Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“So sorry about that,” Lily apologizes as she sweeps into the room. “The FaceTime call with my mother took a little longer than expected.”
Amy and I both smile at her and tell her it’s no problem at all. With a look of relief, she joins us on the couch and starts cooing over Noah.
Honestly, I can’t believe I’m spending Christmas in Lucifer’s house of all places. When Johnathan originally explained the compound to me, I envisioned a prison-like setting, not this gorgeous, multimillion-dollar mansion. Granted, the mansion is surrounded by prison-like walls, a couple of guardhouses, and twenty-four hour patrols and surveillance, but it’s still gorgeous.
Lily has really outdone herself on the Christmas decorations. The entire room is decorated in white, silver, and gold, and under the ginormous Christmas tree are dozens of beautifully wrapped presents.
Lucifer walks into the room carrying their young son, David, with his two other children, Adam and Evelyn, following behind him. Like Abigail, Evelyn seems to greatly resemble her mother, but her features are softer and more child-like in appearance.
Lucifer walks towards Lily while both Adam and Evelyn breakaway and walk towards Charlie and Abigail.
Adam seems to be glaring daggers at Charlie and it sets me on edge a little.
Adam walks right up to where Charlie and Abigail are standing and glares down at their connected hands. For a moment, he looks so damn angry I’m afraid he’s going to do something.
“Adam!” Abigail squeals, a bright smile lighting up her face. She immediately drops Charlie’s hand and throws her arms around Adam.
The whole scene is kind of strange, and I’m not entirely sure what I’m witnessing. Adam seems to soften as Abigail hugs him, but I catch him shoot another glare in Charlie’s direction.
Is he jealous? Isn’t he a little young for that?
“Look what Charlie made for me,” Abigail says happily. She steps away from Adam and holds out the little blue flower Charlie built for her.
Adam takes one look at the flower, snatches it out of Abigail’s hand, and snaps it in half.
Abigail’s eyes widen in shock and her bottom lip trembles. She bursts into tears, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
I look up at Johnathan and we both share a ‘what the fuck’ look.
“What’s going on?” Amy asks, rising from the couch. I don’t think she witnessed what happened.
“Uh… Adam broke Abigail’s flower,” I supply.
“Adam,” Lily gasps angrily and stands. She marches over to Adam, who doesn’t appear at all contrite, and grabs him by the arm.
Leading Adam over towards the fireplace, I politely turn my attention away as she starts to lay into him.
Lucifer glances around the room, and then his gaze narrows in on Simon and Andrew who have been sitting on the other couch.
Andrew stands and heads over to comfort his crying daughter.
“Simon,” Lucifer grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he approaches him.
Simon stiffens and eyes Lucifer warily. “Yes?”
“Here,” Lucifer says, thrusting out David towards Simon. “Hold David for a moment while I have a talk with Adam.”
Simon looks at David, who looks to be about a year and a half old, and looks ready to bolt, but Lucifer doesn’t give him the chance. He gently drops David into Simon’s lap and walks off.
Little David is the spitting image of his father, and like Lucifer he’s almost painfully beautiful, even with the little bit of drool dripping down his chin.
Simon stares down at David with wide, horrified eyes and his face goes deathly pale as David’s little hands grab his white shirt and he begins to babble.
Behind me, Johnathan bursts out laughing and even Amy giggles.
“I think he likes you,” Johnathan says.
Simon glances up and shoots Johnathan a glare.
Little David, though, appears to be completely oblivious to Simon’s discomfort, babbling non-stop before he decides to try and shove one of the little fists gripping Simon’s shirt into his mouth.
“Good god,” Simon gasps, causing all of us to burst into another fit of laughter.
Simon grabs the little boy by the waist and holds him away from him. The two stare at each other, Simon at a loss of what to do and David drooling and smiling.
“It’s okay, Abigail,” Charlie says, drawing my attention back to him. He picks up the broken Lego flower and has it put back together in two seconds flat.
This seems to appease Abigail. She sniffles and smiles through her tears at him. “Thank you, Charlie.”
Charlie nods his head and blushes. He’s so sweet, and I’m so proud of him.
“Can you make me one, too?” Evelyn asks, looking hopefully at him.
“Sure,” Charlie smiles at her. “What color do you want?”
“Pink!” Evelyn declares and bounces with excitement.
“Uh… hello?” a soft, feminine voice calls out, drawing everyone’s attention.
I turn towards the sound to see a beautiful, dark-haired woman standing in the doorway.
Her eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the room and all the people gathered.