Operation Family (17 page)

“I told you I thought
this Christmas would be the best one for all of us. We’re a family.”
H
e trailed his fingers
along her hip and up her body.

“There’s just one thing…”

“Anything
,
amore
. Just name it.”

She bit her lip, unsure how to put her one worry into words without making her sound ungrateful. “Not right now, but I want kids of our own. Don’t take that wrong, I mean the girls are ours and I don’t love them any less because I didn’t give birth to them, but I want to experience the joy of birth myself.”

“I understand, and we can have as many as you want. A whole house full and if we ever outgrow this place we’ll find a bigger house or add on.” He tugged a blanket from the edge of the bed and pulled it over them. “I don’t want to spoil the evening, but you’ve been distant. What’s on your mind?”

“I was thinking about Sam. He took a lot of Mom’s anger on the phone yesterday to shield me, but he’s going to have to deal with it when he gets back home. He’ll only be there one day before he has to report back to the rig. I wish my parents would just accept this.”

“This situation, you mean?” When she looked up at him, he continued. “I overheard you remind Sam before the call to your parents that you didn’t want to tell them about us. Why?”

Guilt poured through her. “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize, I just want to know why.”

“Since my first date when Dad exploded because the boy tried to kiss me, I keep my personal life away from my parents.” Her hand left his chest and moved to the scar. “If I date someone, that’s my business and no one else’s. Sam is another matter altogether, he won’t have it. He feels the need to approve any man in my life.”

“Angelo and I would do the same if we had a sister. Just wait until Gabriella and Sophia are dating.” He let out a joyous laugh at the thought.

“What a nightmare that will be. Between you, Angelo, and Sam, any boys they bring around will be scared out of their minds. I’d be surprised if the girls even get a kiss before they’re twenty, because of all the fear you’d have put into them.”

“Who said they’d be allowed to date before they were twenty-one? Or maybe I’ll send them to a convent and my girls can be nuns.”

“Not on your life.” She tipped her head and kissed his lips. “Our daughters will have a good head on their shoulders and will make the right decisions. One day they’ll find men just like their daddy, because I couldn’t hope for a better man for them.”

The words
just like their daddy
tore at Mac’s heart. He wanted better men for Gabriella and Sophia, men who were stronger and didn’t let people down. His actions and choice had gotten men killed. The girls deserved someone better than him.

Hell, Nicole deserved someone better than him but he couldn’t tear himself away from her. He wanted her like nothing he’d ever wanted before, and he’d go to the ends of the earth to keep her in his arms. Nicole was the woman he dreamed about, until he realized marriage and the military didn’t mix. He’d seen too many divorces over the years. But he was sure this relationship was going to work, he could sense it. They had more to fight for, more on the line, and more importantly, they came into this knowing it wouldn’t always be easy, but it would always be worth fighting for. Their little family meant everything to him.

A star shot across the sky, leaving a trail of light in its wake. As if it transported him back to his childhood when he believed in simple things, he made a wish that everything would work out for his little family. That he could keep Nicole in his arms and Gabriella and Sophia safe. That he’d do right by Shawn in raising the girls, and he and Sam would never have to come to blows over Nicole’s happiness. A happy family and future.

Christmas Eve was upon them. As Nicole and her new family sat in the living room with the Christmas tree lighting up the room, she cherished where the year had brought them. In Mac’s safe embrace slept Gabriella, unaware what a special night this was, while Sophia rested against her Uncle Sam’s chest as he read her a Christmas tale.

She couldn’t believe what changes the year had brought her. In January, she had her accounting firm; business was great but she was miserable. It wasn’t what she wanted any longer. The numbers that had always been her thing had lost their appeal. She wanted a life outside the endless hours, something that would provide daily challenges. Little did she know that by summer she’d have closed the firm’s doors and a week later would be a nanny. It hadn’t been what she went to school for, but she was happy. Though that happiness was nothing compared to what she had now.

New Year’s Day would bring another year but it would also be seven months since the girls were born and her freedom from routine. In seven months Gabriella and Sophia had blossomed into beautiful little girls and she had been a part of that.

