“John!” Sophie burst out laughing. “You’re going to spill everything.”
John grinned at her. “Nope. I’m not. I promise.”
She arched a brow and regarded Helena over the very confident little boy’s head. Helena’s eyes sparkled as she shrugged back.
As John reached the table, the tray he was haphazardly holding began to tilt, and would have tipped entirely were it not for Alex’s quick reflexes. Alex gripped both sides and smiled gratefully at the little boy, who skipped off, apparently none the wiser.
“He’s very … helpful,” Helena said apologetically.
“Oh, yes,” Eric laughed, putting an arm around his wife’s waist. “He’s our little Jeeves.”
Sophie leaned back in the leather chair. She didn’t know it, but she was practically glowing with contentment. She missed her sisters like wildfire, but at the same time, she truly felt like she was home.
Alex lifted a flute of champagne from the table and handed it to Sophie. She held it and smiled up at him. She hadn’t tasted champagne since the night in Corfu with Olivia, and the smell of the sweet bubbles brought pleasant memories back to her.
“So, let’s run through our checklist.” He crouched down beside her, his eyes teasing. “We decorated the tree a week ago. Does it meet your requirements?”
She looked beyond him at the beautiful alpine specimen and nodded. For someone who’d missed out on the special Christmas traditions, he’d caught up incredibly quickly. There were unique, custom-made decorations from Murano, and stars with their names on them, including her sisters and their parents. And he’d even had Ava send over a few of the very special heirloom decorations from the vineyard.
“And we’ve made an exceptional pudding.”
“Well, we won’t know that until we try it tonight,” she argued.
“We’ve made gingerbread houses with the boys.”
“And I ate a lot of dough.”
“Yes,” he shifted his eyes heavenward. “So much so that I thought you might be sick.”
“Always a risk I’m willing to take.”
“And I have a present for you.”
She pouted. “But it’s Christmas Eve. Presents come tomorrow.”
“Perhaps. But I want you to have this. It’s overdue.”
That got her attention. “What is it?” She prompted curiously.
“It is in Eric’s office.”
“Oh.”
Alex held his hands out for Sophie and she put hers in them.
“Can I come? Can I come?” John bounded behind them, and Ian followed him silently.
Alex shook his head. “Not this time, little one.”
“I’m not little,” he retorted fiercely, and Alex laughed.
“No, of course not. You’re growing inches by the day.” He shepherded Sophie into the study and closed the door on the two anxious little faces beyond.
“That was a tad cruel.”
“Was it?”
“You know it was.”