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"I want every Christmas. Every birthday. Every ordinary day in between. I want everything with you." I hold the ring closer to her. My heart races even faster. "Lainey Cooper, will you marry me?"

Her face completely crumples. She cries so hard, she laughs at the same time, nodding frantically.

I grin. "Words, darlin'. Kinda need words for this one."

"Yes!" she cries out, laughing.

My heart slams against my ribs. I slide the ring onto her finger.

Charlie reaches for it.

"Did you see that, peanut? Mommy said yes to Daddy!"

Lainey stares at it for half a heartbeat before launching herself at me. My arms lock around her and Charlie.

Charlie starts squealing from the bed.

We both laugh into a long kiss.

I pull Lainey up with me and reach down for Charlie, hauling her into my other arm.

"There." I kiss Charlie's cheek, then Lainey's. "Now I've got both my girls."

Lainey holds up her hand and stares at the ring like she can't believe it's there. "We're engaged."

"Damn right we are."

"On Christmas."

"Figured I'd make it easy for you to remember the date."

She smacks my chest.

I laugh and pull her back against me.

Her arms circle my waist while Charlie rests between us.

For a second, none of us moves.

Then Lainey whispers, "Last night, I thought having Daddy here was the best Christmas present you could ever give me."

"I'm an overachiever." I wiggle my eyebrows.

She laughs against my chest.

I kiss the top of her head.

Through the open bedroom door, the Christmas tree glows in the other room. Charlie's warm against me. Lainey's new ring presses into my back as she holds on tight.

Yesterday, I went out and brought her daddy home.

This morning, she gave me the piece of our past I thought I'd lost forever.

And now, I've got the rest of our lives waiting on the other side of this Christmas.

I tighten my arms around my girls.

Best fucking Christmas ever.