Call Me Michigan (27 page)

“It’ll be a really short night,” she reminded him, and he nodded, turning off the lamp and then pulling her with him until her head rested on his chest. She’d always loved that because there was no better lullaby than Mason’s steady heartbeat.

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” Mason smirked, refusing to open his eyes and let his daughter know that he was awake.

“MOM!” The girl screamed, yet Taylor only snuggled closer to him, making his daughter stomp her feet.

“Your daughter demands you,” he whispered ever so slightly, and Taylor pulled back enough so she could glare at him. He bit his cheeks, loving the expression.

“Oh, today it’s my daughter, huh?” she hissed, and he laughed, kissing her forehead.

“Only until after the gifts are unwrapped,” he teased, and she gently punched him while their blanket was pulled from the bed.

“Come on, Mom! Santa ate all the cookies.”

“Santa did, huh?” Mason asked, arching a questioning brow at Taylor, but she just rolled her eyes.

“I really don’t like you this morning,” she mumbled and then moved out of bed. “Sit down, Becca. I need to brush my teeth first,” she then ordered while Mason moved until he was resting against the headboard, watching his two girls. Becca eagerly followed Taylor’s instructions and then crawled over to him, kissing his cheek.

“You can go back to sleep when Mom’s done,” she promised, pulling the blanket up on his chest.

“No way,” Taylor called from the bathroom, glaring at him through the open door.

Mason chuckled and then got up as well, deciding to join her in the bathroom. Becca hung her little legs off the bed, swinging them while humming softly.

“I never knew you were grumpy in the morning,” Mason teased as he stepped closer to kiss Taylor’s neck.

“I am after barely more than three hours of sleep,” she gave back, still closing her eyes as his lips touched her skin. He loved seeing them both in the mirror because it made him feel as if he could see not only them there but also all the happiness and their promised future. It was almost magical.

“I’m gonna make sure you get time for a nap,” he promised, drawing her in before she could leave the bathroom to join their impatient daughter.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she fussed softly, and he shook his head with a smile, brushing her hair back to frame her face and then kiss her deeply. She tasted of toothpaste and more. God, how he loved her.

“Tay, can you please finally come?” Tim called, entering the bedroom. Becca was off the bed in a flash, grabbing his hand.

“Grandma is downstairs,” she explained. “We’ll wait next to the presents,” she stated loudly, and Taylor rolled her eyes.

“Hold on, I’m coming. But we will wait for Daddy,” she told the kids, then left the bathroom, giving Mason time to brush his teeth and maybe throw some water on his face. He knew he should be exhausted, but he wasn’t. He was happy because he knew Tamara had everything she had wished for, and therefore, Taylor was relieved. It was crazy how selfless that woman could be. After he had been finished, he walked over to the nightstand, checking that the other wrapped gift was still in there. It was going to be the one Taylor would get that night, and while he was more than curious to see what she’d think, he promised himself to be patient. As much as life was about sharing, he was selfish and wanted her happiness and wonder only for himself.

He took the stairs extra slow, hearing Tim and Becca complain while Taylor clearly practiced patience, breathing in and out very slowly. Rounding the corner, Mason spotted his mom on the recliner, Wayne on the sofa, and Taylor as she pulled one gift from Becca to put it back, only to repeat the procedure again the next second.

Tamara came in after him, half-asleep still, and Mason pulled her into his side, kissing her hair. “Hey, girl,” he greeted her and smiled as Tamara hugged him tight.

“I like morning cuddles.” She grinned, looking instantly more alert.

“Everyone’s here! We can unwrap presents now!” Becca squealed, and Taylor dropped to her knees next to the tree, looking up at Mason with a questioning expression on her face.

“We do Christmas the way Taylor did it when she was a child,” Mason decided, and Taylor pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

“Becca’s not gonna like that,” Tamara predicted, and Mason shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. Nothing rushed them, and he always had loved the Collins’ tradition.

“What does that mean?” Becca asked. “Mom?”

