1
HARRISON
It’s the night before Christmas, and I’m beat. Tired to the bone.
But I’m desperate to get back.
Two weeks away from home is too much for any man. Well, any man with a wife like Jenna at home.
Shit, I’ve missed her; the way she smells, the way she looks, the way she curls into me when she sleeps. We’ve been married for five years, and each day still feels as good as that first night we were together. I still get a thrill when I think about her dressed up in that sexy costume at my friend’s Halloween party. She was everything I’d fantasized she would be and more.
I’m not a guy who’s backward in seeking what I want, but when the girl you’ve been lusting over is your stepsister, well it made things a little bit more complicated than I was comfortable with. That didn’t mean I wasn’t okay with tempting her. Leaving my door ajar while I was drying myself after the shower was a genius-level brainwave that led us to this point.
Fuck, I’m hard and there are still over fifteen minutes of journey left.
I glance at the passenger seat, and the bag that contains Christmas gifts. There’s something for Abbey, our little girl, and something for my momma. But the main thing is for Jenna.
When I knew I wanted to marry her, I had little cash. Jenna has never been motivated by money, but I wanted to buy her a ring that would show her just how much she meant to me. I stretched as far as I could, but the diamond wasn’t as big as I would have liked it to be. I know Jenna loves that ring. She’s never taken it off in all the years we’ve been together except the day we got married. As soon as I slid the wedding ring up her slim finger, I knew she was itching to get her engagement ring back on. In the car, she took it off her right hand and switched it back to where she felt it belonged. It still sits there now.
I know I could never replace that ring and what it means to her but, now I have the means, I want to seal our relationship properly.
Christmas Eve is a special time in our household. It’s Abbey’s birthday and seeing as it’s so close to Christmas, we’ve tried to make it special by having a big party. I know that our friends and family will be gathered at our home when I get back. There’ll be music and games and all the kids will run around like crazy things. Jenna will be in the middle of it all, handling the organization and noise like the boss she is.
As I turn into the driveway, my heart skips a beat. I didn’t have time to put up the lights before I left, but somehow, she’s made our house look like something from a Christmas movie. I can see Ethan’s truck, and a rental that must belong to Jason and his family. There’s a minivan that’s filled with car seats that I know belongs to Callum and his crew. We’re the smallest family group of the lot, but that’s okay with me. Although, if our friends don’t stop breeding, we won’t be able to keep hosting these parties!
The lights from my truck must have shined through the windows because the front door opens before I can even get out. And there is Jenna.
My girl.
She’s dressed in her favorite dress, which hugs all her curves, and an apron which I find strangely sexy. Abbey must have forced her to dress up because she’s also wearing a headband with wobbly stars on springs that glitter around her head like a hallo.
She raises her hand in a small wave and I throw the car door open, desperate to pull her into a hug that will show her just how much I’ve been craving her. I grab the gift bags and head over to greet the love of my life.
“You made it,” she says as I get close.
I drop the bags by her feet and pull her to me in a hug that’s so immense, I lift her from the ground. Jenna swats my shoulder. “Harrison…!”
I sniff her neck; the smell of home. “Baby…I missed you.”
She softens in my arms. “I missed you too, honey, but can you put me down? I’ve got cookies in the oven.”
Katelin appears behind Jenna, holding Abbey’s hand. “See, your daddy’s here.”
“Daddy…!” Abbey is off and running in my direction and Jenna pulls back, giving me space to get onto my knees so I can hug the life out of my baby girl. I think she’s grown in just two weeks. With her momma’s hair and green eyes, she’s just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.
“Baby,” I whisper in her ear. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” She presses her soft lips to my rough cheek and my heart squeezes in my chest.
“Did you look after momma while I was gone?”
Abbey nods seriously. “I gave her lots of hugs just like you told me to.” I kiss the top of her head and smile at the way she smells just like my wife.
“That’s good honey. Are you ready to open more presents?”
As I gather up the gift bags and Jenna closes the door, a rumble of laughter erupts from the den. I stick my head into the room, smiling at the jumble of people who are crammed onto our furniture and just about every spare chair we have. I kiss mom and shake my father-in-law’s hand in greeting.
“There he is,” Liam yells, jumping up from a low stool to pull me into a fierce ‘bro’ hug. I’m passed around his brothers, Callum, Matty and Ryan, and then on to Ethan and Nathan, and Jason, Austin, and Bryan. I’d say there was something in the water at our college because most of Jenna’s friends have ended up with multiple husbands. To be honest, I’m glad that Jenna only ended up with me. I don’t have the trusting bond of a brother to share her with. I guess that’s the benefit of being an only child. Not that these boys look unhappy. Far from it.
Sharing a wife might not be for everyone, but it certainly seems to work for these families.
“You know, the last one through the door has to do a challenge,” Carrie says with a grin on her face.
“Leave the dude alone.” Nathan pinches his wife’s knee and his twin punches him on the shoulder.
“You trying to kill Carrie’s Christmas fun?” Ethan says.
“I think that would be an impossibility. Have you seen her?” Nathan laughs.
Everyone in the room chuckles because Carrie should be the poster girl for a Pinterest Christmas. She’s decked out in a silver and gold festive sweater, with mini tree baubles hanging from her ears and a silver holly festooned headband. Even her leggings have Christmas trees running up the sides. It’s hard to know where to look.
“Harrison would be happy to accept a challenge,” Jenna says from behind me. She pinches my ass at the same time, and I almost jump out of my skin. “My ex-quarterback husband is about as competitive as any man I’ve ever met.”
I make a grumbling noise, but she’s right. My old football instincts are still with me, even though I don’t play anymore.
“Yeah, Daddy!” Abbey says. “You can do it.”
I shove my hands in my pockets and shrug my shoulders. “Guess the women in this household have spoken. What’s the challenge?”
“Well,” Carrie says. “I’m going to line up all the children and you have to name them all. If you can manage that, you can have a bowl of my famous tiramisu.”
My mouth waters at the thought of Carrie’s signature dessert, but I don’t think I’m going to be good at this challenge at all. It’s been a year since we all got together. A year of kids growing and my man-brain forgetting everything that hasn’t been necessary to remember.
“The poor man is sweating,” Katelin laughs.
“Half of them are our children and I’d struggle.” Matty shrugs his shoulders and I’m grateful for his support.
After this, I’m going to end up with no dessert and friends who think that I don’t care about their kids.
“I’m gonna try for the tiramisu,” I say.
Bethany, Carrie, and Katelin spring into action to try to gather the kids from around the house. They slowly line up, although the little ones keep trying to escape. The men are drafted in to help. I try to be clever by looking to see which man is dealing with which child, but I’m pretty sure they’re all muddled up, so that doesn’t help me.
