Page 123 of Have a Bear-y Little Christmas

“Yeah, I can do that. But all clear, huh?”

“Yes sirree-bob!” Max called from the back seat. I didn’t reprimand him for interjecting into a private conversation, because as far as I was concerned, he could put the all clear up on a billboard and I would be happy. As long as, you know, it didn’t have any other private information.

“Sounds like something worth celebrating. Oh, Jeannie, later tonight, if we could discuss present lists, that would be great. You give me yours and Max’s, and I can give you some rough suggestions for other people and kind of explain how it works. Don’t panic, you are not expected to buy gifts for everybody. Or even most people.”

My brain stuttered for a second. “Present lists? What are you talking about?”

“For the Christmas holiday with the clan. Now that it’s your second year here, everyone wants to make sure that you’re fully included. I’m sure several are already knitting, sewing, or even carving things for y’all right now.”

Goodness. Sometimes Remy said or did the sweetest things and didn’t seem to have any idea that he was doing so. My stomach flipped a little, and the teary edge in my voice returned.

“Y’all don’t have to get me anything.” I glanced at Max in the rearview mirror. He was already reading the brand new (to him) Sherlock Holmes adventure that Remy had bought him. “I already have everything I could need.”

“Aw, I know, sweetheart. But both sides of my familywantto give you gifts. I know it might sound crazy, but Zara’s family believes she sent you. You’re her blessing and they want to celebrate you. And while they don’t know about your parents and all that, they’ve guessed you didn’t have the easiest life and wanna give you the community you deserve.

“So even though you don’t need it, could you be a dear and let them spoil the both of y’all for a bit?”

Tears spilled down my cheeks, but I wore them happily, because they were glistening trophies of a life I thought I could never have.

“Thank you, Remy. I’d be happy to come. We can talk about present stuff tonight.”

“Awesome. I’m sure the kids will be thrilled about an impromptu sleepover on a school night. I’ll see you soon. Love you!”

“Love you,” I echoed back to him. I sat there for a moment, my heart full to bursting. I couldn’t say how long I sat there, but eventually Max cleared his throat from the back. “Everything okay, Mama?”

“Everything is perfect,” I answered honestly. “Now, let’s go get you that ice cream.”

“YAY!”

Chapter 31

Jeannie

Dinner and a Show

Yawning,I stretched, the embers of last night’s fire glowing slightly in the gated fireplace.

“Mornin’ there, sunshine,” Remy said from the doorway, leaning against it much like he had in the cabin last Christmas. It was strange to think that it had only been twelve months since we’d been parent trapped. So much had happened, and I’d grown so much as a human.

“How is it you always wake up first?” I grumbled, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Shifters don’t have to sleep as long as humans,” he said matter-of-factly, walking over to me and kissing my cheek.

“But you’re abear! Isn’t your whole thing to be sleepy and obsessed with honey?”

His eyes sparkled with mischief, like they always did when he thought he was being clever. That was the thing about my love; he wasveryclever.

“You’re all the honey I could ever need,” he drawled, making his accent thicker before kissing me again. This time his lips lingered, waking up a whole lot more in me than my coffee usually did. “Also, wecansleep a lot to avoid sickness, heal injuries that would be fatal to other shifters, or even famine. Pretty handy survival skill.”

“Is that why you always want to take a nap whenever dinner is an hour late?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Someone’s saucy first thing in the morning. Where’s your holiday spirit?”

I kissed him one more time before sliding out of the large bed in our also large cabin. Now that he and I and our three kids were all sharing the same lodging, we’d signed up for a much bigger place to stay. The place was downright lavish.

It was built in the same style as the others, but had three rooms instead of two. We had been ready to spring for a four-bedroom to give each of the kids their own space, but Addy and Eva had refused adamantly. I wondered if they would continue rooming together all the way into high school.

“I’ve got plenty of holiday spirit! Just you wait!”