Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
At dinner, August carves the turkey and I take a big breath of relief when I see that it’s cooked perfectly. The fish sticks will be safe until tomorrow night when we’re both exhausted and ready for an easy dinner in front of a movie.
“I’d like to make a toast,” August says, standing up at the head of the table. I smile as I look up at my handsome man. He’s looking as hot as ever with a burgundy sweater over a collared shirt. I still can’t believe he’s mine.
We all raise a glass as he looks at me, getting choked up.
“I know the idea of Harmony and myself coming together took some getting used to for obvious reasons,” he says with a killer smile. “But I’m glad that you all came around and saw what we have. A beautiful life together full of happiness, joy, and love.”
I swallow hard with those sexy brown eyes on me.
“You’re the love of my life, Harmony,” he says as he raises his glass of red wine. “I’m so happy you’re mine.”
“Hear, hear!” my dad says as I get choked up.
“Kiss her already!” August’s mom says.
“Yeah, and give us another grandbaby!” Mom says, making everyone laugh and making me blush.
August has a wolfish grin on his face as he leans down and kisses me on the lips.
I think this is the best Christmas yet, although that’s what I said last year. I have a feeling that every Christmas with August will feel like the best one yet.
Epilogue
August
Ten Years Later…
I wake up on Christmas morning to a screaming five-year-old landing on my nuts.
“Fuck,” I grunt into my pillow as my balls throb like an elephant just landed on them.
“It’s Christmas, Daddy!!” Marlon screeches as he jumps around on the bed. “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”
The intense pain shoots into my gut and I suddenly feel nauseous.
Two more kids come rushing into the room—our oldest at nine years old, Casey, and our middle child at seven, Eddie. One of them turns on the bright light and I’m suddenly blinded as well.
I turn on the pillow and look at my half-awake wife. She looks as shocked and disheveled as I am with her half-closed eyes and wild messy hair. She’s as beautiful as ever.
“Merry Christmas,” she whispers as our three feral children dump their stockings all over our bedspread.
A smile hits my lips. “Merry Christmas,” I whisper back. “I’ll go get some coffee.”
“It’s a Christmas miracle,” she says with a chuckle as she forces herself up.
“Look, Mommy!” Marlon shouts as he shoves an action figure in her face. “Look what Santa brought!”
I smile as I grab my housecoat and hurry down the hall. I hit the button on the coffee maker and then turn on all the lights as my amazing family’s joyous screeches hit my ears.
With a flick of the switch, our propane fireplace comes to life. Next, I turn on the Christmas tree that has a gazillion presents underneath and put a playlist of Dean Martin Christmas songs on.
It looks incredible.
The nausea and pain of my wake-up shot to the nuts starts to fade and a warm feeling of gratitude takes its place.
I love this house, I love my family, I fucking adore my wife.
All I need for Christmas is them.
When the coffee beeps, I quickly pour two cups and hurry back to the shitshow.
I pause in the doorway when I see the joyous scene.
My three beautiful children and my stunning wife. They all look so happy as they rip through their stockings and it makes me feel like the luckiest man in the world.
I zero in on Harmony’s angelic smile as Casey shows her a new pack of lip gloss.
To think this woman was off limits to me at one point. She was my stepsister and we weren’t supposed to be together.
It was dirty and naughty and forbidden, but I couldn’t live without her.
How can I live without my soulmate?
Just because our parents fell in love, didn’t mean we couldn’t. At least, that’s the way I always saw it.
And anyone else who disagreed, well, they could fuck all the way off.
“Are you holding out on me, big man?” Harmony says with a grin when she sees me standing in the doorway with her coffee.
I smile as I walk over and put it on her night table.
“No, just enjoying the view.”
She smiles at me. I kiss her lips.
“Eww!” Marlon whines. “Stop kissing Mommy!”
I stick my tongue out at him and he laughs.
He quickly gets distracted with a new toy and I turn back to my lovely wife.
“Merry Christmas, my love,” I whisper.
Harmony’s cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink as she looks up at me. “Merry Christmas, August.”
I kiss her again, this time longer, and not any amount of whining, complaining, or gross-out noises from my children will stop me.