Mark was awake early. It was Christmas Eve morning, and he was excited and anxious about the day. He wanted everything to go smoothly, but the weather might have other plans that he could not control.
As he lay in bed in the dim light, he could see Maya sleeping, curled up against Callie’s back. Mark smiled at his future family as he brushed a strand of hair from Callie’s face. She was so beautiful. She had always been, but now Mark appreciated it even more.
Mark smiled as he thought about the night before. It had not been the formal marriage proposal he had wanted to make, but he would gladly take it. He was also thrilled that Callie agreed to let him adopt Maya. Mark felt a peace he had never felt before as he lay in bed watching Callie and Maya sleep.
“Why are you lying there grinn
