“What are you so serious about, Dad?” Roman asked.
Mendez smiled. It had taken months for Roman to call him Dad, but now he did it easily. “Just thinking about last year and how much has changed.”
Kat’s eyes sparkled. “It has, but in the best way possible.”
“It’s not every Christmas you get two miracles,” Mendez said.
Kat reached for Roman’s hand and squeezed it. “Every day since has been a miracle to me. I have my family. My beautiful daughter. My precious son. My handsome husband. You all make me so happy.”
Roman kissed her on the forehead. “I’m lucky to have you all.”
Kat sniffled. Mendez cleared his throat and studied the lights on the tree.
“I have news,” Roman said.
They all looked at him. Even Elena, who was only looking because he was talking and not because she really understood. She thrust a piece of wrapping paper at him and he took it, saying, “Thank you, baby sis.”
“Well?” Kat demanded. “Tell us.”
“My navy service is officially ended on January first. I will be free to move to the US, if I can get a visa.”
“This is wonderful news,” Kat exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?”
Roman’s grin, so like Mendez’s own, appeared. “Because I wanted to surprise you.”
Roman had to return to Vladivostok and his duties last year, though he’d kept in touch over the past year. They’d seen him a few times and talked to him often. Roman had insisted he had to do things the right way, and though Kat had protested, Mendez backed his son up. It’s what he would have done under the same circumstances. Kat hadn’t liked it, but she’d finally agreed because she knew her son had enough of her husband in him not to back down on something he considered a point of honor.
“You will get a visa. Won’t he, Johnny?”
Kat’s tone and the look she shot him said that he’d damned well better. Mendez shook his head and laughed. “I’m not from ICE, Kat. What do you expect me to do?”
Kat made a sound. “You are General John Mendez and the president of the United States owes you his life. I think you can get a visa for our son.”
“It’s okay, Mother. I’ll apply the usual way.”
Mendez waved a hand. “I’m teasing your mother. Of course you’ll get a visa.”
“I’ll have to find a job and a place to live,” Roman said.
“You can live with us,” Kat said.
Roman frowned. Mendez went to his rescue. “You can stay with us when you get here, but of course you’ll want to find your own place.”
No twenty-two-year-old young man wanted to live with his parents if he could help it. And not one like Roman, who’d effectively been on his own for years now. He was too independent, too much his own man. Mendez recognized it even if Kat did not. Probably because he’d met his son as a grown man and not as a child whereas Kat had a twelve-year-old boy fixed in her memories.
“Thanks, Dad. I’d like that.”
Kat swooped Elena up before she could eat a string of Christmas lights. Good God, would he ever get used to having a baby around? Kids did the weirdest things sometimes.
“Fine, fine. I know when I am outnumbered,” she said. “I’m going to get Elena and myself dressed, then it’s time to start the cooking. Our company will be here around four.”
Mendez stood. “I’ll take care of Elena.”
They were having a couple of friends over. The Girards couldn’t come because they’d gone to Louisiana for a big Christmas at Reynier’s Retreat, but Ian Black was coming, oddly enough. Ghost would be there too, and a couple of the younger officers who were far from family this season.
Mendez held his hands out and Elena came into his arms excitedly, chattering the whole time. “Dada! Dadadadadada!”
“Yes, baby, Daddy’s going to get your clothes on. Mommy picked out your Christmas outfit, so we already know what we’re wearing, don’t we?”
They’d done Christmas presents first, but lunchtime was going to be Elena’s birthday. When she was older, they would work harder to separate the day from the holiday, but for now she was a baby and didn’t care.
“Want to come, Roman? We can talk about your move while we figure out how to fix hair bows on a toddler.”
Roman pushed to his feet with a grin. “Sounds like valuable knowledge I may need someday.”
Mendez kissed his daughter on the cheek while she giggled. “Honestly, I didn’t think it was knowledge I’d ever need—but here we are.”
And he wouldn’t change a thing.
It was after eleven and Kat lay in bed beside Johnny, happiness pulsing like a drug in her veins. One year ago, today, she’d had Elena. She’d gotten her son back soon after and her life, which had already been pretty terrific, became even more fabulous. She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve this kind of happiness, but she wasn’t taking it for granted.
She turned on her side and placed a palm on Johnny’s chest. They’d had a long day filled with family and friends and they were both tired. Elena was in her crib, finally asleep after being cranky about the whole thing, and Roman was in the guest room.
Johnny put his hand on hers. “It’s going to be so nice having him around more often, isn’t it?” she whispered.
“Yes. He’s a fine young man.”
“No thanks to Dmitri.”
“Thanks to you, Kat.”
“And to Peter and Ludmilla. They were good to him, and they were honest people.” She hesitated. “What will he do here, do you think?”
Johnny sighed. “He’s been trained like us, Kat. Well, not exactly, but a lot like us. He’ll go to work for Ian, probably.”
Kat nibbled her lip. She didn’t want her son in danger, and yet she knew what kind of man he was. She wasn’t going to be able to stop him if he wanted to work for Ian. She wasn’t going to be able to force him to be a teacher or anything like
