Chapter 17
Rain had started sometime before dawn, and curtains of water bathed the windows of the cozy sitting room.
By ten in the morning on Christmas Day, the inn was loud with voices and warm enough to fog every pane of glass.
A few of Boone’s friends had decided to join them for the Christmas holiday, too, and he was kind of glad that they had the inn rooms available.
“You aren’t nauseous at all?” Demarien asked Felix.
“Nope.” Felix shrugged. “No cravings or emotional rollercoaster either.”
Boone rubbed his omega’s shoulders as Demarien glared at his friend. “It’s Christmas, love. You can’t murder your friend on Christmas.”
“I’m only now past the nausea,” he said, eyes narrowed. “At his stage, I lived at the toilet.”
Boone ran a hand over Demarien’s distinct baby bump. He was now about five months along and tired all the time. “Here, honey. Sit down and rest your feet. I’ll make you something to eat.”
Demarien’s shoulders stiffened. “You’ll burn everything. I love you, Boone, but you can’t cook.”
Boone just shrugged. “True, but you’ll get to rest.”
His omega grumbled about overcooked bacon and hurried to the kitchen.
Felix giggled. “I love the two of you.”
Boone made sure his ring was prominently displayed as he pushed his hair back. “We’re getting married.”
“I know,” Felix said, shaking his head. “That’s probably the hundredth time you’ve told me today.” His smile faded. “Have you heard from your parents?”
Boone shook his head with a sigh. “They aren’t answering my calls or texts. They didn’t take the news of the engagement well.”
“Who hid the cinnamon rolls?” Milo demanded, striding into the room to stand in the middle of the room with flour on his cheek and a wooden spoon in hand.
“I didn’t hide them,” Haley said from one of the sofas, her children curled around her as she read to them. “I relocated them for safety.”
“Safety from who?”
“You.”
Laughter rolled through the room. Milo pointed the spoon at her. “Traitor.”
The living room looked like Christmas had exploded in it.
Wrapping paper littered the rug, ribbons dangled from the couch cushions, and the tree blinked steadily in the nook under the bay window, beneath a mountain of opened gifts.
Milo’s cats chased each other around the sofa wearing matching dinosaur pajamas while Brownie barked excitedly at absolutely nothing.
Puck sat cross-legged on the floor near the fireplace, helping Abuela untangle yarn from a gift basket.
“You know,” Wilma-Jean said quietly, comfortably situated in a wingback chair, “when my parents hosted Christmas, there were fourteen people in one trailer.”
“Fourteen?” Mia laughed. She sat on another sofa, cuddling with Elise.
“And one bathroom,” Sammie added. “You people today are spoiled. A whole inn to host the holiday? Guests with their own rooms? What’s the world come to?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the two women said dutifully.
Across the room, music drifted from an old speaker perched on a bookshelf. Someone had put on classic Christmas songs, and every few minutes, everyone would halfheartedly sing along to the chorus before getting distracted again.
Boone left the room, drawn to the kitchen because that was where his everything was. Demarien was pulling the turkey from the oven while Patrick stole pieces of crispy skin straight from the pan.
“You are unbelievable,” Demarien said, grabbing a piece for himself.
“You love me.”
“I tolerate you during federally recognized holidays.”
Patrick grinned and popped another piece into his mouth. “Christmas miracle.”
The back door burst open, bringing in a gust of cold air and two of Boone’s friends carrying firewood. Puck’s dog and chicken were with them. The German Shepard shook, spraying water everywhere, while the chicken clucked and went to sit on top of the garbage can.
“Close the door quickly,” Demarien said, waving a hand toward the coffee pot. A stack of towels sat next to it. “Dry off and get some coffee. It’s cold out there. Thank you for getting the wood.”
“No problem,” Dave responded, dumping the wood into the bin next to the door before taking off his coat. “It smells so good in here.”
“Anything you need?” Cooper asked. Boone’s shy friend was opening up more during this visit than during the last one. The large man was a gentle giant and intimidating at first sight. However, once you knew him, you knew he was a teddy bear.
Demarien gave the man a soft look, then turned hostile. “Puck, get your stupid chicken out of my kitchen,” he yelled.
“Screw you! She was there first.”
