Page 22 of Stolen Holidays (The Miller Brothers #5)

twenty

Callie

“I still can’t believe you’re here.”

“Me too. But I’m glad I made it.”

I rest my head on my mom’s shoulder. Her flowery scent fills my nose and brings tears to my eyes. “What made you come up here?” I’ve been curious since I laid eyes on her.

Last night, when she arrived with Eli’s parents, I was beyond surprised.

In the months since Silla’s arrest, she’s been talking, looking, and acting more like herself than she has in years.

But she never hinted at feeling well enough to travel, and I didn’t want to push the topic.

Her small steps feel like leaps and bounds, and asking for more seemed selfish.

“Eli,” she says.

My head snaps up. “What?”

She pats my knee and chuckles. “He’s a good man, sweet girl.”

“I know. He’s the best.” I can’t help worrying that Eli might have pushed her too soon. The last thing I want is for my mom to return to that dark place she was stuck in for so long.

“I’m fine, Callie,” Mom says, cutting off that train of thought. “I promise. When you were in the bathroom, Eli said something about how we’ve spent enough Christmases apart, and he was right. It was time for me to be here for you.”

My heart does that little flip thing every time Eli does or says something that makes me fall a little more in love with him. Like a heat-seeking missile, my eyes zero in on the man who owns me, heart and soul.

Eli is mid-conversation with his brothers and their parents as they sit around the firepit. It’s become the spot we all love to hang out at after a long day of activities. Today, Eli drove us up the mountain to a farm that offered sleigh rides around the property.

The view was spectacular, but I think I loved the holiday decorations the most. The horses dragged us through the snow to Santa’s village, which was lit up with thousands of colored lights.

From glowing reindeer to musical flashing lights and hot chocolate filled cups, it was the most holiday fun I’ve ever experienced.

Like he can sense me watching him, Eli glances my way and hits me with a smoldering grin.

I take Mom’s hand and turn to face her. “I…I’m really glad you’re here.” I stumble over my words, almost letting “I’m pregnant” slip. I want Eli to be the next person to know about our little nugget. “Something tells me this Christmas is going to be the best one yet.”

“I couldn’t agree more, sweet girl.” Mom pulls me in for a hug and kisses the top of my head, reminding me of my childhood bedtimes. “Thank you for believing in me.”

“Always. I knew you would come back to me.”

“Your father would be so proud of you,” Mom’s voice cracks with emotion, and tears cloud my vision.

I hug her tighter. Times like this really make me miss my dad. “I hope so.”

She pushes me back and drills her matching dark-brown eyes into mine.

“He would be. Never doubt that. Through everything, you stayed true to yourself. You persevered and survived unbearable heartbreak and abuse. For years, you stood by my side and protected me. And now, you’ve found love with a wonderful man who would do anything for you.

Callie, you are your father’s daughter, and that alone would make him proud of anything you do in this life.

He loved and adored you like I do, if not more. ”

Tears stream down my cheeks, and Mom wipes them away. “Thank you. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that.”

“Happy to help. Now, how about we join your family over there?”

My family. I love the Millers. They are good people. They’ve accepted me into their hearts and homes without a second thought.

But my mom and I have an unbreakable bond. We went through something no one else would understand. She is part of the reason I’m here. I fought for her, and it led me onto this path. The path where I found Eli and my future.

“I hope you know you will always be my family first.”

Mom pulls me to my feet and, arm in arm, we make our way to the group of people who have become my family. “It’s not a competition, Callie girl. Besides, I like them. Mark kind of reminds me of your father.”

“A big goofball?”

Mom lets out a laugh, and I can’t remember the last time I heard that sound. My chest expands to the point of popping with happiness. “Oh, yeah.”

We both chuckle. Memories of my dad’s smile, his silly jokes, his blue eyes, and hearty chuckle come to the surface. Instead of their bringing pain, they bring happiness.

Rylann sidles up next to me and smiles, her big brown eyes assessing. Rylann and her mother have been a godsend, making my mom feel welcome and comfortable. I really did luck out with this family. “How are you ladies this evening?”

“Just wonderful.” Mom beams.

“I’m happy you could join us. I feel like I know you already. Callie talks about you all the time.” Rylann’s observation takes me by surprise.

“I do?” I ask.

“Oh yes. Sometimes, I listen to you and Rhys chat during your guitar lessons.” Her cheeks turn pink at her admission. “You tell him all kinds of stories about your mom teaching you how to play the guitar. It’s very sweet.”

Mom looks over at me with a teary smile. I remember every lesson she taught me, and I have happily shared them with Rhys. Sharing my love of music with him has been fulfilling.

I wrap my arm around Rylann’s shoulder. “Next time, say hi. Or join us. I’ll get you a guitar.”

“You’re too sweet, but I like Rhys having this special thing for himself. Plus, he plays and sings while I cook, and that’s some top-grade entertainment.” She beams proudly at the mention of her son.

“You’re not wrong,” I agree.

“Rhys is just the sweetest,” my mom says. “You’ve done a great job raising him. He’s quite the little charmer.”

Rylann chuckles. “He is. Totally takes after his father.”

“Pretty sure it’s a Miller trait,” I add.

