The Jock (27 page)

Harry
considered that for a moment. "That would be a sweet retirement victory,
wouldn't it, going out on top?"

"Sure
will be," Sam agreed, always thinking in the positive. "Then it will
be time for this ole boy to settle down into the new function of full-time
daddy and restaurant owner extraordinaire."

Candy
sauntered up to Harry's side and kissed him on the cheek. Entwining one arm
through his, she gestured with her free hand towards Sam. "Sounds like a
plan. Jackson is keeping you on your toes, after all."

Sam
grinned. He glanced over to where his five-month-old son was sitting on Willy's
lap while Verlene read from a book of Christmas stories to him. His little
tiger had already sprouted a full head of his daddy's thick black hair. He had
also acquired his mother's expressive green eyes and adorable dimples. Sam had
been glad about that. He'd always been a sucker for his wife's eyes and
dimples. Still was. "You've got that right. And with Gwen bein' pregnant
again, we will definitely have our hands full."

"When
is my sister's due date?" Harry inquired. "I'd like to make certain
that I'm on vacation so I don't miss the big event like I did with
Jackson." He grinned proudly. "A man doesn't become an uncle every
day, you know."

Chuckling,
Sam rolled his eyes. "Tell that to
Aunt Candy
." He ruffled her
hair affectionately until she giggled. "You'd have thought the woman had
done the honors herself the way she carried on..."

From
across the room, Gwenyth smiled contentedly. She folded her arms under her breasts
as she watched the people she loved make the most of the holiday season. With
the arrival of their beloved son, Jackson Joseph Trevianni, a new tradition had
begun in the Jones-Trevianni family.

Christmas
Eves were now spent in Gwenyth and Sam's home instead of at Verlene and
Willy's. Grandmama and Granddad had insisted, saying as delicately as they
could that they were getting up there in years and needed to know all would be
well when they left the earth.

Gwenyth
couldn't bear the thought. But she understood—she knew why they had wanted her
to begin this new tradition. And as much as she wanted to hang on to the old
ways, to refuse to deal with her grandparents' mortality, she could do nothing
less than what they had asked of her and Sam. Besides, Gwenyth planned to hold
on to her grandparents for many more Christmas Eves yet to come.

Gwenyth
couldn't ever remember feeling more blessed than she did at this very moment.
All of her dreams from childhood had come true. She was a world renowned
fashion photographer that famous designers from around the world wanted to do
business with. What's more, her and Verlene's firm was a complete success.

And
then there was her marriage to Sam, the best childhood dream of them all. He
was well and truly hers and Gwenyth knew that her husband loved her deeply. It
still amazed her to think that they had made such a perfect, beautiful son
together.

Gwenyth
patted her belly with a smile. Another addition to the Trevianni family was on
the way.

Gwenyth
walked over to where her grandparents and son sat and lowered herself down
beside them. Kissing Willy's rough cheek, and then Jackson's smooth one, she
smiled contentedly as she listened to Grandmama's recitation of
The Night
Before Christmas
.

Moments
later, Gwenyth felt her husband's strong arms wrap around her shoulders and
pull her back into his embrace. She tilted her head back and smiled up at him,
then leaned into him with a contended sigh and listened to Verlene's melodic
voice help bring in the spirit of the season to the family gathering.

Sam
laced his fingers through his wife's and rested his chin on top of her head.
"Merry Christmas, Cupcake. I love you."

Gwenyth
smiled dreamily. "Merry Christmas, Sam. I love you too."