Silent Night by Natasha Preston

Author:Natasha Preston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: christmas, short story, silence

Cole

I was stuffed. Sarah had cooked for about thirty people rather than twelve. On reflection, having a who’s-got-the-bigger-balls eating contest with Jasper was a bad idea. But he did look as uncomfortable as I felt.

Mia sat down beside me, watching Leona and Everleigh make Loom Band bracelets on the floor. “How’re you doing?” I asked. Two months ago she’d broke up with a guy she’d been seeing for about four months prior.

“I’m doing really good. Thinking about taking Leona to Disneyland Paris in March. We both really want to go.”

“She’ll love that.”

“She will, and I think we both deserve it.”

“Heard anything from him?” I asked.

“He tried calling but I didn’t pick up. He’s a nice guy, but I’m not wasting time on someone that I don’t see a future with. I like that it’s just me and Leona at the minute.”

Mia was happy to focus on herself, Leona, and her career. She didn’t need anyone, and I really admired her for that. If Oakley left me I’d probably stop existing.

“You’re a good mum.”

She teared up and slapped my arm. “You utter arsehole!”

What the hell? “Alright, sorry. You’re a terrible mother.”

Rolling her eyes, she said, “No. You’ll make me cry. I don’t really care about a lot of things in life, like material things, having the high-power career, but being a good mum…”

“At the risk of getting hit again, just don’t change anything because you’re already there.”

She held her hands up. “Okay, I’m changing the subject before I cry. I need to pry my nephew off Mum. She’s not put him down since Miles handed him over. I want my snuggle time, too.”

“Good luck.” Even I found it hard to get Bentley back, and I was his dad.

“Sophia coming through,” Jasper said, waking awkwardly across the room holding Soph’s hands. With assistance, she could walk, and she liked to walk a lot.

Everleigh and Leona gently tickled her belly as she strolled past them. She was also quick on her feet. You had to expertly power-walk whilst crouching down and making sure there was nothing in her way.

She walked with help from her dad over to the sofa where I was sitting with Mia and stopped at the edge. She pulled her hands out of his and gripped Mia’s knees. My sister soon picked her up, happy to have a baby to cuddle.

“Cole, kitchen,” Jasper said.

“Jasper, why?”

He deadpanned. “Do you need to question everything?”

“With you, yeah.”

“Oh, will you just get up!”

I stood. “Happy?”

“Never been happier.” He nodded to the kitchen, and I followed. I wouldn’t admit that I was intrigued because we could be going in there for absolutely any reason. It could literally be anything.

“Well?” I asked when nothing was out of order. There were no broken appliances or water pouring out of a pipe in the wall. All things he’d done in his own place.

“Oh look, your wife is outside,” he said and walked back into the living room.

I didn’t give his oddness much thought when I saw Oakley through the window.

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