Forbidden Christmas

CHAPTER 19: Christmas Morning

Maya's Pov

I woke up to someone jumping on my bed. Again.

"Merry Christmas! Get up, get up, get up!"

Sophie was worse than a five-year-old on Christmas morning. She wore pajamas with reindeer on them and a Santa hat that kept sliding off her head.

"What time is it?" I groaned.

"Seven. Come on, we open presents at seven thirty. Family tradition. No exceptions."

She bounced out of my room, leaving me alone with my messy hair and complete lack of holiday cheer at this ungodly hour.

I dragged myself out of bed and threw on the matching pajamas Sophie had given everyone last night. Red and green plaid. Ridiculous but comfortable.

Downstairs, chaos. Sophie was organizing presents into piles. Catherine made coffee in the kitchen, looking far too put together for seven in the morning. Jason sat on the couch already on his phone. Melissa complained about the early hour.

And Derek stood by the Christmas tree, his hair sticking up in the back, wearing his matching pajamas. He looked tired. Adorable. Completely unfair.

His eyes found mine across the room. He smiled.

My stomach did that stupid flip thing it always did.

"Okay, everyone sit!" Sophie commanded. "Maya, you're here between me and Dad. Mom, you're on the other couch with Melissa and Jason."

I sat where directed. Derek sat next to me, close enough that our arms touched. Neither of us moved away.

Sophie started distributing presents with elaborate ceremony. Each gift came with a story or a memory. This sweater was from the year she was ten. This ornament was from their first Christmas in the estate.

I watched Derek's face as Sophie handed him gifts. The way he listened to every story. The way he smiled at the memories. The way he looked at his daughter with such obvious love.

This was what I'd fallen for. Not just the attraction. Not just the forbidden element. But this. His capacity to love deeply. His patience. His presence.

"Maya, this one's for you." Sophie handed me a wrapped box. "From Dad."

Everyone looked at Derek. Then at me. The room got very quiet.

"You got her a present?" Catherine asked, amused.

"She's staying in my house for Christmas. Of course I got her a present."

I unwrapped it carefully. Inside was a wooden bookmark, smooth and perfect, with my name carved in beautiful script along one edge.

My breath caught. This was the one Sophie had seen weeks ago. The one he'd been making in secret.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"He's been working on that forever," Sophie said. "I knew it was for someone. I just didn't know it was you."

"Do you like it?" Derek asked quietly.

"I love it."

Our eyes held. The room disappeared. Just us and this moment and this gift that meant so much more than a bookmark.

"Okay, gross. Stop making eyes at each other," Sophie said. "Dad, here's yours from me."

She handed him a large flat package. Derek opened it and went completely still.

It was a framed blueprint. But not just any blueprint. His first design from architecture school. The one he'd told me about during one of our late night talks. The one he thought was lost.

"Sophie, where did you find this?"

"Mom helped. We tracked down your old professor. He had it in his files." Sophie was beaming. "I know how much you loved that design. How proud you were of it."

Derek's eyes filled with tears. He pulled Sophie into a tight hug. "Thank you, sweetheart. This is perfect."

Catherine watched them with soft eyes. Whatever else had happened between them, they'd created this. This beautiful, thoughtful daughter. That had to count for something.

Present opening continued. Jason got expensive tech stuff. Melissa got designer accessories. Catherine got a spa package from Sophie. Everyone was happy.

Except I kept thinking about the bookmark in my hands. About the hours Derek must have spent carving my name. About what that meant.

After presents, Catherine announced she was making breakfast. Sophie helped. Jason disappeared with his new gadgets. Melissa went to shower.

Leaving Derek and me alone in the living room, surrounded by wrapping paper and ribbons and the smell of pine.

"Thank you," I said, holding up the bookmark. "For this. For making something so beautiful."

"I started it weeks ago. Before we even talked about our feelings. I just wanted to make something for you."

"Why?"

"Because I couldn't stop thinking about you. Because making it gave me an excuse to think about you more. Because I'm pathetic."

"You're not pathetic."

"I carved your name in wood, Maya. That's pretty pathetic."

"I think it's romantic."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Derek looked toward the kitchen, checking if anyone was watching. Then he reached over and took my hand, threading our fingers together.

"Merry Christmas," he said.

"Merry Christmas."

We sat there holding hands like teenagers, both grinning like idiots.

"Dad! Maya! Breakfast!" Sophie called.

We let go quickly and stood up. Derek caught my hand one more time, pulling me back.

"Tonight," he said quietly. "After everyone goes to bed. Meet me in the workshop?"

"Sophie said no sneaking around."

"I'm not sneaking. I'm inviting you to my workspace. There's a difference."

"That's sneaking."

"It's Christmas. I want to spend time with you without an audience. Is that so wrong?"

I looked at his face. Hopeful. Vulnerable. Completely irresistible.

"What time?"

"Eleven?"

"Okay."

His smile could have lit the entire house.

Breakfast was loud and chaotic. Sophie told embarrassing stories about Derek as a dad. Catherine added embarrassing stories about Derek as a husband. Derek defended himself poorly while everyone laughed.

I watched the dynamic. The easy way Catherine and Derek interacted now. The way Sophie bounced between them, clearly happy to have both parents in one place. The way it all worked despite the history.

"What are you thinking?" Derek asked quietly while Sophie and Catherine argued about whose turn it was to do dishes.

"That your family is interesting."

"That's one word for it."

"No, I mean it. You all love each other even though it's complicated. Even though Catherine left. Even though things are weird now. You still show up for each other."

"Is that good or bad?"

"It's good. It's really good." I paused. "My family doesn't do that. We just avoid each other and pretend everything's fine."

"You have us now. If you want."

The offer hung between us. Heavy. Important.

"I want."

Derek's hand found mine under the table, hidden from view. A secret touch. A promise.

The day passed in a blur of food and movies and games. Sophie insisted we all watch Christmas classics. Catherine told stories. Jason actually participated in conversations. Melissa was almost pleasant.

And Derek and I stole moments. A brush of hands passing in the hallway. Eye contact across the room. Secret smiles.

By ten thirty, everyone was exhausted. Sophie yawned through the end of the movie. Catherine announced she was going to bed. Jason and Melissa followed.

"I'm staying up," Sophie declared. "We're not done celebrating yet."

My heart sank. There went the plan to meet Derek.

But Sophie's eyes were already closing. By ten forty-five, she was asleep on the couch, her head on Catherine's shoulder.

"I've got her," Derek said softly, lifting Sophie carefully.

He carried her upstairs while Catherine smiled at me knowingly.

"He's good at that," she said. "Being a dad. Being present. It's what I loved most about him."

"Why did you leave?" The question came out before I could stop it.

Catherine didn't seem offended. "Because I confused stability with boredom. Because I thought excitement mattered more than showing up. I was wrong." She stood. "Don't make my mistake, Maya. Don't take him for granted. He's one of the good ones."

After she went upstairs, I sat alone in the living room, the Christmas tree lights twinkling, the bookmark in my hand.

My phone buzzed.

Derek: "Workshop. Now. Everyone's asleep."

I stood up, my heart racing.

This was it. Our first real moment alone on Christmas.

I grabbed my coat and slipped out the back door into the cold night, the bookmark still clutched in my hand like a talisman.

Whatever happened in that workshop tonight, I knew one thing for certain.

I was completely in love with Derek Hayes.

And I was done pretending otherwise.