“Right,” Carrie shouts. “All children stand like statues.” Abbey, who has also gotten into line, jumps into a scary monster pose. I suppose, with her there, I’m guaranteed to get one correct.
I know the tallest twin girls are Carrie’s. I touch their soft blonde heads. “These two princesses are definitely Emma and Natalie. The girls chuckle. “You got us the wrong way round!”
I scowl. “Your own dad’s struggle to tell you apart.” Ethan and Nathan shrug as though that’s perfectly acceptable. It’s a twin thing, I guess.
There’s another little girl who’s just a little taller than Abbey. I gaze around and notice the little girl has Katelin’s eyes. That must be Isobel. “Issy,” I shout, feeling very pleased with myself.
“Three down,” Jenna says. Her eyes are sparkling as though she’s just waiting for me to trip up.
“Abbey!” I pat my baby-girl’s head and she laughs.
“Of course I’m Abbey, Daddy. You couldn’t get me mixed up.”
“You’d hope,” Bryan laughs.
I gaze at the rest of the kids. There are three sets of boy twins and two more little girls who are definitely of different ages. The youngest has a little round bottom that tells me she’s still wearing a diaper. “Rachel.” I point at her and her little cherub face lights up.
“Ding ding,” Ryan says, tugging his baby girl onto his lap and giving her rosy cheek a fierce kiss.
“That must mean that you’re Molly.” I’m guessing that she’s around three now and she’s already got that precocious little-girl vibe about her. “Little Miss Molly,” she says with her hands on her hips. Her papa, Matty, who is probably the most chilled out of all of us here, bursts out laughing. “Okay, Little Miss Molly. Go kiss your uncle Harrison.”
“No,” she says, and runs out of the room.
“You’re losing your touch,” Jenna laughs as I put my hands in the air.
Now for the boys. This is impossible. Did Callum have his twins first, or was it Liam? There’s only an inch or so between the four of them. And then there’s another set of twins who are even smaller. I have no idea.
“Now this ragged crew are tough to figure out,” I say. “Caleb and Chase, Levi and Lewis and Isaac and Israel.” Are they even the right names? I bring my thumb to my mouth and nibble the side of it, staring at the little guys whilst racking my brain.
There are groans all around. “Three out of six,” Carrie laughs.
Three. I thought I was going to do better than that. “Well, I’ve been driving for four hours straight and I haven’t even had a beer yet. You’ve got to let a man off.”
Carrie’s expression softens, and she stands and pulls me into a hug. “You can have a big bowl of tiramisu,” she whispers. “Just don’t tell the rest of these men.”
“What was that?” Ethan asks his wife.
“None of your beeswax,” Carrie laughs.
“So, who did I get wrong?” I ask. Three little hands shoot up. “I’m not Chase, I’m Cole.” “I’m not Levi, I’m Luke.” The smallest little chap looks too embarrassed to speak and runs towards Katelin. “That’s Isaiah,” she says, smoothing his hair back. He grins shyly.
“Wow.” I get down onto my knees and grab Abbey for another cuddle. “You guys all need to stop making babies. Anymore, and we’re going to have to get them to wear badges!”
“That’s actually a good idea,” Bethany says.
Jenna returns from the kitchen with a beer, and I kiss her, so damned grateful for the cool relief.
I settle down into my favorite chair and enjoy spending time with our friends. If there’s one thing I relish about the holidays, it’s the opportunity to step away from the everyday grind and reconnect with the people I love.
We don’t have enough room for everyone to stay. My mom and Jenna’s dad live around the corner, so they walk home, still holding onto each other like newlyweds. Although it took them a while to accept our relationship, things improved when we got married. Even though it’s an unusual family set up, I’m so damned happy that everything worked out.
Bethany and Katelin take their families to stay in the local motel and only Carrie and her crew bunk in our spare bedroom. Abbey has the twins on her floor for a sleepover, and Jenna and I finally get some alone time.
I hope she’s ready.
JENNA
I know that after many years of marriage, it’s unusual to still crave your husband as much as when you first got together.
As Harrison closes the blinds, dressed only in a pair of night-shorts, I can barely contain myself.
Damn, my husband is fine!
Harrison might not be doing the football workouts that he did when we were in college, but he still manages to keep himself trim. His chest is ripped with muscle, and his abs are still tight. His powerful thighs are still clear beneath the fabric of his PJ’s.
But it’s his eyes that get me every time. They find mine and my heart skips. He’s been gone for two weeks, and I’ve missed his warmth in bed every night.
“You ready for lights out?” he asks. Am I ever? My pussy is aching between my legs. Aching for the cock that started this whole thing between us.
I remember that day like it happened yesterday. Just one glance through his slightly open bedroom door and I couldn’t think of anything else. Harrison has many amazing attributes, but his cock is something spectacular. Once I’d had it inside me once, I knew I couldn’t let him go.
It’s like we’re made for each other.
“Yeah. The kids have actually gone to sleep. I think today was quite tiring for them. And Carrie, Nathan and Ethan have closed their door.” I raise my eyebrows because I’m pretty certain our spare bed is going to see some action unlike it’s ever seen before.
“Those three are still all over each other,” Harrison laughs.
I pull back the comforter and slide into our giant bed, reaching for my hand cream. “I think they always will be. Carrie came so close…” I falter because the thought of my friend’s brush with death is still too much for me to speak openly about, with tears coming to my eyes.
“They’re making the most of every day,” Harrison says softly. He climbs into bed beside me and watches as I moisturize my hands; my nightly ritual.
“So, your trip was good?”
“Yeah. I managed to get them to sign up. That’s all I needed to do, but I’ve built a good relationship there too. That’s important for the long term.”
“That’s good.” Is it strange that I feel a little shy sitting next to my husband in our marital bed? When he’s been away, there is a sense of unfamiliarity that makes my heart skitter. All the things that are routine between us at this stage of our relationship feel different when Harrison’s been gone.
“I missed you,” he says softly. “I always do, but this time…” His voice trails off and I understand. We missed our anniversary, something we’ve never done before. I turn and place my hand against his face.
“I missed you too.” I could tell him I wish he didn’t have to travel with his job, but that wouldn’t be fair. Since his knee injury, his dream of playing football was dust, and he had to refocus completely. It’s been tough for him to find a job that pays enough and doesn’t drive him crazy. I don’t want to rain on his parade.
“So, I got you something.” He leans away, grabbing a small gift-bag from the side of the bed. It’s really small and very upmarket looking. What has he done? He places it in front of me, and when I look up into his eyes, I see so much excitement dancing there.