“Can I get everyone’s attention?” Cam asks.

We quiet down and turn our attention to him as he stands close to the fire. The firelight makes Talia’s stormy-gray eyes flicker orange as she beams at Cameron’s side.

“The floor is yours, son. What’s going on?” Mark waves his hand, encouraging Cam to share his news.

Karen Miller gasps. “You’re pregnant?”

“What? Hell no!” Cam shouts, his eyes wide in panic.

Talia smacks Cam. “Hey!”

“Sorry, Itty Bitty. Talia is not pregnant. Right?” He looks at his fiancée for confirmation. She shakes her head, and he lets out a whoosh of breath, which earns him another smack.

“Tell us your news already,” Mason complains.

“Chill.” Cam clears his throat. “Talia and I have decided to move up our wedding date. Instead of waiting until the end of baseball season, we are going to get hitched during this upcoming spring training in Arizona.” Cam leans down and sweetly kisses Talia’s cheek.

“It’s where we met, and it will always be a special place for us. Isn’t that right, Itty Bitty?”

“You know it, big guy.” You can feel the love between them as Talia lovingly stares at Cam, who towers over her tiny frame.

A tiny pang of jealousy hits me in the stomach, but joy overrides the negative feeling. I want nothing but happiness for my new friend. And yet, I yearn for that kind of reassurance from my partner. A promise that he chooses me completely.

My belly fills with heat as I think of my little nugget, and a pang of worry burns my insides. I don’t want Eli to propose because I’m pregnant. I want him to ask me to be his wife because he wants me.

“That’s wonderful news,” Karen shouts, snapping me out of my spiral. I watch as the matriarch of the Miller family pulls the happy couple into a hug.

“Don’t you think you’re moving a little fast there, baby bro?” Everyone freezes at Eli’s comment, waiting.

Cam bowls over with laughter. “Funny, E. I deserve that one. By the way, I’m going to need you to do your magic for me like you did for Mason.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eli says. He looks away from the group.

Liar.

My eyes bounce between Jace and Eli. Both brothers silently scream at Cam to shut up. Even I can see Mason glare daggers at Cam, willing him to stop talking.

“Yeah, you do. Remember? You pulled strings to get the hotel for him,” he continues, putting his foot in his mouth.

“Cam, shut up,” Jace groans.

“What?” Cam shrugs. He stares at all his brothers in confusion.

“What’s this about the hotel?” Cam’s eyes widen at Emery’s question, the pieces falling into place for him and the rest of us. She looks between her husband and his brothers.

“She didn’t know?” I whisper to Rylann.

Rylann speaks low for me to hear. “I didn’t even know. We thought it was fate.”

“More like the spider of Hollywood pulling in favors,” I joke about Eli’s reputation. Rylann bites back a laugh as we watch everything unravel.

“Mason?” Emery whispers.

“It’s nothing, Baby Doll. Cam doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” Mason sneers at Cam, and if I wasn’t so curious, I’d laugh because it looks like a brotherly fight is about to break out.

“Was the hotel not available?” Emery asks.

The four brothers look away with guilty faces.

“It wasn’t, was it?” She pushes.

Mason’s shoulders slump. “No. It wasn’t.”

Emery turns to Eli. “But you made it happen?”

Eli pulls at the neck of his hoodie like it’s choking him to answer. He bobs his head as we all wait to see how Emery reacts.

A smile spreads across her face. “I knew there was no way the hotel was available. It’s booked years in advance.” She walks over and wraps Eli in a bear hug, belly bumping him. “Thank you for making it happen. You’re the best.”

“You’re welcome, sis. I’d do anything for you.

” He pats her back and kisses the top of her head.

Mason growls, and Eli throws his head back and laughs as he and Emery separate.

He points at Mason. “Hey now, be mad at Cam, not me. I kept my mouth shut. As for me being the best? We all know that to be a fact.”

My damn eyes get misty again as I watch the love this family has for each other.

This time, it’s not the pregnancy hormones; it’s watching the way this family, these men, would do anything for each other.

For their family. For me. Jace, Mason, and Cameron had my back when Eli couldn’t, and I will forever be in their debt.

Not because I feel like I own them, but because these men, this family, deserve the same loyalty.

Eli catches my eye and heads my way. He wraps his arms around me. “Why are you crying, Princess?”

Because I’m having your baby, and our little nugget is going to be so loved.

A laugh bubbles out of me at the thought. “I’m just feeling really lucky to have you Millers in my life. Especially you, Elijiah.”

“Pretty sure I’m the lucky one, Calliope.” He pulls out a bundle of mistletoe tied with a red bow and dangles it over my head.

“Where did you get that from?” I ask. This man is full of surprises.

“Nuh-uh. I’m not giving away my secrets. Now pucker up.” Eli grips my neck and dips me back as my arms wrap around his neck.

“Another first,” I confess.

Eli grins at me, and his mismatched eyes gleam with joy.

He presses his mouth to mine in a passionate kiss.

By the time we break apart, I’m out of breath, my knees are wobbly, and blood is pounding in my ears, and all I can think about is that I get to kiss Elijiah Miller under the mistletoe for the rest of my life.

Merry Christmas to me.