By afternoon, the house settled into that perfect holiday chaos — football on low volume in the den, Haley and the kids building something questionable out of gift boxes, Wilma-Jean asleep in an armchair with a blanket over her face.
The smell of turkey, ham, butter, pine needles, and coffee blended into something warm and familiar.
As dinner finally came together, everyone crowded around the long dining table. Plates clattered. Chairs scraped. People argued playfully over who made the best mashed potatoes.
“Where the heck is Dad?” Demarien asked, not for the first time. “He said he was fetching gifts, but that was hours ago.”
Abuela said something, speaking too fast for Boone to understand her.
Felix’s eyes widened. “He is?”
“He’s what?” Boone asked.
Felix shook his head, hiding a grin. “It’s a surprise.”
Boone looked around at everyone talking over one another. Joe wasn’t there, but it was still a good meal. Abuela was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. The kids showed off new toys, and Demarien threatened anyone who touched dessert before dinner.
Outside, cold rain continued falling, but inside, the house glowed gold with light and noise and warmth, the kind that had nothing to do with the fireplace at all.
“Are we too late?” Joe asked, breathless as he hurried into the dining room from the kitchen.
“Where have you been?” Demarien asked, glaring at his dad. The glare disappeared when two people followed Joe inside the room.
“They took forever to get dressed,” Joe said, sighing as he sat next to Sammie and grabbed a plate. “I told them we didn’t stand on ceremony, but they insisted.”
Boone’s parents were dressed in formal attire and carried armfuls of presents.
“Mom? Dad?” Boone smiled widely as he stood. “You came.”
Lynda smiled softly, eyes watering. “We’re sorry, Boone. Can you forgive us for being jerks?”
“I can, but I’m not the only one you should apologize to.”
Lynda winced and gave Demarien a pleading look. “We were judgmental idiots who didn’t give you the proper respect and acknowledgment you deserve. Can you forgive us? We want to be part of your lives.”
Demarien snorted a laugh. “Of course. Sit down and eat.”
Perry cleared his throat. “We brought gifts for everyone.”
“Presents?” Becca, Haley’s daughter, asked, eyes full of wonder.
Boone’s father laughed. “Yes, for everyone.”
Demarien stood and helped Boone’s parents carry the gifts into the sitting room. “We’ll open these after dinner.”
“Yay,” the kids and Patrick yelled.
After that, food was dished out, conversation was enjoyed, and eggnog was consumed.
“That’s my bowl of mashed potatoes,” Felix said, glaring at Patrick.
“You get a whole bowl all to yourself?” the alpha asked.
“Trust us,” Milo said, nodding. “It’s the safest thing for everyone. Give the man his potatoes.”
“You teach yoga at a spa?” Haley asked Elise.
“Yes, and I love it, but my boss is a real creep.” Elise did her best puppy dog impression as she looked at Demarien. “If only I knew someone who had a business that would benefit from a yoga instructor. I could even wait tables as well if this business happened to have a restaurant.”
“Whoa,” Mia said, gasping dramatically. “I know somewhere like that. The town is even hiring a sheriff’s deputy. I could apply there.”
“Milo, can we hire Elise?” Demarien asked, sighing. “Yoga and waitstaff.”
“Hired,” Milo said, scooping a third serving of macaroni and cheese. His appetite had only increased as his pregnancy did.
“Yes,” Boone fist pumped. “Mia will live in town too. Soon, all my friends will be here. My plan is finally coming to fruition. Muwhaha.”
“I knew you only loved me for my ties to this inn,” Demarien said, clutching his chest. “Is that all I am to you? A way to bring your friends to Myrtlewood Bay?”
Joe sighed. “Ignore them, Lynda, Perry. They’ve been watching Korean dramas lately. It’s slightly better than their puns, but the two really shouldn’t be allowed to spend so much time together.”
“Noted,” Lynda said, shaking her head in disappointment. “Children these days.”
After dinner, they went to the sitting room for the last round of presents.
“We weren’t sure if you were going to make it,” Demarien said, handing four gifts each to Perry and Lynda.
Boone’s parents looked shocked. “For us?”
Demarien shrugged. “Yeah. We also have news to share.”
Milo cleared his throat. “We wanted to wait until Felix could find out too, so last week, we all went to have the sex of the babies checked.”
“The sex doesn’t really matter,” Puck said, yawning, “but it’s kind of nice to know how they’ll start.”