“It’s not Christmas yet.” I finger the corded handle, feeling overwhelmed.
“It’s not a Christmas gift. Go on. Open it.”
I tug the bag toward me and find there’s a small blue velvet box inside. My hands are almost shaking by the time I get the thing open.
Oh, my goodness. It’s an eternity ring. I gasp and Harrison chuckles in that way that sends heat to all my special places. “You…I can’t believe…it’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” he says, stroking my hair and tucking it behind my ear while I fumble the ring out of the box and onto my finger. It fits perfectly.
I throw my arms around his neck, and he hauls me into his lap for a full on bear hug. In his embrace, I feel protected and loved in the way I always have.
Harrison might have been my annoying stepbrother, but he’s become the best husband any girl could ask for.
“Thank you,” I whisper in his ear.
“That’s okay, Princess. I just wanted you to know that I’m here for all the years we have to come.”
There are no words that I can utter after that, so I kiss him instead. Harrison’s mouth is warm and familiar, his lips teasing and light at first, then fierce and demanding as his arousal increases. His cock stirs beneath my pussy, and it becomes rock hard and urgent in seconds. After being together like this so many times, I’m still surprised at how my body reacts to feeling his arousal and knowing what is coming.
Harrison is a big guy and let’s just say that everything is perfectly in proportion.
His rough hands push the straps of my slip over my shoulders until the fabric drops to my waist and my breasts are revealed. With hungry eyes, he gazes at them as he did that first night we spent together. “Fuck,” he mutters, using his thick fingers to caress down over my collarbone and around the fullness, sending shivers across my skin. I want him to take my nipples between those strong fingers and pinch until my clit is swollen. I want his red-hot mouth to suck on them until I’m bucking in his lap and begging for more.
And because my body is a book, and Harrison is its author, he does just that.
Shit. My hips move involuntarily, grazing my clit against the rigid length of him as he moans against my breast.
“Hang on,” he says, grasping my wrist as I try to free his cock. “I want to taste you.”
I go to get off his lap but instead, he grabs me and shunts us forward so he’s lying on his back and I’m straddling his chest. So this is what he wants.
Most of the time, Harrison is totally in control of the sex between us, and believe me, I don’t have any complaints. But there are days when he seems to need me to take the lead, and this is one of them.
I remember when I first had sex. I was so worried about what I looked like down there and how I smelled and tasted. Every time my boyfriend put his face between my legs, I’d spend the time worrying about what it was like for him and not even thinking about what it was like for me.
It’s never been like that with Harrison.
He pats my bottom gently, nudging me forward until I’ve got my knees on either side of his head and my pussy above his mouth. He grips the fleshy part of me where my hips meet my thighs and inhales deeply. “Fuck yeah,” he says. “Pull your knickers to one side.”
I do as he asks, and then he urges me to sink down onto his mouth. His tongue finds my clit and flicks it until I’m rising up, but he tugs me back down possessively. It’s sweet torture the way he devours me, and even though I’m on top, he still controls it all.
I know he can make me come like this. He’s done it many times before. My knees start to tremble now that I’m getting so close, but I don’t want it this way. I want to be looking into his eyes and kissing his lips. I want his arms around me, his strength and presence there for me to appreciate. His hands are strong, but when I take hold of them, he releases his grip immediately. It’s awkward, but I climb off him, moving down his body until I’m sitting in his lap again. “I want to come with you inside me,” I tell him and his eyes sparkle as he gives me his sexy one-sided grin.
“You missed my cock, baby?”
I wave my hands over his body. “I missed all of this…this goodness.”
Harrison grins. “There’s a bit more goodness here than there used to be.” He pats his stomach which is still ridiculously toned but maybe a little less ripped than it used to be, but I won’t indulge him by telling him how amazing he looks. I’m going to show him just how much I need him.
His cock is like a nightstick in his shorts, and I take it out and stroke it up and down, watching as his eyelids go heavy. I rise over him and gently probe my labia with the head of him, coating it in my arousal. The heat of it on my clit takes me closer, but it’s when I notch him at my entrance and push down that I almost explode.
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of how this feels. I know I could never love another man the way I love Harrison. We came together in an unusual way. Step Siblings to lovers isn’t exactly traditional.
“Baby,” he says, running his hands over my breasts, my stomach, my thighs. He urges my hips down so I can slide over every slick inch he has to give me, and it’s a lot of inches. When I’m finally down as low as I can be, and he’s lodged deep inside me, the ache is a familiar pleasure and pain. He stares between us, and the familiar glaze to his eyes is evident when he witnesses our joining. It’s like he can’t believe my little body could take him so well.
“Now I’m home,” he breathes, and his words bring tears to my eyes.
“You feel so good,” I tell him. “So big and hard.” He loves it when I talk a little dirty, so much that it makes him swell even more inside me.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Big, and hard, and ohhhh.” I tip my head back, squeezing my eyes shut as his thumb grazes a familiar path over my clit. He’s licked it so it’s slick but still rough in the way that sends me to the edge of brilliant oblivion so quickly.
“That’s it, princess. Work those hips. Give it to me.”
And I do. I do. I roll my hips, using everything I have to search for what I’ve been missing so badly, and when I come, it’s like an exorcism. I flop forward onto Harrison’s chest, and he wraps me up in his big arms while I shake and shudder against him, my insides gripping his cock so hard he might never be able to withdraw.
He lets me have my moment, and it’s only when my body has stilled that he rolls over me. Bracketed by his powerful arms, I feel so protected. He drops his head, using his nose to brush the tip of mine, smiling softly as our eyes meet. “You needed that,” he whispers.
“I saved it all for you,” I tell him.
“You didn’t go solo?”
The surprise in his voice makes me smile. “It’s not as fun.” I pout my bottom lip and he nips it with his teeth.
“No wonder you came like a tidal wave.”
“Now it’s your turn.”
The first roll of his hips in this position makes my eyes roll. I swear he has a cock with some kind of homing instinct because the slide of it inside me is like nothing else.
“You feel so good,” he says. “So tight, and warm, and slick.”
“You make me so wet,” I say. “Sometimes, when you’re at work, I think about this, and my panties get damp.”
“You should touch yourself,” he says. “Touch yourself and think of my cock.”
“Or you should just stay here and never leave. Become my sex slave.”
He snorts, smiling down at me like I’m the best Christmas present he ever received. “Jenna, how did I get so fucking lucky?”
I wonder the same thing all the time.
“I love you,” I whisper as he hugs me closer, fusing our bodies and overwhelming me with his weight and strength in the best possible way.
“I love you too, baby.”
