Chapter 11 - THE MORNING AFTER YESGrace woke on Christmas morning with a diamond on her finger and a seven-year-old sitting three inches from her face.
She opened one eye.
Chloe grinned.
Grace closed it again.
“No.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was breathing.”
“You breathe suspiciously.”
Chloe leaned closer.
“Are you married yet?”
Grace pulled the blanket over her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said yes approximately eight hours ago.”
“That seems slow.”
Grace laughed beneath the blanket.
From the kitchen came the unmistakable sound of something hitting the floor.
Then James said a word Grace was fairly certain billionaires were not supposed to say on Christmas morning.
She sat up.
“What was that?”
Chloe jumped from the bed.
“James is cooking!”
That sentence was alarming enough to get Grace moving.
She entered the kitchen and stopped.
James Whitmore stood beside the stove wearing gray sweatpants, a white T-shirt, and Grace’s pink floral apron.
Grace stared.
James looked down at himself.
“Don't.”
She folded her arms.
“I haven't said anything.”
“Your face has.”
Chloe climbed onto a chair.
“The apron says Kiss the Cook.”
Grace looked.
It did.
James immediately reached behind himself to untie it.
Grace caught his hand.
“No.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“No?”
“I suddenly like the apron.”
His gaze changed.
“Grace.”
She stepped closer.
“What?”
Chloe slapped both hands over her eyes.
“EW.”
Grace laughed and kissed James quickly.
Chloe peeked between her fingers.
“You cheated.”
James looked confused.
“At what?”
“You kissed her before breakfast.”
“I wasn't aware there were rules.”
“There are.”
Chloe produced a sheet of paper.
Grace stared.
“You made rules?”
“Last night.”
At the top, written in purple marker:
RULES FOR MOMMY MARRYING JAMES.
James took the paper.
“One: James cannot make Mommy cry.”
His smile faded slightly.
“Agreed.”
“Two: Mommy cannot yell at James too much.”
Grace protested.
“Excuse me?”
James nodded solemnly.
“Excellent rule.”
Grace elbowed him.
Chloe continued.
“Three: James has to come to school plays even if they are boring.”
“They're not boring,” Grace said.
James looked at her.
“You slept during the last one.”
“I was resting my eyes.”
“You snored.”
“I had allergies.”
Chloe ignored them.
“Four: Daddy is still Daddy.”
James became serious.
“Always.”
Chloe nodded.
“Five: I get to pick the wedding cake.”
Grace and James looked at each other.
“No,” they said simultaneously.
Chloe gasped.
“This marriage is already unhealthy.”
Grace nearly choked laughing.
The front door opened.
Daniel entered carrying presents and coffee.
“Merry—”
He stopped.
James was wearing the pink apron.
Grace was barefoot.
Chloe was holding marriage rules.
Daniel slowly backed toward the door.
“I can come back.”
“No,” Grace said.
James removed the apron immediately.
Daniel noticed.
A tiny smile appeared.
“Nice apron.”
James stared at him.
“Coffee.”
Daniel held up the tray.
“Peace offering.”
Chloe ran toward him.
“Daddy! Mommy is marrying James!”
Daniel looked at Grace.
She nodded.
For one second, something complicated crossed his face.
Not jealousy.
Not exactly.
Perhaps grief for a life he had destroyed himself.
Then it disappeared.
He hugged Grace.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
He turned toward James.
There was an awkward pause.
James extended his hand.
Daniel shook it.
“Take care of—”
Grace pointed at him.
Daniel stopped.
“Right. Sorry.”
James almost smiled.
Daniel corrected himself.
“Try not to annoy her.”
James looked at Grace.
“Impossible.”
Grace kicked his ankle.
Daniel laughed.
May you like
And for the first time, Christmas morning did not feel like Grace was trying to survive it.
It simply felt like Christmas.
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