“Hello, Wife,” I say, kissing the tip of her nose.
“Hi, Hubby.” She giggles, the sound pulling a wide smile to my lips.
“I’m so proud of you, baby. I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder or more impressed with anyone in my entire life than you standing tall and stating your truth to your parents. I’m sorry the evening was ruined, but I—”
Sloane pulls back, arching an eyebrow at me. “Ruined?” She scoffs. “It’s only ten o’clock. I’m hungry, and I expect to open at leastoneof my presents tonight. Your family is here, and we have a whole dessert table laid out. Nobody is ruining our first Christmas Eve. I refuse.”
Goddamn, I’m so proud of her.“My strong wife.” I nuzzle into her neck. “You can have whatever you want.Except—”
Shocked, she pulls back to meet my eyes. “Except?” It’s obvious I’ve never denied her anything because she can’t even believe the word came out of my mouth.
“Well, baby, there’s only one way to do Christmas. We openallpresents on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning is for Santa and stockings, you silly goose!”
“Hmm…well, I suppose I wouldn’t mind Santacoming earlytonight.”
We tease each other about thepropertime to open presents as we make our way back to the kitchen. Margot, Jack, Henry, and Mom all sit around the kitchen island, picking through the trays of food that had been left by Mrs. Smith. They all look up tentatively when we come in, but Sloane gives them a big smile.
“I need to eat! Then I hear we apparently open presentstonight?”
Everyone laughs and moves to put another glass of wine in Sloane’s hand and help her fix a plate, while my mom moves over to me.
“Is she really okay, darling?”
“I really think she is, Mom. She’s been through a lot recently, but she’s so strong, and I think she finally realizes it.”
Mom smiles and gives me a hug. “I think you had a lot to do with that, son. She would have gotten there on her own, I hope, but having you in her corner helped give her the strength to do it. I’m sure of it.”
“I hope I’ve given her even half of the support she’s given me…I…” God, now I’m choking up talking to my mother on Christmas Eve. “She saved me, Mom. I’ve been searching for peace for years, and she just feels like…home. Like my personal redemption. Like I’m enough and she wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I wouldn’t.”
I was so focused on my mom that I didn’t see my wife crossing the kitchen to stand in front of me with two champagne flutes in her hands. She has tears in her eyes, again,but these look happy, and I know she sees the same thing in mine.
Handing me one of the flutes, she reaches on her tiptoes to give me one soft kiss.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” she whispers, just for me. “Now come on,Husband. I have a feeling one or two of these presentsmighthave my name on them, and I’m awfully impatient to see what Santa’s brought me.”
Watching her lead my family into the living room and standing in the soft glow of the Christmas tree, I realize, for the first time ever at Christmas, I don’t want a single thing. I have everything I need right here. My wife. MyAngel.Home.
Chapter thirty-four
My body shivers as Ledger takes my hand and helps me out of the car into the cool night air. “Are yousureyou’re ready for this, love?” he asks, running his hands up and down my arms to warm me. “We don’t have to go here tonight. If you’re set on a club, I can fly us to another before the ball drops. We can ring in the new year anywhere you want.”
I snake one of my arms around his chiseled waist, relishing in the hard muscles beneath his dress shirt. “No, I want to go to ours.”
Just as I assumed, the acknowledgment that Rendezvous belongs to both of us brings a smile to my husband’s face. I want him to know that I am just as proud of what he’s built as he is. I want him to know I am proud ofhim.
“Besides,” I continue, “it’s Jack’s last big event before he leaves, and I want to see what he’s done with the place.”
“Ugh, on that note, maybeI’mnot ready to go. I don’t like the idea of that bastard seeing anything we might get up to tonight.”
The thought of this god-like man being jealous overmemakes me laugh. “Oh, I don’t think Jack will be looking my way anytime soon.”
I listen to Ledger rant about how I’m the most beautiful woman in the world and how I should be more confident than I am as we walk through the back halls to the front of the club. He finally stops when we get our first glimpse of the winter wonderland Jack has created tonight.
The white decor sparkles like freshly fallen snow. Tonight is an upscale evening, and we live up to the dress code with Ledger in his black suit and white dress shirt and me in my navy-blue floor-length, sleeveless dress.
The event is exclusive to top-tier members, with the focus being a traditional New Year's Eve party. That being said, there are still options for those who want to lean into more promiscuous proclivities, including open access to the exhibition stage for anyone interested. There’s also what Ledger described as basically an orgy room, one he made very clear we wouldnotbe visiting.
