A Two Twirl Christmas by Rachel Van Dyken

Author:Rachel Van Dyken [Van Dyken, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Van Dyken Enterprises INC
Published: 2022-12-24T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

Val

It was snowing. My girls were napping.

I smiled and took a sip of my hot tea; it burned down my throat in a good way, making me warm and comforted.

I loved the way the chaos surrounded me. It wouldn’t last long; I wasn’t dumb. Suddenly someone shouted, “SNOW!” and started running outside without shoes.

Probably one of Chase’s kids, let’s be honest.

Or maybe even Serena. She was a wild one.

Junior started running too, and then it was absolute madness as everyone in the kitchen suddenly left; even the moms were running out there to make sure nobody decided it would be a good idea to forget gloves and jackets.

“You coming?” Trace stopped at the door to the backyard. I could tell by her face that she knew my answer would be no. She simply nodded her head and said, “Merry Christmas, Val. He loves you. I hope you always remember that. No matter who had him first, you have him now. You’re his soul.”

I smiled. “Trace, I’m okay with sharing his soul. I’d prefer it that way. It makes him stronger, braver, a better husband and father—sharing his soul doesn’t make me jealous. Sometimes life throws things at us like this, and my story… I think it was supposed to be like this, not because I’m strong, but because the weakest of us need challenges and love. And I loved her too, so in a way, we love him together in different times when he has needed our love the most.”

A tear slid down Trace’s cheek. She quickly brushed it away with her glove. “You’re wrong.”

“What?” I frowned.

Her smile was faint. “You’re so strong, Val. So very strong, even then, even more so now.”

The front door shut. The sound of the guys talking filled the room.

She grinned at me. “I’m going to go find my inner Elsa and build a snowman, and you, you should probably go find your man. I’m sure he’ll want you.”

I shrugged. “Even if he needs to be alone. I’ve got the snow. I’ve got my family. And he’ll come when he’s ready.”

Nixon poked his head into the kitchen and shook off his jacket. “Who’s coming?”

“Santa.” Trace deadpanned. “And put that jacket back on; your daughter just ran out there in a tank top.”

“Son of a bitch!” Nixon roared. “Serena, get back in here!”

I frowned. “She was wearing a sweater?”

“I know.” Trace laughed. “I just feel like it’s extremely healthy to continuously get his blood pumping.”

I pointed at my head. “Smart woman.”

“They don’t call me boss for nothing.” She winked. “OH, I mean him… definitely him.”

I busted out laughing. “Sureeee.”

She winked and shut the door as Nixon made a beeline toward a fully clothed Serena yelling at the top of his lungs to get dressed before she caught a cold or the flu, and then somehow, I heard him add in chickenpox, but I think he was just worried?

I set my mug down, shoved my chair back, and felt him before he even said anything.

A hand lay on my right shoulder, and the other followed on my left.

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