Her Triplets' Mistletoe Dad

What exactly had he gotten himself into?

The paperwork was quickly dispatched, and the older lady had already emailed her snapshots to Gabby’s account. They thanked her, thanked the judge, and headed out of the office, all without once looking at each other. The ring felt funny on his hand, and he fiddled with it with his thumb.

“Congratulations!” the young couple next in line said in unison. They got up from the bench and moved toward the office. “How does it feel?” the woman asked.

“Great.” Gabby smiled and nodded. “Congrats to you, too.”

Did she really feel great about this? He eyed her uncertainly. The judged called the next names, and the young, pregnant couple disappeared into the office.

Gabby shot Seth an annoyed look when she noticed his scrutiny. “What?”

“How does it really feel?” he asked, his voice low.

“Weird.” She shrugged. “But a good weird. We’ll be okay.”

Seth sure hoped so. He’d done it for her, and for those three little babies. They were so small, and when they cried, his heart clenched in his chest like he was the one causing their distress. They’d reminded him of his own baby girl—Hazel Marie. She’d been too tiny to make it, but he’d had the opportunity to hold her, at least.

He pushed back the memory. He was doing this for those babies. They needed two things: food and their mother, and this time around, he was going to be able to protect a mother and her babies—make sure they had the long and healthy life that Bonnie and Hazel had deserved.

“I know I didn’t speak up when she called us Mr. and Mrs. Straight back there,” he said. Did he dare take that back? “It’s no pressure. I was just… I don’t know, acting the part for the audience, you know?”

“No, I get it.” She put a hand on his arm. “I was, too. But I think I’ll keep my own last name for now. It’s simpler. My sons have Rogers as their last name, so—”

“No, no, that’s perfectly fine.” A wave of relief crashed over him. His last name was something he could hold back for himself…for Bonnie. He looked down at Gabby again, and she gave him a tight smile.

What was with them? They’d known each other for decades, and here they were dancing around each other like painfully polite strangers, discussing what last name she’d have now that he’d married her. Gabby had always been the irreverent type, and here she was meeting him toe-to-toe with manners. He went over to the coatrack and took down their jackets.

“What do we tell people?” she asked, as she pulled her puffy, cream-colored coat around her shoulders. A few people passed them in the tall main entrance of the building, and Seth caught the smiles cast in their direction.

What would they tell people? Everyone had a “how we met” or even a proposal story, and people loved to hear it. But their story wasn’t exactly romantic, and that wasn’t going to go over well, was it?

“Well, uh…” Seth swallowed. “Why don’t we move you in to my place first, and then we can take some time to hammer out the details.”

“Something more palatable than we did this for health insurance?” she asked with a teasing smile. There she was—the old Gabby.

“Yeah, pretty much,” he agreed, and they exchanged a mildly amused smile. “We always did get ourselves into messes, didn’t we?”

And every single time, he’d been furious with her for dragging him along into trouble. A sparkle came into Gabby’s eyes, and he was gratified to see it.

“So we just…keep the secret for a bit?” she clarified.

“You okay with that?” he asked. “I mean, people will ask questions once you’ve moved in, but by then, I’m sure we’ll have something sorted out between us. I don’t want to look like I’m lying to my boss—I mean, our reasons for this marriage shouldn’t matter so much to our friends, but my reputation at work matters. If they thought I was scamming the system, or whatever—”

“No, I understand,” she said.

“United front, right?”

“United front.” She gave him a nod. “You sure you’ll be okay with three babies in your house? And me?”

“I’ll be fine.” He’d been prepared for one baby a couple years ago. He could stretch for three.

“I do appreciate this,” she said. “You have no idea, Seth. You’re a really good friend.”

Seth slid an arm around her shoulders, and for the first time today, some physical contact felt natural between them. He gave her a squeeze.

“Now that we have a marriage license, I’ll get you on my insurance right away. I’m sure we can scrape up enough money for the formula between now and when it kicks in.”

“I’m relieved.” Gabby put a hand against her chest and her gaze misted. “I’ve been alone in this, and I don’t think I even realized how worried I was until just now. I mean, to have the basics be almost out of reach… Milk! It shouldn’t bankrupt a woman, you know?”

