Page 42 of Harley

“See what Santa has brought you,” he teased as he slid a second tray out from under the one he’d carried. He lifted the domes off the plates and revealed a full English breakfast. Harley put one plate onto the second tray with a glass of orange juice and a hot chocolate. After handing it to me, Harley uncovered his own plate and sat on the bed.

“Happy Christmas, Oakley. My gift will be to make sure you get everything you wish.”

“Happy Christmas, Harley, I hope your dreams and wishes come true,” I replied.

“Tuck in, there’re presents downstairs,” Harley said, doing just that.

???

Forty minutes later, after showering and dressing quickly, Harley carried the presents to the upstairs long gallery before collecting me.

I was unacquainted with the long gallery and was somewhat surprised to discover a long room that ran the length of the Hall.Paintings and tapestries hung on the wall and the enormous windows had shutters on them. A massive Christmas tree stood at one end, almost disappearing under the presents.

All the Michaelsons had gathered in there.

“Damn!” I muttered in shock.

“There’re a lot of us,” Harley replied, laughing and wheeling me in. He settled me near the tree as Drake sat on the floor and started handing gifts out.

An hour later, there was an explosion, and everyone froze.

“It’s Christmas!” Phoe hissed.

A second explosion boomed.

Phoe leapt to her feet and headed for a pair of shutters. Viscously yanking them open, she threw open a set of double doors revealing a balcony. Jodie and Serenity dashed over, Jodie pushing me there as the adult men rushed downstairs.

“Shit! Exploding turkeys!” Jodie shrieked as a fryer exploded below us, and a turkey flew in the air, splattering everywhere. I gaped as the brothers appeared from different exits, all carrying guns.

“Duck!” Serenity squealed as another fryer blew up.

“Boom!” Dante bellowed from where he watched from a window.

“Move away from those windows!” Phoe hissed. “A turkey might come through one!”

I couldn’t disagree, as all of a sudden, fryers exploded simultaneously. The booms made me think I was in a war zone. Arguing began downstairs, and Phoe backed away.

“Back to the presents!” she growled out, and nobody argued, although amusement hung in the air.

Harley called out from below, “Don’t worry, Mom—”

“The prospects have got it covered,” Phoe finished grimly.

“Yup,” he agreed.

For the next few hours, chaos ruled as everyone opened their gifts. I was shocked to receive presents from the older Michaelsons. Harley also bought me some gifts, and there was a beautiful ballgown from Phoe and Drake. Harley had bought me some diamond jewellery to wear with it, too, and I gaped in shock.

“Oh, Harley, I can’t accept this!” I exclaimed.

“Sure you can,” he replied dismissively. That took care of that argument.

“The dress is stunning,” I said to Phoe.

“I love buying gowns like that. It’s nice to have more daughters to buy for,” Phoe said, beaming at Molly, Demi, and me. “And I can’t wait to shop for little girl dresses when I get a granddaughter!”

“Mom!” Carmine and Tye exclaimed together. Harley merely rolled his eyes.

“You’re not exactly subtle,” Drake informed Phoe, who shrugged.

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