That night, Harrison holds me close to his chest, using his big hand to smooth my hair, and I don’t draw away to find sleep like I usually would. When he falls asleep, I listen to him breathe, thanking the universe for bringing him back to me. In the darkness, I hold up my hand and look at the new ring on my finger.
Eternity.
The diamonds sparkle even in the low light and my heart burns brilliantly for the man who’d go to the ends of the earth for his family.
Eternity sounds like a long time, but it will never be enough for me and Harrison.
CARRIE
I’ll forgive my friends for the trauma of being forced to listen to their reunion sex through the thin walls of their home. It must be hard for Jenna to be without Harrison for weeks at a time, and I totally get the need for a festive reunion. Even though I understand it, it still weirds me out.
“Other people have sex, you know,” Ethan laughs, when I try to hold my hands over my ears. He’s sitting to my left with his reading glasses propped low on his nose, staring at his phone. In a romance novel, he’d be the sexy professor archetype.
“That’s how babies are made,” Nathan says from my right. He’s rubbing cream into my legs, which is a job I am more than happy to do, but he seems to enjoy it.
“I know how babies are made,” I say. “You guys remind me practically every night.”
Ethan snorts, lowering the phone to the comforter and frowning at me. “You sound like you don’t enjoy the reminding.”
“Oh, she enjoys it alright.” Nathan deeps the massage to my calf and my toes curl.
“She’s enjoying that, for sure.”
My twin husbands have a tendency to talk about me like I’m not in the room, but it’s never in a bad way and usually hilarious.
“Nathan has magic hands.” I lay back against the pillow and rest my head in my hands, closing my eyes so I can relax into his touch.
“Only Nathan?” Ethan runs his hand up my hip and under my camisole, his clever fingers finding my nipple and gently rolling it.
“You have magic fingers too.” His magic fingers move to the other breast, squeezing with perfect pressure.
Nathan mutters an expletive and not for the first time I marvel, once again, at the fact that we’ve been doing this for years, but they still treat the exploration of my body as though it’s virgin territory, even though we’ve been doing this for years.
“Are you guys seriously working up to fuck me in Jenna and Harrison’s spare bed?”
“Why do you think Ethan locked the door?” Nathan says.
“So nobody disturbed us while we were changing.”
“Yeah, that wasn’t the reason,” Ethan says.
“I was wondering why you didn’t put on your Christmas PJs.”
This time, both the twins roll their eyes and shake their heads. “Carrie, we love you more than life itself, but we are never wearing Christmas PJs. E. V. E. R.” Ethan bends over me, lifting my top so he can use his clever tongue to lick my stiff nipple. He doesn’t stop there though, moving to suck it into his mouth, all while maintaining eye contact. If we weren’t at a sleepover, I’d be moaning long and loud.
Nathan’s hand drifts up my thigh, no longer content with moisturizing, and now seeking what’s in my panties.
“Fuck,” I mutter, as his finger finds my slick opening and slides upward to find my clit.
“That’s it, baby. Let your legs drop open.”
I don’t waste time knowing what’s coming. Nathan’s clever fingers, followed by Nathan’s clever tongue. I love the way he licks me, like I’m the sweetest ice-cream and he’s trying to work out my flavor.
As he kneels between my legs, using his hands to push my panties aside, I smile at his concentration. “You know, all the girls have bought matching PJs for their families. We’re getting together tomorrow to take an awesome group shot.”
Even though I didn’t think it would be possible, Nathan loses focus on my pussy. “Awesome group shot of grown men dressed up like giant babies?”
“Not cool,” Ethan says, sliding down his sleep shorts to reveal a very long, very thick, very hard cock.
“If you’re trying to reassert your manhood in the face of the impending PJ emasculation,” I say, zeroing in on my favorite body part, “you’re going the right way about it.”
“My manhood is firmly intact,” he says, his tight fist tugging his cock into even longer, even harder proportions. “As you’re about to find out.”
“I never doubted it,” I laugh.
“That’s good to know.”
As Nathan leans in to lick between my legs, I reach out for Ethan’s manhood, encouraging him to bring it to my lips. The taste of him is as familiar as my morning coffee, as delicious as the tastiest dessert. The way he moans when I take him deep is enough to curl my toes, but Nathan’s mouth whispering over my warm pussy just makes everything sweeter and sharper.
There’s something about the push and pull of sex, the anticipation of your partner’s actions, the familiarity and surprise that brings us closer. By day, we’re three separate people, connected by love and trust and commitment. But at night, we become just one being, united in the search for the ultimate pleasure.
“Oh, you look so fucking hot taking my cock,” sexy professor Ethan says, grinning down at me with his glasses still in place. His eyes drift to where his brother is currently sucking on my clit and I watch in real time as his eyes glaze with arousal. “Nathan really enjoys doing that,” he says, canting his hips as though he’s imagining working his way into my pussy.
I don’t stop to tell him Nathan’s fantastic at it because he already knows. Instead, I suck harder, hollowing my cheeks and pushing deeper, until his thighs begin to tremble, and his hand is in my hair, trying to slow everything down. When he pulls his cock from between my lips, there’s an audible popping sound that makes us all laugh.
“I think it’s time to give Harrison and Jenna a run for their money in the noise department.” Ethan slumps onto the bed with his back resting against the headboard. He pats his lap. “Jump on pretty girl. Let me show you the ride of your life.”
“Yee-haw, cowboy,” I snigger.
“Is Ethan getting bossy?” Nathan asks, wiping his top lip with the back of his hand.
“Something like that,” I say, but I’m already obeying his order.
Even though I’ve been fucking these men for years, it still takes me time to fit everything they’ve got going on inside me. Just one of them is a snug fit, but I know as soon as Ethan takes this position that he wants both of them in my pussy at the same time. I remember the first time we did this, I thought they were going to split me open, but instead I had the craziest orgasm ever. What used to be daunting is now a treat.
I roll my hips, dropping lower and lower with each pass until Ethan is buried deep inside me and my eyes are tightly closed with concentration. Nathan looms behind me, his hands on my hips, his big body warm and close. “Relax, baby,” he says, stroking up and down my spine in long, firm strokes, knowing what I need to lose myself between them.
“She’s ready,” Ethan reassures.
“Of course she is.” Nathan lines up his cock alongside his brother’s and pushes, reveling in the slickness and heat between us.
“Let Nathan in, baby,” Ethan croons, kissing my damp forehead and holding me close against his chest. I soften under their touch and words, wanting this moment where we’re all joined, needing to feel them fill me.
Being with two men shouldn’t be this easy. Long ago, before I overheard them talking about wanting me, I remember feeling so conflicted about having feelings for my twin stepbrothers. It seemed so wrong, so forbidden. But looking back, all of that seems so ridiculous now.
