CHAPTER EIGHT
DIANA CALDWELL
Once Wyatt, Kennedy, and Tristan leave, I return to the kitchen to finish preparing for tonight’s Christmas Eve dinner. I appreciate this tradition we started a few years ago once all the Caldwell siblings were coupled up and having children.
As much as I look forward to tomorrow, when everyone will get together, I love having an evening to celebrate the holiday with my husband and kids.
“Hey, baby.” Soren eases behind me and rests his hands on my hips. “Everything smells great. Do you need any help?”
“Can you finish the salad, please?” Raising my voice, I turn toward Sara Beth. “Sara, do you mind wrangling your sister into her booster seat?”
“Got it.” She shoves her phone into her pocket then heads to the living room to scoop Rachel into her arms. My three-year-old giggles and pretends to fly like Santa’s reindeer.
It’s crazy how different life looks these days. I moved to Suitor’s Crossing for change a little over five years ago, and it more than delivered.
From my handsome husband to my two rambunctious girls, taking the leap of faith to quit my old job and come here has been well worth it.
The four of us sit around the dining table, passing food bowls, and chatting about Rachel’s latest obsession—horses—and Sara Beth’s plan for the rest of winter break.
It’s cozy and perfect, yet a thrill runs through me once we’re done eating and my youngest daughter runs toward the decorated tree to open a present in honor of Christmas Eve.
The three of us join her as she rattles several boxes searching for the best one to unwrap.
“I don’t think the one you want is down there, kid,” Soren says, shooting a sly grin my way.
Sara Beth plops on the couch and covers a laugh when Rachel glares up at her dad.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s so special we decided to keep it hidden in our room,” I explain. “Wait here with your dad and sister while I go get it, okay?”
Soren and I discussed whether Rachel was old enough for her own pet, but when Sara Beth promised to help her little sister take care of one, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give Rachel a bunny for Christmas.
Normally, I’m opposed to pets for Christmas, but when a poor baby bunny was brought into the vet clinic where I work, it seemed like kismet.
Dr. Winston and I worked to get the baby healthy, and now she’s ready for our girl. She’s even met Sara Beth’s old bunny, Whiskers, and the two have been sweet cuddled together.
Snagging the white and brown bunny from her place in the primary room’s bath tub, I carefully lower her into a vented and pre-wrapped box.
“Don’t worry. You won’t be here for long.” The bunny shudders, bumping her head against the edge of the box.
I heft the box into my arms and slowly walk back to the living room, making sure to avoid any random toys laying in my path.
Soren has Rachel sitting in his lap on the leather recliner while Sara Beth appears to have picked out the gift she’s going to open after Rachel, the small blue and silver wrapping paper shining under the Christmas lights.
Kneeling on the area rug in front of Soren and Rachel, I set the box down with a smile as Rach fights out of her dad’s hold to join me, mirroring my position.
“Alright, this is a fragile present, okay? You can’t shake it around like you did the others.” Rachel gently places her hands on either side of the box lid and solemnly nods. “This is from your dad, me, and Sara Beth because we love you.”
“I love you, too. Can I open it now?”
Soren coughs, and I know he’s trying not to laugh at her eagerness.
“Wait until I have my camera ready. I want to video this.” It only takes a minute, but when I’m finally set up, I press record and mouth, “Go ahead.”
Rachel rocks side to side in excitement then, slower than I would have expected, removes the lid. The bunny immediately hops up on two paws, her nose twitching.
“A bunny!” Rachel gasps as the baby startles and skitters back from her loud yell.
“Indoor voice,” I caution.
“A bunny!” Rachel tries again, marginally quieter. Her little hands reach into the box and lift the bunny for snuggles against her chest. “Is it a boy or a girl? What’s its name?”
“It’s a girl, and she’s yours, so you get to name her,” Soren says.
Rachel bites her lip then glances at Sara Beth. “How’d you name Whiskers?”
“I liked how his nose twitched and made his whiskers tickle my cheek.”
“Hmm… They do tickle, but she can’t be Whiskers, too.” More thinking causes her features to scrunch up. “I’m gonna name her Pipsqueak because she looks like Pipsqueak from the show.”
Of course, she went with a My Little Pony character.
“That’s a cute name, and it fits because she won’t get much bigger.”
Rachel buries her face in Pipsqueak’s soft fur and murmurs, “I love you so, so, so much. You’re the cutest, softest…”
“Hey, don’t insult Whiskers,” Sara Beth cuts in.
The two girls bicker over who has the best bunny while Soren grabs my arm and tugs until I’m in his lap.
“Merry Christmas, baby. I’m saving your Christmas Eve present for later,” he rumbles.
Cuddling into his heat, I whisper in his ear, “Is it your dick? Because it’s been the same thing each year.”
“And you love it every time.”
“I do.” Pressing a kiss to his bearded cheek, I sigh, full of happiness. “I love you.”