Mason's Winter

“I’d watch if you’d let me in,” he insists.

“You are a mess. I’ll be out in a minute.” Damn, it’s tough to pee knowing that he’s on the other side intentionally listening in. My stream finally kicks in and I rush and place the stick in it. Once I think it’s soaked enough, I cover it with the cap and finish up. I’m just as anxious as he is, but his demeanor helps me calm down. As soon as my hands are clean and the toilet’s flushed, I open the door. He damn near falls in.

“It’s over there. I haven’t looked yet.” He lifts it off the toilet tank and howls.

“Yes, yes. We’re going to have a baby,” he roars, picking me up in his arms and kissing me wildly. “Now, that that’s settled, let’s go to bed,” he teases, carrying back to bed.

“But I’m not tired.”

“You will be when I’m done with you,” he growls in my ear.

Damn, do I love this man.

Epilogue

Winter

Christmas One Year Later

“Right on time,” Mason grumbles, releasing my nipple as the baby monitor goes off to the sound of our crying son. His nursery is next to our bedroom, so we don’t need a monitor, but we like having it anyways.

I giggle, “Merry Christmas.” He grumbles a merry Christmas to me as he pulls up my nightgown. Mason kisses me again, then jumps off the bed. “Are you ready to take little man down to open his presents?”

“I think we should,” I answer, getting up and walking over to the dresser for a fresh change of panties. “I have the Nikon ready. By the way, when is your mom coming over?” I ask as I enter the bathroom.

“Harry said they were coming at nine,” he says, slipping on a tee shirt and staring at me as I lose my nightgown and turn on the shower.

“Good, we have an hour to get dressed. Can you bring him in while I get dressed and then we can rotate?”

“I’m dressed, but I’ll change the baby, and he and I will make coffee together. Now kiss me.” He crowds me, pinning me to the bathroom wall and crushing his mouth to mine and running his hands over my naked body briefly before dashing out of the room. Now it’s my turn to grumble.

I wash up and get downstairs just in time for my in-laws to hit the intercom for the gate.

“Merry Christmas!” she shouts. “Open the gate already.” I hit the button on the wall and head into the kitchen.

Mason comes in the living room laughing. “Sorry, you know I think she’s more excited for Liam’s First Christmas than we are.”

“I think so,” I laugh, taking my baby from his daddy. Mason bends down and kisses Liam before kissing me. Damn, she’s running up the stairs. He goes to the door to let her in. She squeals, kicking off her boots. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Mom, Harry.”

“How is it going?” Mason asks Harry. “Has she been up since two in the morning?”

“Close. She didn’t want to be late.” They laugh and go into the kitchen with everything his mom brought along with her.

“Let me see him,” she says after removing her coat and gloves. “He’s gotten so big. I missed him.”

“How was Hawaii?” They spent the past two weeks enjoying the sun and beach.

She smiles down at Liam in her arms and answers, “Beautiful. I loved it. You two should take a vacation there.”

“One day, but not any time soon.”

“Why? He’s the boss. He can take time off, can’t he?”

“Yes, but I’m not interested in traveling for a while.” I place my hand on my stomach and rub. I only found out last night, but Mason works quick.

“Oh my God, does he know?”

“Not yet.” I had a surprise for my husband in a little while. A personal gift to unwrap when we’re all alone. After getting the baby a bottle, we all gather around the tree and open presents. Most are for Liam, but Mason spoiled me as well. It’s times like these that I miss having my dad here. He would love Mason and our son.

We just received a phone call about my mother from the detective on the case. They were supposed to go to court the first week of the new year, but she’s finally pled guilty and has been sentenced to ten years for solicitation of murder or attempted murder. I can’t believe that’s all she got, but someone like her will suffer big time without her lavish lifestyle. I shouldn’t feel that way on Christmas, but I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Mason and James’s staff.

“Baby, are you okay?” Mason asks, taking me out of the morbid place I was heading down.

“I’m fine, Mason. Happy actually.” He grabs me and pulls me onto his lap since Grandma has the baby again.