We’re meant to be, like peas and carrots, and steak and fries. They’re my left and my right and I’m the glue that binds us all.
Nathan moves deeper as Ethan, and I keep still. I pant softly as my body stretches, and Ethan kisses my cheeks, telling me how beautiful it is that I love them both. And it is beautiful.
The transition between penetration and fucking is seamless. Nathan takes over, moving for us all, grinding my clit against his brother’s pelvic bone, making my legs twitch with sensation. Ethan groans at the tightness of my pussy, clamping his eyes shut, furrowing his brow. The pleasure is so extreme it’s hard to find the focus to breathe.
“Oh God,” I groan.
“Carrie,” Nathan responds, kissing the back of my neck while he works my body into a frenzy. My body is liquid heat and forest fire, slick and open between my men. This is it. The thing that brought us together. The thing that will keep us burning as bright as the sun.
“I’m…” I can’t get the word coming out of my mouth before it happens. My pussy bears down so tightly that Nathan pauses his thrusts, moving slower and shallower, soaking up my pleasure. His hand brushes my spine again, as though he’s soothing a skittish mare.
“Baby,” he whispers.
“Baby,” Ethan repeats.
All my words have been stolen as I tumble into oblivion.
I’m weak limbed and loose brained when Nathan begins to move again, but it doesn’t matter. My body is a vessel for their pleasure now, and feeling them come together inside me is the ultimate high. Four hands grasp my hips and waist, two mouths find my skin and suck hard, leaving marks that will take weeks to heal, but I don’t care. They can mark me forever and I’d take it all.
“Fuck,” Nathan mutters, and I know he’s speaking through gritted teeth because it doesn’t sound like him.
“Give it to her,” Ethan says, with a similar growl to his twin. “Fill her up.”
Nathan groans, seizing inside me, his cock pulsing as he does exactly what his brother ordered, and Ethan isn’t far behind, taking over and thrusting until he releases too.
The sound of our shared panting is ridiculous, the weight of Nathan overbearing, the heat of Ethan like a raging furnace. But none of that matters because I’m so damned happy. A bubble of laughter drifts through me, until it escapes, and I’m laughing and panting and perfectly content.
And just as I’m about to tell them how good they did, there’s a bang on the wall. “Keep it down, you guys,” Harrison yells and even through the wall, I can tell he’s laughing.
“I guess we got our own back,” Ethan laughs.
“They won’t be able to look at us over breakfast,” I say, cringing even as I find it hilarious.
NATHAN
It’s Christmas morning, and Carrie and Ethan are still sleeping soundly. I slide out of bed to check on the twins. They’re earlier risers and have been known to get up to mischief when left unattended. The last thing we need to deal with this morning is a bathroom covered in creams or an entire bag of makeup ruined.
Surprisingly, Abbey, Emma, and Natalie are all still sleeping. I guess they must have stayed up playing and overslept. I don’t think I’ve ever known a kid sleep after seven am on Christmas morning.
In the kitchen, I find Harrison at the table, sipping on a steaming cup of coffee.
“Happy Christmas, dude.”
“Back at you.” He waves his hand in the direction of the coffee pot. “Fix yourself some coffee. We’re going to need it.”
He’s right. With so many kids between us all, today is going to be filled with the best kind of chaos. I search out a mug from a high cupboard and fix myself coffee with cream and sugar. Harrison watches me with a smirk. “Are you not sweet enough already?”
“Don’t knock it until you try it. These days, it’s my only vice.”
“I don’t know.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Sounded like a lot of vice-like behavior coming from your room last night.”
I slump into an oak chair at the kitchen table. “I’ll tell you what. I won’t bring up your sex noises if you don’t bring up mine.”
“Sounds like a good plan, dude.”
We both sip our drinks in companionable silence. It’s been a while since we met up and the unfamiliarity that time brings isn’t welcome. Life is busy, but I miss my friend.
“Tell me what’s big in your life right now,” I say.
Harrison raises his eyebrows, studying me like I just asked for the length and girth of his cock. I guess men don’t talk this way as a rule, but we should.
“You want me to get deep and meaningful?”
“I want to know what’s going on in your life rather than hearing it from Jenna via Carrie.”
He snorts, rubbing his neck again. “I bought Jenna an eternity ring and gave it to her last night.”
“Nice.” I smile at the way sharing even that information seems too much for Harrison.
“It’s nice to finally be in a financial position to give her the ring she deserves.”
“You know Jenna doesn’t care about any of that,” I say. “You give him the man she deserves every day. That’s what counts.”
My friend smiles at me and nods. “I think that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Yeah, don’t get fucking used to it.”
“We’ve been trying for another baby,” he says, his eyes focused on the wooden fruit bowl in the middle of the table. “Since Abbey was a year old.”
“Have you seen a doctor?” I ask.
“Nah. Jenna doesn’t want to. She wants to leave it in the hands of fate.”
“And you?”
“I’m happy with our family as it is. But I’m worried Jenna might regret not giving IVF a chance. I’ve been saving a little every month in case she changes her mind.”
I think back to the months after Carrie almost lost her life in childbirth and my worry that she might want to risk having another baby. I dreaded the conversation because there’s no right or wrong option. All I knew was that I didn’t want Carrie to risk her life. I need her. Ethan needs her. Our children need her. Thankfully, Carrie was pragmatic, too. We are, and always will be, a family of five, and I’m alright with that.
“I think that Dr. Phil would tell you that communication is key. Why don’t you tell her what you told me, and at least give her the option?”
Harrison nods and is about to reply when we hear the patter of tiny feet coming down the hall.
“Daddy,” Abbey shouts. “Santa’s come.” She grabs for his hand, leaning her body weight toward the door as if to pull him in the direction she wants to go. Harrison lumbers to his feet, and the pure happiness on this face is heartwarming.
“Daddy N,” Emma shouts, barreling in behind Abbey. “Santa found us.”
Both my daughters were fretting when we left our house that Santa wouldn’t know where to deliver their presents. Somehow, Ethan managed to convince them of Santa’s all-knowing magical capabilities, so much so that I heard them reassuring Katelin’s and Bethany’s kids that everything was going to be fine, even though they were staying in a hotel.
“What’s going on?” Ethan yells from the bottom of the stairs, feigning confusion.
“Santa’s come,” all the girls yell together.
“Did he bring my presents too?” Ethan asks, jogging into the den like an overgrown kid. The real kids trail him, laughing their heads off, and I shake my head at my twin. Carrie and Jenna appear in the hallway, both bleary-eyed and with sleep mussed hair. Well, actually, it’s sex mussed.
“Is Ethan being a doofus?” Carrie asks, rolling her eyes.
