Chapter 31 - Maren
Maren
Ethan’s phone rang just as I was giving the kids their cereal, and I saw his expression tighten the instant he answered. “Gabe? Oh, hey… yeah, we’ve had a— Yeah, the kids… they’re fine— Sure,” he said, voice softening, and I caught the flicker of something bittersweet in his eyes.
The call didn’t last long, and he seemed even more tense when it was over. I didn’t have to ask. I could feel it. The tension behind his smile, the weight of wanting the holidays to last just a little longer. I slipped a hand into his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Hey,” I murmured, “anything I can do?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I was furious at him for ruining the holidays, and now I’m mad at him for coming back to get his kids.”
I leaned my forehead against his shoulder, letting him breathe against me for a moment. “Then we make today count,” I said softly. “Let’s make it a memory they won’t forget.”
His eyes flicked up to mine, brightening with that spark I knew all too well. “You’re a genius. I know exactly what we should do.”
In a few minutes we were piled into Ethan’s recently fixed up SUV, Adrian calling shotgun, which left Miles and me in the back with the kids.
The city was alive with that late-December energy, snow crunching under tires, the glow of holiday lights reflecting off the wet sidewalk.
The kids were buzzing with excitement, but the anticipation in the car wasn’t just for a ride—it was for the surprise Ethan had promised.
When we pulled up at the shelter, the kids practically leapt out of the car. The crisp air smelled faintly of hay and animals, and the building had that cozy, welcoming energy. Lights twinkled on the exterior, casting the kind of golden glow that made everything feel magical.
“Surprise,” Ethan announced, holding the doors open. “Who’s ready to pick out a puppy?”
Sadie’s eyes went wide immediately, and I had to grip her mittened hands to keep her from darting inside. “This is… this is… best day ever” she squealed.
She somehow managed to weasel free, spun in a circle, and bolted inside.
Miles and Adrian followed at a more measured pace, their usual banter echoing softly as they peeked at the kennels. I trailed behind Ethan, smiling at the sight of him with the kids, how naturally protective he was, even more so now that we were on limited time.
Ethan led us to a counter, where he handed over an envelope to the shelter manager. “We’d like to make a donation. In my niece’s name, Sadie Cross.”
The manager looked at the check, and her jaw dropped. “This is— Thank you. Thank you so much, sir.”
“Can I get my puppy now?” Sadie tugged on his jacket.
“Yes,” he said, smiling at her. “Whichever one you want.”
The next half hour was chaos in the best possible way.
Sadie moved between the kennels with indecision, ignoring Will and Emma’s suggestions about what to choose.
She crouched down to let them sniff her gloves, held some of them in her lap, and for a while it seemed as if she’d try to get away with not choosing, and take each one of them home with her.
I felt her pain. God knew I would’ve hated being forced to choose between either one of the men.
Adrian wandered over to me at one point, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. “Any idea what got into Ethan?”
“His brother called,” I replied, keeping my voice low. He nodded, realization hitting home. “He just wants to enjoy the last day with the kids.”
“Last day?” Now that same disappointment was all over Adrian’s face, and it was getting harder and harder to keep mine at bay. Only a few weeks, and those three little faces had crept into my heart.
“I think we have a winner,” Miles’ voice rang out. We gathered around Sadie, sitting cross-legged with a new best friend in her lap.”
“Is this the one making the cut?” I asked, crouching beside her.
“He told me he wants to come home with me.”
Ethan bent down to scratch the little guy behind his ears. “Did he happen to tell you his name too?”
“It should be something about Christmas,” Will said. “Call him Snowy.”
“He’s brown,” Emma frowned at him. “It’s gotta be Cocoa, obviously.”
A beat of silence, then Sadie held up her new best friend and announced, “Sprinkles McFluff.”
“Sprinkles McFluff,” Ethan repeated, as if testing the words on his tongue. “I… I kind of love it.”
“It’s perfect,” I said, ruffling Sadie’s hair. “Sprinkles McFluff it is.” The puppy wriggled happily, tail wagging as if acknowledging its new identity.
“This is the best Christmas ever.” Sadie hugged the puppy to her chest like she’d probably never let go. “He’s the best dog ever.”
“And the best dog ever should get some new stuff.” Adrian jingled a bright collar over by the supplies.
Emma shot toward the aisle of pet supplies like she’d been launched, grabbing the brightest leash on the rack.
“This one matches his ears. Look at his ears,” she said, holding it up to the puppy’s face.
Sprinkles McFluff tried to lick the nylon, which only made her more convinced she’d chosen correctly.
Will snatched a pack of tennis balls before anyone could tell him those were for dogs who understood fetch. “He’ll learn,” he said, tossing one lightly from hand to hand. “Or I’ll teach him. I’m basically his uncle.”
Sadie had already migrated to the bowls, comparing pastel colors like her life depended on it. “He needs two. One for water. One for food. Maybe three. One for treats.” She lined them up in a perfect row at her feet, proudly presenting them to me.
“Three bowls is ambitious,” Ethan said, but he crouched to help her pick the sturdiest ones anyway.
The manager behind the counter gave us a knowing look as she stacked our growing pile.
Toys squeaked. Packaging crackled. The puppy kept trying to nose the giant bag of kibble Adrian insisted on hauling around like a trophy.
And the kids? They buzzed around the space with the kind of joy that made the whole place brighter without even trying.
“You okay?” I stood close enough to Ethan for our fingers to brush without anyone seeing.
He gave a small, half-smile, eyes still on the kids. “Yeah,” he said, voice low. “It’s just… I always hate this part. Everything’s so quiet after they’re gone.”