Thank you, Shawn, for placing that ad in the paper and for giving me a chance even though I had no experience.

She curled her legs under her and snuggled closer to Mac. “These sleepy little girls should be put to bed.”

“I think Gabriella is sleeping fine and Sophia seems to be enjoying the story. Why not wait a bit? It’s a quiet evening, surrounded by those we love.” Mac kept his voice low so as not to disturb the girls.

“All right, just a little longer.” She rested her head against his shoulder. The doorbell echoed through the space, startling her. “Expecting someone?”

“No. Here, take Gabriella and I’ll answer it.”

“No way, she’s asleep. I’ll get the door.” She unfolded her legs and stood. “You keep still and let her sleep.” She pushed off the sofa and strolled toward the door.

“Check the peephole before you open it,” Mac called to her.

“This isn’t the first time I opened a door at night.” Sam had made sure she had enough street smarts to keep her safe. She checked the door and could just barely make out Angelo through mountains of presents. “It’s Angelo.”

“What is he doing here?” Mac questioned.

She pulled open the door, and Angelo stepped inside, handing an armload of presents to her before he reached back outside the doorway and grabbed his Santa sack. He had a red velvet Santa outfit on with a pillow stuffed up under the jacket to give him a big belly, a black belt around his waist and a white beard completing the outfit. “Santa’s here.”

“What are you doing?” Mac twisted around to see his brother and tried not to laugh at the sight.

“You said you wanted to make this Christmas special for the girls. Well, Santa has made a special call to see the García twins.”

“Aww, Santa.” Nicole held back the tears that threatened to fall.

“I won’t have any of that. Now come along and be my little elf so I can see these special girls.” Angelo didn’t wait for her, instead he headed straight for Sophia who was watching him with such joy that her little feet were kicking in excitement. He sat his bag aside and reached down to lift Sophia from Sam’s arms. “Little Sophia, have you been a good girl?” He held the girl out in his arms, checking her over. “I’d say you’ve been keeping your Mommy and Daddy busy, haven’t you?”

“I’m going to grab my camera.” Sam dashed off to his bedroom in order to get the camera he never left home without. Photography was one of his hobbies and he had such an eye for it that he’d sold a number of his pictures.

“You almost didn’t make it in time, Nicole wanted to put them to bed.” Mac held out a hand to her, to bring her back next to him.

“I believe I missed Gabriella. You must have worn her out today.” Angelo sat and bounced Sophia on his knee.

“She was up earlier than Sophia this morning,” Mac explained, glancing down at Gabriella who was missing all the fun. “We’ll have to wake her up so she doesn’t miss Santa’s visit.”

“Just give me a couple minutes to get a few pictures of Sophia with Santa first.” Sam came into the room, his camera at the ready.

“Sam, maybe you should think about moving here. Without you, I’m not sure if I’d have any good pictures of the girls.” She glanced at Mac. “You should see the ones he took of them so far. Every three weeks while he was off the rig, he’d come over and take pictures of the girls. The scrapbook I brought with me has some beautiful photos of them.”

“Have you considered making that your living?” Mac asked.

“Not me.” Sam shook his head. “It’s a passion but that’s all it is. I don’t want to be stuck with the pressure of finding that perfect picture for weddings, events, or family pictures. I do the pictures of the girls because they are growing so fast. When they first came home from the hospital they were so tiny and now look at them. The pictures will be a timeline of their life, something to look back on. Nowadays so many people don’t take pictures to remember their lives. It’s a shame.” He snapped away, moving as needed to get a better picture as Santa Angelo and Sophia shared their moment.

She reached over and ran her hands over Gabriella’s stomach. “Come on, sweetie, you need to wake up, Santa’s here to see you.” As Gabriella’s eyes opened, Nicole lifted her into her arms. “That’s it, sweetie. Look Santa.”

As if she understood who the man in the red suit was, Gabriella reached out to him with one arm while she rubbed her eyes with the other. Baby chatter was shared between the twins as Nicole placed Gabriella in Angelo’s other arm.

