They clinked glasses and immediately started various conversations. While the brothers milled about the room, Rachel wiped cookie crumbs off of Jimmy’s mouth. For a moment, Logan wondered what it would be like to have a son. He’d never really thought about having kids, but after seeing how happy Brady had become since finding out about Jimmy, he couldn’t help butwonder.
He laced his fingers into Kate’s and handed her a mug of cocoa. As she took the first sip, she smiled around the rim of the cup. Twinkling Christmas lights reflected off of her lake-blue eyes. She glowed like anangel.
“What?” sheasked.
“Nothing.”
“You’re staringatme.”
“I can’t help it,”hesaid.
“Tell me about theornaments.”
He glanced at the small, heart-shaped silver frame in Jimmy’s hands. “That’s the frame my grandfather gave my grandmother on their first Christmas together. It’s a photograph of them that was taken when they were dating. During the Great Depression, they didn’t have much. He worked a second job in town all year, hoping to save enough to give heragift.”
“I bet shelovedit.”
“She did. We hang it on the tree every year as a reminder oftheirlove.”
“What about that one?” she asked as she pointed to a star made out of Popsiclesticks.
“I made that one in firstgrade.”
“I love it.” Shelaughed.
“I’ll never claim to be a greatartiste, but I can hold my own,” hejoked.
“And that one?” She pointed to a cross-stitched SantaClaus.
“I made that one,” Drew said. When Logan chuckled, Drew added, “What? I’m good at sewing stuff. Momappreciatedit.”
“I’m just messing with you,”Logansaid.
“Those two are the crafty ones,” Mack said. He held up a glitter-laden gold-painted pinecone. “I madethisone.”
“I see creativity runs in the family.” Kate archedabrow.
“That it does.” Loganlaughed.
The party continued for hours. Logan stole glances at Kate’s face. She beamed throughout the night and by the time the festivities wound down, she was grinning from eartoear.
“Thank you so much for including me,”shesaid.
“Anytime. You’re always welcome,”Macksaid.
After saying their goodbyes, Logan took her aside into the kitchen. “I want you to stay here tonight. We haven’t seen anything to indicate that there’s going to be trouble, but I don’t want to take any risks. I don’t think you should be alone in your house at night. I can’t trust that you’llbesafe.”
“I can’tstayhere.”
“You could sleep in my room and I’ll sleep on the couch,”hesaid.
“I still have a lot to do at the house and I won’t let someone like Milton run me out of it. It’smydamnhouse.”
Surprised by her fierceness, he cocked his head to one side. “I thought you were in a rush to get ridofit.”
“I am, but I’m not going to let someone run me out of it until I’m ready toleave.”
“Then let me stay therewithyou.”
