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"I'd say it's fine, but I'll take that as my cue to go and check on the food," Elsie replies as she hurries from the sitting room.
"You're so embarrassing," Harper elbows him.
"Me?" His eyebrows shoot up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're the one who got so horny you dragged me into my old room twenty minutes ago. Do you honestly think Theo didn't hear you screaming from the kitchen? You're lucky Dad was outside with Elsie."
"No one says 'horny' anymore, Kent. You sound like you're filming a bad porno from the '70s."
"Well, I don’t fuck like I'm from the '70s," he smirks wickedly. "Need a reminder? I can thrust you into this century before we break bread."
"It’s a decade, Kent. Not a century," she corrects, rolling her eyes.
Kent's smirk widens, "Give me ten minutes, and I'll make it feel like a century. Your orgasm won’t stop, Siren.”
"Oh, dear lord." I close my eyes. "Do you want me to try this concoction or not!" I snap.
"Ignore him," Harper says, turning her back to Kent. "Drink up, buttercup."
I part my lips and let only a drop touch my tongue.“Mmm,” I murmur. Is it bad? Not exactly. Is it good? Questionable.
I part my lips again and take an actual sip, adding,“Interesting.”
Why is it gritty?
Harper beams happily.“I’ll take it,” she pivots.“See, I told you she’d like it,” she tells Kent.
Kent nudges his head towards me,“She’s turning green as we speak.”
Harper whirls around, seeing I’m just fine, then rushes at Kent, trying to smack him. He sidesteps, and in a quick, fluid motion, he’s got her back pressed to his chest. Bending down, he nibbles on her neck and whispers something in her ear, which causes her cheeks to flush.
"Excuse us, Pops. I need to speak with my woman." Kent grins, then he lifts Harper up and over his shoulder as he smacks her ass.
I glance down and giggle into the drink.
Awkwardly, this turns out to be one of the best Christmases I’ve had. It’s hard to believe I’d ever think that after losing my parents and Peter.
I’m married to the man I love and pregnant with our twins. My brother Henry is here, and our relationship is tighter than ever before. My best friend, who fought love for so long, is finally giving in. Harper’s head over heels, and I pray it stays that way.
Bad things might come in a baker's dozen, but good things last much longer, and their taste is one you can savor for years to come. I place both hands on my stomach and feel one of the twins kick. I grin and pray that heaven exists, and I hope that my parents and Peter are rejoicing that Henry and I, along with my new family, are all healing.
Chapter 59
Julian
I find my dad standing in the drinking room—yeah, he's old school and has one of those. He's either sitting in his old, cracked leather chair that overlooks the ranch or near the fireplace. This evening, he's standing at the fireplace, looking at an old family portrait we had taken when Mom was still alive. Dad never removed it, nor had it reframed. There's a crack in the glass from when Theo and I were trying to teach Kent how to throw a football years ago. Mom was pissed because she had just put the frame on the mantel. She paid for some wood carver to custom-make that frame. It's got all our initials carved into the wood, and the burnt wood effects give it this cool, rustic vintage vibe.
I watch Dad daydreaming at the photo and wonder what he's thinking.
"Hi, Son," he says without turning. His lips tug up as he smiles at the picture before he turns to face me.
Was he smiling at Mom?
"Hey, Dad.” I close the distance, and he hugs me. It’s a longer hug than when I was a child, almost as if Dad thinks I'm more precious to him now.
"It’s good to see you," he pats my back as he looks up at me.
One day, I’ll be looking up at my boy, no longer the hero in his eyes but the aging parent he has to care for.
My eyes are drawn back to that frame around the edges where the vine of flowers creates a floral motif.
