I think Ms. Alex is coming over, too. But I’m not too sure about that,” he said.
“I’m so excited. It’s gonna be so much fun,” Darcie said, giving a typical little girl squeal. “Do you think Uncle Base and Aunt Renata will like me?”
“Absolutely! They already know how awesome you are! And it’s always fun. And now that you’re here with us, it’s even more fun,” Roman said, smiling lovingly down at the child that had become the focus of his world.
He let go of her hand in front of the security gate and pushed in the code for the gate to open. Having Ms. Autry drive right up to the house a couple of weeks ago to deliver Darcie had reminded Riley of how lax they’d become about leaving the gate open. Not that she was a threat, or that a threat couldn’t access the property if they really wanted to, but at least it put an obstacle in the way if anyone had designs on coming to the house unannounced.
Roman watched the gate to be sure it was closing behind them, then he took Darcie’s hand and started toward the house again.
“Do you think Mama will have something good to eat for Christmas?” she asked.
Roman stopped walking and looked down at Darcie who looked up at him wide-eyed and not altogether sure she should have asked that question. Roman set down the lawn and leaf bag of gifts and knelt down in front of her. “I’m sure she will, Darcie. But, I want you to know something, okay? Like I’ve promised you every single day since you came here, I’m going to make sure Mama is here with us as soon as Ms. Autry says she can be. And, when she gets here, we’re going to have Christmas with her. No matter when it is, she’s got all those presents back at our house that she’ll have to open. And even if it’s summer, we’re going to Travis’s and we’re getting him to let us have a tree and we’re having Christmas again, just for her. Okay?”
Darcie smiled happily. “Okay!” she said, clapping her hands. Then she got somber. “What if they won’t let her come home?” she asked, her eyes getting teary.
“Then I’m going to bring her home. I’m going to go there, and I’m going to force everybody I see to do what I want, and I will bring her home.”
Darcie thought about it. Finally, she decided that she completely trusted Roman, and knew that he’d never lied to her. Everything he’d said had been the truth so far, and if necessary, she knew he’d go get her Mama. “Okay.”
“Ready to go play with Cristie and open presents?” Roman said.
“Yes, sir!” she said, her guilt for having a happy Christmas even though her mom wasn’t with her alleviated by the big man who’d happily become her new Daddy.
They walked the rest of the way up to the house and knocked lightly on the door before opening it and walking in. “We’re here!” Roman called out.
“Daarciee!!!” Cristie screamed from the kitchen before she could be heard running toward the living room. “Come see! We have gingerbread houses to make tonight!”
Darcie’s face lit up and she looked up at Roman. Though resilient and adapting, she never let Roman get too far from her for too long without going to search him out.
“I’m not leaving. I’ll be right here,” he assured her.
“Okay. I’m going to see,” she said, and ran out of the living room hand in hand with Cristie to go look at the makings of gingerbread houses they’d get to play with later.
Fifteen minutes later a knock sounded on the door and Lucas went to answer it. “Hey!” he said excitedly. “Wondered when ya’ll were coming home. Ya’ll come on in.”
Lucas stepped back from the door so that Base with Summer in his arms, Renata and Kaiser could come in. “Hey, Lucas. We got in yesterday. You been okay?” Base said, leading Renata by the hand.
“Oh yeah. Been good. You?” Lucas asked.
“Busy, man. Glad for the break for Christmas.”
“Is that Kaiser I hear?” Riley called out from the kitchen.
“Yes!” Kaiser yelled. “I’m back!” he said, pulling his hand loose from his mother’s and trying to run toward Riley’s voice.
“Be on your best behavior!” Renata warned.
“I’m always beinghaved,” he told her.
Everyone greeted Base and Renata warmly. He was a part of their Pride as well and all the males had helped him protect Renata and Kaiser when Kaiser’s