Chapter 15
Lily
I stood there holding my daughter as hundreds of wolves took off with Thomas leading the Pack. Normally I would be by his side, but tonight I was staying behind with our daughter.
I was so proud of him and everything we’d accomplished, though my thoughts immediately turned to the night ahead. I had so much still to do if I was going to pull off a Collier First Christmas for Cammie.
Internally, I was berating myself for getting so caught up in everything external that I had neglected plans for the three of us. I had no idea where I was going to get a tree at this hour, but somehow, even if I had to go cut one down myself, it was going to happen.
There were presents to be wrapped and a few new toys to be built.
My celebratory mood was dissipating fast. I was ready to pack up and get my daughter home and in bed so that I could get things started.
Thomas had said he wouldn’t be out long, and true to his word, he looped back around and shifted before me. I grinned seeing him standing there in all his natural beauty.
“You shredded your clothes again,” I reminded him.
He gave me a sheepish look. “I came prepared for it,” he said but placed his hand at the base of my back and led me towards his truck.
Once there he pulled out a bag and changed into Christmas pajamas.
I looked at him and burst out laughing.
“You look ridiculous.”
He feigned hurt but tossed an identical pair at me.
“You didn’t.”
“Oh, I did. You took care of every detail for our Pack, now it’s my turn to take care of all the details for our little family. So come on, change into those.”
“Now? Here?”
“Yes.”
While I begrudgingly obeyed, he dropped the tailgate, laid down a blanket and quickly redressed Cammie into an infant set in the same exact pattern.
“You’re so cheesy. This is perfect, Thomas. Thank you.”
“Want to go for a ride?”
“Okay.”
The three of us piled into his truck as he drove us around town. The place was empty because everyone was out on the run, but the lights were on, giving everything a magical feel.
He pulled up next to the town tree and jumped out, unbuckling Cammie from her car seat.
“Well, come on.”
“What are we doing? We’re in our pajamas, Thomas.”
“And no one is around, so let’s do this.”
“Do what?”
He stood next to the tree and held out his hand for me to join him.
“Here, you hold her,” he said handing me the baby as he pulled out his phone and attempted to take a family selfie. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen.
“You really suck at this.” I laughed. “Give me that and take her.”
We traded the phone and baby as I snapped a few really good family shots.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I think we look ridiculous and that this is by far the sweetest thing you’ve ever done.”
He scowled. “Don’t be sharing that around the Pack. I do have a reputation to uphold.”
I snorted. “I think everyone already knows you’re just a big dork.”
He shrugged. “That’s an improvement from douchebag.”
I barked out a laugh taken off guard by his candid reminder of our pre-mating days.
“Let’s get this girl home.”
“Yeah, I still have a million things to do tonight to prepare for the morning. Starting with a tree.”
He groaned and rolled his eyes.
As he drove up to our house it was lit up in Christmas lights complete with a giant inflatable Santa in front.
“What? When? How did you pull this off?”
He shrugged. “I have a bit of Christmas magic in me too. The giant Santa is a Hallmark requirement, right?”
I nodded and couldn’t stop smiling. “Absolutely.”
He grinned and there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Come on, inside, the both of you.”
As we left the warmth of the truck, it started snowing.
“Thomas look. We may wake up to a white Christmas after all.”
Tears pricked my eyes, but it was getting cold quickly and big fluffy white flakes started falling.
I squealed as he escorted us quickly to the front door then opened it and waited for me to walk in.
“Surprise!” voices rang out.
I stood there stunned stupid as I looked around the room.
“Mom? Dad? Kyle? All of you? What are you doing here?”
“Thomas called and said you were feeling a little homesick this year, so we took a vote and unanimously agreed to fly in and surprise you,” Kyle said.
“Besides, I haven’t even gotten to meet this little cutie yet,” Elise squealed as she gave me a quick hug and then stole the baby.
I stared around the room still in shock and certain I was dreaming. They were all there: Mom, Dad, Kyle, Kelsey, Zander, Jason, Elise, Patrick, Liam, Maddie, Oscar, Sarah, Chase, and Jenna, plus Lizzy and Cole and Shelby and Ben and their triplets. Everyone.
“This is truly a Christmas miracle.” I went around the room hugging everyone feeling happier than I could ever remember. I made my way back to Thomas and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Jenna’s pregnant!” Chase blurted out.
Jenna smacked him. “Now you tell them?”
“I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I’m not trying to take over the holiday, I’m just so excited,” Chase said.
I turned to look at Thomas and I grinned. “So am I,” I announced.
His jaw dropped in shock. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. I’m pregnant again.”
“How the hell did that happen?” he blurted out.
My dad stepped up, much to my humiliation. “Well, Thomas, there comes a time when a man and a woman…”
Thomas groaned causing everyone to laugh.
I still didn’t know how he had managed to pull this all off, but he’d done it. Thomas had given me and Cammie the most perfect Christmas ever and tomorrow our baby girl would be surrounded by every member of her family for a very special first Christmas.
“Hold up. We have a tree?”
“Of course we have a tree. My daughter is not celebrating her first Christmas without one.”
“But when? How?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
I stared at the tree and then frowned. “Is that the ugly tree that attacked me?”
“You know it,” he said with a wink. “Merry Christmas, Slugger.”
*****
Thank you for reading A Collier First Christmas.