairs to get coffee. She was going to help the stubborn man whether he wanted it or not. She poured two cups of coffee—decaf for her—put lids on them, bundled up and started walking to the barn. Thank goodness her morning sickness had mostly subsided by now.
Liam was in the foaling stall, talking to both horses. She smiled, thinking of the painting she was giving him. It was nice having a present for him that she knew he’d love.
“You didn’t wake me up,” she said to his back.
“You need your sleep. Is that coffee I see?”
He came over and kissed her, and she handed him the coffee. “Thanks.” He took a sip and continued, “You saved my life.”
“What can I do? Should I take care of Starlight?” She knew he’d have a stroke if she tried to muck out stalls. Regardless of the fact that she’d been doing it forever and her doctor hadn’t forbidden it.
“Already done. In fact, I’m about to finish up.”
“What time did you get up?”
“Early.” With a last pat for both horses, he walked out of the stall. Val went to see Starlight while he washed up.
Liam met her at the stall. He took her coffee and set it down beside his, which he’d set down a few minutes ago. “Merry Christmas,” he said. He kissed her, long, slow, and deep. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
“Merry Christmas,” she said when she came up for air. “I can’t wait to give you your present.”
“I’ve already gotten the best present I’ve ever had.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m married to you.”
Her heart fluttered. “Liam?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
He closed his eyes. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear you say that.” Opening his eyes, he smiled and kissed her again.
“I’ve loved you for years.”
“Why haven’t you told me until now?”
“When you asked me to marry you, I thought nothing could be worse than being married to you when you didn’t love me. But I hoped you’d fall in love with me after we married. That hope, even more than my father’s reaction, is why I said yes.”
“You were right. I did. I knew I loved you before Thanksgiving.”
“Really?” She’d had no idea. “I wasn’t sure you really did. You’re such a good guy.”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it. I started falling for you on our honeymoon.”
Her heart swelled. Now, if only… “Liam? I wish the baby was yours.”
“The baby is mine. Legally and in my heart.”
Val thought her heart would burst. “I am so lucky.”
“We both are.”
“When do you think the rest of the family will get here? I’m dying to give you your present.”
“What do you say we give each other our gifts before everyone gets here?”
“That sounds good. But I’d like to shower first.”
“You know, it would save time if we showered together.”
Val laughed. “I’m pretty sure that will take more time, not less. But that sounds like a plan.”
*
Val was right. Taking a shower together had taken them twice as long. But it was worth it. He was pretty much addicted to making love to Val.
He finished in the bathroom before Val and went to get her present out of the back of his closet and set it beside the bed on the side facing away from her closet. Mia had really come through for him. The painting of Val’s mare, Starlight, was spot-on. He’d managed to wrap it, even though he sucked at wrapping. His mom would have helped him but he’d wanted to do it himself. He felt like a kid at Christmas except far more than receiving presents, he was interested in giving them. He couldn’t wait to see Val’s face when she saw the painting.
He got dressed, wearing one of his nicer pairs of jeans and a red button-down shirt he liked to wear at Christmas. Val was no longer in the bathroom, having gone to her closet. She came out wearing a loose-fitting turtleneck, red knit mini-dress and over-the-knee black boots. Her hair was loose, down and in waves over her shoulders, the blonde looking really pretty against the red dress. Val didn’t wear a lot of makeup, maintaining that the horses didn’t care what she looked like. But today she’d put on something to make her eyes look smoky and mysterious and she’d slicked red lipstick over her lips.
He always thought she was pretty, but today she looked gorgeous. He wished he could cajole her into bed but he knew it wouldn’t happen since the rest of his family and hopefully hers were coming over soon.
“Does this look okay? It’s about the only thing I have that’s not fitted through the middle.”
“You look hot.”
“I was going for Christmasy.”
“You look Christmasy. And really hot.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You look nice. Is that a new shirt?”
“It’s my Christmas shirt.” He stood and went to the other side of the bed to get the painting. “I have something for you.”
