Page 5 of Turtle Dove

“Amelia. Holy hell,” Nora says with a mouthful of casserole. “This is amazing.”

“Do you really think so? I was worried about it since it’s completely vegan. I wanted to incorporate some plant based recipes into the December posts,” she says proudly.

“Well, you killed it, babe.” Nora eats another large bite.

The conversation over dinner is easy, but it takes a bit of a turn when Cadence finally finishes her meal and excuses herself to go watch some TV in the other room.

When she’s safely from the room, I speak up.

“Did Mills fill you all in with what is going on with Cadence?”

“No. Is everything all right?” Case says, sitting up straighter.

“Yes, yes, she’s all right,” Mills says, holding up a hand. “But a boy at school decided to tell her that Santa Claus isn’t real and that he’s for babies.”

“That little mother fucker!” Case and Nora say in complete unison.

“That’s exactly what we said!” Mills adds.

“Honestly, I’m not scared to terrify a little shit eating jerk of a kid if needed,” Nora says. “How dare he say that to her? Actually, what’s his name? I’m going to hunt him down.”

“Easy killer. How about we don’t commit a crime here? I’d hate to have to arrest you,” Case teases, and pinches her cheeks.

“Would you bring the handcuffs back?”

“Whoa whoa,” I say. “No sex talk at the table.”

“Hypocrite,” Mills whispers with a smile, and glances my way, clearly referencing how I had her bent over this very table forty-eight hours ago.

“So what are you going to do? What did you say to her?” Case asks, sliding his arm around the back of Nora’s chair.

“Well, I told her that Santa is real to those that believe in him,” I say. “She was really sad and dejected after that.”

“I want to do something big for her. Something to show her the magic of Christmas again, because right now, it’s missing from her eyes,” Amelia says, leaning her head on my shoulder.

“We’ll help in any way you need us to,” Nora adds. “You name it, it’s done. Christmas is special for a reason and no one should take that away from anyone.”

Chapter 3

Amelia

A few days have passed since Gray told me what happened to Cadence. I’ve tried not to mention it to her, because I don’t want to cause any unnecessary sadness, but the Christmas spark has left her little face.

Christmas is really soon, and I’m determined to right this wrong she feels.

I wander into the kitchen early on Monday morning, finding Cadence at the kitchen table eating aPopTart.

“Hey, kiddo.” I kiss the top of her head. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I woke up when Daddy got up. He told me to wake you when I wanted breakfast before he went to work, but I’m a big kid. I got it myself,” she says, biting into her breakfast.

“A big kid, huh?” I pop a capsule into my coffee maker and press start after sliding a mug underneath it.

“Yeah. Big kids make their own breakfast and don’t believe in Santa.”

And my heart is in pieces.

“Your Daddy told me what that boy at school said to you.” I sit across from her. “That was a very mean thing to say.”

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