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“That sounds so fun, Kit-cat,” he replies with a grin, and my heart warms like it does pretty much every time I see them together. “What about you, Bug? What’s your favorite thing you learned today?”

He asks them every day and, even though his family is waiting to meet them, he’s still giving them his full attention.

“I learned that when you mix red and blue paint you get purple,” James says and Killian widens his eyes.

“No way.”

Landon snorts at them. “How’d you get so good at the kid thing?” he asks and Killian looks up.

“I have a billion cousins,” he says, standing up and shrugging.

“Speaking of, did Uncle Landon tell you we have some guests for you to meet?” I ask the kids.

They both nod, but Caitlin answers. “Yeah, but he didn’t say who.”

“My mom’s here. And my brother and sister. Do you want to meet them?” Killian says, and Caitlin is practically bouncing on her heels as she says yes. She takes Killian’s hand, and it’s a testament to how much James trusts him that he does, too. He still clings to my side, a little unsure, but it’s Killian he looks at as we walk them toward the coffee table.

Carrie, Ronan, and Fallon stop talking among themselves as we approach and Killian clears his throat.

“This is my mom, Carrie, and my brother, Ronan, and sister, Fallon. Everyone, this is Caitlin, James, and Landon.”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” Carrie tells them, and James’s grip on me loosens—I assume, when he hears how similar she sounds to Killian.

Fallon lifts her hand to wave. “Hi! I’m so excited to meet you. Killian’s told us a lot about you.”

Ronan is quiet, looking between them like he’s struggling to compute that he has two half-siblings standing in front of him. I can’t say I blame him.

Caitlin returns Fallon’s wave. “You sound just like Killian! Are you staying for Christmas?”

Ronan and Fallon look at their mom, then Killian, then they all look at me, making it clear it’s my call whether I’m okay with them sticking around. Things couldn’t have worked out better, really—Killian will get to see his family at Christmas, and the kids will get their first Christmas with their half-siblings, even if they don’t know that yet. Caitlin’s been asking about Dom less since Killian got here, and hopefully having the other Michaelsons here for Christmas will stop her from noticing he’s not.

This Christmas is turning out to be a lot bigger than I could have guessed a month ago. A lot better, really.

“The more the merrier.”

29

Killian

Ronan has always loved rubbing it in my face that he’s clearly Fallon’s favorite sibling, and I can’t pretend I’m not enjoying watching him be dethroned in real time. I don’t think he minds, either.

He and Fallon are completely enamored with Caitlin and James. They didn’t stay long yesterday, not wanting to overwhelm them, but by the time they drove off in their rental car, I could already tell they loved them as much as I do. While I’m sure there’s some kind of biological connection, it’s mostly just that they’re the sweetest, coolest kids. My mom loves them too and, as much as I reassured Scarlett she would, I’m so relieved.

Since Scarlett’s house is at capacity, Landon offered his farmhouse to my mom, Ronan, and Fallon. He still has a bedroom at his parents’ place, and it’s only a five-minute walk so he’s close enough to run over if anyone needs anything. According to Fallon, my mom has big plans with Landon’s armchair, fireplace, and one of the historical romance books she loves.

Caitlin had a half day, so I finished up my work this morning, and the three of us are officially on Christmas break. I picked up James from daycare early, then we surprised Caitlin at school with Christmas cake pops and hot chocolate, and sang Christmas songs on the short drive home. I can’t imagine a better time of year to make these first memories with the kids. They’re excited about everything, and it makes me feel like a kid again. The only thing that could make it better would be Scarlett taking more time off, but I know she’s grateful that she can put in a few extra hours while knowing the kids are taken care of. And it’ll all be worth it when she takes almost two weeks off for Christmas.

According to Landon, she hasn’t taken more than a few days off since she had James, and the owner forced her to take six weeks—and made up a fake maternity policy so she wouldn’t fight against getting paid her full hours. For her to willingly take ten days off is huge.

In the meantime, I get to spend my days off hanging out with the kids. And, in a surprising twist of events, Ronan and Fallon. In all honesty, I’m happy they’re here. Knowing I’ll get to spend Christmas with them, and my mom, here in Clover Pines is great, but mostly, I love watching them fall as in love with Caitlin and James as I am.

Neither of them hesitated when Caitlin asked if they wanted to color with us. It’s become a bit of a tradition when I pick them up from school on the afternoons Scarlett’s working. We sit at the table with a snack and color or draw, so they can decompress and tell me about their days. Then I help them with their homework, and they play while I make dinner before we all go to pick Scarlett up together. I look forward to our little routine every morning when I wave goodbye to them at school.

Fallon and James are coloring in matching reindeer, while Ronan is mostly just watching.

“Can we use the glitter, Killian?” Caitlin asks and I narrow my eyes. Scarlett is pro as many arts and crafts as the kids want to do, but glitter is kept to a minimum. Apparently, there have been “incidents” in the past.

“What do you want the glitter for?”