Chapter 348

Denise came awake suddenly as she heard loud feet on the stairs. There was no light coming in from the curtains, so she reached over, grabbing her cell phone off the nightstand. She squinted, not being able to believe her kids were up at four am.

"Liam," she whispered as she leaned into him.

He stirred and she wondered if she should really wake him up, but it felt wrong not to. He'd made such a change in their lives. The biggest difference, really, and she wanted him to reap the benefits of seeing the kid's faces as they opened their gifts.

"Liam," she tried again, this time letting her breath hit his ear.

"Yeah?" he woke immediately, eyes scanning the dark room, ready to pounce if need be.

She put her hand on his chest. "Nothing's wrong. The kids are awake."

"Yeah?" he asked, this time a bright smile on his face. "I can't wait until Drew sees what I got him."

She couldn't either, although she had been a little less excited when Liam had shown her. She knew though, that h