Page 44 of That Thing You Brew
Yes, in Dani’s room. Come by if you want.
My heart leapt. Ididwant. And I wanted a good-night kiss.
Coming up now.
I jogged to the foyer and took the grand staircase two stairs at a time to the second-floor landing, and darted down the hall. I knocked lightly on Daniella’s door.
Here,I texted.
Come on in.
I slowly pushed open the door, and what I saw made my heart hurt.
In the best way. On the bed, against a mountain of pillows, my little sisters were asleep, cuddled up to Dani and Penny.
Penny beckoned me to her side of the bed. I squatted to hear her whisper. “I can scootch over a little if you want to watchThe Princess Diarieswith us.”
I looked at the big screen mounted over the fireplace. “One of my favorites,” I whispered back. With gentle care, she slid an arm behind Karina’s back and the other under her knees, easily lifting her up and placing her down carefully closer to Edyta.
Dani gave me a wide smile. “Crashing girls’ night again, big brother? You’re lucky we like you.”
“This is a regular occurrence?” Penny asked as I slid onto the bed next to her. She settled into the crook of my arm and looked up at me. “You’re a repeat offender, huh?”
I grinned widely. She wasn’t stuttering, and I loved her teasing me.
“Guilty as charged,” I confessed, laying a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Hey, no funny business,” Daniella warned. “Or you are o-u-t.”
“That spells out,” Edyta mumbled, her eyes still closed.
I snorted. “You talking in your sleep, Ditty?”
“I’m awake. Just my eyes are tired.” She turned into Daniella’s side. “Now shhhh, okay?”
“Okay,” I promised.
This was absolute heaven. Extraordinary contentment. All my favorite girls, right here.
My family.
I would fight to keep this, no matter what it took.
CHAPTER14
Penny
All that was missing was Tasha. She would love this. I wished more than anything that Xavier’s parents and sisters would come to Colorado for our wedding. Tasha and I could have the girls over to our place. Our pull-out sofa and small screen wouldn’t be the same, but we’d still have a great time.
Maybe someday.
When the movie ended, Xavier carried the little girls to their rooms. I hugged Daniella in the doorway. “Thank you for…” I gestured toward her room. “Everything.”
“Thankyoufor marrying my brother and saving our family’s legacy,” she replied, her tone thick with emotion and sincerity. “My parents … they’re happy here. They don’t feel the same way about Schwannenschloss that the rest of us do. It’s our magical fantasy escape. My sisters and I—in our eyes—you’re our hero, Penny.”
Stunned, I could only stare at her. “I d-don’t know what to say.” Where was Xavier? I needed to get back to my room before I bawled my eyes out.
“Just say ‘I do.’” Daniella wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so glad he chose you.”
