"We Three Kings of Orient are…” I sang my favorite Christmas song to myself and paused as I saw Olivia approaching me. She had a wide smile on her face, that showcased how happy and content she was.
"You look really happy, Lucy," she said as she stopped next to me. We both looked at the fireplace for a few seconds and then to the enormous Christmas tree on the other side of the room. There was stacks of glittering presents on the ground and I was excited for Christmas Day. “Why did you stop entertaining us?”
"Is that a code for my singing sucks and keep it quiet,” I teased her, laughing slightly as she shook her head.
"No, you know I've always thought you have an amazing voice." There’s a sincere look on her face and my heart warms. She really is the best friend a girl could ever ask for.
"Yeah, but we know that's not exactly true," I laughed. "I mean, you did tell me to apply for American Idol back in the day, even though we both know I can’t sing.”
"I know. I was only kidding you," she grinned. “You have a nice voice, but you’re not Carrie Underwood.” I laughed and then we both looked over at the rest of the family and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and squeezed.
"Can you believe that we are here right now?" I asked her as we stared at Austin and Beau. Sadie and Wyatt were dancing, and Arya and Chet were whispering something into each other's ears. Eloise was playing with Mrs. Hamilton and the three brothers were standing at the side with their dad, Ranger, drinking beers and talking about the snow that had come in earlier in the day.
"I just love it here," I said, taking a deep breath. "I really wish my mom could have spent Christmas here with us. I really wish she would've seen how happy I am."
"She's here with you, even though you can't see her," Olivia said softly gazing at me. "I know you miss her. I miss her too."
"She would've been surprised that I lived here in Montana," I said laughing, thinking about my mom and how she would have reacted knowing I’d made the move to such a remote place.
"I know. Even I'm surprised and I live here too, " Olivia smiled. “We got really lucky meeting the Hamilton brothers."
"I know, and just to think I almost married Beau."
"Well, you didn't really," she said, making a face. She didn’t like to think that the plan had initially been for me to marry her guy.
"That would've been weird though, wouldn't it?" I asked her.
"Yeah, because if you would've married Beau, then I would've married Austin and..."
"Oh no, you didn't," I said laughing. "You don't have your eyes on my man, do you?"
"Well, you don't have your eyes on my man, do you?" she said, and we both burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Austin said as he approached us. "Why'd you stop singing, Lucy, my darling?"
"Because I know I'm not the best singer in the world and I didn't want anyone's ears to burst."
"You know I love your voice," he said, and started clearing his throat to stop from snorting. "We can all sing Silent Night now if you want. It’s a family tradition.”
"Hey, everyone," Olivia called out to the room. "Austin wants to sing Silent Night for us."
"Well, I didn't say that," he said, quickly shaking his head. "I thought we could all sing it as a Christmas carol. What do you think, Eloise?"
"I would like that, Uncle Austin," she said. "Can I mommy?" She looked over at Arya, who beamed at her. Arya tapped her stomach that was ready to pop anytime now.
"I think we can all sing Silent Night," Arya said nodding. "Why don't you start us off, Chet?"
"Why me?" he said. "Mama, why don't you start?” Amelia beamed at all of us as she huddled us all close together.
"I think we can all start together," she said in her soft voice. Amelia was the matriarch of the family, the matriarch to end all matriarchs. She made everyone in the Hamilton residence feel at home, and I was so grateful that she was a second mother to me. She loved me and took me under her wing, and I couldn't imagine having a better mother-in-law.
"I love you," Austin said, whispering in my ear. I looked over at him with a surprised glance.
"Why are you whispering that to me, Austin? What have you done?"
"I haven't done anything," he said grinning, reaching over and kissing me on the cheek. "I just wanted to let you know how beautiful you are and how much I love you."
"Okay, what's going on?"
"What? A man can't love his best girl?"
"Yeah, and normally you save those sweet whispers of nothing until we hit the bedroom."
"What? Do you think I only tell you I love you when I want to get some?"
"No, but I do know that you do like to be more romantic when you want to get some."
"Are you saying I'm only with you for the sex, Lucy?"
"No," I laughed and looked over at Olivia who was grinning. "Don't eavesdrop, Olivia."
"What?" she looked at me innocently. "I can't help it. You guys are being so loud."
"What are they being so loud about?" Beau walked over and pulled Olivia into his arms. He gave her a big kiss on the lips. "I just needed to do that. I missed you."
"What do you mean you missed me? We've been in the same room for the last couple of hours?"
"Yes, but we haven't kissed," he said, "and when I don't get to kiss your sweet lips..."
"Okay, what's going on?" Olivia put her hands on her hips and looked over at me. "Why are you two acting so weird?"
"We're not acting weird," Austin said innocently.
"Hey, Sadie," Olivia shouted across the room, "Is Wyatt acting weird?"
"A little bit," she nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"Because Chet and Austin are acting weird too."