“You’re not alone in this.” He dropped his arm and caught her hand in his. “It’s a burden shared, right? You’ve got me now.”

She nodded, and he felt a flood of relief, too. They would be okay. Gabby was a good person, and she didn’t deserve to be struggling on her own. Neither did those tiny boys. And for once, he was able to do something—fix something—and feel like he was making a bad situation better for someone he cared about.

They headed down the stairs to the main floor. As he held open the door for her, they were met by a rush of frigid air. It was snowing again—large flakes floating down in lazy pirouettes. Gabby pulled on a pair of gloves.

“How should we celebrate?” he asked.

“I wouldn’t mind a piece of cake,” Gabby said, glancing up at him. “To go, though. I miss my babies.”

Cake. Yeah, that was oddly appropriate. Years ago, they would go out for cake together—normally when Gabby was mourning a breakup from some unworthy boyfriend.

“Yeah, you bet.” Who was he to argue about what helped her feel better? As they turned down the street toward his truck, Seth spotted someone he knew ambling toward them. Heck, they both knew him, but what was he doing here on the one day Seth and Gabby needed a bit of privacy? He instinctively put a hand out to touch Gabby’s arm. But she’d seen him, too.

Taylor Shirk was dressed in a pair of jeans and a fleece-lined denim jacket. A cowboy hat was pushed back away from his face. They’d gone to high school with him, and they’d all known each other for years. He was staring at them with a look of shock on his face. Seth looked down at Gabby—she stood there with the bouquet in one gloved hand. She looked every inch a bride, even in a winter coat. They were in front of the courthouse, after all. He sighed.

“No way!” Taylor exclaimed as he approached. “Is this what it looks like?” Taylor glanced between them, then pointed at the bouquet. “Did you two just get married?”

So much for keeping a secret… Seth exchanged a helpless shrug with Gabby.

“We were hoping to keep it hush-hush for a little bit,” Gabby said with a grimace. “You don’t think you could keep a secret, do you?”

“Me? Yeah, of course!” Taylor laughed. “Wow. I mean, I had no idea you two were even an item. This is a total shock, I gotta tell you. How long were you hiding this relationship?”

“It’s new,” Seth said quickly. “We…uh—we just realized it was the right step, and we took it.”

Not a lie. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so hard, after all.

“Well, about time! Congratulations!” Taylor bent in and kissed Gabby’s cheek. “You, too, man. Really, from the bottom of my heart.”

Seth and Taylor shook hands, and Taylor belted out a laugh.

“But discretion, right?” Gabby pressed. “Taylor? I’m serious. Please.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course.” Taylor nodded enthusiastically. “You got it. I won’t hold you up! Enjoy that honeymoon, you two!”

Seth caught Gabby’s hand again and checked over his shoulder as Taylor went on his way. He was still laughing aloud, shaking his head as he wandered off down the street and then crossed to the other side, but he’d pulled his phone out of his back pocket and was typing into it. Seth tugged Gabby after him and they made their way to where his red pickup truck was parallel parked. Honeymoon. Yeah, technically, that was what this was, but it wouldn’t be like anyone else’s.

“He’s not keeping that secret,” Seth said, opening the passenger side door for her. Taylor Shirk was a good guy, but he was a talker, and he was probably texting the news now. The town of Eagle’s Rest, Colorado, was about to be react.

“I know. I don’t think we’re getting the luxury of time here.”

Seth waited until she’d hopped up into the cab, then slammed her door shut and angled around the truck and got in. The engine hadn’t cooled off all the way, so the air that pumped into the cab as he started it was warm already. Seth looked over at Gabby. Her blond hair was tousled from the winter wind, and her cheeks were pink from the cold. On her left hand was the faint glimmer of that golden wedding band… His mouth went dry.

“What will people say?” Gabby asked after a moment.

“I guess we’re about to find out.” Seth tried to smile. “We’re about to be the talk of the town, Gabs.”

“I’d better tell Mom before she hears it from someone else,” Gabby said, and her expression turned grim. “I just need some time to think up our story. Something that sounds less…pragmatic. We don’t want to be charged with insurance fraud.”

He definitely didn’t want that! But this was a real marriage—maybe a convenient one, but they’d be living together, raising three kids together… How much more real did it get?

“Should we swing by today and tell your mother ourselves?” he asked.

