Merry Little Cluster Fudge (The Price of Love #3.5)

12. Chapter Twelve

Meghan

"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!"

Dad was sporting a full-fledged Santa suit, complete with a fake belly and long white beard. The kids were over the moon as Patricia helped Santa dish out presents from his red velvet sack.

"It's weird, isn't it?" I said to my brother. "Seeing Dad like this. Happy. Relaxed."

Emmett nodded. "Yeah. It's like he's a different person. A better version of himself."

"I know what you mean. All those years with Mom, it's like he was holding his breath. And now he can finally exhale."

"Exactly!" Emmett's eyes lit up. "That's exactly it. She's good for him. And the kids love her."

Truth be told, I kind of loved her. Since the moment we arrived, she'd done nothing but spoil our children and dish out fudge from her seemingly endless supply.

"Where do think she gets the fudge?"

"I'm picturing something along the lines of the Mary Poppins carpet bag."

I burst out laughing and clinked my mimosa glass with Emmett's bloody mary. "Good one."

"Why, thank you. I do what I can."

The kids bid farewell to Santa and began playing with their toys under the potted palm Christmas tree in the center of Dad and Patricia's suite. A few moments later, Dad returned to the living room.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!" Lilah called. "You just missed him. Santa was here!"

"Well, sweetie, I just passed him out on the walk. He told me there were a bunch of children on the nice list in here who got fun new toys for being such good boys and girls!"

"I got a dump truck!" Case shouted.

"And I got a doll!" Mia announced.

Dad made his way over to Emmett and me, a twinkle in his eye that I hadn't seen in years. Maybe ever. He put an arm around each of us, pulling us close.

"I can't thank you two enough," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "For welcoming Patricia into our lives. For giving me this perfect family."

I leaned into his embrace, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the faintest hint of peppermint.

"Dad, you don't have to thank us," Emmett said gruffly. "We just want you to be happy."

"And I am. Happier than I've been in a long time. Patricia... she's brought a light into my life that I didn't even know was missing."

I glanced over at Patricia, who was helping Mia put a new outfit on her doll. The sight warmed my heart. "She's pretty great, Dad. We can all see how good she is for you."

Dad squeezed us tighter. "I look forward to many more Christmases like this. With all of you. My perfect, beautiful family."

Perfect. The word echoed in my mind. It wasn't a term I'd ever associated with our family before. Dysfunctional? Sure. Complicated? Absolutely. But perfect?

I looked around the room. Wick and Marco were on the floor, helping Lucas build a tower with his new blocks. Callie and Olivia were chatting and laughing by the window, mimosas in hand. Carter was showing Case how to work his new remote-control truck. And there was Patricia, fitting seamlessly into our chaotic, loving mess of a family.

Maybe perfect isn't about being flawless, I mused. Maybe it's about finding joy in the imperfections.

"So," Dad said, breaking into my thoughts. "Who's ready for some of Patricia's famous eggnog? It comes with fudge!"