Chapter Twenty-Nine
TALLY
I thought our first kiss was perfect, but this one was even better. Because he had initiated it. He was giving in despite his worries and concerns. He was choosing this. Choosing us. Despite everything else. And that made it the most romantic kiss I’d ever had, up until that point anyway.
The flutters in my stomach had not subsided, and my cheeks felt like they were on fire. I couldn’t believe it had happened, and I also felt so out of my depth. I didn’t know what to expect or how to handle what I was feeling. And my immediate reaction was to shut down. But his gentle words and kisses comforted me and made me feel safe with him.
I understood where he was coming from about waiting to tell the girls, but I didn’t like that his thoughts were there. He’d already been honest with me about his fears, but from where I was sitting, all was right with the world. I couldn’t imagine how anything would ever break us apart. It felt as if we were meant to be, which was such an Ellie thing to think since I had always been more realistic thinking, never head in the clouds like her. But with Jake, I was floating on cloud nine.
“I don’t want you to think I’m going into this, thinking it’s all going to fall apart because I want this to work out.” He put his arm around me and pulled me closer. “I have to think about what’s best for the girls, though. You understand, right?”
“I understand.” I snuggled into his side, resting my head on his chest and my arm across his stomach. He ran his fingers through my hair with one hand and caressed my forearm with the other, and I’d never been so happy in my life.
“And to think it was all because of a can of pumpkin,” I said.
His chuckle vibrated through my body.
“I wish you could stay for Christmas tomorrow.” His lips touched the top of my head.
“Next year.”
His arms tightened around me. “When will you be home? You could come over and watch a Christmas movie with us if it’s not too late.”
“I have no idea, but now I want to come back early.”
“I mean, I’m not going to tell you to do that, but I wouldn’t be upset about it. Your family might, though.”
“There are so many of us. I could probably slip out without anyone noticing.”
I wasn’t sure what came over me, but I wanted to kiss him again, so I readjusted and leaned in close.
“Merry Christmas,” I whispered on my way to his lips.
He brought me close again, and I loved the feeling of his arms around me, his lips on mine, our mingling breaths. I could feel his heart thumping hard in his chest where my hand rested, and mine was right in rhythm with his. It felt perfect, but I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.
I pulled away, and he looked up at me with lips parted, intensity in his gaze.
“Was that okay?” I asked.
“Very.” He leaned in again, but I angled away.
“I mean, am I doing it right?”
His gaze softened as he took my face in his hands. “Baby, you’re doing everything right.”
I grinned at him and went back for more.
“So right,” he said as I kissed him.
“I like when you call me baby,” I said against his lips.
“I like that we both needed that canned pumpkin.”
I chuckled. “I like being here with you.”
His lips softly skimmed against mine. “I like that you needed a job.”
“I like that you hired me.”
He gently brushed his thumb against my cheek. “You’re my favorite Christmas gift ever.”
I couldn’t contain my smile. “You’re my favorite birthday wish come true.”
As I drove away from the house on Christmas morning, I felt such a pull to turn around and go back. I knew they were probably up, and the girls were opening their gifts, and I so longed to be there and share those moments with them. But there would be plenty of times like that in the future. I had a very good feeling about this. About us. And I was excited for all that was ahead.
Mom and Dad’s driveway was full of cars when I arrived, which was expected. The house was filled with the aroma of cinnamon candles and yummy food cooking, and the sounds of happy conversations, kids laughing, and Christmas music. My nieces and nephews and two youngest siblings, who were still in high school, complained their way through the meal, wanting the adults to hurry up so we could open presents.
While we ate, I imagined bringing Nora, Ava, and Piper over next year and what that would be like including them in our family Christmas. I thought about what would happen if we got serious. Would I ever be their stepmom? Would Jake and I ever have kids of our own?
Okay, I was getting way ahead of myself, but that’s usually how my thought process worked. I liked to think and plan out what could happen. We hadn’t been officially together for a full day yet, and here I was, planning our future children.