“Yep,” I say. “But I think the kids appreciate it.”
“Coffee?” Harrison asks, strolling over to his wife and kissing her hard on the mouth.
“Coffee would be awesome,” Jenna says.
I gaze around at us, wondering where all the years have gone. Our days as frivolous college kids are over, but despite the passing of time, we’re all still the same. My mind drifts to imagining what we’ll be like when our kids are at college. We might have some gray hair creeping through, and some laughter lines, but underneath we’ll be the same stupid twenty-somethings who took chances on love and hit the jackpot.
KATELIN
I knew Christmas morning was going to be strange this year. It’s the first time we spent Christmas Eve in a motel, and the first time we’ve woken as a family away from home during the festive season.
Bryan wasn’t impressed when I insisted on packing a two-foot fake Christmas tree in my suitcase. It’s standing in the room’s corner on a small oak table with all the presents piled beneath it. It’s an odd-looking sight – the presents are too large and plentiful and the tree too small – but setting it up last night made me feel truly festive.
There are three double beds in this family suite. Isobel is tucked into one with her brothers. Austin and Jason pushed together the other two as soon as we walked through the door: I couldn’t help but smile at their commitment to ensuring that we all slept together even when away from home.
A small beam of light has broken through a gap in the thick drapes and has caught the single gold star that I’ve clipped to the tree, refracting light through the room. It’s absolutely magical and I’m the only one awake to see it.
At least I think I am.
“You want to wake the kids, don’t you?” Austin asks, touching my cheek with the back of his thumb. I twist to face him, finding him staring at me through long lashes, his bottom lip drawn between his teeth with amusement.
“They never sleep in this late,” I whisper. “I know yesterday was full-on fun, but it’s Christmas morning. They’re usually awake at four am.”
“And you usually put them back to sleep again.”
“Well, everyone knows Santa doesn’t complete his rounds until six-thirty am.” I wiggle my eyebrows and Austin throws his arm over me and pulls me closer. His skin is so warm, and he smells of the ocean and summertime. Closing my eyes, I press light kisses to his shoulder, and he hums contentedly.
“I like it when we wake up first,” he says. “Just a few minutes of alone time before the rest want to steal your attention.”
“The rest are awake,” Jason says groggily from behind me. “But have your special time, Bro. It’s all good.”
Austin groans. “Somehow, you manage to make it less fun.”
“Play nice,” I say, even though I know that neither of them means anything bad by what they’re saying. There is only one of me, and now there are six people who need my attention. I’ve had to accept that I can only spread myself so thinly, and they’ve had to put some of their needs behind those of our children.
It’s a fine balance, but one I feel we’ve managed pretty well.
Bryan groans himself away on the other side of Jason. They take turns on who gets to sleep directly next to me without argument. They only came up with a schedule after I told them I wouldn’t keep having the ‘who’s going to sit in the front seat’ conversation every night and still have sex with them.
“Daddy, why do you make such funny noises?” a little voice peeps.
“I ask myself that same question, honey,” I laugh, propping myself up onto my elbow.
Little Isaiah smiles and stretches just like his poppa, but without the accompanying noises.
“Happy Christmas, Sweetie,” I say.
For a second, he stares at me blankly, then he remembers what day it is and sits up with a start. Isaac follows, blinking into the darkness. “What’s going on?” he says.
“It’s Christmas.” Isaiah scrambles out from under the comforter and crawls frantically down the big bed toward the tree.
“He came!” he squeals. “Santa came.”
“Of course he came,” Isobel mumbles. “Santa’s magic.”
“Mommy’s magic,” Jason says, kissing the back of my neck. The kids might not appreciate the work it takes to get Christmas organized, but at least my husbands do.
“Can I open my presents?” Isaac says, already on the floor next to his twin.
“Of course,” I say. “But what do we need to say first?”
“Thank you, Santa,” all three of my kids declare, probably loud enough to wake the people in the next room. I’m not worried though because any minute, Bethany and her mega-brood will wake up and the hotel will be in chaos!
“Okay then. Let me get my phone so I can take some pictures.”
Isobel is slower to get out of bed and I’m kneeling next to the makeshift tree as she settles next to her brothers. I snap a cute picture of them in their matching pajamas as Bryan, Austin, and Jason sit up in bed. Bryan has his phone in his hand.
“Everyone, turn around and pose for a photo with Mommy.”
“But I’m opening presents, Daddy,” Isaiah says, not turning around.
“You can open them after,” Jason says lightly. “You know how much Mommy would love a picture with her babies.”
Isaiah lowers the present he’s holding and looks at me with big, serious eyes. “Okay, Mommy. But just one.”
I nod, but inside my heart is aching and my throat is rope-tight.
My three beautiful children climb onto my knees and Bryan moves to a better position to take the picture. Austin quickly puts the sidelights on and Jason beams. I smile so happily I fear my cheeks will split.
As Isobel scrambles to her feet, she wraps her arms around my head and kisses my hair. Isaiah and Isaac are too interested in their presents, but that’s okay. I know I’ll get more kisses later.
I watch their happy faces light up with each gift that’s peeled free of its paper confines, giving thanks that not only can we afford to make their Christmas dreams come true but also that I’m still around to witness it all.
Looking over to the bed, I find Austin, Jason, and Bryan watching me watching our children. Maybe they’re just happy I’m happy, but in my heart, I know they’re thinking the same thing.
Every day is such a blessing.
And this Christmas day feels like the greatest blessing of all.
AUSTIN
“It’s time to get in the car,” I say, taking hold of Isaiah’s hand before he finds another distraction.
“But I want to play,” he says, staring up at me with an expression like I just stole his cookie.
“I know, Squirt, but Uncle Harrison and Auntie Jenna are expecting us. All your presents will be here when you get back.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure.”
“And don’t forget you can choose one to take with you,” Isobel says from the floor where she’s currently putting on her silver glitter pumps. My girl looks like a Christmas angel dressed up in her silver dress with a silver bow fixing up her long, shiny hair.
“Which one are you taking?” I ask.
“My baby doll,” she says, pointing to a bundle next to her. A little nose pokes out from a fluffy, pink blanket.
“She’s sure wrapped up snug,” I smile.
“It’s cold outside, Daddy. I have to make sure she keeps warm.”
“Of course you do.”
Katelin appears from the bathroom in a black ribbed turtleneck, black satin skirt and long suede heeled boots. She’s painted her lips red, and at her ears are the diamond earrings me and my brothers chose for her main Christmas gift. Even after years together, she still takes my breath away. In fact, the years just make the ache in my chest even stronger.
