Page 135 of Marry Lies
Smiling, I move her to the log I have set up for us to sit on, right underneath the sign she ordered that says,Happy Holidays from the Ravage Family.
“You sit down. I’ll bring him over.”
“Joy,” she grumbles.
I slowly rouse Lucifer, and he bleats softly. “Merry Christmas, little guy,” I tell him, patting the back of his head. “Let’s take a quick picture, yeah? Don’t mind your peevish mother. It’s not your fault she can’t separate reality from a silly children’s show—”
“Excuse me, I can hear you!” Estelle says loudly from nearby.
I guide Lucifer out of the little house and go to sit next to my wife, pulling the two green hats out of my pocket as well as some treats.
I quickly hold my hand with the treats out, smiling at Estelle as she frowns at me.
“Come on,” I tease. “Smile for the camera.”
I get Lucifer to stand between us—much to Estelle’s chagrin. I even manage to get a picture of him in his little hat.
After we get our shot, Estelle hovers near the front door of his house as I pack up the tripod.
“Ready?” I ask.
She looks at me before looking back at Lucifer’s house.
“It’s just…” she trails off, biting her lower lip. “It’s Christmas.”
I cock my head. “So I’ve heard. I still have the disgusting taste of mince pies stuck in my mouth.”
Her mouth drops open. “Hey. I’ll have you know that those are a very festive English treat on Christmas morning.” I laugh as she looks at Lucifer’s door. “I just meant that…it’s Christmas. And it’s supposed to get cold tonight. Maybe…” She swallows, and I see her fists curl at her sides. “Maybe he should come into the castle for the night?”
My lips twitch as I walk over to her. “Is that so? Even with his glowing red eyes?”
She growls as she turns to face me. “Not. Funny.”
I laugh as I pull her into a tight hug. “I’m sure he’d love to come inside for the night.”
“Not—not in our living quarters,” she clarifies. “But…” she chews on her lip. “Maybe we can make him a warm little home for the night in one of the guest rooms—”
I lean down and kiss her before she can say anything else, and my heart swells with pride.
“You’re amazing,” I tell her, my breath against her lips.
“One night,” she mumbles, her hands coming to my collar and curling around the material. “Just one night.”
“Fine by me.”
* * *
Later that night, my face hurts from smiling so much. Chase and Juliet are over, as are Liam and Zoe, who is home for Christmas. I met her briefly at her parents’ funeral, and she seems to be doing well. She’s mature and charming. Her time at her boarding school and the unfortunate events of a couple of years ago have turned her into a very intelligent young woman. She tells us all about her upcoming trip to Mexico this April for her eighteenth birthday, and when I look up at Liam, surprised he’d allow her on a trip like that, he just glares at me before staring at the wall.
Like hell he’s going to let her go on that trip.
Chase and Juliet tell us all about her new position at a university in Northern California—where they’re headed in January.
Lucifer bleats happily anytime someone laughs, and it’s really fucking adorable.
Estelle jumps every single time, and I think I fall even more in love with her.
Once we’ve all filled up on our Christmas feast and those disgustingly sweet mince pies, Estelle and I say goodbye as people filter out of the living room to the three guest rooms we’ve made up for them—one for Chase and Juliet, one for Liam, and one for Zoe.