She’d been putting on earrings but at that she turned around. “What—” She broke off and stared at the wrapped painting.
“It’s your present. Merry Christmas. Open it.” He felt like a doofus. What if she didn’t like it? No, that was stupid. He knew she’d love it. But she was acting weird.
She sat on the bed and propped it up so she could tear off the wrapping paper. She didn’t speak, but simply stared at it.
“Val?” Surely she didn’t hate it. But she was making him paranoid.
When she looked at him he saw tears in her eyes. Then she smiled, set the painting aside and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Liam. It’s beautiful. She captured her perfectly.”
“Mia Gallagher painted it.”
“I know. I saw the signature. Plus—” She got up and went to her closet, coming out with a present that other than the wrapping paper looked exactly like the one he’d just given her. “Merry Christmas, Liam.”
He unwrapped it to see a painting of Moondance and Penny. “It’s beautiful. It looks just like them. Thank you.” He kissed her. “What a great present.”
“Great minds think alike, as they say. I can’t believe Mia didn’t say anything to either of us.”
“She didn’t want to ruin the surprise. And look, matching frames.”
“So we can hang them side by side. Where should we hang them?”
“They’re too pretty to hide away,” Liam said. “I’m sure there’s someplace in the den. Or maybe the dining room. Anyway, we’ll go look. Let’s take them downstairs with us so everyone can see them.”
*
Besides Maureen and Liam and Val, a bunch of people came for Christmas dinner at the McFarland ranch. Logan and Cici, Connor, Clint, Riley, and Val’s mom all showed up. Val had answered the door earlier, hoping it would be her family, including her father. But only Riley and her mom were there. As she hugged both of them she tried to hide her disappointment but she didn’t think she fooled either of them.
“Come in,” she said, taking the dish from her mother. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Death by Chocolate,” her mother answered. “I know it’s your favorite and Maureen asked me to bring a dessert. And don’t worry. There’s no liquor in it.”
“You’re the best, Mom.”
Later, after everyone exchanged presents but before dinner, her mother pulled her aside. “I’m sorry about your father. Riley and I both tried to get him to come but he decided he’d rather stay home by himself and eat peanut butter.”
Even though she was hurt, Val couldn’t help laughing at the image of her dad eating his peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Christmas dinner. “Are you going to take him something when you leave?”
“Absolutely not. Which serves him right. He is the most stubborn man alive.”
“I appreciate you and Riley trying to change his mind.”
She talked to Riley later, but only briefly about her dad. “Sorry about Dad,” Riley said.
“I know. He’ll either get over it or he won’t. It’s his loss.” Hers too but she wouldn’t think about that.
“You look happy.”
“I am. I think Liam really does love me.”
Riley laughed. “And you’re just now figuring that out? I could have told you that weeks ago. The man is totally crazy for you.”
“I’m crazy about him.”
“Tell me something I didn’t know.”
She suspected Riley had known about her feelings for Liam for a long time. “Did Liam tell you Trent is moving to California? And he’s not claiming paternity.”
“Really? That’s great. Except…do you trust him that he won’t change his mind?”
“I want to. He sounded like he meant it. I don’t think he wants the hassle of a court battle and I’m sure he doesn’t want to pay child support for the baby until it’s eighteen.”
“He’s always been a cheap bastard.”
“He said a bunch of crap about it being better for the baby for us to have him or her. But I think he just said that to make himself look better. But whatever. I don’t care as long as he’s out of our lives.”
“Do the others know?” he asked, gesturing to the people gathered around the tree.
“Liam’s family does. We told them earlier. And I called Mom last night after we saw Trent. I asked her to let us tell you.”
“I’m happy for you, Val.”
She hugged her brother. “Thank you. Now we just need for you to settle down.”
“Not anytime soon.” But she noticed he looked at Letty when he said it. Riley and Letty? They’d never gotten along when they were younger, and Letty had lived with them. She’d always thought Riley regarded Letty as another sister. Maybe she’d been wrong.