Brittney’s death, she tried several times to get me into bed, but I was never interested. She’s not my type at all. Hell, Brittney probably wasn’t even my type. I would never have married her, if I hadn’t gotten her pregnant. I think she planned that, anyway, suspecting I was never going to ask her.”
“Wow, and I thought I had a bad time of it, with what Scott did to me.”
“But look at us, Sunny. A marriage-of-convenience that has turned out to be the best decision I ever made.”
“You are happy, aren’t you, hon?”
“Do you even have to ask, baby? You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, or my kids.”
“So you have no regrets?”
“Certainly not, do you?” He was beginning to worry what her answer might be.
“None, whatsoever.” She leaned up to kiss him.
He pulled her into his arms and held her the rest of the night.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were busy ones between work, kids, and planning the trip to Florida. Chase had called and spoken to Alice, who was thrilled to hear the whole family would be spending the holidays at the beach house.
“Now Alice, if you have plans to go to Orlando, don’t let us stop you. All I ask is that you have the house prepared for us and the kitchen stocked with food before we arrive. We’re quite capable of taking care of ourselves.”
“Actually, we spent Thanksgiving with the boys and their families. They’ll both be spending Christmas with their wives’ families this year. It works out perfectly. This will be wonderful.” Alice didn’t seem to be able to contain her excitement.
“Well, all right then, it’ll be great to have you and John there. Alma and George will be happy to hear that.”
“I’m so glad they’re coming along, and Marty and Mrs. Drake, too.”
“One big happy old-fashioned Christmas,” he replied, chuckling.
“That’s the best kind, and one this family hasn’t had in quite some time. I’ll have everything ready, don’t you worry about a thing. You just get that family of yours here and we’ll have a real celebration.”
“Thank you, Alice. We’ll see you on the twenty-third. Ali’s school break starts that day.”
When he told Sunny that Alice and John would be joining them, she was elated. “Oh, this is going to be the perfect Christmas, Chase. I can’t wait.”
“And just think, with all those grandmas and doting housekeepers there, Ali and Brice won’t even miss us if we steal away for an hour or two to stroll along the beach.” Grinning mischievously, he leaned over and kissed her on the tip of her nose.
“Strolling the beach over the Christmas holiday with a hot guy, what more could a girl ask for?”
“There you go with the hot thing again. You just want to butter me up for a good Christmas gift, I get it now.” He threw his head back in hearty laughter.
“Oh, gee, you figured me out…” Sunny put her arms around his waist and leaned up to kiss him.
“You just go right on thinking I’m hot, baby. I like where that thought takes us.” He kissed her again and added, “You’re not so bad yourself, you know.”
“We’d best stop this line of conversation, honey. The kids will be home in about five minutes. George went to pick them up.”
“To be continued…” He released her. “I have some work to do in the other room anyway.” He retreated into his home office, leaving his wife to her special after school time with Ali and Brice.
****
Sunny had begun a tradition of trying to be home when the kids came in from school most days. The three of them liked to have a snack and share their day together. Sunny often thought while watching the faces of her children when they were deep into a story about what they’d done that day their little family would be complete if she and Chase added a baby to the mix. They hadn’t discussed it at any length, just in passing. Sunny had put the thought in the back of her mind, where it would stay until Chase was ready.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the boisterous entrance of Princess Ali and Master Brice, as Sunny liked to call them.
“Mama Sunny, are you here, I got an A on my paper today. We had to write our name and some of the ABC’s.” Ali ran into the kitchen waving a paper in her little hand.
“Let me see,” Sunny said as she placed a plate of freshly