Claim
Page 130
He had chuckled and given her a kiss. “No doubt about it, darling.”
As it turned out, they had been spared the task of interviewing potential candidates for the position after Simon had suggested his nephew’s wife for the job. Nolan, his nephew, had moved to San Francisco over the summer and was due to start law school in the fall. His wife of less than a year - a delightful girl named Zoe whom he’d met during a college semester abroad in Ireland - was a trained nanny, and eager to find a permanent position. With her wild red curls, masses of freckles, and infectious smile, Tessa had taken an instant liking to the personable Zoe. And it had taken Tessa less than a day to realize exactly how helpful the young nanny was going to be. During the last few weeks of carrying the twins, Tessa had been far more tired than with her other two pregnancies, and had been tremendously grateful she’d had Zoe to rely on.
Nolan and Zoe were living in Simon’s house, since he and Anna had married over a year ago and lived in her house across the street. Simon still worked as Ian’s chauffeur, of course, claiming he wasn’t anywhere near ready to retire, and was so devoted to the children that people often assumed he was their grandfather. He had driven Tessa and the children to the party this afternoon, helping her to transport them inside the hotel, and Anna was due to rendezvous with him here after doing some holiday shopping.
Ian tended to delegate more of his workload these days so that he could spend additional time at home with his family, and often worked out of his home office. His business trips were infrequent, and when he did have to visit some of the hotels, Tessa and the children nearly always accompanied him.
Tessa lifted Adam out of the stroller and handed him off to Ian, then picked Ashley up, cuddling her baby girl against her tightly. She pressed her nose against the baby’s soft cheek, inhaling her scent.
“I wish they would stay this little forever,” she told Ian wistfully. “I love that special scent babies have.”
Ian waggled a finger at her. “Don’t get that hopeful note in your voice, Tessa,” he warned. “Enjoy the twins while they’re this young, because we already agreed no more babies after this.”
“I know.” She sighed, brushing her knuckles over Ashley’s cheek. “But they’re all growing up so fast, Ian. Our Gilly is already four, and in pre-school. Next year at this time our baby will be in kindergarten. I can’t believe it sometimes.”
Ian tickled Adam’s chubby belly, grinning when his son chortled in glee. “You can’t freeze time, love,” he reminded her. “Which is why it’s so important to cherish every day we have together. Now, come. I can tell that Gilly and Liam are getting impatient for the festivities to begin.”
The annual tree-lighting ceremony at the hotel was something Tessa looked forward to every year, and especially since her children were now old enough to fully enjoy it all. Aside from the official lighting of the tree, there were games for the youngsters - organized by hotel employees who’d volunteered to dress up as Santa’s helpers - all manner of food and drink to sample, small gifts for the children, holiday music played by a jazz quartet, the opportunity to pose for professional photos in front of the tree, and a visit from Santa Claus himself.
Gilly tugged urgently at Ian’s free hand. “Daddy, can I help you light the tree this year?” she pleaded.
Liam pulled on the hem of Ian’s jacket, since his father was holding Adam in his other arm. “No, Daddy. I want to help.”
Ian, always the diplomat, pronounced that both children could help him flip the switch that would light the tree. And even though he and Gilly still shared that special bond, with Gilly being more of a Daddy’s girl than ever, Ian showered all of his children with attention equally.
Simon held out his arms for a squirming Adam. “Let me take young Adam from you, sir,” he offered. “He and Miss Ashley are a bit too young to be helping you light the tree this year.”
Ian handed his younger son into Simon’s waiting arms. “Careful with this one, mate,” he teased. “I’m not looking forward to the day he starts walking, that’s for sure. I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be a handful.”
Adam went to Simon happily, laughing when the chauffeur bounced him up and down. Tessa smiled fondly at her son, thinking briefly that all four of her children seemed to be developing very distinct personalities of their own.
Gilly, her oldest, was as sweet and placid as ever, and had been a great help to Tessa with the younger children. At four and a half, she prided herself on being the big sister, and though she couldn’t do things like change diapers or fix meals, she helped with little tasks like fetching a toy for Ashley, or feeding Adam a spoonful of cereal, or bringing Tessa a blanket. She was bright and curious, already knowing how to read, write, and do some basic math. The very posh pre-school she attended also offered classes in French, art, music, and cooking, and Gilly had made friends there easily. The pre-school was attached to an elementary school for grades kindergarten through eighth grade, and she would transition there in September of the coming year.
Liam, who both looked and seemed older than his two and a half years, was a serious, studious boy, and so advanced for his age that it rattled Tessa at times. He was nearly as tall as Gilly, sturdy and agile at the same time, and already knew all the letters of the alphabet and numbers up through twenty. He asked questions frequently, learned new things at an astonishing rate, and was by far the most independent of her children. Liam was first and foremost a little boy, however, and also loved to cuddle with his mummy for afternoon story time, and shrieked with happy laughter when his daddy played soccer with him in the backyard or helped him master his tricycle.
As for the twins, Adam and Ashley were as different as night and day, and not just in their coloring. Adam had a sunny, bubbly personality, and would happily go to most anyone, while Ashley was quiet and shy, and rarely let anyone except her parents or Zoe hold her. Tessa was a little worried about how clingy the baby was, but their pediatrician had assured her it was perfectly normal, and that Ashley would likely outgrow her reticence among strangers before too long.
For now, though, Tessa cuddled her little girl close, pressing a kiss to her rosy cheek, and smoothing back tendrils of pale blonde hair. She’d dressed all four of the children up for the occasion, knowing that they would be taking a family holiday portrait in front of the Christmas tree this evening, and wanting everyone to look their best. In addition to being framed and hung alongside the dozens of other photographs that already filled the walls of the house, tonight’s photo would also grace their holiday greeting cards.