“No. She’s working a double shift at the restaurant, anyway. Tomorrow morning is soon enough.”

“Right.” Seth fiddled with the back of his ring once more with his thumb. It was time to get home and face their new reality.

CHAPTER TWO

THE DRIVE FROM Benton to Eagle’s Rest was a quiet one. As Gabby stretched her legs out to feel the heat from the vents, Seth put on the radio to fill the silence. A few honky-tonk Christmas tunes about unrequited love were on various stations. She’d never been a fan of heartbreaking songs, but today they seemed more personal. She’d gotten married today, but she wasn’t in love with her husband.

“Could you change the station?” she said.

“Sure.” Seth flicked the station to an equally depressing song. He stuck it on a talk radio station and Gabby sighed. It was an improvement at least. Seth’s broad hand rested on the top of the steering wheel, and he looked about as somber as she felt.

Gabby turned away from Seth, staring the window at the snow-laden farmland. She was thinking about her babies, and about this legally binding step she’d just taken. While a woman could do far worse than Seth Straight, with his rugged good looks and his strong sense of personal ethics, she felt a wave of misgiving. She had terrible luck with men—and at the age of thirty, she could accept that her “luck” was rooted in her decision-making. She chose the wrong guys again and again. Whenever she followed her heart, it brought more pain. Her heart needed to stay out of this.

Seth had made better choices in his own life. His wife had been a saint. She really was perfect for him, even if she’d never trusted Gabby. Gabby, of all people, wasn’t a threat to their marriage. She and Seth had never felt more than friendship for each other, but she could understand a woman protecting her turf. All the same, Seth had loved Bonnie deeply. It had been the kind of connection that people envied, including Gabby. If she could find a guy who looked at her like Seth had looked at Bonnie, she’d never complain again—as long as he was legitimately single. Sad that she now had to add that qualifier to her list. But Gabby had been taken advantage of one too many times, and while Seth wasn’t the type to treat her shabbily, she had an even bigger reason to keep herself in control of her emotions. Her new husband was still in love with his late wife. Gabby was willing to accept this arrangement for what it was—a convenience—but she wouldn’t hope for anything more. This was a favor, nothing else.

Gabby looked down at her wedding ring. It was just a simple band, but it was already taking on meaning. It certainly would to everyone else. They’d all expect a passionate love story, and Gabby wasn’t going to be able to deliver. How was she supposed to play this? Would their natural friendship look romantic enough to a casual observer? Would they have to amp up their physical contact in order to look the part? All things she should have thought through already, but she hadn’t had the time. Her boys were her priority, and they needed their specialty formula. Plus who knew what other medical help might be necessary down the road with premature triplets.

They arrived in Eagle’s Rest in the late afternoon and headed to the south side of town, where Gabby’s aunt Bea lived. Bea was her mother’s aunt, so unlike Ted, she was legitimate family. Small, boxy houses built in the sixties, with large yards and mature trees, ran up and down the street, and her aunt’s house was second from the end. Most of the houses had Christmas decorations on their lawns—inflatable Santas, lights on the trees, wreaths on doors… The snow had stopped and watery winter sunlight filtered through the overhanging boughs of the trees. Gabby fiddled with the roses in her lap, then looked down at them.

“What do I do with my bouquet?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Seth said. “Were you wanting to throw it or something?”

“No.” Gabby sighed. “I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it.”

“Bring it back with us. Stick it in a vase.”

He sounded so sure of himself that it actually sounded like a logical plan, as if that was what anyone would do with a bouquet after a secret wedding—stick it in the center of the kitchen table. But why not?

“Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll do that.”

Throwing it away seemed wrong, and tossing it over her shoulder wasn’t even a possibility.

“This doesn’t have to be complicated,” Seth said. “Keep it simple—isn’t that what we said?”

Yes, that was exactly what they’d said, but that was before she’d said vows for the first time in her life…before she’d realized that this was her first marriage, and even if she annulled it right now, it would always be her first marriage. Her heart ached in a strange way. She wasn’t sad, exactly, just overwhelmed by it all, and the only thing that would make her feel better was to pick up her babies and hold them close.

Bea Thibodaux’s little white house had a towering oak tree out front that dwarfed the structure but gave some beautiful dappled shade for the summertime. Seth pulled into her driveway and turned off the engine.

