Page 210 of The Other Omega

“A new light to you, my heart.” His arm came around my waist.

“Happy Christmas, darling.”

His thumb moved gently across my side as I leaned against him.

Breakfast took longer than usual. The girls were often more interested in the spoons than the food. Caius let Vaela chew on his finger while Leon held Seren against his shoulder and spoke quietly to her.

Once the plates had been cleared, I clapped my hands. “Right. Is everyone ready to open presents?”

They all looked at me.

“It’s Christmas morning. We have to.”

“Then we should proceed,” Alaric said.

Eira and I had put together gift baskets for Gilda, Ada, Livia and Titus, and I’d made one for Eira too. They included little cakes, tea, warm socks, garden salves, spices, and other things I’d chosen for each of them. I wanted everyone who’d helped make this place our home to have something. Now it was our turn to open ours.

We took the girls into the sitting room, spread blankets on the floor and set out plenty of cushions. Eira was spending the day with her own family, and I was glad she’d agreed. We had the morning to ourselves.

The tree lights shone across the rug. Under the branches sat the presents Eira and I had wrapped in paper we’d painted ourselves.

Before we started, I found two parcels Eira had left for us.

The first was for Vaela and Seren. It held a framed drawing she’d made of Ivy and Nora, laughing together with their arms linked, just as I remembered them on Earth. On the back, she’d written, For Vaela and Seren, so they will know their aunties.

My throat tightened as I passed it to my mates. They admired Eira’s drawing and the thought she’d put into it, then Leon carefully set it on the mantel until we could hang it in the nursery.

The other parcel was for me. Inside was a cream leather book filled with recipes Gilda, Ada and Eira had gathered from our time in the kitchen. Every recipe had photographs, measurements and Eira’s careful notes. Between the pages for the orange cakes, I found a little drawing of all four of us covered in flour.

Underneath, Gilda had written, We wanted you to have the recipes properly.

I ran my hand over the page, already looking forward to thanking them, then passed the book around. Lucien was impressed by how carefully they’d recorded everything. Leon suggested giving them a pay rise, and I happily agreed.

My mates gave the girls their presents first. There were soft bears almost as big as they were, wooden blocks, picture books, little knitted hats and two tiny silver charm bracelets. Lucien explained that we’d keep the bracelets safely put away until the girls were old enough to wear them.

The girls were much more interested in the wrapping paper. Seren crumpled a sheet between her hands, and Vaela tried to put a ribbon in her mouth before Caius gently took it away.

Leon had chosen a deep blue dress with a soft skirt for me. I held it against myself, already knowing I’d love wearing it. Alaric gave me a delicate silver necklace set with pale periwinkle stones. Lucien had put together a little book of botanical drawings from his collection, with pressed leaves and notes in his neat handwriting.

Caius gave me warm, lined boots, and Darius gave me a new pad filled with photographs of the girls, our home, Eira, the gardens, and all of us together.

I covered my face with my hands. “You’ve completely spoiled me.”

“That was the intention,” Leon said.

“Well, I approve.” I lowered my hands and reached for the gifts I’d prepared. “My turn.”

Alaric opened his first. Inside was a small silver brooch with a locket holding a miniature portrait. Eira had helped me commission it from a garden photo of me laughing at something outside the frame, with both girls in my arms.

“I know you don’t keep family pictures in your office or anywhere public,” I said. “But you’re sometimes away for days, doing frightening General things, and I thought you could wear this inside your jacket. Close to your heart.”

I touched the portrait. “Then we’ll be with you, even when you can’t come home.”

Alaric studied it, then carefully closed the locket.

“I will wear it, my heart.”

He kept it in his hand as I leaned over to kiss him.