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Laughter filled the room and Lily smiled through the ache of tears.
He reached for his glass, wiped absently at his eyes, and then faced his family again. He held up his glass and enveloped Lily and his sons in the warmth of his gaze. “To the first Colter grandchild. May he or she grow up surrounded by love. May he or she grow up to become as wonderful as my own children are. And may he or she have the resiliency and indomitable spirit of his mother. ”
“Hear, hear. ”
The soft murmurs of agreement broke Lily. She could no longer hold back the sobs that welled in her throat.
; “What would I do without all of you?” she asked tearfully. “No one has ever been as protected and loved as I have. My baby will be the luckiest child in the world. ”
“And the most spoiled,” Callie said dryly.
Laughter met her declaration. Holly let out a humph. “If I can’t spoil my grandchildren, who can I spoil?”
“Sit, everyone,” Adam said, motioning everyone down. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold. ”
Dishes were passed around. Chatter buzzed in Lily’s ears. Questions flew. There was already the question of names. So much that she hadn’t allowed herself to contemplate yet.
It felt good to have it out in the open. Real. Excitement squeezed her insides, and she slid a hand over her belly.
She was having a baby, and this time, she was surrounded by so much love and support that she’d never have to worry about being alone, struggling, desperate. Never again.
“Thank you, God,” she whispered, her eyes burning again. “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for sending me this family and for your love and mercy. I won’t forget. I’ll never forget. ”
After an hour of eating, lively discussion, and much laughter, the plates were finally pushed away.
Max cleared his throat and then stood, much as Lily had done at the start of the meal. “I have a surprise for Callie. Well, for everyone,” he amended. “It seems even more appropriate in light of all the good news we’ve recently received. We have much to be grateful for this year. I have the most won-derful, giving wife, and my sister is home where she belongs. Holly is well and back home where she belongs, and now we’ll welcome a new addition to the Colter family. ”
Sounds of agreement echoed on all sides.
“What surprise?” Callie squeaked out.
Max smiled indulgently. “Patience, dolcezza. You’ll all need to get your coats on and come with me. ”
Callie grabbed Lauren’s hand and dragged her toward the door. Her brothers laughed and shook their heads.
“Come on!” Callie said impatiently. “I’m dying to know what the surprise is!”
Everyone smiled and laughed as they trekked to the closet. Coats were pulled on. Holly was surrounded by her husbands, each of them determined that she wouldn’t have to walk solo through the snow. Lily’s husbands were every bit as attentive as they stepped outside.
Cold blew over Callie’s face and she closed her eyes, inhaling the clean mountain air. Snowflakes danced across her nose and she laughed out loud, mesmerized by the magic of the night.
Max directed them down the pathway that led to her and Max’s house. But they stopped in the meadow, halfway between the two houses. He leaned down to kiss Callie, his mouth melting sweetly over the coldness of her lips. Then he drew away and pulled a glow stick from his pocket. After breaking it so that it lit up, he waved it in the air before returning it to his pocket.
There was a silent pause as everyone waited breathlessly. There was anticipation in the air and the only illumination cast on the meadow was the thin slash of moonlight that hovered over distant trees.
Suddenly lights twinkled and lit up, cascading from tree to tree, from bush to bush. Shapes came to life in the meadow. A Christmas tree. Several Christmas trees. Angels. Reindeer. A manger scene.
Callie caught her breath, dazzled by the display of lights, as if a million fireflies had suddenly descended.
“Oh Max,” she breathed in a soft voice. “It’s magic. ”
Lauren stood next to Callie, her eyes wide. Everyone seemed transfixed, even Callie’s fathers and brothers, who surely were in on the surprise. Her mom stared in wonder, mouth open as she stared from tree to tree.
The meadow had been transformed into a winter wonderland worthy of any childhood fantasy.
In the distance, the sound of sleigh bells chinked softly, growing louder, the rhythm in sync with the trot of horses. Callie whirled around, straining to see. And then a six-horse-drawn sleigh burst into the clearing. The horses were adorned with bells. The sleigh was shiny red, and it reflected the light of thousands of bulbs.
Callie gaped as the sleigh drew even closer. She turned to Max, her mouth working up and down, but nothing would come out. Max chuckled.
Callie flew into his arms, hitting him with such force that they both fell back into the snow. Max’s back hit the ground, and he wrapped his arms around her to cushion her fall. He laughed helplessly as she peppered his face with excited, breathless kisses.
Around them, the rest of the family laughed, the sound joyous in the air. Lily clapped her hands in delight and Lauren’s smile was so brilliant that it made everyone stop and take notice. How long had it been since she’d really smiled? With everything inside her. With her whole heart.
Gone for a moment were the shadows of her past and in its stead was a beautiful, sparkling young woman.
“Let me up, dolcezza. We have a sleigh ride to take. ”
“All of us?” Callie asked as she got up and literally danced around Max in the snow.
Max stood and brushed the snow from his clothing. “All of us. The sleigh is big enough, and what is Christmas Eve without a sleigh ride?”