There was a time when I got lost in wondering how long we’d have together. Katelin went through so much and we were all grateful when she got the all clear. But none of us is ignorant to the potential risk she’s going to live with for the rest of her life.
Katelin found a way to put worry aside. She’s that kind of woman. Her no nonsense approach to everything is one of the things that attracted me to her in the first place. But the thing about loving someone so hard is that often, you worry about them more than they worry for themselves.
At least I have my brothers to share the burden with. Between us, we talk when we need to, and keep our concerns away from Katelin. She gets to have a normal life and enjoy our children. She deserves no less.
“You look gorgeous,” I say.
“Perfection,” Jason agrees.
“A goddess,” Bryan adds.
“Mommy, you’re so pretty,” Isaac says, his big green eyes wide as saucers.
She bends to straighten his jumper and pepper his face with gentle kisses. “Thank you, sweetie.” She bends and lowers her tone. “You look pretty good yourself.”
When he puffs out his little chest, I have to blow out a breath.
“Can I hold your hand?” Katelin asks.
“Sure, Mommy. I’m taking my dinosaur.”
“Good choice.” Katelin straightens and smooths her skirt before taking Isaac’s chubby hand.
“I’ve got Issy,” Bryan says.
“I guess that leaves me in charge of carrying all the bags?” Jason grimaces at the pile of things Katelin deems necessary for an afternoon at Harrison’s house. Like they don’t have a kid and everything we could require under their own roof.
“You snooze you lose,” I say as my twin loads both his shoulders with bag straps and then fills his arms with the box of food and drink Katelin has bought as our contribution to the day.
“Ready to go?” Bryan asks.
My eyes drift over our strange but perfect family, at our children who are such a perfect blend of all of us, at my brothers who make my life better every day, and at the woman who is the center of our universe.
This time of year, over all others, makes me thankful for how far we’ve come, and pray for many more steps in our journey to come.
BETHANY
“I think I need to sleep,” Liam says, throwing his arm around me and snuggling closer on Harrison’s super comfy sectional.
“This couch is perfect for that,” Harrison says, but then his eyes drift over the other eight people currently crowded on and he shrugs. “At least, it is when it’s just me and Jenna around.”
“Anyway, it’s too early to be sleepy,” I tell Liam. “Have a cup of coffee or a shot of something. We’ve got games to play, and we haven’t cut the cake yet.”
I glance over at the dining table, checking the children haven’t attacked my four tier winter spectacular cake. With its white frosting and fondant, trees and winter animals, not to mention a sugar lake, it took me the best part of three days to complete. It’s a miracle we transported it here in one piece and If I don’t get at least one festive group picture around it, I’m going to cry.
“That cake is something else,” Carrie says. “You really have broken all the records for confectionery awesomeness.”
“You should have seen the wedding cake she made last week,” Liam says. “It brought tears to my eyes.”
“Big softie,” I say, kissing my husband’s stubbly jaw.
“Big girl more like,” Bryan says.
Katelin shoots him a withering look, adjusting little Isaac on her knee. “Ignore my husband. He’s pretending he doesn’t have a sensitive side, but as you can see, he really does.”
We all focus on sleeping Isaiah, who’s cradled in Bryan’s arms. “Don’t tell everyone,” Bryan frowns with mock anger.
“So, who’s down for a game of beer pong?” Jenna asks. “We can shift the cake and set up on the dining table.”
Callum’s eyes meet mine, and he’s instantly aware of my feelings. “Tell you what,” he says quickly. “Let’s set up a group picture with the cake and when we’ve done that, we can risk moving it.”
Jenna looks between us. “Okay. That sounds great.”
I forgive my friend’s lack of understanding about cake. She wasn’t present for the early disaster in my baking career when one of my first four tier cakes collapsed just before it was going to be delivered. To say I almost had a heart attack wouldn’t be an overstatement.
“Come on then, everyone,” Ryan says, always the organizer. “Kids. Time for photos.”
“What shall I do about Isaiah?” Bryan asks.
“Hold him for the photo. It’ll be a cute memory,” Katelin says. “Poor baby has been worn out by food and fun.”
“I didn’t know my Christmas lunch was capable of such things,” Jenna grins.
“If we weren’t all concerned with being polite, we’d all be nodding off right now.” Matty pats his belly and I shake my head. It must be good genes because all my husbands have kept trim. I glance down at my own body, which has borne six children in four pregnancies. There is a lot about it that differs from when I first met my men. Stretch marks are inevitable in twin pregnancies, and loose skin is the gift that gets left behind after. My hips have widened, and my breasts are fuller and need a whole lot more support than they used to. I could feel bad about the changes, but Callum, Liam, Matty and Ryan have never made me feel anything less than a goddess. In fact, they worship my body even more because of what it’s given them. A family. A life filled with joy. A future to look forward to.
Liam is first to rise from the sofa and he holds out a hand to me, which I gratefully accept. “Molly. Rachel.” I wave my daughters over and they scramble up from the floor and crowd our legs.
Harrison finds Abbey, and Matty rounds up the rest of the children.
Ryan finds his tripod selfie stick and sets up his phone to capture the moment. It’s not a easy group to photograph. The children are too amped up from sugar and fun to stand still. The ten men in our group are all so broad and tall that fitting them into one frame seems like an impossibility. Jenna, Carrie and Katelin are so focused on getting the kids to stand still they aren’t looking at the camera. Ryan is patient for so long before he loses it.
“Listen, you guys. All we need to do is stand still for ten seconds. Kids, think of it as musical statues. And when we’re done, you get to eat some of that delicious cake behind you. Three, two one, the music has stopped.” He sets the timer and makes the quick dash to my side, wrapping his arm around my middle.
“Make sure you’re all still and smiling,” he says through his grinning teeth.
When the shutter clicks, everyone relaxes in a collective sigh.
“Hang on a minute,” Ryan says. “Before you move, let me check the picture.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Matty, his twin, reassures.
Ryan squints at the screen and rolls his eyes. “The kids all look like they’re constipated, and Rachel has her eyes closed.”
“I think it’s the best we’re going to get,” I conceded. “And I’m sure there’s an app to fix her eyes.”
“There is,” Katelin says. “I can do it for you if you send it to me.”
Jenna produces a knife and plates from a side unit. “You can do the honors,” she says, eyeing the cake. “Just looking at it makes me panic.”
“There’s an art to cutting these tall cakes,” I say.
“She provides a leaflet for her customers,” Liam says.
“Well, it helps them get the portion sizes right and that way, no one complains that the cake is too small.”
“People do that?” Harrison asks, happily accepting the first slice of white chocolate cake.
“You’d be amazed what people try.” Ryan tries to sneak the next plate, but I hand it to Jenna.
