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“What’s going on?” Summer’s small voice interrupted the tense moment.
“Hey, squirt.” Ace’s voice was soft with affection and exhaustion.
“Get your brothers into bed, and we will come wish you all goodnight.” I pulled out of Ace’s grasp to look at our oldest who had fear swimming in those blue eyes.
How much had she heard?
“Oh, uh, okay.” She turned and ran out of the room, her blonde ponytail swishing behind her.
“We’ll be right up,” I called, turning back to Ace.
“I don’t want to fight with you over this.” I dropped my head to his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath my ear.
“Then don’t. His decision is not our battle, Celine.”
“He’s my brother. I can’t just let him leave his family when there has to be another way. Amber can’t take care of five kids on her own. Wow, Ace, I can barely handle three.”
“We will help however we can if he does go. Don’t you worry about that, sweet girl. You’ve always had such a big heart.”
“It doesn’t feel like it’s almost Christmas,” I eventually mumbled. I wasn’t feeling merry at all. In fact, I was feeling like the Grinch.
“We have to make the best out of it. We are blessed to have three, healthy children and your parents still with us. Never forget the important things.”
He pulled my face off his chest and lowered his face closer to mine, stealing my lips in a passionate kiss. His fingers curled into my messy hair, and I clung to his shirt, fisting the thick material.
“I love you,” he whispered on a shuddering breath.
“More,” I whispered. I brushed my nose against his, savoring this sweet moment.
Charlie was already passed out by the time we reached his bedroom, his light snores filling the quiet air. We snuck into Jessie’s room. He had his nose stuck in a book about Santa Claus.
“Hi, Daddy.” Jessie looked up from his book, almost the carbon copy of his father. Those blue eyes just about pierced my soul.
“Hey, buddy. What are you reading?” Ace sat on the corner of his bed as I tidied up the messy room.
“This new book. There are pictures.” Jessie showed his dad the cartoon pictures of Santa.
“Did you know Santa is coming here soon?” Ace asked him. I smiled.
“Yes, Daddy. I’m a good boy.” Jessie laughed. My smile widened into a grin.
“Come on. It’s bedtime, my sweet boy.” I tucked him into the bed and kissed his head and then his cute, little, button nose. “I love you, Jessie baby,” I whispered. He grabbed my face with his chubby hands and held me there for a wet kiss.
“I love you, Mommy.”
Ace kissed his head and then ruffled his hair, making my heart skip a beat. Something about Ace as a dad had always affected me. It had to be the hottest version of him.
I knocked on Summer’s closed door that had a big DO NOT COME IN sign plastered to the white door in neon-pink letters.
“Come in,” she called out. We entered our daughter’s messy haven. She looked up from her phone and eyed us carefully.
“Who are you texting?” I asked immediately, and she flushed.
“It better not be a boy from the blush on those cheeks, Summer.” Ace’s body was tense behind me. He wasn’t ready for his little girl to grow up just yet.
“I was texting Mads. Her parents are fighting again.” I shared a look with Ace over my shoulder before I sat on Summer’s bed. “I was telling her you guys are fighting, too. Won’t you just tell us what is wrong? We know it has to do with money.”
This was exactly what I didn’t want – exactly what I had been struggling to protect her from. I never wanted her to know about this. I was hoping we would have it fixed before then.
