Chapter Nine #2
Evie swallowed. ‘I’m pleased, too. Now, sit back in the chair and then I’ll hand Lara to you. She needs to feel secure.’
The little girl wriggled to the back of the chair and held out her arms and Evie sat down next to her and carefully gave her the baby, willing the infant not to wake up and cry.
From beyond the windows she heard the sound of a helicopter and moments later Rio appeared in the doorway.
His exquisitely tailored suit moulded to his athletic physique and Evie felt her stomach drop.
Even after a year together, she still found it hard to breathe when he was in the same room as her.
‘I’m sorry I’m late,’ he drawled, dropping his briefcase and walking across to them. ‘There were a few things I had to arrange. Last minute Christmas shopping. What have I missed?’
‘Daddy! Have you bought my present?’ Elyssa wriggled with excitement and Rio dropped a kiss on the top of her head and dropped to his haunches.
‘I might have done. You’re holding Lara.’ He shot a questioning look at Evie who smiled reassuringly.
‘Isn’t she doing brilliantly? She’s so good with her sister.’ As she spoke, the baby’s eyes opened and Evie held her breath. Don’t cry.
‘She’s looking at me.’ Elyssa looked at her half-sister in fascination. ‘Can she see me?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Watching the two of them together, Evie felt a lump in her throat. ‘She loves you, Elyssa.’
‘Grandpa and I hung her stocking on the fireplace and I wrote to Santa to tell him she’s only a baby so he doesn’t leave her unsuitable toys.’
‘She’s so lucky having you as a big sister.
’ It had taken months of patience but finally the nightmares had stopped and Elyssa had started to behave like a normal little girl.
Far from unsettling her, Lara’s birth appeared to have given her greater security—as if the arrival of the baby had somehow cemented their little family.
Elyssa kissed Lara’s downy head. ‘I can’t wait for her to grow big enough to be able to play with me. Can you take her back now? She’s really heavy for someone who only drinks milk.’
Rio expertly scooped up his baby daughter, holding her against his shoulder as he sat down on the sofa next to Elyssa. ‘Did you decorate the Christmas tree while I was away?’
‘Evie wanted to wait for you.’
Knowing how Rio felt about Christmas, Evie cast him an anxious look.
It was enough for her that they were together and in England.
She was still overwhelmed by his decision to buy the beautiful old Manor House close to the Cedar Court Retirement Home, meaning that she could have her grandfather to stay.
He’d declared himself too old to be flying around the world to visit their other homes, so Rio had shifted his business operation to enable him to spend as much time in England as possible.
And her grandfather was delighted that his wish had been fulfilled twice over. He now had two great-grandchildren to hold on his knee.
Rio leaned across Elyssa and delivered a lingering kiss to Evie’s lips. ‘I missed you. No more work,’ he promised, ‘for the whole of Christmas. Anyone who phones me is fired.’
‘I missed you, too.’ She kissed him back, careful not to squash the baby. ‘Are you serious? You’re not working?’
‘I have better things to do with my time. Put your coats on. We’re going outside. I have a surprise for you both.’
‘Outside?’ Excited, Elyssa jumped to her feet. ‘Can Lara come, too?’
‘Not this time. We’re leaving her with Grandpa for a moment.’
Evie’s grandfather was obviously in on the surprise because he timed his entrance perfectly. ‘Elyssa, there’s someone at the front door for you.’
Elyssa shot out of the room and Rio took Evie’s hand in his and followed. ‘I hope you’re not going to be mad with me—’
‘That depends on what you’ve done.’ Her eyes teased him and he kissed her again, unable to leave her alone.
‘I may have gone a little overboard,’ he confessed, ‘but, after years of not celebrating Christmas, I’m determined to make up for it big time.’
Overwhelmed with love for him, Evie lifted her hand and stroked his hair. ‘I wasn’t sure how you’d feel this year—that’s why we haven’t decorated the tree. I thought you might rather we didn’t.’ Hesitant, she watched him. ‘I know the whole thing has bad memories for you.’
‘I’m making new memories—’ he captured her hand in his, his voice husky ‘—with you.’
‘Daddy, come on!’ Elyssa was waiting impatiently and Rio released Evie and walked to the front door.
‘Close your eyes and don’t peep until I say so.’
Elyssa squeezed them shut. ‘Can I look yet?’
Rio opened the door of the house. ‘Now you can look.’
Evie watched as the little girl opened her eyes.
Wonder and happiness lit her whole face.
Intrigued as to what had caused such a response, Evie turned her head and gasped as she saw the pretty white pony.
He stood quietly, his breath clouding the air, a big red bow in his mane.
Behind him was a sleigh piled high with presents.
‘Daddy!’ Elyssa could hardly speak. ‘Oh, Daddy!’
Rio looked smug. ‘You like him?’
‘He’s mine? Truly?’
‘All yours.’ Rio scooped her into his arms and carried her to the pony. ‘His name is Snowflake and he’s the latest member of our ever-growing family. It’s a good job we have a large house.’
Elyssa had her arms around the pony, almost sobbing with excitement. ‘He’s so beautiful. Oh—oh—Mummy, have you seen him?’
Mummy.
Rio inhaled sharply and so did Evie because she’d waited for this moment for so long. For almost a year she’d been encouraging the withdrawn, confused little girl to call her Mummy and finally now, on Christmas Eve, she’d said it. To hear her use the word so naturally felt like a miracle.
The best Christmas gift of all.
Warmth spread through her body and Evie walked across to Rio and took Elyssa from him, hugging her tightly, tears on her face.
‘I see him, sweetheart, and I think he’s completely perfect.’
Her grandfather appeared in the doorway, smiling his approval as he looked at Evie with her family.
Rio looked ridiculously pleased with himself. ‘It’s cold out here and neither of you are properly dressed. We’ll go back inside and get wrapped up and then we can go round to the stables and see Snowflake and his friends.’
Evie glanced up at him. ‘Friends?’
A smile transformed his face from handsome to breathtaking. ‘I bought a few spares. I have a feeling we’re going to be needing them before too long.’
Evie’s heart stumbled. He wanted more children. A big family.
Her dream come true.
As she smiled up at him she felt something cold brush against her face and Elyssa gave a squeal of excitement that made the pony throw up his head in alarm.
‘It’s snowing! Mummy, Daddy, we’re going to have snow for Christmas. Can we build a snowman? Do you know how?’
Rio brushed the snow from Evie’s cheek. ‘Yes, I know how. We need a carrot and some pebbles and a few twigs. And we need your mother because she’s brilliant at building snowmen.’
‘We also need enough snow,’ Evie pointed out practically. ‘We need to find something to do while we’re waiting for it to settle.’
‘I think I can solve that problem.’ Rio pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly. ‘How would you feel about decorating a Christmas tree?’