The Merry Moose’s Mates (Male-Order Mates #16)

Chapter Twenty

Shay

“I think it needs more sprinkles,” Alice announced and reached over for the container of red and green Christmas trees.

“Oh.” I had to think of something. The cookies for Santa and us were more sprinkles than cookie. “What if we put on too many and it breaks one of Santa’s teeth? We wouldn’t want that. Then he might have to go to the North Pole dentist and delay his present giving.” I held my breath.

Austin turned around to hide a smile, and Briar went into a spontaneous coughing fit.

Alice put her hands on her hips and nailed me with her best stink eye. It was formidable, I had to admit. “Do you really think that’s going to happen?”

I shrugged. “Do we really want to take a chance? They’re Santa’s teeth.”

Alice reached up and tapped her finger on her chin. Really working shit out. “I suppose we have enough sprinkles on this one.”

“Oh, I have an idea.” Austin ran to the home office area slash Alice’s room and came back with a piece of paper. “What if you take the sprinkles and glue them to this paper and make a special card for Santa?”

“Oh, that’s a great idea!” Alice darted toward the small table where Austin helped her fold it perfectly in half. They were already talking about what she would tell Santa, and we all laughed if she asked if she could include her list for next year.

Next year.

The girl had aspirations for sure.

“Would it be okay if I gave you three my gift tonight?” I asked. “I think you need to open it before Christmas.”

Briar’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure? We said no presents until tomorrow morning.”

“We did, but this one I made myself. We can enjoy it tonight.”

Austin looked up. “This is kid friendly, right?”

I cocked my head. “I said for the three of you. Head out of the gutter, Austin.”

“I can’t help it. I’m surrounded by attractive men.”

“I’m getting it.” Not waiting any longer for permission, I headed out the back door and to the shed where I’d made the present, waited for it to dry, wrapped it and then hid it so no one would find it.

I was excited and yet, halfway back to the house, my self-doubt kicked in.

This was all I had to give. It meant more to me than anything I could ever buy in a store.

“Too late to do anything about it now.”

I brought the gift inside and presented it to them. It was wrapped in newspaper and tied with the rest of the red satin ribbon.

Plain and simple, like me, like the gift inside.

Briar took the packet from me and asked again if I was sure. I was, of course. More than anything, I was eager to see their reaction to it. “Here we go. Let’s see what treasure Shay has been working on in that cold shed all by himself.”

They unwrapped the layers far too slowly for my liking. Once they lifted it out of the paper, my heart stopped.

“Is this…” Austin said, taking the ribbon from Briar. “Shay, you made us a first ornament?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I thought. Well, it’s our first Christmas together. The start of a new family.”

“You carved images of all four of us and the year into the wood,” Briar said in awe. “Look, Alice. Look what Shay made us…for the tree I’m assuming?”

“Yes. The tree or the mantel. Wherever you’d like to put it.” I shrugged.

“Oh, Shay. It’s absolutely exquisite. Can you make us one every year?” Austin held it up to the light. “When we’re old, we’ll have years’ and years’ worth of them, and we can give them to Alice for her children.”

“You really like it?” I asked, eager for the approval of my mates.

“Shay, it’s so special. Of course we love it as much as we love you.”

Austin nodded. “Briar’s right. We love it as much as we love you.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “Well, that’s it. I don’t need anything material. Hearing that from both of you, well, that’s enough. I love you both and Alice too.”

We spent the rest of the night around the fire. Austin read Alice several Christmas books we’d picked up, and she had enough cookies to put her into a coma.

When she went to bed, we set up all her gifts from Santa and did a little final decorating then had our own celebration in our bedroom. Sharing each other. Celebrating our love.