Page 11 of Turtle Dove

I don’t give her a chance to reply before I back away, walking into the living room with a smirk. I can even hear the frustrated whine that leaves her lips.

“Need a blanket or anything?” I ask Cadence; as I take my seat on the sofa, book in hand.

“I’m okay. The hot chocolate will keep me warm.”

“Good point. So, what do you think Santa will be bringing you tonight?” I will her to look at me with those excited eyes like she has in years past, but not this time. She just answers with a shrug. “You think he’s coming...right?”

“I haven’t heard the bells yet.”

“Have you been trying extra hard?”

“I’ve been trying my hardest, Daddy,” she says with sass as only a five-year-old can.

Mills enters the room gracefully, balancing three mugs of piping hot chocolate in her hands.

“I come with treats,” she says as she passes them out. “I even put extra special magic sprinkles on yours, Cadence.”

I glance to see what she’s talking about. There’s green and red glitter all over the whipped cream.

“Magic?” Cadence asks excitedly.

“Of course. It’s called the Magic of Christmas.”

“What does it do?” she asks, as she takes a sip, leaving a whipped cream mustache behind.

“It helps you absorb the magic of Christmas again.” Mills takes her seat next to me and I slide my arm around her, pulling her in closer.

“Mmmmmm. It even tastes magical!” Cadence exclaims.

“See,” I say. I pull out my phone and send Case the text—letting him know that we are ready—then I put it down on the arm of the sofa. “Shall we read, ladies?”

“We shall,” Mills says.

I open the book and begin to read, but my mind wanders to the scene around me.

My beautiful daughter, questioning her beliefs of the Christmas spirit at such a young age, and my fiancée... my Mills... doing everything she can to recapture the happiness and magic of the season for my child. I never thought I could love her more than I did before... and then she fell in love with Cadence, and Cadence fell in love with her.

This is my forever. This is where I was always meant to end up. Even through the madness we had to wade through to get here, this was always supposed to be our final destination. This is how I know I was always on the right path. It led me back to Mills.

Chapter 6

Amelia

We are nearing the end of our story when it happens: the sweet, metallic, melodic ping of a bell.

Cadence gasps. “Did you hear that?” The sound jingles again.

I peek at Gray then back to her. “Hear what?”

“That!” she exclaims.

“What does it sound like?” I ask with a smile on my face.

“Bells, Melia! Bells. Is it THE BELLS?” She is looking out the window.

“I think it might be. I told you. If you really believe and you really listen, you’ll hear the bells. That means Santa is close by,” I tell her.

Grayson is just sitting back, watching the two of us interact. I glance over at him and he is in awe, smiling ear to ear then mouthing he loves me.

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