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“I don’t even care if it means we get to stay right here for a few more minutes.”

Remi rested her head against his chest and draped a leg over his. The old question threatened to derail her good morning.

Could she have had this happiness with him sooner?

Maybe. Maybe not. She’d never know. It was possible she needed to have faith in God’s love before she could understand unselfish human love, and she didn’t regret that life lesson. Colt had been patient about knocking sense into her, and he still put a quick end to those intrusive thoughts when the old guilt tried to creep back in. He’d been a good model of unfaltering love, and if Colt could love her–faults and all–then God would certainly have no problem doing the same.

There wasn’t a question about it anymore. Every time she wondered how Colt or her Heavenly Father could possibly love her, the thought expired almost on arrival. It had been proven and written in stone.

A door opened and closed seconds before Abby gasped and screamed, “Everybody get up! Santa came!”

Remi moved to get up, but Colt tightened his hold. “Don’t move. Maybe she’ll go back to sleep if we stay quiet.”

Remi wiggled in his arms. “Yeah, right. Abby will have hers and Ben’s gifts opened before we get out there if you don’t let me go in the next two seconds.”

Colt groaned and lifted his arm. He rolled onto his back and rubbed his hands over his face. “All right. I’m up. Let’s do this.” In one swift move, he was on his feet and reaching for his T-shirt.

“I don’t know how you do that,” Remi whispered.

“What?”

“You wake up so fast! I need at least ten minutes to stretch and yawn before I’m ready to face the day.”

Colt tugged on his shirt. “If you woke up next to a beautiful woman every day, you wouldn’t have trouble either.”

Remi swatted his chest as she walked by. “Give it up, Romeo.”

“I’m serious. You’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.”

Remi rolled her eyes as she stepped out of the bedroom, but a rush of heat covered her face. “Merry Christmas!”

Abby launched into Remi’s arms. “Merry Christmas! Santa came, and he ate the cookies!”

Under the tree, the plate where the cookies had been held only a few crumbs. “Looks like it. First things first. Everyone, brush your teeth. Then, meet me at the couch.”

Ben stepped out of the bedroom looking bright-eyed. “Merry Christmas!”

Remi leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Merry Christmas.”

Colt headed to the kitchen to start the coffee, and Remi rearranged some of the presents under the tree. Would the kids like them? She had no idea what they were used to, but she’d wanted to give them things they would love and things they could enjoy together.

“Done!” Abby shouted as she flew out of the bathroom and jumped onto the couch.

“Stay right there until Colt and I get our teeth brushed and get back in here.”

Ben took his place on the couch too. When everyone was back in the living room, Colt picked up his Bible on the way to the recliner. “Everybody ready to hear the story?”

“What story?” Ben asked.

Colt opened the Bible to the page he’d marked. “Luke chapter two.”

“I already know this story!” Abby said.

“Me too,” Ben added.

“You’re gonna hear it again this morning, so sit tight,” Colt said as he got comfortable in the recliner.

Remi sat between the kids as Colt read. She’d heard the story before too. In fact, they’d all heard it many times this month alone, but there was something special about Colt’s steady voice reminding them of the reason they celebrated Christmas.