“You’ve had a permagrin on your face all day, Tally,” my older sister Rochelle said as we sat, talking and nibbling on dessert.
“It’s Christmas. Everybody’s happy on Christmas,” I replied.
“That’s an ‘I got lucky’ kind of grin.”
I smacked her arm. “Ro! ”
“You did, didn’t you? Did you meet a guy?”
“What? Tally met a guy?” my younger sister, Rylee said.
“Yeah, it’s my buddy Dylan,” Nolan announced. “He told me he met you.”
My cheeks warmed. I hated all the attention on me.
“Wait, I thought his name was Jake,” Noelle said.
“Who’s Jake?” Nolan asked.
“I thought Jake was your boss,” Rylee said.
“He’s her sugar daddy,” Noelle said.
“Noelle!” I scolded, and she laughed.
“Are you two-timing my friend?” Nolan asked.
“Stop!” I cried, and everyone in the house quit talking. “My love life is none of your concern.”
They all cracked up and went about asking a hundred more questions, so I escaped to the kitchen, where Mom was putting some dishes away.
“They’re giving you a hard time in there, huh?”
“When don’t they?”
“They just want you to be happy.”
I smiled. “I am happy.”
“You look it. Did something happen?”
“Jake and I are going to give it a try.”
“Oh, really?”
“He’s a good man, Mom. I think we’ll make each other very happy.”
She hugged me. “Then I’m happy for you.”
“Why are you hugging?” Noelle peeked into the kitchen. “She told you something, didn’t she?”
“Time for gifts!” Mom declared as she let go of me and walked toward the family room.
Everyone cheered, and she winked at me. Thank God for Mom .
The day with my family was wonderful. The biggest gift of the day was when Rochelle announced she was pregnant with her first child. She and her husband Todd had been trying for a few years and were about to try other avenues to get pregnant, but then their miracle happened. I thought her cheeks looked rosier than usual, but I didn’t want to say anything and be wrong. My heart overflowed with joy for them. This would be the fifth grandchild born, and welcoming a new child to the family was so special. Just thinking about it made me excited for what my future might hold. After taking care of other people’s kids for so long, I was more than ready to be a mom.
After gifts and games and leftovers, I said my goodbyes and headed back to Jake’s, anxious to spend the evening with him and the girls.
I pulled into the driveway and noticed Marjie’s car was there. Jake hadn’t mentioned she and George were coming over today. I took my things to the guest house and wondered if I should wait to head over, not wanting to interrupt. But we were a couple now. Jake wanted me there. And it would be nice to see the girls’ grandparents and wish them a Merry Christmas, so I walked across the yard and went inside.
A blonde woman stood at the kitchen counter. The girls were all beside her, sitting on the bar stools. They were all covered in flour, making sugar cookies as I had made with the girls not long ago.
She looked up at me in surprise. “Can I help you?”
“I’m … uh …”
“Tally!” the girls cried as they each hopped down from their stools and ran over to hug me .
“You must be the nanny.” The woman sized me up, and I felt very uncomfortable.
“Yes.” I hugged the girls.
“Well, I’m their mother,” she said as the girls returned to her side.
My heart leapt into my throat. “Oh, you’re Kate,” I managed to say.
“Do you need something? Because the girls don’t need a nanny on Christmas Day. They have me.”
“No, I …” I glanced toward the living room. “Is Jake here?”
“Shouldn’t you call him Mr. Mills? He is your boss.”
She was more than a little intimidating, but I ignored her. “Is he here?”
“He ran out to see if any stores were open. We need frosting.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I turned to leave, wanting out of there as fast as possible.
“Stay and make cookies with us, Tally,” Ava said.
“She’s not working tonight.” Kate said as I turned back to look at them. “Say good night to the nanny.”
The girls said good night, and I walked out of the house confused, annoyed, and flustered. Jake’s ex-wife was the last person I expected to find there on tonight of all nights.