Page 79 of Blissful Devotion

“I love it!”

That catches me off guard, and I stand unsure what to do as she and Addy both pull out their aprons and hold them up for the others to see. Both are striped; Kat’s is red and white, and Addy’s is black and white. They’re the classic style that loops over their necks and ties behind their backs. Kat's reads ‘Little Beauty,’ and Addison’s ‘Princess.’

They also both have a set of engraved utensils, whisks, spatulas, and all that with ‘Mommy’ and ‘Princess.’

Addison lets out a squeal and runs up to me, apron clutched in her hands.

“Will you help me put it on, Uncle Vinny?”

I hold out my hand with a smile, and she drops the apron into my hand before quickly spinning around. I drop it over her head, pull her hair free, and tie it up. I’m still pulling the loops through when she bounces away.

“Look, Mommy!” She spins around, her smile so wide it looks like it should hurt.

“You look beautiful, honey.” Kat pushes up, and Oliver is there, quickly offering her help, his eyes still full of concern. Something tells me it won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon, if ever.

She smiles at him, and I watch as his ears turn red.

Clearing his throat, he stands up straighter. “Would you like some help?” he offers, holding his hand out for her apron.

It’s her turn to blush as she bites down on her lip with a nod before handing it to him and spinning around much the same way Addison had.

He slips it over her head and ties it off; thankfully, it’s large enough to sit well on her belly, somehow making her look even more adorable.

“Mommy!” Addy shouts, excited as she holds up her whisk and then her spatula. “These are all mine! Just like you!”

Fuck, I’d bought these because they like to cook together. I’d thought they might appreciate them, but I never expected a reaction like this.

“Funny, I guess we really are a lot alike,” Des says, pushing to stand. He goes over to the pile and pulls a large, rectangular present from under the tree.

He holds it out to Kat, and she hesitates only a moment before she rips the paper away.

“Oh, it’s beautiful.” She presses a hand to her mouth, and I see the tears welling in her eyes from here.

His answering smile is nearly blinding from her praise and somehow gets even wider when she presses up on her tiptoes to kiss him.

“What is it?” Alex asks, hopping over the couch to steal whatever it is from him while he gets lost in Kat.

I can’t say I blame him, and I know the others don’t either, but I’m also curious.

Alex tosses aside the rest of the paper, and his lips purse slightly.

“Damn.”

He turns the present around for the rest of us to see, and suddenly his reaction makes sense.

It’s a large wooden sign, engraved with a whisk and rolling pin on either side. It reads, ‘Mama’s kitchen made with love and memories.’

Damn indeed.

“Copycat.”

Kat laughs, pulling away from Desmond, who is glaring at me, unamused.

“Mommy! Brother needs an apron!” Addison says, running up to Desmond, who doesn’t hesitate to scoop her up.

“He will, but not right away, honey. Don’t worry.” Kat leans in and presses a kiss to her cheek, and I’d never guess she just went through everything she did.

The demons that haunted her eyes for the last two weeks seem to have vanished, replaced with love as she looks at Addison.