Chapter 27

Damien

Christmas Eve

For as long as I can remember, Christmas has always been a big deal for my family. So, it isn’t a surprise to find every available square inch of my oldest sister’s house decked out in twinkling lights. It’s just like Astrid to have the brightest house on the street.

Penny gazes out the window. Her mouth hangs open, making me think about this morning. All I can think about is what her pretty pink lips would look like wrapped around my cock, while I watch her blue eyesfill with lust and her own need.

Fuck, now was not the time to think about fucking my wife. Not sitting outside my sister’s place on Christmas Eve, feeling like some horny teenager. I’m about to walk in on my family. I didn’t want to do it with a hard-on.

“Are you going to go in or sit out here and stare at the lights all night?” Penny’s soft voice pulls me out of my head. I can’t help every doubt I’ve had about this trip beginning to fill my head. Am I crazy for doing this? What if they don’t want me here? Should I have called at least? I wanted my visit to be a surprise, and I knew coming home married would really get the conversation going.

My gorgeous girl slips her slender hand into mine. the rock I bought her only hours ago twinkles up at me. I swallow hard and finally look up at her.

“I’m scared.”

Fuck, did I say that out loud? I look around the cab, half expecting one of the guys to pop their heads in and demand I return my man card. No joke.

“Damien, they’re your family.” She offers me a sweet smile and laces her fingers with mine. Leaning forward, she places a kiss on my cheek. “They’re going to be so happy to see you.”

“I should’ve called,” I groan and turn my head to lean it against the steering wheel.

“Stop worrying,” she laughs softly and opens her door. She lets go of my hand and slips out of the truck. “Come on.”

I take a deep breath before opening my door and step out into the cold night air. The snow is fresh and shimmers nicely with the Christmas lights. It makes me think of the fun I used to have every year decorating our family home.

We make our way up the walkway and stop at the large red door. The sound of music, laughter, and children vibrates through it. I knew everyone would be here tonight for the annual Christmas Eve family dinner; it’s a family tradition. My grandmother started it after her children had married off and wanted to visit their spouses’ families for the holidays, too. It was a day meant for joy and most importantly being together as a family. It’s one of the few traditions my family has that I’ve missed.

“Ready?” she asks before looping her arm into mine and stepping closer for warmth.

I reach out and ring the doorbell.

My heart pounds heavily in my chest. I can’t believe this is happening. I’m half expecting to wake up and discover it’s all some kind of weird dream.

The sound of tiny footsteps racing up to the door sharpens my senses. They stop abruptly, just as the door handle jiggles and a blast of warm air greets us. A young girl with a curious pair of green eyes stares up at us. Her blond ringlets bounce from the momentum.

“Are you Santa?” she asks excitedly.

“No,” I whisper and drop down on one knee, getting down to her level. She has to be one of my nieces. With blond hair like that, there is not doubt her mother is somewhere inside. I scour the various pictures I’ve committed to memory, the ones my sisters sent me on occasion of their families. If I remember correctly, this one belongs to Savannah, and her name is Bonnie. “But I happen to be great friends with him, Bonnie, and if you do me a big favor, I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“You will?”

“Sure will.” I smile at her.

“What do I have to do?”

“Tell your mama that Uncle Damien is here.” The little girl’s eyes light up when she hears my name.

“You’re my Uncle Damien?”

“I sure am.” I reach out and touch her little cherub cheek. She spins and takes off at breakneck speed down the hallway.

“Mama, Mama, there’s a man here,” I hear her chatter, causing the room to go quiet. “He says he’s friends with Santa. I didn’t know Uncle Damien knew Santa.”

“Bonnie, honey, what are you talking about?” I can hear my sister Savnnah ask with disbelief in her soft voice.

“It’s Uncle Damien,” Bonnie speaks fast, then she turns the corner and races back down the hallway toward me. Slamming into me and wrapping her arms aroud my leg. “Come look, Mama.”

I grab Penny’s hand, squeezing it tightly for courage. She squeezes back just as my sister rounds the corner.

“See, Mama, I told you, and now Santa’s going to bring me something special.” She giggles as my eyes meet those of my sister. She stands frozen in the middle of the hallway. Her eyes are wide, and her mouth hangs open.

“Damien?” she whispers.

“Merry Christmas, Savvie.” I barely get the words out before she screams with excitement, runs down the hallway, and slams into me like Bonnie did.

“Oh my… It is you.” She throws her arms around my neck and calls to the others. “It’s Damien! Damien’s home!”

“What?” a voice calls out, and I recognized it as Astrid’s, my oldest sister. The sounds of chairs scraping against the floor and feet shuffling into the hallways echoe throught the house. Their shocked gasps and voices all speaking at once fill the air.

“Oh my... Damien...” Farrah, the second oldest, bawls. She moves the quickest and wraps her arms around my midsection.

“It is him,” Skye, the youngest, sobs softly before finding an arm to cling to.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Astrid asks. She reaches for my face, holding it between her hands.

“I told you we were getting a Christmas miracle this year,” Savannah laughs in between tears. All four of my sisters have found a way to latch on to me, refusing to let me go.

I have no words. Their welcome is more than I expected, but it’s all I hoped it would be. The next few minutes are spent telling them all how happy I am to see them and how much I missed them. Their smiling faces beam back at me, and tears fall freely down their cheeks. Seeing them this overjoyed makes all the fear and trepidation go away.

“Son,” my father’s deep voice pulls my attention, and a knot forms in my gut. As nervous as I was about my sisters, I have been more worried about facing my father. I let go of my sisters and turn to face him.

His gray-blue eyes stare up at me, and for a moment, my smile falters. My father has aged more than I anticipated. He stands a few feet back from me and leans over onto a dark wooden cane.

“Hi, Dad.” I step toward him, reaching him in two strides. He smiles up at me, and I notice his eyes shimmer with his unshed tears. He wobbles, and I see my sisters flinch, their fear over his struggle to stand apparent. I offer him my arm, and he takes it happily, leaning heavily on me. I wrap my arms gently around him and sigh. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”

He drops his cane and lifts his hand to my face. “Welcome home, son. It’s been too long.”

“Uh, Damien?” Astrid interrupts, and I turn my head toward her. She’s standing next to Penny, who offers me a shy smile. “Aren’t you going to introduce this lovely young woman?”

Savannah walks over to us, and my father reaches for her, allowing me to step away to stand next to Penny. I turn back to the gathered crowd and notice the various men standing along the back side of the room with the children standing nearby.

I know who these men are, and from the looks I am receiving from some of them, I know I’m going to have some explaining to do. I nod to the men with respect, but none nod back. I recognize one of them, Astrid’s husband, Jonah. He looks at me with disappointment laced in his eyes. They all do.

I lace my hand with Penny’s and watch as the detail doesn’t go unnoticed with my sisters. Astrid’s eyes grow wide, and I know she’s spotted the rock on Penny’s left hand.

“Everyone, this is Penelope. My wife.”