“Perfect, right there.” Sam knelt, snapping more pictures with both girls on Santa’s lap.

When the girls found Angelo’s fake beard, their laughter and smiles made Sam’s clicks of the camera faster. Not a moment of this was going to be missed thanks to her brother and his ever ready camera. Memories to cherish for years to come.

Mac came to stand by her, his arm around her waist, as they watched the scene unfold. “I think we’ve found Angelo’s job for years to come, because the girls must have Santa visit them on Christmas Eve. It’s now part of our traditions.”

“Hear that Angelo, you’ve become the official Santa for the García family.” Mac laughed when Angelo looked up at him, a hint of fear in his eyes. “Wait until there’s a house full of children.”

“I can see the headlines, Santa mauled at the García house, next at five.” Angelo tipped his head back and let out a deep laugh. “
Cazzo
, I’m screwed.”

“Watch your mouth.” Mac eyed his brother. “We’re going to teach the girls Italian and I don’t want that to be their first word.”

“What’s
Cazzo
?” When neither of them answered her, Nicole turned to face Mac. “Well…”

“Fuck.”

It took her a moment to realize that was the translation, not him bitching about having to translate it. “Oh yeah, none of that around my innocent girls.”

“Their father is a SEAL and I’m a Marine, do you honestly think they will not hear this stuff?” Angelo watched her before adding, “Just know these little girls have a bunch of big and powerful men watching over them.”

“I might not be military but no harm will come to my nieces under my watch.” Sam sat his camera aside.

“I never doubted it for a moment Sam.” She smiled at her brother, knowing the girls had two amazing uncles to protect them if anything ever happened to her, or Mac. “Now I should get these girls to bed so Santa can put out the presents for morning.”

“One more picture, I want to get one with the four of you. The first picture of the new family.”

“Oh, Sam, shouldn’t we do that tomorrow when we’re all dressed for Christmas dinner at Mac’s parents’ house?” She hated taking pictures and at least wanted to be wearing something nicer than jeans and a long sleeve shirt.

“We will tomorrow but you need a family picture with Santa.” He tipped his head. “Now come on.”

“Come on,
amore
. Our first family picture and tomorrow we’ll have another one, more formal, to put on the wall.” Mac led them forward.

The first official sign that they were a family made her heart flutter. “All right, but Santa’s chair needs to move, I want it in front of the tree. We need to have the Christmas tree with the light glimmering behind us. Then I want you to put that on time delay and get in the picture with us.”

She wanted the picture to remind her of this night because in two days Sam would be on his way back to Texas. They’d still be close but distance would separate them. Visits would be few and far between when he left. So many milestones would be missed. The sadness of the loss coursed within her, casting a shadow over their Christmas celebration.

With the girls asleep for the night in the nursery, Nicole had a moment alone with Sam while Mac and Angelo were discussing the entertainment space in the basement. They sat in the living room, the tree casting the only light while Sam drank a beer.

“Out with it, sis. I know something’s on your mind.” Sam took a swig from his beer bottle.

“You’ve always known me so well.” She turned to face him, bringing her legs up onto the sofa to hug them to her body. “I’ve been thinking about you going back to Texas.”

“If you’re worried about Mom, don’t be. I can handle her. She’s upset because she feels you’re wasting your life by caring for children that aren’t yours when you worked so hard to put yourself through college. But I know this is more than just your love for the girls. You love Mac.” When she opened her mouth to say something, he stopped her. “Don’t deny it. I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.”

“I wasn’t going to deny it. You’re right…I do love him.” She ran her hands down her legs. “That’s not what’s on my mind. I know you can handle Mom, and honestly after the holidays I’m going to tell Mom about Mac and me. Maybe that will get her to ease up. No, I’ve been thinking about you. You took the job on the oil rig to get out of the house and help Mom with the medical bills from Dad’s treatment and then his heart attack.”

“What’s your point?”

“I know you’re not happy doing that work and there’s so much you miss being on that rig for three weeks at a time. Why don’t you move here? There’s plenty of space here until you get on your feet, and Mac could use the help with the house.”