Things haven’t always been easy, especially this time of year. Between my mother and Damien’s father, who would blame us if we ran screaming from the holidays? But we’ve carved our own way. Made our own world. And now, in the arms of my sparkle-covered husband, I can’t help but think that this moment is just about perfect.
At least until I hear Lara’s sharp cry of, “Nooooo,” followed by Anne’s shrill scream. All underscored by the clatter of bottles and jars and boxes tumbling to the ground along with the now-toppled table that was holding them.Chapter Two“Mamamamama! Anne smooshed my wings! She smooshed them!”
Damien winced as his eldest daughter’s shrill cry pierced his eardrum.
“She didn’t mean to, sweetie,” Nikki said, already at the table, her arms reaching out to embrace two very distressed little girls. “She grabbed the tablecloth, but she didn’t know what would happen.”
“But she ruined them.” Lara blinked, clearly trying to hold back tears. Anne made no such attempt. Her little cheeks had turned red, and big crocodile tears spilled down them as she wailed.
“Hush, baby,” Nikki cooed even as she stroked Lara’s hair. Both girls calmed visibly, and Damien breathed in deep, his chest tight. Not out of annoyance from the accident or irritation from the children’s squeals. No, what he felt was pure adoration and respect.
He’d never doubted that Nikki would make a good mother. Maybe someone else would fear that with the complete lack of a role model she’d grown up with, Nikki would have been clueless. But Damien hadn’t doubted. And now his heart filled simply from watching the way she soothed their daughters.
He started to step forward in assistance, but Nikki’s next words both stopped and amused him. “Daddy can fix the wings,” she said. “You know how good Daddy is at fixing things.”
“Not this.” With her little chin shaking, Lara picked up the now-bent wing, which also happened to be covered in glue, bits of craft detritus, and far too much glitter. “You can’t, can you?” She looked up, pulling him into the conversation.
“Hmm.” He eased forward, crouching down in front of his daughter. “Well, you know, I think you’re right. I don’t think I can.”
“See?” Lara scowled at her mother, her expression so like a vindicated adult that Damien almost laughed. And from the twitch at Nikki’s lips, he assumed she was fighting mirth as well.
“I stand corrected,” Nikki said, her voice high-pitched with amusement. “I truly thought Daddy could do anything.”
“Hmm. Well, what I can do,” he said as he transferred the little girl into his arms, “is make you an even better pair of wings.”
“But that one was the bestest.”
He shook his head. “That was a prototype.”
She blinked at him.
“A tester. Like when you practice writing your alphabet. The more you practice, the better you get.”
“Oh.”
“So tonight, we’ll make you new wings. And the frame will be shaped better and we’ll make sure the glitter goes on just how you want it.”
“And her?” Lara pointed an accusing finger at Anne, who promptly shoved her thumb into her mouth.
He glanced at Nikki. Ideas?
Her answering grin told him she had a plan. “You know Anne loves to be around you and Daddy. So why don’t you think of a way to keep her entertained so she doesn’t accidentally get in the way. Maybe with her own glitter and glue?”
Lara’s lips pursed, her forehead creased with concentration. “I’ll give her custrom paper. So she can make glitter stars.”
“Construction,” Nikki corrected. “And that sounds like a great plan. Don’t you think, Daddy?”
“Best plan I’ve ever heard. Now why don’t you help me clean the mess up while Mommy cleans up your sister. She’s more sparkly than she should be.”
“Sparkee!” Anne cried, thrusting her arms up and giggling, knowing by some childlike intuition that the storm had rolled over.
By the time he and Lara had set the table right and put everything back on top, Anne was tugging on his leg, only a few stray specks of glitter on her nose and in her hair catching in the light.
He squatted down, pulling each girl into a hug, then looked up to see Nikki beaming at him.
“Hello, there,” he said to his wife, then added to the girls, “Should we guess what Mommy’s thinking about?”
“Cookies?” Lara suggested.
“I’m not thinking anything. I’m just soaking up the view.”
“So am I,” he said, his eyes raking over her, enjoying the way the fluffy robe hid the soft curves he knew were underneath.
“Mmm,” she said as she pulled her phone from her pocket and snapped a quick picture. “I know that tone. Behave.”
He widened his eyes and tried to look innocent as he stood. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Nikki shot him an amused grin as she looked at the phone display, her smile growing broader. “This one’s definitely a keeper. The girls are clean now, but you, Mr. Stark, are even more sparkly.”