"What's going on, boys? Getting in trouble?” Flint looked over at us and burst out laughing. “And this is why I don't have a woman because-"
"Because no woman wants you," Wyatt said, and everyone started laughing. Flint glared at his brother, but I knew he was slightly sad that he was single. Even though the other brothers pretended that they were happy they hadn't found anyone yet, I knew they were slightly envious of Chet, Austin, Beau and Wyatt. There was something to be said for being in love. There is something to be said for starting a family. There is something to be said for having a loved one in your bed every night.
"Hey," I whispered over to Olivia, "Should we try and set Flint up?" She looked at me thoughtfully for a second. "I mean, we could try and find him a Christmas bride. What do you think?" I bit down on my lip and smiled.
"I think that would be awesome. Should we find one for Huck as well?" she asked, and I laughed.
"Well, why don't we try one single brother at a time?"
"What are you two whispering about?" Austin asked as he chugged from his beer. "Is there something I should be worried about?"
"You tell me, Austin darling. Is there something I should be worried about?"
"No." He paused, "Well, fine. Us brothers were hoping to go camping tonight," he said looking at me. "Do you mind?"
"Um, no," I said shaking my head. "Why would I mind?"
"I don't know. Because you might not want to sleep in the bed alone and you'll miss me." I looked over at Olivia.
"Can you believe this? That's why they're acting so lovey-dovey." Olivia burst out laughing.
"Guys, we love you, but we can do without you for one night."
"Yeah," Sadie said, "I am talking about a girl's night." Wyatt had a perturbed look on his face.
"What? You just going to let me go?"
"Honey, it's not like you're going to Vegas to hang out with strippers. You're just going camping with your brothers. Down by the river?"
"Yeah," he said nodding. Chet spoke up.
"Arya, if you don't want me to go because-"
"Oh, you can go. I'll hang out with the girls." Amelia shook her head.
"Oh, it's so funny to see my sons acting so nervous when we all know you guys have had this plan since last week." I grinned and so did Olivia. The guys looked flabbergasted.
"What? You guys knew?"
"Of course we knew," I said. "Your mom told us this is something you guys do every other year. You go on a big camping trip right before Christmas and you like to go hunting.
"And fishing," Olivia said.
"And you guys play poker,” Sadie said.
Arya spoke up, "And you like to eat a lot of jerky."
"Ooh," Eloise says, "I don't like jerky."
"Well, don't worry," Eloise. Chet said, bending down and giving her a kiss on the forehead. "You don't have to have any jerky. You can have jelly."
"I love jelly. Can I have strawberry jelly and grape jelly and...?"
Chet looked nervously over at Arya and mouthed, "I'm sorry." She shook her head and smiled.
"How's about you have jelly tomorrow, Eloise? You've already brushed your teeth tonight?"
"But daddy said I can have jelly." Eloise started to pelt and Arya grabbed her by the hand.
"Come on then let's go to the kitchen and see what we got." I looked over at Austin and stared at him for a couple of seconds.
"Did you really think I was going to be upset that you were going to go camping?"
"No," he said, "I don't know, maybe," he leaned forward and whispered into my ear, "or maybe I wanted you to ask me to stay." I looked into his eyes.
"What?"
"Maybe I wasn't worried that you would miss me. Maybe I was worried that I would miss you."
"You're going to miss me because of one night of camping? Don't you know how much I love you, Lucy? Ever since we met, we've never had a night apart. Well, I mean since we got together," he corrected himself.
"Yeah, because we had plenty of nights apart when we first met. I couldn't stand you."
"And I couldn't stand you either," he said, and we both laughed.
"I do love you, Austin, and I trust you, and I want you to have fun with your brothers, and of course I'm going to miss you. I always miss you when you're not there, but what's that saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder?"
"So you're saying me going camping is going to make you miss me more?"
"Well, I wouldn't say more, but," I paused, "maybe I'll get someone else to share the bed just so I don't."
"Very funny," he said pulling me into his arms and kissing me hard. "You are not having anyone else in the bed."
"Oh, yeah? What about when we have kids?" I asked him.
"Okay, well, when we have kids, you can have someone else in the bed," he grinned, "but then they get their own bed real quick because even though I'm going to love our kids, I'm still going to want you all to myself when I can."
"I know and you will," I said smiling up at him. "I love you, Austin Hamilton."
"I love you more, Lucy," he said, pulling on my hair. "You know what I want to do right now?" he said.
"Sing Silent Night?" I asked him with beguiling innocent eyes. I loved to tease him because he always reacted in the same lustful way.
"No," he said in the low voice, "I want to bend you over the bed, pull your panties down and fuck you so hard and fast that you will think about me all night long." I blushed at his words and he grinned. "Yeah, baby. Just because I'm a sweet and charming cowboy doesn't mean I don't know how to get down and dirty."
"Oh my gosh, I cannot believe you."
"What? You know you like to ride a cowboy like me."
"That's true," I said laughing. "I'll always love riding you, my gorgeous, wonderful cowboy."