“The hosts get the first plates,” I say. “Where’s Abbey?”
“I’m here, Auntie Beth.”
“Here’s yours, sweetie. I gave you a penguin.”
“I don’t want to eat him,” she says seriously. “He’s too cute. Maybe I’ll feed him some cake.”
She totters off with her plate carefully balanced in her chubby hands.
I carefully cut twenty-five pieces of cake, marveling at how big our families have become. Not so long ago, we were all stumbling around on our own, looking for love, and now here we are, united by it.
“This is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten,” Nathan groans, his eyes rolling.
Carrie swats him on the shoulder. “Seriously, dude. I’m right here.”
“TMI,” Jenna screws her face up in disgust. “It was bad enough listening to you guys last night, let alone having to think about it while I’m eating cake.”
Carrie doubles over laughing. “You know, I was talking about my cooking, but I see where your mind lives.”
For the first time ever, I witness Jenna blush.
This is what Christmas is all about. Fun and laughter with friends and family.
I’m so blessed to have found so much love.
CALLUM
Beer pong is a game I last played in college, and I don’t remember if I was any good at it because I’d always end up so drunk.
“So, I don’t get it. Are we filling the cups with beer?” I ask Jenna.
“No,” she says, her eyebrows shooting up. “What kind of party do you think this is?”
“I know what kind of party he wishes it was,” Harrison says, throwing his arm around my shoulder and slapping me on the back hard.
“My days of waking up next to the toilet are truly over,” I admit, relieved.
Jenna shakes a bag of candy. “This is a kid friendly version, with prizes for the winners.”
“You can have a beer for your prize, if you like,” Harrison offers.
“Another beer and Callum will be snoring on your couch.” Bethany steps forward to place the red plastic cups on the table in a triangle formation. Katelin appears with a bottle of water and begins to decant into each cup.
“I’m glad to hear you have so much faith in me,” I say. “I’m the designated driver.”
“Oh yeah,” Bethany laughs, her cheeks pink and feet a little unsteady from the three glasses of wine she’s drunk.
“Maybe you need to have a rest on the couch,” I say, arching my brow. She waves me away like I’m an idiot for even suggesting it.
“I’m a master of beer pong,” Matty says, holding the small white plastic ball, squinting one eye and practicing his aim.
“There are other more impressive claims to fame,” Ryan, his twin, says.
“You can be on the other team, then.” Matty nods at the other end of the table and Ryan doesn’t object.
When the table is almost covered with half-filled plastic cups, Jenna rounds up the kids yet again. Most of them will need to stand on a chair to even see over the table, but I guess that’s part of the fun. Abbey is up first, and she bounces the ball, landing it into the cup at the far corner. She squeals with glee and jumps up and down on the chair so vigorously that Harrison grabs hold of her. “Well done, baby,” he says. “You got one.”
“Of course, I did, Daddy. I’ve been practicing.”
We all face Jenna, who shrugs. “What? Harrison’s been away for two weeks. We had a lot of time on our hands.”
“Looks like you have a rival,” Ryan tells Matty.
“It’s all good,” he replies, helping his daughter Molly onto the chair opposite Abbey’s. “Here’s the ball, sweeties. See if you can get it into a cup.”
She wrinkles her little button nose and bounces the ball so wide that it spins sideways from the table. Her little shoulders droop, but Matty kisses her cheek. “You did good,” he whispers softly. “It takes practice, and you get to have more goes, okay?”
“Okay.” She plops onto her bottom and slides off the chair ready for whoever is going next, and I’m so proud of my brother and the way he parents Molly and all of our children with patience and kindness.
The game continues, with Matty and Ryan facing off each time. It’s odd to see them as rivals when they’re unusually close. Odd but hilarious.
“I think we should just leave them to it,” I say to Liam, who’s standing next to me.
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Can I get that beer now?” I ask Harrison.
“Sure. Let’s go.”
Matty wins in the end, with a little help from Molly, who manages with practice to eliminate two cups. Jenna hands around the candy and we all migrate back to the den. The kids watch a Christmas movie and the rest of us talk about what’s changed since the last time we were together.
I notice Jenna seems distracted but put it down to the fact that she’s hosting and probably has a whole head full of details stealing her attention. When there’s a natural break in conversation, she slides forward on the couch. “I have some news,” she says softly.
“You do?” Harrison frowns at his wife in a curious way. I guess he’s as in the dark about this news as we are.
“I do.” She fumbles around in the pocket of her sweater and pulls out something that’s mostly concealed in her fist. Placing it on the table in front of Harrison, we all stare at the white stick she’s revealed.
Harrison leans in as though he’s not really taking in the pregnancy test in front of him. His eyes flick to Jenna and then back to the stick. “This is a pregnancy test.”
“Yes.” She calmly watches him struggle to comprehend what she’s telling him, and around the room, we all smile at the unfolding moment of happiness.
“You’re pregnant?” he says, his eyes filled with hope and wonder.
“Nine weeks,” she says.
Harrison’s focus returns to the stick and he reaches out to touch it so gently, it’s almost as though the baby has just appeared in front of him. Then he pulls Jenna into the fiercest hug, and we all erupt into congratulations.
Harrison is a big guy and I’ve never seen him cry before, but his eyes are watery as he pulls away. Jenna is beaming, and kisses him on the cheek, smoothing away a single tear that’s escaped his eyes.
“Congratulations,” I say, knowing how long they’ve waited for this moment. It’s never been a secret that they’ve had issues with having a family and I’m so happy that they’re going to be blessed a second time around. “Well, if that isn’t the perfect way to round off a Christmas celebration, I don’t know what is,” I add.
“This time next year, there will be twenty-six of us.” Bethany claps her hands with excitement.
“There’s still time to make that number higher,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.
“Down boy,” she snaps. “The oven is closed for good.”
“I guess it won’t be us,” I laugh, totally understanding my wife’s perspective.
“Or us,” Carrie says, looking over at her daughters wistfully.
“Or us,” Katelin says with absolute certainty.
“Well, twenty-six is a pretty good number,” Harrison says, wiping his face with his palms, still lost in the moment’s awe.
I grab my glass from the table and hold it up. “To friends and family, and the blessings of Christmas.”
Everyone with a glass repeats my toast back and we all drink to the contentment we have at this moment.
Who knows what life will bring in the next twelve months? All we can do is live each day the best we can. Love our families and friends and hope for many more days in the future.
“Happy Christmas, everyone,” Abbey says, holding up a beaker of apple juice.
“Happy Christmas,” we all reply.
It really has been the best one ever.
HUGE CHRISTMAS (C) STEPHANIE BROTHER
