Page 56 of An Undisputed Christmas
The mountain air was sharp and crisp as we loaded the last of our bags into the SUV, our breath creating small clouds in the early morning chill.
I glanced over at Estelle as she adjusted her scarf, her cheeks pink from the cold, and felt that familiar surge of possessive heat that came from watching her.
She'd been checking her phone obsessively since we'd woken up, scrolling through the photos and videos Jovie had been sending of Leo and Avery's adventures while we'd been away.
Three years since she'd adopted Leo, and she still couldn't stand being away from him for more than a day or two.
"You ready to go home, princess?" I asked, sliding my arm around her waist and pulling her against my side.
"More than ready," she replied, leaning into my warmth. "I miss him so much it actually hurts. Is that normal?"
"Completely normal," I assured her, pressing a kiss to her temple. “He’s lucky to have someone who loves him that much."
The drive to the private airstrip took us through winding mountainroads dusted with fresh snow, the early morning sun casting everything in golden light.
In the backseat, I kept Estelle tucked against my side, one arm around her shoulders while she dozed lightly against my chest.
My phone buzzed with a text from Jovie, and I had to bite back a smile as I read it.
Estelle stirred against me, blinking sleepily. "Everything okay?"
"Everything's perfect," I murmured, tucking my phone away before she could see it. "Just Jovie confirming our flight details."
She hummed contentedly and settled back against me, unaware of the surprise waiting for her at the other end of our flight.
I'd been coordinating with Jovie to make sure Leo would be at the executive airport when we landed, knowing how much Estelle has been missing him.
Once we reached the jet, I caught Estelle looking wistful as she stared out at the snow-covered mountains we were leaving behind.
"Going to miss it?" I asked.
"A little," she admitted. "It was perfect, wasn't it? Just us, no outside world, no responsibilities except taking care of each other."
"We'll come back," I promised, meaning it. "Maybe make it an annual tradition. Our Christmas getaway."
Her smile was radiant. "I'd like that."
The interior of the jet was exactly what I'd paid for—luxury incarnate, with plush cream leather seats, polished wood accents, and enough space for all six of us to spread out comfortably.
"This never gets old," Adrian sighed appreciatively, sprawling out in his seat. “The jet is always the way to go."
“You used to be scared of it,” Connor snorted dryly, referring to when Adrian was seventeen and had never flown before.
"That was character building," Adrian replied with dignity.
As we taxied down the runway, I felt Estelle's hand find mine, her fingers interlacing with mine in that unconscious way she had when she was content.
The past few days had been exactly whatwe'd all needed—time away from the city, and space to just be together without the weight of the world pressing down on us.
But as much as I'd enjoyed our mountain retreat, I was eager to get home. Eager to see Leo's face when he spotted us walking through the terminal, eager to hear Avery's delighted shriek when she realized we were back, eager to gather all the people I loved most under one roof for Christmas.
Family.The word still felt strange sometimes, even after all this time. For years, family had just been Dad and Jovie, then Connor and Adrian had been added to the mix.
But now... now it included Estelle and Leo, Sierra and Isla, and even Toffee, who'd adopted all of us as honorary dads.
The flight passed quickly, with Estelle dozing against my shoulder while I handled some calls and the others either napped or listened to Adrian’s stories.
When the pilot announced our descent, I felt that familiar thrill of homecoming, amplified by the knowledge of what was waiting for us on the ground.
