Page 86 of Hot Puck
These presents are tangible evidence of that want—of Mitch’s and Sienna’s love for their children.
“Hey, what’s all this?” Chase asks, stopping beside me, nudging my elbow with his. “Did you buy more stuff?” he whispers so the twins don’t hear.
“No.” I turn to look at him, make sure his gaze is on mine before I say, “I found them in your old house. They’re from your parents.”
His eyes go wide, his head whipping around to look at the brightly wrapped gifts. “You wrapped them?”
“They would want you to have them.”
His hand bumps mine, then turns and grips. The hold is tight, but not painful, and I give him a reassuring squeeze.
“I can either be here with you all when you open them or make myself scarce.”
The fingers laced with mine tighten. “Don’t you dare go anywhere.”
I can hear the emotion in his words, see it on his face, in his eyes, and when he tugs me with him toward his sisters, I go because there isn’t anywhere I want to be than here with them.
Chase clears his throat. “Cass. Stell.” The girls glance up and instantly stop what they’re doing. “Can you guys come sit for a minute? I need to tell you something about the presents.”
It’s easy to see they understand the gravity of the moment. Crystal in particular, is very sensitive, and picks up on a lot of emotion in others.
And that makes me wonder if they were aware of the friction between me and their brother after all. Not that it matters now. We’ve moved past that and found our footing again as co-parents.
“Is this about Gem adopting us?”
Cassidy’s question has Chase and I looking at each other. We told the girls of our intention when we filled out the paperwork—asked if they would be okay with it. But they haven’t mentioned it since.
“No.” Chase lets go of my hand and holds out both his to his sisters. “Come here.”
Once they’re settled on the couch either side of him, he keeps their hands in his and takes a deep breath. His gaze meets mine and I lower myself to the seat across from them. Apart but here in case they need or want me.
“When we packed up the house, Gem found some things in Mom and Dad’s room. Things they’d put aside for us.” He raises an eyebrow at me, and I nod. “She knows they would want us to have those, so she kept them aside.”
“Where are they?” Cassidy looks between me and her brother with curiosity, but Crystal has tears rolling down her cheeks, her glassy eyes on mine.
“You wrapped them,” she whispers.
“Yes.”
“And put them under the tree.”
I give her a nod. I can’t speak. My throat has gone tight, my gaze blurry.
“Thank you.” She slips her hand from her brother’s and stands up. “Will you sit with me when I open mine?”
“Of course.” I hop up and move over to her. “Where do you want to sit?”
“There.” She points to the pile on the left of the tree. “They’re the ones with my name on them.”
I put my arms around her, pull her in for a hug. “Want to unwrap now or eat breakfast first.”
“It’ll take too long to make?—”
“I made pancakes.” I cut Chase off. “They’re in the oven keeping warm.”
“Oh.” He frowns. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Because it was your night to get up with Candace.”
