Maya Banks - Colters’ Promise

Max came forward to hug her. He kissed her wet cheek and then shook the hands of Seth, Michael, and Dillon. Everyone was talking at once. Exclaiming. Such happy sounds. Laughter. Joy. It was a balm to a soul that had long suffered the agony of silence.

Adam cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention, and to Lily’s surprise, tears gleamed in his eyes. He looked shaky. Happy. A little unbalanced. He kept staring at his sons with such love in his eyes that Lily felt the answering sting of tears once more.

Seth wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close as Adam motioned for quiet.

“That’s the best damn news I’ve had, apart from your mother being okay after she gave us such a fright.” His expression grew more serious and he stared at Lily, singling her out. “Lily, honey, I just want you to know that we’re all going to be here for you. You never doubt that for a moment. You and our grandchild will be loved and cherished and covered up with support, so much so you’ll probably want to tell us all to buzz off.”

Laughter filled the room and Lily smiled through the ache of tears.

He reached for his glass, wiped absently at his eyes, and then faced his family again. He held up his glass and enveloped Lily and his sons in the warmth of his gaze. “To the first Colter grandchild. May he or she grow up surrounded by love. May he or she grow up to become as wonderful as my own children are. And may he or she have the resiliency and indomitable spirit of his mother.”

“Hear, hear.”

The soft murmurs of agreement broke Lily. She could no longer hold back the sobs that welled in her throat.

“What would I do without all of you?” she asked tearfully. “No one has ever been as protected and loved as I have. My baby will be the luckiest child in the world.”

“And the most spoiled,” Callie said dryly.

Laughter met her declaration. Holly let out a humph. “If I can’t spoil my grandchildren, who can I spoil?”

“Sit, everyone,” Adam said, motioning everyone down. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

Dishes were passed around. Chatter buzzed in Lily’s ears. Questions flew. There was already the question of names. So much that she hadn’t allowed herself to contemplate yet.

It felt good to have it out in the open. Real. Excitement squeezed her insides, and she slid a hand over her belly.

She was having a baby, and this time, she was surrounded by so much love and support that she’d never have to worry about being alone, struggling, desperate. Never again.

“Thank you, God,” she whispered, her eyes burning again. “Thank you for saving me. Thank you for sending me this family and for your love and mercy. I won’t forget. I’ll never forget.”

After an hour of eating, lively discussion, and much laughter, the plates were finally pushed away.

Max cleared his throat and then stood, much as Lily had done at the start of the meal. “I have a surprise for Callie. Well, for everyone,” he amended. “It seems even more appropriate in light of all the good news we’ve recently received. We have much to be grateful for this year. I have the most won-derful, giving wife, and my sister is home where she belongs. Holly is well and back home where she belongs, and now we’ll welcome a new addition to the Colter family.”

Sounds of agreement echoed on all sides.

“What surprise?” Callie squeaked out.

Max smiled indulgently. “Patience, dolcezza. You’ll all need to get your coats on and come with me.”

Callie grabbed Lauren’s hand and dragged her toward the door. Her brothers laughed and shook their heads.

“Come on!” Callie said impatiently. “I’m dying to know what the surprise is!”

Everyone smiled and laughed as they trekked to the closet. Coats were pulled on. Holly was surrounded by her husbands, each of them determined that she wouldn’t have to walk solo through the snow. Lily’s husbands were every bit as attentive as they stepped outside.

Cold blew over Callie’s face and she closed her eyes, inhaling the clean mountain air. Snowflakes danced across her nose and she laughed out loud, mesmerized by the magic of the night.

Max directed them down the pathway that led to her and Max’s house. But they stopped in the meadow, halfway between the two houses. He leaned down to kiss Callie, his mouth melting sweetly over the coldness of her lips. Then he drew away and pulled a glow stick from his pocket. After breaking it so that it lit up, he waved it in the air before returning it to his pocket.

There was a silent pause as everyone waited breathlessly. There was anticipation in the air and the only illumination cast on the meadow was the thin slash of moonlight that hovered over distant trees.

Suddenly lights twinkled and lit up, cascading from tree to tree, from bush to bush. Shapes came to life in the meadow. A Christmas tree. Several Christmas trees. Angels. Reindeer. A manger scene.

Callie caught her breath, dazzled by the display of lights, as if a million fireflies had suddenly descended.

“Oh Max,” she breathed in a soft voice. “It’s magic.”

Lauren stood next to Callie, her eyes wide. Everyone seemed transfixed, even Callie’s fathers and brothers, who surely were in on the surprise. Her mom stared in wonder, mouth open as she stared from tree to tree.

The meadow had been transformed into a winter wonderland worthy of any childhood fantasy.

In the distance, the sound of sleigh bells chinked softly, growing louder, the rhythm in sync with the trot of horses. Callie whirled around, straining to see. And then a six-horse-drawn sleigh burst into the clearing. The horses were adorned with bells. The sleigh was shiny red, and it reflected the light of thousands of bulbs.

Callie gaped as the sleigh drew even closer. She turned to Max, her mouth working up and down, but nothing would come out. Max chuckled.

Callie flew into his arms, hitting him with such force that they both fell back into the snow. Max’s back hit the ground, and he wrapped his arms around her to cushion her fall. He laughed helplessly as she peppered his face with excited, breathless kisses.

Around them, the rest of the family laughed, the sound joyous in the air. Lily clapped her hands in delight and Lauren’s smile was so brilliant that it made everyone stop and take notice. How long had it been since she’d really smiled? With everything inside her. With her whole heart.

Gone for a moment were the shadows of her past and in its stead was a beautiful, sparkling young woman.

“Let me up, dolcezza. We have a sleigh ride to take.”

“All of us?” Callie asked as she got up and literally danced around Max in the snow.

Max stood and brushed the snow from his clothing. “All of us. The sleigh is big enough, and what is Christmas Eve without a sleigh ride?”

“Come on, Lauren!” Callie shouted, taking her sister-in-law’s hand and pulling her toward the sleigh.

The rest followed behind and Adam fell into step with Max. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my little girl so excited.”

Max smiled. “I plan to spend the rest of my life making her smile just like she did tonight.”

Adam slapped him on the back and then returned to his wife. They ushered her into the sled while Max slid in beside Callie and Lauren. When everyone was tucked underneath the blankets, the man Max had hired to drive the sleigh urged the horses forward.

They glided over the snow, through the meadow, and higher into the aspens and pines that surrounded the Colter cabin. Max wrapped his arm around Callie and pulled her in close. Lauren sat next to Callie, her eyes aglow with happiness.

Everything that mattered most to Max was right here, in his arms, sitting close to him. Seeing Callie’s and Lauren’s smiles had been worth every bit of planning and money he’d put into having the meadow lit up.

There was nothing more beautiful than the woman resting against his side, and he’d go to hell and back to make her happy. Always. Every damn day for the rest of his life.

CHRISTMAS morning dawned clear and cold. Everyone began to crawl out of bed and make their way downstairs in their pajamas. Ethan had gotten up early to set the fire, and by the time everyone gathered in the living room, flames danced merrily in the hearth.

Snow was coming down harder. Big, fat, fluffy flakes descended, covering the ground in a fresh blanket of white. The windowpanes were frosted over and the women snuggled into the couches with their husbands.

Lauren seemed hesitant to barge in. She paused, feeling a little silly in her pajamas as she stared at the Colter family enjoying cups of hot chocolate while they waited for breakfast to be served.

Then Max looked up, a smile softening his face. He patted the spot beside him and she quickly moved forward, eager and yet afraid all at the same time to find her place in this family Max had married into.