Christmas in Texas by Rebecca Winters, Tina Leonard

tissue poking
out the top. “This is from Aunt Mathilda. She said she’ll be by in a little
while to visit. Be prepared, I think she’s planning a shower for you. You caught
her by surprise by giving birth a little earlier than everyone expected. It’ll
be a Christmas baby shower now.”
    “That’s so sweet.” Capri felt overwhelmed by her friends’
kindness. She glanced at Seagal, who gazed at her with a question in his eyes.
She wondered what he was thinking, because he certainly seemed focused on her.
She felt sparks, as she always did around Seagal. Turning away from her husband,
she opened Mathilda’s gift, smiling at the tiny Christmas sleepers inside. “Now
I feel like Christmas is on the way. This is all that was missing.”
    Seagal took one of the outfits from her, admiring the tiny
red-and-white-striped outfit. “They’ll look like little candy canes.”
    The proud look on Seagal’s face nearly broke her heart. It was
all Capri could do not to think about the fact that her marriage would be over
in less than two weeks.
    Almost on cue, Daisy Donovan walked into the room.

Chapter Six
    Daisy carried a huge, gaily decorated gift bag and
beamed a smile at the men in the room. Kelly glanced at Capri with a
here-comes-trouble expression on her face, and Capri hoped it was just the
pregnancy hormones making her imagine that both men stood a little taller as the
beautiful Daisy made her way over to Capri.
    “Hi, everyone,” Daisy said. She handed the gift bag to Capri.
“I stopped by to look at your babies, Capri. They’re beautiful.”
    “Thank you. It’s sweet of you to come by.” The gift bag rested
awkwardly on the bed, and Capri forced a smile to her face. She didn’t dare look
at Seagal—but when he sat on the bed beside her, Capri felt so much better. She
smiled at her husband. “You open this one, since I opened the last two.”
    “Wish I’d gotten to open the sexy nightie,” Seagal said, just
for her ears, winking at her. Capri blinked, not certain how to respond. Daisy
had gone over to chat with Jack, and Kelly looked as if she didn’t quite know
what to do with herself, so Capri motioned at her friend to go chat up Jack
herself.
    Kelly came over and sat by Capri instead.
    “Baby nighties.” Seagal grinned at the tiny clothes, holding up
a light pink one that read Daddy’s Little Princess and a blue one that had
Mommy’s Little Prince lettered on the backs.
    “How nice,” Kelly said.
    Kelly looked pea-green with misery as Jack laughed at something
Daisy said.
    “Look,” Seagal said, his voice so soft that Capri could barely
hear him, “you can’t just give her the run of the field.”
    Kelly looked at Seagal. “What are you suggesting?”
    Capri stared at her husband, curious as to the advice he was
going to offer.
    “Ask him out,” Seagal said. “Don’t you think, Capri?”
    “How would I know?” She wasn’t going to let on that she knew
very well what Seagal meant.
    “Capri asked me out on our first date,” he told Kelly.
    “I know.” Kelly looked at Capri. “But I’m not brave like
Capri.”
    “It was a moment of madness,” Capri said.
    “She wanted my body,” Seagal said.
    “I always wondered how you two ended up together,” Daisy said,
giving Capri a look that clearly was displeased as she joined their
conversation.
    “Ah, past history,” Jack said. “Always fun.”
    “I’d best be going.” Kelly got up. “Good to see you, Daisy.
Jack. Bye, Seagal.” She hugged Capri goodbye. “I’ll stop back in tomorrow. When
can you go home?”
    “Maybe tomorrow. The babies will follow later.” Capri felt
anxious about leaving her babies behind.
    “I’ll be going, too.” Jack saluted his partner. “Good going,
Dad, Mom.”
    “I’ll walk out with you, Jack,” Daisy said. “Goodbye, Capri.
Congratulations to both of you, Seagal.” She hugged them both, Seagal longer.
Capri tried not to steam, and Kelly rolled her eyes at Capri behind