34. Billie
Billie
W hen we pulled into the ranch driveway, I gasped and grabbed Gage's arm. "Oh my God, what happened here?"
The farmhouse that had always been Booker's domain—practical, sparse, decorated with whatever mismatched furniture could survive ranch life—had been completely transformed.
Garlands wrapped around every porch post, twinkling lights outlined the roofline, and a massive wreath hung on the front door.
Through the windows, I could see the warm glow of what looked like an actual Christmas tree.
"Reece happened," Gage said, grinning at my shock. "She's been working on this for weeks. Said she wanted Barrett's first Christmas to be magical."
"But what about Booker's tiny table tree that leaned sideways?"
"Oh, that's still here. She just... enhanced things a little."
As we climbed the front steps, I could hear the chaos inside. Children's laughter, multiple conversations, baby Barrett's soft coos, and what sounded like Jasper's deep chuckle mixing with the rest. The moment we walked through the door, the noise stopped completely.
"Holy shit," Blake said, then immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. "Sorry, Cade. Holy... cow. Billie, your hand!"
Every eye in the room immediately focused on my left hand, where the emerald ring caught the light from the elaborately decorated Christmas tree that had replaced Booker's sad little table tree. This tree reached nearly to the ceiling, covered in lights and ornaments that actually matched.
"Is that what I think it is?" Delaney squealed, gently adjusting Barrett in her arms.
"Gage proposed," I said, unable to stop grinning. "This morning, at the house. It was perfect."
The room erupted. Blake and Reece rushed over to examine the ring while Trace and Booker slapped Gage on the back. Cade started jumping up and down asking if he could be in the wedding, and Jasper stood from his chair by the fireplace with a huge smile spreading across his face.
"Finally!" Cade said, grinning at Gage. "I was starting to think you'd never figure out how to ask her. Good thing you didn't wait until you were old and gray."
I burst out laughing. "Cade!"
"What? Uncle Gage isn't getting any younger," Cade said with a shrug that was pure Farrington male logic.
"Well, I'll be damned," Jasper said, his voice thick with emotion. "Son, I'm so proud of you."
"It's beautiful," Reece said, taking my hand gently. "And it looks like it was made for you."
"It belonged to their grandmother," I said, still marveling at how perfectly it fit. "His grandfather saved it for me."
"He knew?" Blake asked with wide eyes.
"He did," Jasper said quietly, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "Dad always said that ring belonged to Billie. He'd be so happy to see it on your finger, sweetheart."
"Apparently it was written all over Gage's face every time someone mentioned my name," I said, looking over at my fiancé who was getting thoroughly grilled by his brothers.
Xander appeared from the kitchen carrying a steaming mug of coffee and paused mid-step when he saw the commotion. "What did I miss?"
"Gage finally got his act together," Booker said gruffly, but his smile was pure pride.
"About damn time," Xander said, then caught Cade's pointed look. "About darn time. Congratulations, brother."
Val padded over from her spot by the fireplace, tail wagging as she sensed the happy energy in the room. She sniffed curiously at my hand before giving it a gentle lick of approval, making everyone laugh.
"Even Val approves," Reece said, scratching behind the dog's ears.
"When's the wedding?" Blake asked, already pulling out her phone. "Because I'm thinking spring would be gorgeous, or maybe summer..."
"We want to wait a little while," I said quickly, catching Gage's grateful look. "Delaney and Trace are getting married this summer, and we don't want to steal their thunder."
"Plus," Gage added, settling onto the couch and pulling me down beside him, "we want to enjoy being engaged for a while. Savor it."
"Smart," Trace said, gently adjusting Barrett in his arms as the baby reached for the shiny tree ornaments. "The marriage is the important part, not the wedding."
"Says the man who's been planning his wedding for six months," Delaney teased, settling beside Trace.
"That's different. Delaney has very specific ideas about flowers."
"I have specific ideas about everything," Delaney said cheerfully. "Which reminds me... we need to talk about your engagement party. You can't just get engaged on Christmas morning and not celebrate properly."
"We are celebrating," I said, gesturing around the beautifully decorated room. "Look at this place! Reece, you've outdone yourself."
Reece beamed, looking pleased with all the attention her decorating was getting. "I may have gone a little overboard, but it's Barrett's first Christmas. It needed to be special."
