Dressed in a fresh T-shirt after Edge changed the bed sheets while I showered, I've enjoyed a sleep-in. He wore me out; I'm surprised I didn't wake up when he got up. He left a note on his pillow telling me to call him when I was awake, but I've been enjoying a few extra moments to myself thinking about all the things Edge did to me this morning and my lovely gifts. This handsome man has turned my life upside down.
I grin stupidly to myself because I'm deliriously happy. The little ones are alive, and as soon as more tests can be done to make sure they don't have any detectable health problems, I'll feel a lot better about all the things I've put them through. Even if there are health issues, I will do everything I can for them. I'll talk to Dr. Castille about all that, but for now, I'm going to enjoy today. All my fears can be put temporarily into a box and unpacked another day.
For today everything is perfect in my world.
Those words lasted about two seconds before there are two knocks on Ghost’s door.
I sit up, resting my back against the headboard.
"Come in," I call out. Assuming it isn't Edge who is knocking. The door swings open and Boxer is smiling at me.
"Good to see you awake, love. Merry Christmas! Do you mind if I come in for a few moments?"
"Of course you can and Merry Christmas," I reply with enthusiasm because I do love saying it. Boxer is such a handsome older man. He's wearing designer jeans and a navy, tight-fitting knit sweater. I'm so lucky to have found him in my life. "I come bearing gifts." He's trying to be upbeat, but I can see there's something on his mind.
"All my gifts are under the big tree in the great room for everybody," I tell him as he comes in holding a big red box with a little green one on top, which he slides onto the bed. “When I found out Hazard was staying a little longer than the others, I got Phoenix to buy him a gift from me. I'm a bit nervous because she had a mischievous grin on her face when she told me it was all organized. Come to think of it; she had the same look on her face when she said she had Ghost's present organized too.”
He drags the wingback chair from the far corner of the room over to the bed while talking. “I’m sure they will both love your gifts no matter what she picked out for them.” I do hope so, but the grin on her face told me otherwise. What has she done?
He sits in the chair and goes to cross his legs and grumbles to himself about the moon boot. There's a long awkward pause, which makes me want to fill that space with chatter. "How much longer do you have to wear the boot for?" Well, that wasn't the best thing I could have filled with the void. Edge is supposed to be wearing his, but he keeps taking it off when we are in Ghost's room together. I think he's afraid he'll hurt me with it; otherwise, he thumps around Ghost's house where Dr. Castille can keep an eye on all the guys, including Lincoln whose leg is in a cast and should be resting more than he does. She's got her hands full with these men.
“Another couple of months or so, but I’m used to thumping about the place,” he says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach all the way. Something is definitely on his mind, especially as he couldn’t wait to do the gift giving downstairs around the big tree.
I know it's been very hard on Boxer nearly losing me and then finding out the man who shot me is now sharing a bed with me. I want to talk to him about it, but I don't know what to say. All I know is I'm happy with Edge in my life, and I don't want to lose Boxer and Miss Catherine. I won't.
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re really in here while Edge is elsewhere,” I tell him softly. “We can exchange gifts in the great room after you tell me what’s on your mind.”
"You are very perceptive, love." His eyes crinkle at the sides in worry.
Boxer stares at the two gifts he's brought in, but there's something other than gift-giving on his mind. He's not relaxed. He takes in air opening his mouth as though he wants to spit it out, but then shuts it again.
His hands are now clenched together, the knuckles whitening. If he had lasers for eyes, they would be boring holes right through me as he decides what the next words are to come out of his mouth.
“What is it, Boxer?” Now I’m worried. “You can tell me. If you’re worried about ruining my first Christmas, then don’t. I can handle whatever you have to say.” And then panic spears through me. “Is it the babies?”
My hand is on my belly, and I'm starting to rock back and forth. Please, not the babies. "Did Dr. Castille find something on the sonogram?" I need Edge. My eyes are darting around the room.
Boxer’s out of the chair, curses a string of expletives under his breath as he pulls me in for a comforting hug, my face pressed up against his chest. "No, love, nothing bad about the babies, what Evelyn told you both yesterday is still the same. It's not about the little ones," he says against the side of my head. “I’ll hold you until your mind and body calm, but I would never lie to you about them.”
“Thank God,” I choke out. “You had me—”
"I know, Whisper. I'm not doing a good job of having a talk with my daughter on her first Christmas, but something has been on my mind for a few days now. You okay for me to let you go?"
I release the grip I have on his back, signaling him I’m okay. We move apart.
He rubs his hand back and forth over his head. He’s beating himself up on the inside over something.
“Boxer—?”
“Love—”
“No secrets, no lies…remember? If it’s about Edge or me, I need to know.”
“Fuck…FUCK!” Boxer growls like a bear, not at me, but at himself. He’s clearly at war with his conscience.
I put my hand on his left arm. “Let me help you out. You want to tell me, but it isn’t your place to tell me? Am I close?”
He grimaces at me. “You got it right, love.”
“So regardless of you telling me now, I’m still going to find out?”
“Yep!” He looks pained keeping his mouth shut.
I act on a gut feeling. "Would I want to know now, before Edge so that I can be there for him?"
“Yes,” he grinds out, his jaw tight.
“But it’s not your story to tell?” I know my assumption is correct before he answers.
“Yes.”
“But as my father figure, you want me to know?” I keep prodding.
“Yeah. I want you to know in advance because I would want to be there for Evelyn if it was her receiving the news.
Shit!
“I’m all ears.”
And then he told me what he could.
Oh.
My.
God!