“Are you coming in with me?” Gabby asked.

“Do you want me to?” He looked over at her uncertainly.

“You might as well,” she said. “But mess up your hair, or something. You look too formal and wedding-ish.”

Seth chuckled softly. “I’m not the one dressed in white.”

Gabby shot him a smile. “It’s cream.”

“Same diff.”

“Let’s just try to get in and out without the neighbors asking too many questions.”

“You give them too much credit,” Seth shot back. “They won’t ask us, they’ll go ask your aunt once we’re gone.”

He had a point, and she shook her head. “I guess we can’t help that. And we’ll start telling people soon enough… Let’s go in. I miss my boys.”

She pushed open the door and hopped out of the truck. One of her aunt’s neighbors came out the side door of her house with a snow shovel at the same time and shot Gabby a curious look.

“Hi,” Gabby called casually, and headed toward her aunt’s place as if she’d just gotten back from a coffee or something. The neighbor raised her hand in a wave, but didn’t stop watching Gabby. Seth followed a moment later, and Gabby was relieved to see that he’d left the string tie behind and seemed to have dug out an older, more beaten up cowboy hat. Now he just looked like a really well-dressed cowboy. Hopefully, the neighbors would assume he was a date.

Aunt Bea pulled open the front door before Gabby even had a chance to knock, and the older woman looked immediately at Gabby’s left hand, then over at Seth’s.

“So you did it,” Bea said, stepping back. “Come in, then.”

Before they’d left that morning, Gabby had told her aunt the plan and sworn her to secrecy. Bea hadn’t liked it, but she hadn’t tried to stop them, either.

Gabby headed for the car seats where the babies were all lined up and asleep. Andy was sleeping with his tongue sticking out, and Beau and Aiden were turned toward each other in the car seats, breathing in unison. Gabby squatted down in front of them and reached out to touch their tiny feet.

“Mommy’s back,” she whispered.

“I just put them down after diaper changes,” Bea said. “So they should be dry. Except for Andy. He wets his diaper the minute I put a new one on… Lucky he doesn’t seem to mind being wet, unlike Beau.”

“Thanks, Auntie,” Gabby said, reaching for Andy. “I appreciate it.”

She put a hand under Andy’s little rump and the other under his downy head and scooped him up. He settled with a sigh against her chest, and she felt the tension seeping out of her. This was what she needed—to hold her babies.

“So you’re going ahead with the plan to move into Seth’s house?” Bea asked.

“Yes,” Gabby said.

“Well, I expect we can put Seth to work, then,” Bea said, turning toward him. “Can you start carrying out some baby things? I’ve got it all ready to go by the side door.”

“Sure.” Seth looked relieved to have something to do. “I’ll load everything up.”

“Auntie, we’re not telling people yet,” Gabby added.

“Oh.” Bea nodded. “Not even your mother?”

“I will tell her—tomorrow, though. I want a bit of time to think it out before I do.”

“She’s your mom,” Bea replied. “I don’t know why there’s any explanation necessary besides the actual truth. She’ll understand that you need to provide for your children. She knows what it means to be a single mother, after all.”

“No, she’ll feel like she let me down,” Gabby said. “And I don’t want her to think that.”

Gabby’s mother, Carol, had helped her get through college and earn her diploma to be a medical office assistant, and then Carol had lost a few jobs, one after another. None of it was her fault—just the fluctuating economy. She’d gotten into debt, and there was no way she could help Gabby pay for that expensive formula now. Gabby knew her mother would feel terrible if she found out that Gabby was marrying Seth only for health insurance.

“We just need some time to sort out our stuff,” Gabby said. “But we were spotted in Benton by Taylor Shirk, so it probably won’t stay a secret for long.”

“I’ll let you be the one to tell her,” Bea said, and as Seth picked up a couple garbage bags filled with clothes and linens, the older woman added, “Welcome to the family, Seth.”

Seth shot Gabby a half smile, then nodded to her aunt. “Thanks. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of these boys.”

“And Gabby, too, I hope,” Bea shot back.

“Most definitely.”

The warmth in his eyes, the private smile he cast in Gabby’s direction, and the way his muscles flexed as he hoisted the first bags—they were a combination that made it easy to pretend this marriage was something it wasn’t.

