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“Actually, you’re right on time,” Elle says. “I’d like you to meet my youngest son, Sonny Quinn Miller.”
Quinn isn’t one to show emotion, except for now. He nods and his lips clench. “Wow, he has my name.”
“Of course he does, Quinny,” Elle says. “Did you really think your sisters would have five kids in the matter of weeks and not give one of them your name?”
He looks from Elle to me, with tears tipping the rim of his eyes, and then at our dad. “Thank you.”
Dad chuckles. “For what?”
“For this,” he says as he looks around. “For giving me this life when you could’ve easily shut the door and never look back, and for giving me this family.” Now he’s looking at our mom. “Being your son, their brother, and now an uncle is literally the best part of my life.”
Elle lets out a sob. “Well shit, Quinny. You can’t say emo shit to a woman who just had a baby.”
“Two,” I point out.
“Right, what she said.”
I move to one side of Elle and Quinn goes to the other. “No matter what, it’s always us,” Elle says and then looks down at her boys. “Whenever I mess up, don’t you worry. Your auntie P and uncle Quinny will take care of you. Believe me, their phone numbers will be the first thing you memorize.”
We visit for another half hour and then Noah and I head home, with Quinn in tow. Once we get back to the house, Noah and I head upstairs and find Liam sleeping in Juniper’s room and Josie in the boys’. We give them the news and tell them we’ll see them tomorrow.
Noah sees his parents out and then finds me leaning against the door jamb to the boys’ room.
“What are you doing?”
“Waiting for the clock to strike midnight.”
He looks at his phone and after a moment shows me the screen. “Now what?”
“Now, we wish our children a Merry Christmas Eve and then we go to bed.”
“I like that idea.”
We start with Maverick and then Jace, whispering to them to not wake them. I head toward Juniper’s room but pause in the doorway when I hear Quinn. We stand there and listen to him read to her A Visit from St. Nicholas. Noah and I listen to the entire story and then slowly step into the room. Quinn’s in the rocking chair, with Juniper on his chest. His eyes are closed. It’s like they’re snuggling.
“Do you want me to take her?”
Quinn shakes his head. “I’m good. We’re just chilling.”
“She’ll be up to eat soon.”
“I’ll come get you when she starts fusing. If you don’t mind. I’m going to stay here with her.”
“I don’t mind,” I tell him. “Is everything okay?”
He doesn’t say anything for a long beat and then nods.
“Merry Christmas Eve, Quinn.”
“Merry Christmas Eve, Peyton.”
I close the door behind me and look up at Noah. He brushes his knuckles against my cheeks and then leans down to kiss me. “I’m saying this now before I forget, but this was the best damn Christmas of my life.”
I can’t help but smile. “I didn’t buy you anything this year.”
“Nothing will ever compare to Maverick, Jace and Juniper. They’re the best gift of all. Besides you, of course.” He kisses me again, turning me into a soft pile of nothingness.
Noah takes my hand, and we head toward our room. Seconds after the door closes, Maverick’s monitor lights up with a scream. Followed by Jace.