"It's perfect," I said, meaning it. The room felt warm and festive and completely alive with love. This was what family looked like—chaotic, loud, and absolutely perfect.
"Where's Dex?" Gage asked suddenly, looking around. "Shouldn't he be here by now?"
A strange quiet fell over the room. Trace and Booker exchanged glances, and I saw Reece bite her lip.
"He's... having a hard time lately," Trace said carefully. "Said he had something to take care of this morning."
"Something more important than Christmas with family?" Gage's brow furrowed with concern.
"That's what we're worried about," Booker said gruffly. "He's been acting strange for weeks. Missing family dinners, not returning calls."
"I'll check in with him next week," Gage said, and I could see the protective big brother instincts kicking in even though Dex wasn't technically family. "Maybe take him out for drinks, see what's going on."
"Good," Trace said, relief evident in his voice. "He might open up to you."
Before the mood could get too heavy, Cade appeared at my elbow with a wrapped present. "This is for you and Uncle Gage," he announced proudly. "I picked it out myself."
"You didn't have to get us anything," I said, touched by his thoughtfulness.
"It's your Christmas present," he said importantly. "Mom helped me wrap it, but I chose it all by myself."
I unwrapped the present to find a beautiful picture frame with a photo of all of us from the harvest festival. The whole Farrington family plus partners, baby Barrett in the center, everyone smiling and happy.
"Cade, this is wonderful," I said, my eyes filling with tears. "Thank you."
"Now it's even more special because you're engaged," he said proudly. "It's like I knew it was going to happen."
"Now you can put it in your new house and remember your first day as a real family," he said matter-of-factly.
"We've always been family," Gage said, ruffling Cade's hair. "But you're right. This makes it official."
"Presents!" Delaney announced, clearly wanting to lift the mood. "Let's do presents before breakfast."
The next few hours were pure chaos in the best possible way. Barrett dozed contentedly in Delaney's arms between feedings while Cade tore through his presents with the enthusiasm only an almost-eleven-year-old could muster. Halfway through the gift exchange, we heard a soft cry from upstairs.
"That'll be Amelia," Blake said, starting to get up.
"I've got her," Xander said, already heading for the stairs. "She's probably wondering why Christmas morning sounds so much louder than usual."
He returned a few minutes later carrying a sleepy, curly-haired toddler who blinked owlishly at all the people and decorations before breaking into a delighted grin.
"Mama!" Amelia said, reaching for Blake with grabby hands.
"Good morning, baby girl," Blake said, settling Amelia on her lap. "Look at all the pretty lights!"
Amelia clapped her hands at the Christmas tree, then noticed all the colorful wrapping paper scattered around the room and immediately wanted down to investigate this wonderland of crinkly, shiny objects.
Gage gave me a necklace with a small house pendant, and when I opened the back, it was engraved with today's date. The day he proposed.
"So you'll always remember the day we promised forever," he said softly.
"I could never forget," I whispered, kissing him while Cade made exaggerated gagging noises.
I gave Gage a leather journal with "Future Plans" embossed on the cover, filled with pages for all the dreams we'd start making real.
"For our someday list," I said. "All the places we'll go, things we'll do, memories we'll make."
"Starting with 'marry the most beautiful woman in Willowbrook,'" he said, making me blush while his family cheered.
But it was the moment when Gage knelt on the floor to help Barrett with his presents that made my heart full to overflowing. Barrett babbled happily and grabbed for Gage's face with sticky fingers, and Gage just laughed and let him, patient and gentle and completely natural with the baby.
"He's going to be such a good father," Delaney whispered to me.
"Yeah," I said, watching the man I was going to marry make silly faces at his nephew. "He is."
As the morning wore on and the presents were opened and admired, I found myself looking around the room at this incredible family that had welcomed me with such open arms. Trace and Delaney with Cade and Barrett, so happy and completely devoted to each other.
Booker and Reece, him trying to act gruff while she fixed his hair and he let her with a soft smile.
Blake and Xander, fingers intertwined, both of them glowing with Amelia sitting on their laps.
Jasper in his chair by the fireplace, watching his sons and their families with the kind of quiet contentment that came from finally being where he belonged.
And Gage beside me, his grandmother's ring catching the Christmas lights like a promise as I gestured while talking to Delaney about flower arrangements.