Page 42 of Under the Mistletoe

“Merry Christmas, Thomas.”

Epilogue

TWO YEARS LATER

“Can you get me some pickles, too?”

“Yeah. How about some bananas and some peanut butter?”

“Yes to the peanut butter, but a hard no to the bananas. That’s just gross.”

“Says the woman who ate pepperonis and popcorn last night.”

“I can’t help it that this kid of yours has me craving all this crazy stuff.”

Beck was sitting on the couch with her feet propped up on a pillow, watching a movie while I was in the kitchen making her yet another crazy snack. I was just finishing up with the last apple when Ava plopped down beside her and pressed her hands against her mother’s very round belly.

She scrunched her nose as she asked, “When’s he coming out of there?”

“Not for a few more weeks, kiddo.”

“That’s too long,” Ava huffed. “He’s been in there long enough.”

“You’re telling me,” Beck scoffed. “I’m ready for him to come too, but he needs a little more time.”

“But your belly is sooo big.”

I couldn’t help but laugh from across the room, earning myself a glare from Beck. “I’m very aware.”

Ava ignored her and turned to me with one of her looks. “Sorry, kiddo. You’re just gonna have to be patient, okay?”

Ava groaned dramatically, flopping back against the couch. “So stupid.”

Beck grinned, her eyes twinkling as she looked at me. “She’s got your patience.”

“Yeah, well, she's got your flair for the dramatic.”

Beck cocked her brow, then turned to Ava with a mischievous smile on her face. “You know, when we were kids, I used to have the biggest crush on your dad.”

It had been months since I adopted Ava, but it still got to me when either of them called me Dad. So much so that I almost missed it when Beck said, “But he didn’t even like me.”

“He didn’t?”

“Nope.” Beck’s eyes skirted over to me, and I could tell she was biting back her smile as she told our daughter, “He completely ignored me and acted like I didn’t even exist.”

“What?” Ava gasped. “Why would he do that?”

“Oh, here we go…”

“Oh, it was awful,” Beck whined. “I followed him around like a lost puppy, and he wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“That’s so mean!”

“Yeah, it was.” She pretended to wipe a tear from her eye. “He broke my heart.”

“Do not listen to your mother.” I carried the plate of food into the living room, and my chest tightened at the sight of my beautiful wife. I couldn’t imagine loving her more, but she was pulling a fast one, and I wasn’t going to let her get away with it. “She’s not giving you the full story.”

“What’s the full story?”

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