Boone looked at Demarien. “You know?”
Demarien grinned and stood, pulling an ultrasound picture from his back pocket. He held it up. “I’m having a girl.”
Boone’s knees weakened, and he sank to the sofa. His mom gasped, eyes watering, while his dad chuckled.
“A girl?” Lynda asked, tears starting to fall. “A granddaughter. Perry, we’re going to have a granddaughter.”
“We’re naming her Maylee, right?” Boone asked, wiping his eyes. “After your mom?”
Demarien nodded, moving to sit next to Boone. “Yep.”
Milo stood and passed his ultrasound around. “I’m having a boy. No name decided yet. Damn, this all just got real.”
Felix stood, face flushed. “Boy,” he said, then sat down.
Everyone looked at Puck, brooding with his dog and chicken on the loveseat.
“Well?” Haley asked.
“My dream was to have one quiet, well-behaved child,” Puck said, sighing. “One is plenty. A family without a hassle.”
“I think you underestimate babies,” Haley said, arching a brow.
Wilma-Jean chuckled. “You having twins, boy?”
“Yep,” Puck said, looking dejected. “Twin girls.”
The room cheered loudly.
Joe patted Puck’s back. “It’ll be just fine, kid. You aren’t alone.”
“Yeah, sure. Now open your presents, everyone.”
Becca hurried and tore the paper off the box that was almost as big as she was. “Toy,” she said, patting the boxed toy cash register.”
“It’s fun and helps to develop math skills,” Lynda told Haley.
“Thank you,” Haley said softly, smiling.
Her son was older and ended up with a model dinosaur to build. “Whoa, Mama, look.” Tony held the box up. “Will you help me build it?”
“Absolutely.” Haley’s smile turned evil. “Lynda will play with you, Becca.”
The little girl smiled up at Boone’s mom. “Play?”
Lynda looked utterly charmed. “Sure, sweetie.”
Haley held up the beautiful, cashmere sweater she had unwrapped. “Wow, thank you, Lynda. Perry.”
Lynda’s cheeks flushed. “We were a bit rude last time we met. I hope you can forgive us, too?”
Haley shrugged. “People make mistakes. It’s big of you to admit it when you do.”
Lynda and Perry ended up with the same gifts the others had received from the four omegas – badly knitted scarves from Milo, gift baskets from Demarien, wooden carvings from Puck, and beautiful glass-blown Guina pigs from Felix.
“Play,” Becca said, patting Lynda’s knee.
Demarien leaned into Boone’s arms, and the alpha sighed in happiness. He had thought it was a good day just a couple of hours before, but this? This was a really good day.
“I’ll buy this milk,” Lynda said.
“Five hundred dollars,” Becca said, holding out her hand.
“Well, that’s a little steep.”
“The sheriff is a good guy,” Patrick told Mia. “I just started a couple of weeks ago, but he knows his team well and puts them where they need to be. The town is quiet, but not too quiet. I’m staying in Boone’s old place. You can room with me until you and Elise find your own place.”
Dave and Cooper sat on the floor with Tony. “You gotta start with the base, kid. Otherwise, this dino will fall over.”
“It’s a T-Rex,” Tony said excitedly.
“You really don’t mind working weekends?” Haley asked Elise. “During the week, we’re just doing dinner, but on the weekends, we do lunch and dinner. Sunday brunches are a thing now as well. The town might riot if Demarien ever stops them.”
“No problem. I waited tables in college and enjoyed it. I want to do morning yoga sessions for guests, so that would leave afternoons and evenings free.”
“Don’t you dare insult my movies,” Puck said, eyes watering. “Yeah, Hallmark is cheesy, but their shows are full of emotion and coziness.”
“They’re just so unrealistic,” Milo retorted, pulling out his knitting needles. “Abuela, will you help me with this one?”
You are hopeless, she said, sighing.
Joe and Perry talked with Wilma-Jean and Sammie, comparing their accountants.
“My company would do a much better job, and I can give you the family discount,” Perry said.
Boone closed his eyes and buried his face in Demarien’s neck. “Our family is pretty cool.”
“Yes, they are.” Demarien brought their joined hands up for a kiss. “It will only get better, you know.”
“Of course I know. I have you. It can only get better.”