Page 136 of The Good Girl Effect

But now, they are pulling me in and making me one of them.

“Camille, look!” Bea calls from another room.

I follow the sound of her voice into a large formal living room where she and Daisy are setting up a small terra-cotta Nativity scene. My father and I had a similar one in our home.

“It’s beautiful,” I say.

Daisy strokes Bea’s hair before kissing her on the cheek, and it warms my heart to see her so loved by so many.

“My kids haven’t given me grandbabies yet,” Daisy says. “So I’m very glad we have this little Bumblebee.”

Bea giggles as Daisy pulls her into her lap and tickles her. I don’t know much about Amelia yet since I haven’t had the chance to get to know her, but I find it very unlikely that Daisy’s son, Julian, will give her grandkids anytime soon.

Speak of the devil, he walks into the room and watches us with his arms crossed over his chest. “I’ve been sent in to let you both know that dinner is ready.”

“Oh, perfect,” Daisy says as she climbs off the floor. I watch as she wraps her arms around her son’s shoulders and plants a kiss on his cheek. Biting back my smile, I can spot the moment his harsh demeanor fades and a hint of softness shines through.

The cruel prince isn’t so cruel after all.

When Daisy leaves the room, I glance up at where Julian is still hovering nearby. He’s scowling again. There are a lot of things I’d like to say to him about how he treated me before, but I don’t want to start it now. I have a feeling with Julian, it wouldn’t be a simple conversation.

Then, to my surprise, he quietly murmurs, “I’m sorry for sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.”

My head twists up toward him.

“I have a very bad habit of just being too…” When his words fade without finishing his sentence, I do it for him.

“Too much?”

His brows lift, the scowl disappearing. “Yeah.”

A small huff escapes my lips as I reply, “Me too. It’s okay. I forgive you.”

His sigh is audible as his tension melts away. The scent of pine and spice fills the room, music playing in the distance as he relaxes.

“Look, Julian. I made the Nativity,” Bea says.

With a smile, he leans down and ruffles her hair. “You did a great job, Bumblebee. Now, come eat. Both of you.”

Then he disappears from the room. He’ll probably never bring this up again, and that’s fine. I have a feeling the rivalry between him and Jack isn’t as fierce as it once was or as much as he’d like everyone to believe it is.

I see a warm side of him that he so desperately wants to hide.

Bea and I join the rest of the family in the enormous dining room. As Jack pulls out a seat for me, I sit down, and he takes the one by my side.

For the first time in my life, I am a part of something bigger than me: a bright future and a loving family.

Bea is cuddled between us in red satin pajamas. She’s snoring quietly as Jack readsThe Night Before Christmas. In the living room, there’s a small plate of cookies next to a glass of milk. The Yule log burns in the fireplace, and three stockings hang from the mantel.

Noticing that his daughter is asleep, Jack sets the book down and glances up at me. We’ve hardly had a moment alone since the train station this morning. I’m eager to have him to myself.

After we both ease out from Bea’s bed without waking her, we meet in the hallway. He quietly pulls her door closed before turning toward me.

Finally alone, his eyes find mine, and I know he’s feeling the same thing I am.

Reaching for me, he takes my hand and pulls me toward him for a kiss. His arms wind around my waist, hoisting me off the floor.

Getting lost in the kiss, he murmurs against my lips, “I want you upstairs in the room waiting for me.”