A Mom for Christmas (5 page)

If the tree Sebastian had purchased for Christmas had been any bigger, they would have had to cut a hole in the roof. As it was, the top was folded over and hanging down half a foot. Where they were going to put the angel ornament, Sadira had no idea. But it wasn’t going on the top, that was for sure.

For the last week and a half, she, Sebastian, and the girls had been making homemade ornaments to go on the tree. After what seemed like miles of strung popcorn, more lights than even this massive tree could hold, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree, Zoe finally declared the tree ready for Santa.

“Finally.” Sadira slumped on the couch next to Sebastian. “Thank the Lord it’s done.”

“It only took a week and a half,” Rebecca grumbled, glancing at her youngest sister. But Sadira noticed the twitch of her lips, and the teenager hadn’t done more than offer token protests the entire week and a half it took to satisfy Zoe.

“I think it’s a beautiful tree,” Jessica announced.

“It certainly is,” Sebastian said, hugging Sadira closer to him. “Nearly as beautiful as my girls.”

Zoe then proceeded to get votes on which Christmas movie to watch, declaring December Sappy Christmas Movie Month. Sadira groaned and moaned, telling them she refused to get all gushy over the Hallmark Channel. Secretly, she gave a fist-pump, screaming “yes!” inside her head. She loved sappy Christmas movies. The girls just loved it when she and Sebastian protested.

Surprisingly, Dedra had kept her distance. Sebastian had spoken with her parents several times. They’d assured him they would do their best to make her abide by his wishes so he didn’t need to get the court involved. They’d even promised to work out a time the girls could spend time with them for Christmas without worrying Dedra would show up and make a scene. The older couple might be Dedra’s parents, but Sebastian had said they’d never supported her decision to leave and had always seemed to have their granddaughters’ best interest at heart. Sebastian trusted them, but indicated he’d still be watchful and protective. Sadira would do no less.

All in all, things were going smoothly. Sadira had no doubt Sebastian would keep his world to tell his girls their mother was back in town and silently dreaded it even though she knew he had no choice. They had to make the decision to see her or not. He couldn’t make it for them.

So here they were. The night before Christmas. The girls were nestled snug in their beds, but Dedra knew sugar plums were far from their dreams. In fact, she’d barely gotten Zoe to sleep at all. The child might be mature for her age, but Santa was still very real to her. Well, either that or she was milking it until no one believed her anymore. Sadira believed the former rather than the latter. Or maybe she just wanted to believe it. She wasn’t their biological mother, but even she knew they grew up too fast.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Sebastian drawled from behind her. She’d been leaned against the doorframe watching Zoe sleep. His strong arms enfolded her, and his lips grazed the side of her face tenderly. “Santa got the goods all ready for tomorrow. What say you soothe his aching back? Hauling around all those presents is a chore, you know.”

Sadira stifled a giggle, excitement coursing through her at the thought. “You think Santa deserves a little back rub, huh?”

“Nope. Maybe a front rub, though.”

Urging her away from the door, he led her to their bedroom. Thankfully, it was on the other side of the house, away from the girls’ rooms. They’d still have to be quiet, but they could indulge in each other until Zoe woke them at the ass crack of dawn as Sebastian predicted she would.

“You know I love you, right?” Sebastian asked as he shut and locked the door, cocooning them in some much-needed privacy.

“I do. You know I love you, too?”

“Absolutely,” he said, reaching for her. As his lips found hers, she sighed into him. “I’ve needed you all damned day,” he said, helping her out of her clothes before removing his own.

“Then take me,” she responded with a happy smile, her voice husky with need.

“I think we’ve more than made up for last Christmas. You’re so good to the girls.” He brought her left hand to his lips, kissing the engagement ring he’d secretly given her earlier that day. “I think they’ll be pleased to have you as their mother.” They’d dropped hints over the last couple of weeks, and they’d all looked at Sadira with longing, though only Zoe had expressed what the other two hadn’t been able to. She wanted Sadira to be her mom and never leave them. When little Zoe had made that announcement, that the girls wanted a mom for Christmas, Rebecca and Jessica had looked at each other with apprehension, but had run into Sadira’s arms, hugging her fiercely. “They love you nearly as much as I do.”

“I love them too, ‘Bastian.” Love for this man and his children seemed to bubble up inside her. Though she loved the girls as fiercely and protectively as any mother, in that moment, her focus was on their father. Sebastian needed her as much as they did. What this family needed, Sadira would provide. If they needed a mother for Christmas, a wife for Christmas, she was only too happy to volunteer for the roles. “Now, shut up and make love to me.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”