As it turned out, they had been spared the task of interviewing potential candidates for the position after Simon had suggested his nephew’s wife for the job. Nolan, his nephew, had moved to San Francisco over the summer and was due to start law school in the fall. His wife of less than a year - a delightful girl named Zoe whom he’d met during a college semester abroad in Ireland - was a trained nanny, and eager to find a permanent position. With her wild red curls, masses of freckles, and infectious smile, Tessa had taken an instant liking to the personable Zoe. And it had taken Tessa less than a day to realize exactly how helpful the young nanny was going to be. During the last few weeks of carrying the twins, Tessa had been far more tired than with her other two pregnancies, and had been tremendously grateful she’d had Zoe to rely on.
Nolan and Zoe were living in Simon’s house, since he and Anna had married over a year ago and lived in her house across the street. Simon still worked as Ian’s chauffeur, of course, claiming he wasn’t anywhere near ready to retire, and was so devoted to the children that people often assumed he was their grandfather. He had driven Tessa and the children to the party this afternoon, helping her to transport them inside the hotel, and Anna was due to rendezvous with him here after doing some holiday shopping.
Ian tended to delegate more of his workload these days so that he could spend additional time at home with his family, and often worked out of his home office. His business trips were infrequent, and when he did have to visit some of the hotels, Tessa and the children nearly always accompanied him.
Tessa lifted Adam out of the stroller and handed him off to Ian, then picked Ashley up, cuddling her baby girl against her tightly. She pressed her nose against the baby’s soft cheek, inhaling her scent.
“I wish they would stay this little forever,” she told Ian wistfully. “I love that special scent babies have.”
Ian waggled a finger at her. “Don’t get that hopeful note in your voice, Tessa,” he warned. “Enjoy the twins while they’re this young, because we already agreed no more babies after this.”
“I know.” She sighed, brushing her knuckles over Ashley’s cheek. “But they’re all growing up so fast, Ian. Our Gilly is already four, and in pre-school. Next year at this time our baby will be in kindergarten. I can’t believe it sometimes.”
Ian tickled Adam’s chubby belly, grinning when his son chortled in glee. “You can’t freeze time, love,” he reminded her. “Which is why it’s so important to cherish every day we have together. Now, come. I can tell that Gilly and Liam are getting impatient for the festivities to begin.”
The annual tree-lighting ceremony at the hotel was something Tessa looked forward to every year, and especially since her children were now old enough to fully enjoy it all. Aside from the official lighting of the tree, there were games for the youngsters - organized by hotel employees who’d volunteered to dress up as Santa’s helpers - all manner of food and drink to sample, small gifts for the children, holiday music played by a jazz quartet, the opportunity to pose for professional photos in front of the tree, and a visit from Santa Claus himself.
Gilly tugged urgently at Ian’s free hand. “Daddy, can I help you light the tree this year?” she pleaded.
Liam pulled on the hem of Ian’s jacket, since his father was holding Adam in his other arm. “No, Daddy. I want to help.”
Ian, always the diplomat, pronounced that both children could help him flip the switch that would light the tree. And even though he and Gilly still shared that special bond, with Gilly being more of a Daddy’s girl than ever, Ian showered all of his children with attention equally.
Simon held out his arms for a squirming Adam. “Let me take young Adam from you, sir,” he offered. “He and Miss Ashley are a bit too young to be helping you light the tree this year.”
Ian handed his younger son into Simon’s waiting arms. “Careful with this one, mate,” he teased. “I’m not looking forward to the day he starts walking, that’s for sure. I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be a handful.”
Adam went to Simon happily, laughing when the chauffeur bounced him up and down. Tessa smiled fondly at her son, thinking briefly that all four of her children seemed to be developing very distinct personalities of their own.
Gilly, her oldest, was as sweet and placid as ever, and had been a great help to Tessa with the younger children. At four and a half, she prided herself on being the big sister, and though she couldn’t do things like change diapers or fix meals, she helped with little tasks like fetching a toy for Ashley, or feeding Adam a spoonful of cereal, or bringing Tessa a blanket. She was bright and curious, already knowing how to read, write, and do some basic math. The very posh pre-school she attended also offered classes in French, art, music, and cooking, and Gilly had made friends there easily. The pre-school was attached to an elementary school for grades kindergarten through eighth grade, and she would transition there in September of the coming year.
Liam, who both looked and seemed older than his two and a half years, was a serious, studious boy, and so advanced for his age that it rattled Tessa at times. He was nearly as tall as Gilly, sturdy and agile at the same time, and already knew all the letters of the alphabet and numbers up through twenty. He asked questions frequently, learned new things at an astonishing rate, and was by far the most independent of her children. Liam was first and foremost a little boy, however, and also loved to cuddle with his mummy for afternoon story time, and shrieked with happy laughter when his daddy played soccer with him in the backyard or helped him master his tricycle.
As for the twins, Adam and Ashley were as different as night and day, and not just in their coloring. Adam had a sunny, bubbly personality, and would happily go to most anyone, while Ashley was quiet and shy, and rarely let anyone except her parents or Zoe hold her. Tessa was a little worried about how clingy the baby was, but their pediatrician had assured her it was perfectly normal, and that Ashley would likely outgrow her reticence among strangers before too long.
For now, though, Tessa cuddled her little girl close, pressing a kiss to her rosy cheek, and smoothing back tendrils of pale blonde hair. She’d dressed all four of the children up for the occasion, knowing that they would be taking a family holiday portrait in front of the Christmas tree this evening, and wanting everyone to look their best. In addition to being framed and hung alongside the dozens of other photographs that already filled the walls of the house, tonight’s photo would also grace their holiday greeting cards.
