Page 60 of An Undisputed Christmas
"He'll be here," I replied confidently. "Probably just making sure Thomas has all the presents loaded properly. You know how Dad gets?—”
The sound of car doors slamming in the driveway cut me off, followed immediately by Leo and Avery's delighted shrieks from the living room.
"GRANDPA!" they called in unison, abandoning their toy war to race toward the front door.
I heard it open, followed by Dad's distinctive laugh—warm, rich, and genuinely delighted. "There are my favorite troublemakers! Did you grow while I was gone? You both seem taller."
"We are!" Avery announced proudly, bouncing on her toes. “Mommy measured us yesterday, and I'm still taller than Leo!”
Leo made an adorable sound. "Grandpa says height doesn't matter. It's about what's in here." He tapped his chest seriously.
"Smart boy," came Dad's approving voice. "Now, I seem to remember someone promising to show me their new dinosaur collection..."
The sound of expensive Italian leather on marble announced his approach before he appeared in the kitchen doorway, and I felt that familiar surge of pride.
At forty-six, Dad was still everything I aspired to be—tall, strong, impeccably dressed even for Christmas morning, witheffortless Easton confidence.
Today, he wore perfectly tailored charcoal slacks and a cashmere Christmas sweater in deep forest green.
His silver-streaked platinum hair was styled with just enough casualness to look effortless, and everything about him screamed old money and pedigree.
"There's my boy," he greeted with that megawatt smile, stepping forward to pull me into one of his trademark embraces, firm and warm.
"Dad," I replied, welcoming his familiar embrace.
"DADDY EASTON!" Adrian practically shrieked, abandoning his cheese arrangement to launch himself at Dad like an overgrown puppy.
"You made it! Merry Christmas! Look at my hat—it lights up!"
Dad hugged Adrian easily, laughing as he was nearly bowled over by enthusiastic affection. "Adrian, you chaos gremlin. That sweater is absolutely hideous. I love it."
"I knew you would! Here, you need this."
Adrian yanked a spare Santa hat off the couch, because of course he had extras, and plopped it directly onto Dad's perfectly styled head, completely messing up his hair. "There! Now you're properly festive."
The sight of Wade Easton, billionaire business mogul, wearing a slightly crooked Santa hat with his expensive cashmere was priceless.
And the fact that he just smiled and adjusted it rather than removing it showed exactly why we all adored him.
"Much better," Dad joked, then turned to survey our Christmas chaos with obvious delight.
"Dad!" Jovie called from where she was elbow-deep in gingerbread construction, dusted with powdered sugar. "Thank god you're here. I have a very important job for you."
"At your service, sweetheart," he replied with a theatrical bow that made Leo and Avery giggle.
I watched as he made his way around the kitchen, greeting everyone with that perfect balance of warmth and respect.
"Alright," Jovie announced with barely contained glee, "we have a very special Christmas Eve tradition that requires your expertise."
"Oh no," Dad drawled suspiciously. "What are you plotting?"
"Gingerbread houses!” she announced, gesturing to the gingerbreadvillage components spread across the dining room table. "Leo and Avery specifically requested that Grandpa Wade be the chief architect."
The look on Dad's face was half resignation, half amusement as he took in the spread of icing, gumdrops, and gingerbread pieces awaiting his attention.
"You want me," he said slowly, “the man who built all your billion-dollar lifestyles, to construct a house made of cookies?"
"YES!" Leo and Avery answered in unison.
