He reached into a pocket of his coat beside him and handed me an envelope. I frowned.
“What is this?”
“For you and your husband.”
Confused, I opened it, finding a wedding card with a donation receipt to the local no-kill shelter we supported. It was generous and kind. Thoughtful.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
He shook his head. “I enjoyed being at your wedding. Meeting your family. Being welcomed so warmly—” his gaze drifted to Gracie, then back to me “—by your family. I wanted to contribute to a cause so dear to your heart.”
It was a thoughtful gesture. I met his gaze, seeing the flare of pain in his eyes as he spoke. He was intense and deep. Serious. But I had a feeling underneath was a man with many complex layers. And whether or not Gracie wanted to admit it, he was trying to open himself up to show her.
I stood and hugged him. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here today, Jaxson.”
I ignored Gracie’s muffled gasp of outrage. Brayden stood and shook his hand. “Up to a game of air hockey?”
“Sounds like fun.”
“I’m going to help with dinner preparations. You coming with me, Gracie?” I asked.
She pursed her lips. “I would like a moment with Jaxson first.”
Brayden grabbed my hand. “Okay. See you downstairs shortly.”
I tried not to grin as I heard Jaxson’s mutter. “If I survive.”BraydenChristmas was always fun. I knew this Christmas would be even more so, having just gotten married. Add in the unexpected behavior and the secret Gracie was hiding?
It was awesome.
When Jaxson joined us, he was cool and calm. He admitted he had never played air hockey but caught on quickly. It was a top-of-the-line machine, complete with all the bells and whistles. Sounds that echoed when you scored. Buzzers. Crowd noises. The kids inside us loved it.
Jaxson was competitive and smart—a great opponent—and the room was loud with smack talk and laughter. I didn’t push or try to get information. I liked to tease Gracie, but I wasn’t an asshole. It was her secret to share, and I wouldn’t break her confidence. It wasn’t hard to notice the way he kept looking for her, though. Every time someone would walk into the room, his gaze would snap to the door. When the sound of a feminine voice would come closer, he would lift his head, and I knew he was hoping it was Gracie. He seemed genuinely infatuated with her, and I was dying to hear the story. His version. I had a feeling it was way different from hers.
We played, taking turns until Addi appeared downstairs. Her face was flushed, and she was wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Snacks are ready, and Aiden wants to get to the presents.”
Everyone laughed. Aiden was always big on the presents. Funnily enough, his favorite part was watching people open the gifts and seeing their enjoyment. The big man was really just a giant teddy bear.
For the first time since arriving, Jaxson looked uncomfortable. He set down his pusher as the room emptied, the offer of food and gifts too tempting to resist.
“I believe I’ll find a quiet corner and perhaps read for a while.”
Addi shook her head, walking over and wrapping her arm through his. “No, you have to come join us.”
“This is for family. Your gift time. I’m quite fine on my own.”
She leaned close, smiling at him. “It’s Christmas, Jaxson. Santa visits everyone here.” She tugged on his arm. “Everyone.”
A delighted smile tugged on his mouth. “I don’t wish to intrude. It wasn’t my intention.”
“You aren’t intruding. And you have to come.”
Watching how he responded to Addi, the way his tension melted under her gentle urgings, I understood. She was hard to resist. They walked past me, Addi holding on to his arm, making sure he wasn’t left alone.
I followed behind, smiling.
And I fell in love with her all over again.There were platters of sandwiches, bowls of chips and snacks, and trays of cookies. The spicy scent of hot cider laced the air. We all helped ourselves and headed toward the tree. Outside, the sky was heavy and the snow falling thick and fast.
“Thank god we’re all here and safe,” Nan breathed. “No one is leaving this compound until it’s over.”
We all laughed since none of us planned on doing so. Jaxson looked pleased at the thought, and I noticed the glance he and Gracie shared.
We ate, enjoying the food and one another’s company. It was the same way all the time when we were all together. We seemed to drift into our own little pods. The triplets sat close together as usual, their dark heads bent over their plates. Liam sat next to them, and beside him, Aiden. All were quiet as they consumed their lunch. In the Callaghan family, eating was serious business. Cami and Ava were the softness in the family, yet I wouldn’t want to cross either of them. Both were fierce and strong—in many ways, stronger than the boys. They were adored by all the males in the family.