Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

25. Wells

25

WELLS

H aven gasps and it has Vienna and me jumping apart, the three of us staring at each other as the coffee pot gurgles and hisses behind me.

I should say something, but I can’t form the words, and if Vienna’s look of panic is any indication, she can’t either.

Seconds stretch on like hours before Haven lets a high-pitched squeal followed by a little dance that would normally have me chuckling.

“Yes!” she cheers as Vienna blinks at me, her swollen lips parted. “My Christmas wish came true!”

“Your what?” I ask because that’s all I can manage.

“My wish! It came true!”

Vienna hands me a cup of coffee and I take a sip, hoping to clear the fog from my brain.

“What wish?” Vienna asks, bending down to meet Haven’s gaze.

“You and my dad.” My daughter’s eyes are bright as she looks between both of us. “I wished you would fall in love like the princess in the movie.”

Oh, my sweet baby girl.

My cup lands next to me with a thud, the hot liquid sloshing onto the counter as I drop to my knees in front of my daughter.

“You’re okay with Vienna being my girlfriend?” Haven nods enthusiastically as I take her hand and squeeze. “Because I love you both very much.”

“You love her?” my daughter says, swinging our joined hands and still obviously wrapped up in the idea that this is like the movies.

“Yes.”

Vienna drops to the ground next to me and takes my other hand in hers. “I know that this is happening fast,” she says slowly, “and your dad and I want to make sure you’re comfortable and open about how you’re feeling.”

“But I’m excited,” Haven says, her brows furrowed.

“We know, kiddo. Vienna and I are too. We just want to make sure you know you can talk to us about anything.”

She’s silent, her eyes darting between us, the wheels turning in her little head.

“Can we still have pancakes for breakfast?” Haven asks seriously and seemingly over this new revelation. Vienna giggles and I pull my daughter into my arms, tickling her until she’s giggling too.

“Yeah, kiddo, we can have pancakes.”

“And a movie marathon?” she asks as I hold her against me.

“Definitely.” I nod.

“With hot chocolate?”

“Is there any other kind?” Vienna replies, brushing Haven’s hair off her forehead.

“And you’ll be here for Christmas?” she asks Vienna.

“And all the days after that.”

Haven launches herself at Vienna, hugging her tight as I pull my girls in and wrap my arms around them both and just soak in the moment.

Because this is all I’ve ever wanted, and they’re all I’ll ever need.