At dinner, Cam noticed how easy it seemed for Isabel and his sister to get along. After they had all eaten and watched a special Christmas Eve musical performance, his nephews had left with their friends and his sister had moved next to Isabel.

Isabel laughed. “That is not true.”

Alicia laughed. “Yes, Cam seriously thought I could put a curse on objects.”

Isabel turned to him. “You really did?”

Of course, the first thing that went through his mind was Kat. And that dang belt buckle she’d thought he’d put a curse on. “Yep.” He grinned.

It was hard to be a normal person sometimes, he reflected, and live in the moment and still treasure his wife.

As Isabel and Alicia laughed some more and told more stories, Craig scooted his chair next to him and leaned in. “I like her.”

It surprised Cam that Craig had even offered this up. It was not his style to get involved or say much. Ever.

Cam picked up his water and took a sip. “She’s been a good friend.”

Craig gave him a look that told Cam he didn’t believe that’s all she was, but Cam didn’t respond. Luckily, Craig wasn’t the kind to push.

People were up and dancing. Cam turned to the single’s group table and saw Dave, the Hawaiian t-shirt guy that Cam kinda just wanted to trip or something for the fun of it. The guy was seriously mauling another girl as he danced with her. Unlike Isabel, this woman didn’t seem to mind dancing with an octopus.

Cam got up and wandered over to a drink table, just hoping he might have a chance to trip Dave.

Alicia appeared next to him. “You don’t like that guy, do you?”

He’d never been able to hide anything from his sister. Cam laughed and then told her about the other night when he’d been pawing at Isabel and how Isabel had threatened him.

That sent his sister into giggles. “She did not?”

Cam laughed, enjoying that his sister enjoyed this so much. “She totally did.”

Alicia leaned into him, and they were both laughing.

It felt good.

Alicia stopped laughing and sighed. They just stood by each other, watching the dance floor. Of course his eyes trailed to Craig and Isabel. Craig had scooted over and was chatting with her. “I really like her. Even more than I thought I would.”

“Me too,” he admitted.

Her eyes met his. “It’s okay to like her, Cam.”

He averted his gaze and realized he was playing with his wedding ring. Izz had been right, he did do that a lot. “We’re friends.”

She nodded. “Good. It’s nice to have friends.”

There was no way he wanted to talk about this any longer with his sister.

She put her hand on his arm, and he knew they weren’t done talking. “I know Kat was like …” Tears misted into her eyes. “Your perfect love story. She was what mom was for dad.”

He thought of how his father had been stubborn about never marrying again. Emotion scraped at the back of his throat. “Don’t—”

She put up a hand. “I just want you to know that I think it’s okay to have two love stories in a lifetime, Cam.”

He didn’t respond, his eyes now on Izz. She was laughing at something Craig said. She was stunning. He shook his head. “I’m not saying I don’t like her.” He didn’t know how to explain what he felt. “Or that I could have liked her in a different life, a different situation, because the woman is pretty spectacular on all counts.” He met Alicia’s eyes. “But you’re right. Kat was my perfect love story. My only love story.” Yes, he nodded, feeling more certain about this again.

Out of the blue, Alicia threw her arms around him. “I love you, little brother.”

Tenderness filled him. “I love you, too.”

When Cam pulled back, he saw a crazed-looking guy running toward Isabel. “Hey!” His voice was frantic. “My wife’s in labor. She said I should come get you.”

Cam got to Isabel’s side.

She stared at the man, open mouthed.

Shock filled Cam, and he realized this was the man from the first night he’d met Isabel. The one who’d been ticked off at her.

“Labor?” Alicia asked the man incredulously.

“Labor! We need you!” the man pleaded with Isabel. “Dr. Foreman is having a panic attack. Please!” The man ran his hand over his face, looking forlorn. “This is my fault, I pushed for her to come on this cruise.”

Isabel turned to Cam, smoothing back her hair and looking composed. She put her hands up. “Cam, I’ll need you to carry me to the infirmary. Quickly please.”

Cam wouldn’t have believed what he was witnessing if he weren’t here. Isabel was delivering a baby, and his sister was holding the woman’s hand.

The doctor was sitting in a chair next to him freaking out. “I’m not a baby doctor. Honestly, I haven’t ever delivered a baby. We’re heading to port, but we won’t arrive for a half an hour.”

The pregnant woman screamed, and Isabel sat in between her legs with a hand on the woman’s knee. “You’re doing great, Karen, breathe. The contraction is almost over.”

Another scream, and then Karen relaxed.

Cam said, “I don’t need to be here.”

“No,” Isabel said sharply, glancing at the doctor who looked like he was hyperventilating. “You take care of him.”

Peter, the woman’s husband, was holding Karen’s hand. “What can I do?”

Isabel looked utterly calm. “You just hold her hand and look pretty, Peter. Me and Karen have got this.” She smiled kindly at Karen. “Right?”

Karen nodded, smiling back, taking short breaths. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

Cam did what he was told and stood by the doctor, grateful he didn’t have a view. Isabel reached in and was doing something under the sheet.

