Delivering His Gifts (Mountain Men of Liberty #10)- K.C. Crowne Page 0,87

seventies. And Steve was no different. His hair was a dark grey and still very thick for a man his age. He had a beard that was the same dark grey as his hair. His eyes were friendly and kind, and I could see why Calvin had fallen for him. I imagined he had to have been quite a looker as a young soldier in the war.

The two men embraced, hugging for several seconds. I had to wipe the tears away from the emotions. Seeing the way they looked at each, I was so grateful Mason could bring them back together again.

“It’s been so long,” Calvin said. “But I knew it was you.”

“Well, I sent you a picture last week.”

“Yeah, from your sixtieth birthday. That hardly counts,” Calvin teased, unable to take his eyes off Steve.

“I thought you couldn’t afford to come out here until summer?” Calvin asked.

“Well, I had a little help.” Steve shot Mason sheepish look.

Calvin shook his head. “Should have known. He sure likes to part with his money, but in this case, I’m very thankful for that.”

“Can I see Oscar?” Skyler whispered to me.

“Yeah, I think we should give these two a moment alone. What do you think, Mason?”

Mason nodded, and the two men seemed oblivious to us slipping into the house.

As soon as Oscar saw Skyler, his tail began wagging. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He licked the side of her face gently.

I knew from talking with Calvin that Oscar was doing very well. Calvin too. It had been a match made in heaven, and the dog helped Calvin in more ways than I could have imagined. He said not only was it physically easier to get out of bed in the morning, with Oscar there for support, but mentally as well. He hadn’t been happier in years.

Of course, putting him in touch with his old love likely helped too. He told Mason that they messaged each other daily, ever since Mason and Eli helped set him up with a laptop and showed him how to use it. Steve’s granddaughter had helped him, as she was his caregiver. He had come out to his family recently and found that his children were not only accepting, but they said they’d always kind of known.

What this meant for him and Calvin, I didn’t know. Maybe they’d be able to continue where they left off many years before, or maybe they’d just be friends. But it seemed to help Calvin’s mood to be able to talk to Steve again, and Steve had been equally as grateful - telling us in the car that he’d never stopped thinking about Calvin, but assumed he would never forgive him.

Based on the hug they had shared, I had a feeling Calvin forgave him.

“You look happy,” Mason said, sitting beside me on the couch.

“I am,” I said. “Like Skyler keeps saying, today is the best day ever.”

“Because we’re bringing our babies home?”

“Yes, but also -- everything. Things are just better now. I can feel it. You’ve done good here, Mason. You really have.”

He took my hand in his, and my eyes fell on the diamond ring on my finger. As soon as things calmed down, I had a wedding to plan. Even more things to be excited for.

“Well I couldn’t have done it all without you, Danielle. You’ve changed my life, showed me what I’m truly capable of. And you’ve given me three beautiful kids and a herd of animals. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Ooo000ooo

“Aww look at her! She’s smiling at me,” Skyler said.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her baby sister was just pooping. Skyler was already smitten with both of her siblings, doting on them and checking on them every five minutes. She even made sure they had equal numbers of gifts under the tree.

“Elli bear loves her big sister, doesn’t she?” Skyler said, grinning down at the infant.

The babies were still very small, but they had grown quickly in the NICU. MJ was still bigger, coming in at just under seven pounds. Elianna was just over six pounds. As far as the doctors could tell, there were no problems and could be released just in time for Christmas. Neither had any infections, and they took to eating within a few days of being in the NICU.

Skyler had picked out their outfits for Christmas Eve, and she wore a matching one herself. They were all dressed as little elves. She even tried to put the