Maisie
Christmas Eve
Mack and Darien were the last to arrive for our little “nucleus” get-together. Because the majority of us lived within walking distance of each other, we always made Christmas Eve our “family time.” The rest of our little group were already partying it up in the family room, including Dani and Daisy, who was now ten days old.
“Come in,” I said, waving the little family inside. “Harper and Ryan, all the other kids are downstairs if you want to go play. I have it on good authority that Flash has even set up the karaoke machine.”
“Whoo-hoo!” Harper squealed, dropping her coat and shoes in the middle of the foyer and dragging her sister downstairs.
Darien groaned, cleaning up the discarded mess. “Sorry, Maisie.”
“Let her go have fun,” I said, taking the coats and hanging them up. “You can make them mind their manners at your house.”
Mack smiled. “Thanks, babe.”
“Come on in. Cassidy’s already on her third nog. Damn, that girl is funny when she’s tipsy.”
“Right?” Darien said with a laugh.
“Shit, is that Minus?” Mack asked.
I nodded. Hatch’s sister, Cricket, had been ‘shackin’ up with the outlaw’ for years, and although Hatch respected him (sort of), he didn’t like the idea of his baby sister ‘givin’ away the milk for free.’ But Minus had surprised Cricket with an engagement ring on her birthday, so Hatch had decided to put his distrust of Minus aside for the moment.
What my husband didn’t realize, was the holdout for marriage had never been Minus... it was all Cricket. Those of us in the know, however, kept that little tidbit of information to ourselves. Because if we didn’t, Hatch would handcuff her and Minus and the nearest preacher, priest, or justice of the peace he could find.
“Darien!” Cassidy called, setting her glass on the coffee table and making an unsteady walk toward her. “You look amazing.”
She hugged Cassidy while I grabbed Mack and Darien drinks.
Darien shook her head. “Um, I can’t actually drink.”
“Are you sick?”
She smiled. “Nope.”
“Ohmigod! You’re pregnant,” Payton squealed and jumped from her place on Hawk’s lap to hug her.
“I am,” Darien confirmed, laying her hands on her stomach. “We’re really hoping for a boy.”
We descended upon the couple en-masse, hugging them, before Darien insisted on holding the new addition who was sleeping on Austin’s chest.
“Good luck prying her away from Daddy,” Dani said. “He’s stingy with the Daisy love.”
Darien held her arms out and flapped her hands. “Gimmie, Book.”
Booker reluctantly handed Daisy over to Darien who settled her on her chest and crooned while the baby continued to sleep.
“Did Gator settle in okay?” Mack asked as Hatch pulled me onto his lap in one of our overstuffed chairs.
“Yeah. He’s apparently lovin’ Savannah,” Hatch said. “I say we all head out there this summer. Road trip.”
Gator had decided he needed a change, and Doc had offered him a place at the Savannah chapter where he’d help him stay clean and give him a job. Gator said he was sick of the rain and jumped at the chance.
“Hell, yeah,” Mack said. “I’m in.”
As I snuggled closer to my man, the light caught my early Christmas gift, and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at it. My grandmother had given me a ring, years ago, that had seen better days, but I adored it... partly because it was from my Gran, but partly because it had a sunshine pattern which took on new meaning when I fell in love with Hatch.
Unbeknownst to me, he took it in to a jeweler and had several of the tiny diamonds replaced, along with the middle stone (which he replaced with my birthstone... a stunning sapphire). When it was finished and cleaned up, it was even better than the original. In the end, I’d had to admit he might have come very close to winning this round... very close. Hatch gave me a gentle squeeze and I kissed him, then we continued to drink and make merry until the kitchen timer went off to signal dinner was ready.
Because our men all cooked, they were the ones who headed into the kitchen to carve and prep the rest of the meal, while we gathered the kids and got everyone washed up and seated at the table.
Hatch sat at the head of our giant table and raised his glass of whiskey. “May your turkeys get basted and all your stockings be stuffed.”
“Connor,” I admonished, even though I was trying desperately to keep from laughing.
He grinned. “Okay, okay. Love all of you weirdos. Let’s eat!”
We dissolved into laughter as we slayed dinner, then put a serious dent in our liquor cabinet, and I beamed at my husband who’d brought so much happiness to my life.
Our road had led to joy, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.