“I know.” I gave his hand a squeeze. “But think about how great that first morning of sleeping in will be.”
This made him tear his gaze from the kids to look at me. And said nothing.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” My laugh fizzled out, but something resembling a nervous smile stayed on my lips.
And where I’d been careful about our closeness, he seemingly didn’t care who saw the way he grazed his thumb along my jaw. “We haven’t really talked about it, but I’d really like it if you were there when I woke up. From sleeping in, I mean.”
Now it was my turn to not say anything. Not by choice, but because it came out of nowhere and shocked my brain off its hinges.
A flash of doubt moved in his eyes. “All I mean— With the kids g—”
“I’d like it too.”
Ethan’s shoulders eased, as if my answer let something unclench inside him.
It hit me then how strangely perfect my life had become.
Every big change usually left me seized with anxiety, scrambling to hold onto things the way they were.
Now I was here, saying yes to waking up beside a man who made my pulse trip in the best way, with two others who filled the rest of the empty spaces I didn’t know I had.
And instead of fear, all I felt was this quiet, steady rightness that settled deep and refused to move.
“Look at this one, Uncle Ethan.” Sadie brandished a leash studded with pink plastic gemstones.
Emma stalked up next to her. “Tell her she can’t have pink for a boy dog.”
“She can pick any color she likes,” Ethan said, going over to mediate the situation.
I stayed back, watching the men attempt some semblance of authority and supervision over the kids, laughing softly as they lost almost every stand-off.
At one point, Ethan whispered something to Miles that made him look over.
I stood a little straighter, holding his gaze, and he gave me a smirk, winking at me.
Probably in response to the news that I’d be changing bedrooms.
Something about the look in his eye told me that he and Adrian wouldn’t be neighbors for much longer either. There were five bedrooms in Ethan’s place, after all.
*
We rolled up to the brownstone, snow crunching under the tires, and I spotted Gabe and Sissy waiting on the front steps, bundled up against the chill. Their faces lit up as soon as they saw the car.
“There’s my crew!” Gabe called, his voice booming with relief and joy.
“Mom! Dad!” Emma squealed, sprinting ahead with Sadie and Will right behind her, all of them practically tumbling into their parents’ arms. Sprinkles McFluff yipped, nestled safely in Sadie’s arms, ears twitching as if he knew this was a big moment.
“A puppy?” Sissy said, shooting Ethan a look that was equal parts delighted and dismayed.
“Maybe now she’ll stop dragging random animals into the house.”
We all laughed, but I could feel the lump in my throat already. The kids bounced with excitement, but there was that bittersweet edge to it. The inevitable goodbye. We moved into the house in a large bundle of hugs, kisses, in-person intros, and rushed updates on life.
“Okay, guys, let’s get moving.” Gabe didn’t bother to sit down. He and Sissy hung around on the threshold between the living room and entrance hall. “We’ve been traveling for thirty hours and the doggo probably needs a nap as much as we do.”
“Do we have to go right now?” Emma clung to her mom’s arm, her voice wobbling. “Can’t we stay for hot chocolate or something?”
“Or a sleepover?” Sadie nuzzled the puppy’s head.
“Sleepover?” Gabe started laughing, which didn’t improve his daughters’ moods. “You’ve been sleeping over for more than a month. Uncle Ethan needs a break.”
Sissy took a more gentle approach, smoothing Emma’s hair. “We’ll visit again soon. I promise.”
“After we’ve slept off three airports,” Gabe quipped.
Will was quieter than usual as he grabbed his backpack, pretending to double-check zippers. “Sprinkles McFluff will wanna see his new house,” he said, sounding as though he were convincing himself instead of Sadie.
Miles knelt beside Sadie, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Send us pics the second he picks a favorite toy. Very important research.”
Sadie nodded hard, trying to hide the quiver in her chin.
Ethan stood by the door holding their leftover luggage, and even though he kept his expression steady, I could read the pull in him. The kids had filled every corner of this place. And now it all felt a little too quiet before they’d even stepped out.
I helped pass jackets and gloves, pretending not to feel that same tug. The new routine we’d built together of meals, van rides, bedtime negotiations… it drifted through my mind like someone fading out the lights at the end of a broadway show.
Gabe clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “We’ll get settled and give you a call tonight. And hey… thanks again, man. Really.”
Sadie blew me a kiss from over her dad’s shoulder, the puppy’s little head sticking out between them.
All I got from Emma was a wave as she quickly looked away to swipe at her face.
Will broke me. He got all the way to the waiting cab, stopped dead, then whirled around and bolted back up the porch steps to fling his arms around me.
The force of it made me stumble, and also knock loose the damn tears I’d been holding back so well.
“I’m gonna miss you, Maren.”
“Me too,” was all I could manage without giving away my current emotional state and, blinking fast, I bent down to kiss the top of his head.
Ethan and Adrian were on either side of me, and both slid their arms around my waist as we watched them pile into the cab. A whirlwind of chatting and giggling broken by a yap from the puppy joining in every few beats.
The kids waved frantically as the cab rolled away, calling out their goodbyes. I waved back, my heart full and also a little heavy at the same time. The little family bubble we’d spent the holidays building felt impossibly warm, and now it was dissipating into the city air.
Ethan glanced at me, pulling me closer. I leaned in to savor the warmth enveloping me against the cold winter air. “If you’re feeling broody—” His tone dropped just enough to make my heart skip. “—we can remedy that.”
A shiver of mischief ran through me, and the snow swirled softly around us as the city continued its winter bustle, oblivious to the quiet storm of excitement and possibility building between us.