Filed To Story: The Lingering Kiss of Farewell Novel
He sighed and looked at the time. The shops wouldn’t be open yet, it was barely 7am. He headed outside to talk to Marilyn about what she wanted to do about Christmas decorations, so the boys could have a proper
Christmas morning tomorrow.
Did she want to go with the boys herself, or did she want to come with him and the boys, or just him and the boys, or just him on his own? She’d let him spend a few hours on his own with the boys last night, but she’d been just a few minutes from them in reality.
Taking them shopping on his own was a whole other matter, and he knew it. He also didn’t know how they celebrated Christmas. He was headed for the guest house when he heard the boys hollering “Dad, wake up.” and then he could hear their footsteps running up the stairs.
They had clearly come from the back of the house, through the downstairs sitting area. It was the room that led right to the pool area, and he was in the formal living room, which was down the other end of the house from where they had come inside.
“I’m awake.” He called back and headed for the foyer; they came back downstairs and smiled at him. “I was just on my way to see you and your mother.” He smiled at them, “Have you had breakfast?” he asked.
“Yes,” they told him together.
“We had raisin toast and orange juice. Mum’s having her morning coffee now,” he was told, and he thought it was Callum who was talking to him. He still couldn’t tell them apart. Maybe he should have them get different haircuts.
“Alright.” He nodded. He’d not eaten yet. He had been hoping to eat with them, but he understood that he wasn’t likely to always get what he wanted. “Do you boys know if your mum packed Christmas decorations for this impromptu trip?”
“Impromptu?” he was asked right back.
“Hmm, unexpected.” He elaborated for them. “I had no idea you were coming, so there are no Christmas decorations here.”
“I don’t think so,” he was told. “We’ll go and ask mum.” And then they were gone, running off down the hall, likely the way they’d come through the house. He trailed them at a much more sedate pace and wondered if they walked anywhere. They’d run through the house last night when he’d taken them to the theater room. He heard them bang out a door and yell for their mum and shook his head. They were very loud as well as rambunctious. He strolled out there and found them standing before their mother, who was sitting outside on a lounger having her morning coffee, and he smiled at her as they asked her rapid-fire questions. She shook her head slightly as she looked at them. “No boys, I did not, there wasn’t enough room for all of that,” she told them. “But you know, I brought you some gifts. And yes, Santa will know where you are, and bring you what you asked for. He’s never failed you yet, has he?”
She’d not only listened to both of them talking to her at once, but she’d caught every question and answered them all without much thought. It showed him just how much she was used to them and their ways. She didn’t even look bothered by it; she had just smiled and answered them.
They turned back to him as he walked over, and he held up a hand. “I heard.” He likely wasn’t able to do what she did, was barely a dad and, though he’d seen a bit of this last night with them, they’d been quiet once the movie had started.
He sat down on the lounger next to her, “Morning Marilyn, I realised there are no Christmas decorations here, and thought it would be a good idea to go and get some, and maybe we could spend the day putting up a tree and trimming it,” he told her.
“If you like, you may do that,” she nodded at him, “Though I’m not going out there into the throngs of Christmas Eve shopping, and I’m not at the point where you can take the boys with you by yourself. That trust has not been earned.” She told him with a shake of her head to indicate ‘no’.
“I wasn’t expecting you to let me take them for a day by myself. But I was kind of hoping you’d be willing to go with me and them.” He told her honestly.
“Nope.” She shook her head and sipped her coffee. “Have you ever been out shopping on Christmas Eve?” she half smiled at him.
“No,” he admitted, “I generally order everything weeks in advance or send my personal assistant out to get last-minute things. This, however, I can’t do that with.”
“Then Mr Reeves, I wish you luck in your last-minute shopping endeavour.” She smiled at him. “I suggest you get there when the stores open, and know exactly where you’re going, and what it is you want, or you might not get it,” she half laughed.
He could see she was fully amused at him being out there shopping on Christmas Eve. It was likely she’d done it herself before. “Oh what about Christmas lunch or dinner? Do I need to get things for that?”
“No, I picked up some things on the way here, to feed the boys and I, but…”
“But?” he queried, wondering if she’d not catered for him being here.
“Perhaps with the boys here, you might want to invite your mother and father for lunch or dinner. Let them meet their grandchildren. I believe your mother wants that.”
“They do, but I thought it would be just us this year. She’s not expecting me to be home for Christmas. Thinks I will be in Virginia to visit the boys,” he stated, but now she had him thinking about that very thing. He wasn’t in Virginia and his parents’ house was only two hours from here. His siblings would all also be at his parents’ house as well.
“It could get complicated,” he murmured. “My entire family would likely want to turn up. I know you don’t recall much, but Christmas was always spent at mum and dad’s for lunch every year.”
“Hmm, well, I guess that is up to you. It won’t bother me,” she shrugged. “If you wish to tell them I brought the twins her you may, and if they want to descend upon this house, I won’t argue it. They have as much right to get to know the boys as you do. But they’ll have to bring food with them. I didn’t buy enough for all of them.” He nodded. “I’ll think about it and get back to you.” he nodded, but at the same time he knew if his mother found out they were here, she was likely to try and beat him one for not telling him “you know what I’ll call and inform them, let it be their decision if you’re absolutely certain you don’t mind if they drop by.”
She shook her head, “I think the boys would like to meet all of their family… Boys?”
“Grandma and grandpa?” they asked, and he could see their curiosity was peaked, so yes, he would call and tell his mother and father that she had brought the twins here.
Marilyn
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.