The screen door banged shut as Seth disappeared outside, and Gabby looked at her aunt with eyebrows raised.

“You’ve got your privacy now,” Gabby said. “What’s on your mind?”

“What’s on yours?” Bea quipped, and she reached for Gabby’s hand, looking down at the wedding ring. “Why did you do this?”

“You know why.” Gabby felt the tears rising up inside her. She was tired. She had missed her babies, and she really wasn’t in the mood to argue about something that was already done.

“I thought you’d come to your senses before you actually went through with it,” Bea said.

“Auntie, could you afford that formula for the long term?” Gabby demanded.

“No, but the church could have taken up a special offering—”

“No!” Then Gabby lowered her voice, because Beau and Aiden squirmed in their car seats. “Auntie, I’m not a charity. And I’m not going to be waiting on church collections to feed my children. Besides, I don’t want them growing up with the stigma of how they came into this world.”

“But you’ve married a man you don’t love.”

Gabby looked out the front window to where Seth was tossing the bags into the bed of the pickup. “Yes, I have. Look, he and I are good friends. We have been for years. We understand each other.”

“How long will you stay married?” Bea asked. “Is this truly until death do you part?”

“I don’t know. We’ll see, I guess. There are no false expectations here.”

“No?” Bea paced the living room, then turned back. “This is marriage. It isn’t supposed to be the sort of thing you take a day at a time!”

“I know.” Gabby rubbed a hand over her face. “Trust me, I’m aware. I’m not a child anymore, Bea. I’m thirty.”

The door opened again and the women fell silent as Seth grabbed a folded playpen in one hand and a baby swing in the other. He met Gabby’s gaze, then turned back to the door and disappeared outside once more. Bea pushed it shut behind him.

“There’s no point in arguing about it,” Bea said, adjusting her tone. She reached out and touched the back of her finger to Andy’s cheek where he lay snuggled on Gabby’s chest. “But I feel like I should at least warn you.”

“Of what?” Gabby asked tiredly.

“You’re playing with fire, dear. Those vows—they’re no joke. When you vow to belong to a man as long as you live, whether you mean it or not, it joins you to him in a way you don’t understand yet. It’s not just business. It can’t be.”

“Well, it’s too late now,” Gabby said with a bitter laugh.

“You have to know that I wish you only happiness,” her aunt replied earnestly. “All I can say is that you’re in for the ride of your life.”

Of that, Gabby was absolutely certain, but whether it would be exhilarating or a wild regret, she wasn’t sure. Still, her boys would be fed, and they’d have doctor’s visits and medicine if they needed it. And that was what mattered. She’d deal with the fallout later.

“Thank you, Auntie,” Gabby said quietly. “Cross your fingers for me, or say a prayer for me, but for crying out loud, don’t tell your church my business, okay?”

Bea smiled wryly. “Wouldn’t dream of it, dear. But the prayer chain is very discreet if you change your mind.”

“Auntie!” Gabby caught the teasing glint in her aunt’s eye. “I’m not going to tell anyone about the health insurance. You’ve got to keep my secret, okay? I don’t want Seth getting charged for insurance fraud or something like that. We can’t afford those legal fees. Besides, it’ll only hurt Mom if she knew. So I’m asking for a huge favor—keep my secret.”

Bea nodded. “I can do that. But just know, secrets have a way of coming out, anyway.”

“I’ll take that risk.”

The side door opened again and Seth poked his head in.

“So how are we going to do this?” Seth asked.

“I’ve got the car seat bases in the back of my car,” Gabby said. “And I think I’m ready.” She gave her aunt an appreciative smile. “Thanks for everything, Auntie. I’ll call you, okay?”

Bea nodded. “And if you need someone to mind the babies while your mom is working, I’m here.”

Gabby leaned over and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I intend to take you up on that.”

THE ROSS RANCH was about forty minutes outside of Eagle’s Rest, out of the mountains and down in the snowy foothills. Seth was the ranch manager, and his little cottage was just up the road from the ranch hands’ bunkhouse and canteen. As he drove past the main house and around the bend, he came to another cottage—what used to be an in-law arrangement, from what he understood. This was where Billy Austin lived—a ranch hand and a good friend.