“It means that everyone gets to open one present now, then we’ll have breakfast, read a story, and then all the other presents can be opened,” she explained, and Tamara had been right. The little girl’s lower lip started to tremble, making Mason cover up a laugh with a cough.

“I don’t like that,” Rebecca whined, and Taylor pulled her close.

“You can sit in my lap, or Grandpa’s, or Grandma’s, while I read. You’ll see, you’ll like it,” Taylor promised, and Mason wished he had implemented that tradition last year already, even though she had been too little to grasp it all then. At least now she would know it.

“Can we pick the gifts?” Becca asked, her tone sounding almost bored.

“Yes,” Taylor agreed, pointing at a few gifts that were all marked with Becca’s name. Naturally, his daughter picked the biggest, and Taylor shook her head, staying close as the smallest of them all tore open the wrapping.

“Mom, it’s a unicorn. It’s a unicorn! Look, it’s a unicorn!” Taylor pulled the stuffed animal out of the box and placed it on its feet. Beneath them, almost hidden, were tiny wheels, making it possible to move forward with it in a riding motion.

“Wow, I cannot believe Santa brought you that,” Mason exclaimed, disbelief coloring his voice. Becca had wanted one since her last birthday, but Mason never found one that satisfied his need for fluffy yet safe, or the wish for purple glitter hair on it. This one, though, was perfect.

“Why not?” Taylor asked, irritated.

“Best gift ever! I don’t need the others,” his daughter announced, settling down on the little unicorn, moving her hips as if she was on an actual horse.

“It was impossible to find one like that. I wonder how Santa knew she wanted one,” he replied, and Taylor came over while Becca made circles around the sofa. Mason brushed his thumb over her forehead to ease the frown while Tamara moved to her dad’s side.

“I saw it and knew it was perfect for Becca. She’s so in love with everything fairy tale, I thought it was the best choice,” she whispered ever so slightly. “I’m sorry.”

He kissed her forehead. “For what? Making it impossible for the rest of us to shine with our gifts?” he teased and finally Taylor relaxed.

“I hoped she was going to love it,” she admitted.

“Love? She’s gonna sleep on that thing.” He laughed and then kissed her nose.

“Can I pick now?” Tim asked, having been surprisingly patient.

“Sure can,” Taylor answered and walked back to the tree while Mason settled down next to his mom’s recliner.

“Best Christmas ever,” she whispered only for Mason to hear, and he nodded.

“I never knew it could feel like this,” he admitted just as quietly and then felt how his mom took his hand.

“As an only child, it wasn’t ever as busy as this one is,” she agreed, and he kissed the back of her hand before suddenly seeing only green and gold wrapping paper.

“Your gifts,” Taylor announced.

“We can’t pick?” Mason pouted, and Taylor just arched a brow at him.

“Ah, Santa brought me my own cowboy boots and hat! Does that mean I can finally become a real cowboy?” Timmy asked, and Mason looked at him as Taylor stood back.

“Mmmhmm, but a cowboy needs a horse, doesn’t he?” Stella asked, and Tim’s jaw dropped.

“No. I can be a learning cowboy first and ride with Mason on his horse,” he pouted, clearly thinking they were going to take away the stuff he had just gotten.

“Fine,” Stella agreed as Taylor shook her head ever so slightly, reminding Mason and his mom that the rule was only one gift for now.

“Taylor, this is ... I cannot believe ...” Tamara was a blubbering mess after opening her own present, finding a sign that read TamCo-Ranch on it, stating clearly that Taylor had every intention of giving the farm to her sister.

“Mason,” her mom whispered, her breath hitching as she tried to suppress a sob. They had gotten her a framed picture that had the word family written in many languages around the metal, and inside was a picture of Mason, Taylor, Becca, Tamara, and Timmy.

“You shouldn’t have, daughter,” Wayne said, his voice rough, as he found a picture of his three children in his gift.

“Breakfast, finally,” Taylor called out, clapping her hands. Mason had to laugh but still held her back as she wanted to walk into the kitchen.

