Page 64 of One More Yule Log

“Are you happy, Gray?” Liv asked. “I mean, that Daddy asked you to come be our family?”

“I am.” He stepped back, looking at where stuff should go. “Are you?”

“I am. You make Daddy happy, and that’s super important.” She hugged his arm. “And we’re good friends too.”

“We are. Think of all the things we can bake.” He loved her so much already.

“Yeah? You’ll teach me? I’m a good learner.” She was getting teary, sweet girl.

“I will.” He hugged her close. “We need some hot chocolate. We can put the bed together tomorrow.”

“Yeah? I like that. I’m a little tired. Daddy says he’s going to order pizza too.” She took his hand. “Welcome home, Gray.”

“Thank you, kiddo. You’re making it so fun to come home.” He let her swing his hand as they headed out.

Ben was in the kitchen, organizing shit, milk on the stove steaming away, three mugs lined up to be filled.

“Hey.” He begged a kiss when he reached the man, needing the contact. Liv would probably need hugs too.

“Hey, y’all. I think it’s break time. Let’s have cocoa and pizza and bad TV.”

“Sounds good.”

“What kind of pizza did you get, Daddy? I bet it’s not as good as Gray’s. I liked his pizza with the arty-chokes.”

“I liked the one he made with sausage and olives. I got a deluxe and a pepperoni.”

“Mmm.” Liv was remarkably easy to feed, and she just rubbed her tummy. “Yay pizza!”

They were on the sofa with their hot chocolate in no time, talking and laughing together, at least until Ben’s phone rang.

Gray knew it was work from the way Ben sighed. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” He shared a look with Liv, who had a worried face. “It’ll be fine, kiddo.”

“No. No, it’s ugly. Daddy hates the office. I was thinking, though. I’m going to make two Yule logs—one for us and one for Daddy’s party.”

“Oh, I think that’s a great idea.” She was such a generous soul. “That way you can really make sure he knows you’re with him.”

“Yeah. He needs to know we’re family and I love him.”

Like Ben could doubt that.

“You’re a good egg, kiddo.” He winked at her, toasting her with his cocoa mug.

“Yeah. I think Daddy should find another job. Should I tell him?”

“I think so.” He wasn’t going to tell her about the lawyer. That was Ben’s glory, and he deserved it all.

“Okay. I will. He isn’t happy. He likes being at home and making things pretty.”

“I think you like having him home too.”

She nodded but frowned slowly. “I don’t want to be selfish. If he liked going, I would be happy, even if it made me a little sad.”

“That’s love, kiddo.”

“Yeah. Love is doing what’s right for someone else. Not you.”