Christmas Captive

"Oh?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips. A part of me was sure he already knew what I was going to say, but still, my heart sped up as my nerves got the best of me. "Well, ask away, my pretty ladies. I would love to know."

I touched my collar self-consciously, but the jingle of the little bell on it reminded me that everything would be okay.

"Well, as you know," Georgie spoke up, her voice decidedly formal. "I'm staying with my auntie right now while my mom gets... better."

Grayson nodded, shooting me a long look. We both knew Georgie's mom wasn't coming back, though the little girl hadn't quite accepted it yet. "Go on, Georgina."

"Auntie Tracie has her hands full," she went on softly. "And Amicia, well... she suggested maybe I could stay with you for a little while."

"Just a little while?" Grayson teased her; his eyes glowing bright. "Or would you like to stay longer, maybe?"

I could tell Georgie was battling with what she thought was polite, and what she really wanted to say.

"It's okay," I said, gently squeezing her hand. "You can be honest."

"I suppose..." She bit her lip self-consciously. "As long as you'll have me..."

"Well, my dear, that will be a very long time," Grayson grinned. "And I had a feeling this question was coming, so I took it upon myself to arrange something already. I hope you ladies don't mind."

"Oh?" I asked, giving him a concerned look. "What have you arranged?"

"I took it upon myself to arrange some papers for Georgie," he went on, getting up and pulling out a folder from the bookcase in the dining room. "There were some... complications... but I sorted it out."

He gave me a sly grin. Sometimes his strange business practices came in handy, and even I ended up being grateful for the way he did things.

"What's this?" Georgie asked carefully as he slid the papers over to her.

"Adoption papers," Grayson said firmly. "Your aunt has already signed them."

I could see the small look of disappointment on Georgie's face, but it was gone in an instant, her hand trembling as she picked up the pen. "What does it mean if I sign them? That I get to stay with you... for a long time?"

"Forever." Grayson grinned. "Or as long as you like."

"Where do I sign?" she asked, making me tear up.

"Right here. But there's one other requirement," Grayson spoke up.

"What's that?"

"You can't call me Mr. Kline anymore," Grayson teased her.

Georgie gave him a tentative smile, whispering, "What do I call you then?"

"Well, whatever you want," my husband told her, giving me his winning smile. "Grayson. Definitely not Sir. If you want... I suppose you could even call me Dad."

"Dad." Georgie tested the name out on her lips. "I like that."

Grayson reached for my hand across the table and I did my best to hide the happy tears fighting their way onto my face.

"I like it very much, too," he told her, squeezing my hand under the table.

“We might have another surprise for you,” I said a moment later.

“Oh?” Grayson’s eyes sparkled in the candlelit room. “What’s that, darling?”

I rested my trembling hand on my stomach as I said, “Georgie isn’t the only new girl in your life.”

His eyes grew wider and wider as he stared at me. “Are you saying…”

“I’m pregnant.” I smiled shyly, still unused to those strange words coming from my lips. Ever since the doctor told me, I’d been worried about Grayson’s reaction. But seeing him then, I never should have worried at all.

He stood up, kneeling in front of me.

“Are you going to propose again?” I teased him, giggling to hide the emotions hidden by my laugh.

“You’re already mine, aren’t you?” he spoke up gruffly. The joy I’d made him feel was obvious though, and we smiled at one another when a flash blinded us. We both looked up to find Georgie with an old-fashioned camera, giggling as a Polaroid of our first real Christmas together developed.

“Don’t mind me,” she smiled wide. “I just wanted to start one of many memories we’ll have together.”

“So we shall,” Grayson grinned, admiring me with his eyes. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive, Amicia. I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.”

“Neither did I,” I whispered, giving him an affectionate smile as Georgie proudly presented me with a perfect Christmas shot of our new family.

Outside, the snow fell softly, covering London in a white, thick coat of promises. I smiled as my husband laughed with our newly adopted little girl, my hand resting protectively on my stomach.

This year, I certainly would have a jolly Christmas.

THE END