“You’re crowning. I think this next push will be the one, Karen. You’re doing so, so well.”

“Ah.” Karen moaned. “I can’t do it.”

His sister leaned into her. “Breathe, in-two-three, out-two-three.”

Karen started doing what Alicia said, which wasn’t surprising either. Most people did, including him.

Another contraction hit Karen, and she was screaming. Then bam, it all felt like it was happening so fast.

Isabel was leaning in and then pulling up a baby, an elated smile on her face. “He’s beautiful.”

Karen laughed and held Peter, who was crying and laughing with her.

Suddenly, the doctor sprang into action, going to Isabel’s side. It was like the delivery had shaken him awake. “Alright, good job.” He picked up some scissors. “Dad, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?”

Cam waited in the hallway next to the infirmary, leaning back against the wall. Once the baby had come out, the doctor had started acting like a doctor again and Cam had decided he was no longer needed.

It’d been roughly half an hour, and all he could think about was the way Isabel had lit up with such joy when she’d held the baby. A certain warmth buzzed through his chest, and he felt like the Storm had just won the championship. Go Storm. He sighed and, once again, thought of Kat. Of the child they would have had.

“Hey, bro.” His sister came out of the door and slugged him in the shoulder. She put on a funny smile. “You were great in there.” She fake gunned him.

He laughed at her antics. “Obviously, you’re all worked up.”

She laughed, leaning against the wall next to him, her silver prom dress all disheveled and her hair a mess. “That was amazing.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

She sighed. “I know what you said, Cam, but Isabel’s a keeper. You both have tragedy in your past, but that woman …” She grinned. “She’s clearly made of metal. You can see it in the way she took over. She didn’t let the doctor’s confusion bother her. She was amazing.”

Cam nodded. “I’m still not going to have a relationship with her.” Even if he wanted to, or had thought about it, he almost added. But he didn’t. He wasn’t.

Lightly, his sister put her hand on his cheek. “I know.” She shrugged and pulled her hand back. “I love you, bro. I know you don’t need me to be proud of the way you’ve stepped up and helped her, but I am.”

He nodded. “Thanks.”

She glanced at her phone. “Merry Christmas, Cam.” She hugged him. “It’s almost one.”

He let out a light laugh, not realizing the time. “Merry Christmas, sis.”

She tugged back. “This is going to be a good year for you.”

Not totally believing her, he still found himself feeling more hopeful than he ever had.

He grinned at her. “And for you. Jon is already dating and driving. You’ll have Sadie Hawkins to look forward to next.”

She snapped. “You’re right!” Her grin widened.

He laughed even more, feeling like they were both on the same high. Game high, he used to call it when he had played. Heck, he still got game highs when he watched the Storm win.

His sister waved at him and took off down the hall. “I’ll see you in the morning. Isabel said we’re doing the beach after the Mayan ruins.”

Apparently, Isabel was in charge of the family schedule now. He grinned. “Sounds good.”

Just at that moment, Isabel came hobbling out.

He was impressed at how much pressure she had on her ankle. Adrenaline was a powerful healing agent.

She grinned at him, seeming to hum. “Wasn’t that just miraculous.” Her eyes fluttered.

He grinned. “You were incredible,” he said, meaning it.” He hugged her.

She leaned into him then pulled back. “I was not anything. It’s never about the doula. It’s always about the baby and the mama.” She grinned. “The child and mother are the ones having a transformation. I just get to have a small part in it.”

He didn’t agree because she was freaking amazing, but he didn’t want to argue with her. He grinned. “Merry Christmas.”

Putting a hand on her chest, she smiled wider. “Oh, wow. This is the best.”

Another round of chills filled him, and he wondered if he really could move on. If he really could have hope and all of those things that his sister and therapist had been talking about.

Abruptly, she looked up at him.

He grinned. “Are you ready to get on?” He began turning to assume the piggyback position.

But she grabbed his shoulders and leaned in, gently pressing her lips to his.

The gesture was so soft and sweet.

He pulled back, staring into her beautiful green eyes, truly feeling changed.

“Thank you. For this. For carting me around. And because it’s Christmas.” Her grin widened, and she blinked. “I think this is the first Christmas I’ve been able to think about something other than my own problems.” She blinked and tears swept into her eyes. “Another child was born tonight.” She swallowed. “A baby in a manger. The whole reason we celebrate this holiday.”

Chills washed over Cam. “You’re right.”

She let out a light laugh. “Christ’s birth must have been miraculous, don’t you think?” She laughed, again. “I’ve often thought of poor Joseph, delivering that little baby and the … love … and adoration he must have felt for both mama and baby.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Cam was blown away by the thought and felt tears mist into his own eyes.

She let out another light laugh. “I forgave Rick. Did I tell you that?”

He was still a bit blindsided by all of this. “No.”

She nodded, her eyes fluttering. “And I forgave myself.” She laughed. “And after just delivering that child and feeling close to heaven, I think maybe anything’s possible.”

Another round of warmth filled him. He wanted to believe that.

They both stood there, staring into each other’s eyes.

Then she sniffed and let out a laugh. “Could I get a ride back? I think it might be time to turn in.”