“You get one gift, too,” he reminded her, but she just stole a kiss and then shook her head.

“I have everything I could wish for,” she told him, but he still handed her the first gift he found with her name on it.

“Open,” Tamara demanded, and Taylor did. It was a necklace with a locket that you could open, and Tamara had put in a picture of her and Tim, and one of Mason and Becca. It was beautiful.

“Thank you,” Taylor mumbled as Mason brushed her hair back and placed the jewelry around her neck. “Now breakfast?” she wanted to know, and he laughed, nodding. Everyone got up and started moving, but Mason didn’t let his fiancée go.

“You’re pretty amazing,” he whispered before he kissed her deeply. She leaned into him, nodding slightly, agreeing wordlessly.

Mason didn’t need words. All he needed was right there in his arms.

***

Taylor was glad once all gifts were unwrapped; Tamara was off with an adult coloring book, Becca riding her unicorn, and Timmy running around in his boots and hat. He looked adorable and even though he was more than happy, Taylor knew that before long he was going to cry his eyes out.

“I’m gonna take him out alone. Do this man thing with him. Male bonding and all,” Mason mumbled next to her, now dressed in jeans, a shirt, and about to pull over a jacket.

“Can you at least take pictures?” she pleaded, and he took her phone, nodding.

“Are you gonna be okay with preparing the food?” he wanted to know, pointing at the turkey in the oven and the vegetables that clustered every surface available. Taylor looked around, feeling happy and content.

“Definitely. Stella promised she’d help, and so will Tamara. You want to take him out already?”

Mason grinned, and Taylor wondered what Tim would say about Pomeo. The poor pony had gotten its name from being a pony and charming the ladies like only a Romeo could. It was smaller than most, and the former owner had decided to focus on more pristine horses, wanting to get rid of Pomeo as fast as possible. Mason had been lucky, getting the horse for less than a steal. Otherwise, Taylor wouldn’t have agreed anyway.

“Sure do. He’s going to be so excited,” he explained.

“Let him do the work. It’ll be his responsibility, after all,” she insisted and then sighed. “You know, Becca will want one soon, too.”

He nodded and then kissed her cheek. “We’ll be fine.” She knew that but figured he could already keep his eyes open for another bargain.

“Comin’, cowboy? You need to help me water the horses,” Mason called, and Tim was by his side in no time, looking ready to work. The two left, and Taylor turned on the radio, humming along to the country Christmas songs playing. She had gotten out a cutting board and was starting on the carrots when she heard the door open and close, guessing that Mason or Tim had forgotten something until her mother’s voice made her skin crawl.

“I want the keys to my house.” Taylor forced herself to put down the knife before lifting her gaze.

“Bonnie,” she said slowly, speaking quietly so as not to alert Stella or her father to the new presence in the house.

“I’ve given you a day to calm down, and you’re still being ridiculous, playing family here. I want the keys to the farm, and I’m gonna take Tim home. He’s my son, and I don’t care what rights you think you have to him. I gave birth to him. And I worked my ass off on that farm. You fled the moment you could,” her mother snarled, and Taylor took a deep breath.

“As did you, and you haven’t looked back once, the way it seems. The farm is not yours and neither is Tim. Just go and live your life the way you always wanted. Free of the farm, free of the girl you think neglected you, free of the daughter who resents you for making her grow up too fast. You have no right to anything on this farm or any person living there,” she gave back calmly, resuming her task of cutting carrots, even though her hands were shaking with anger. She was determined not to let her mother ruin Christmas.

“No right? I have every right,” her mother all but screamed, and Taylor’s eyes surveyed the room, glad when she couldn’t spot Becca even though the unicorn stood right in her field of vision.

“Actually, you don’t, which is the reason why I, too, had to neglect our kids and leave the farm. If I would’ve known that you’d be back one day anyway, I wouldn’t have left in the first place.” Taylor’s jaw dropped as her father came in, a serious expression on his face, his eyes dark with untamed hatred.