The Naughty List Read Online Free PDF Page B

living room, back to the Christmas tree.
    “Beautiful tree. She did a good job decorating it.” Maggie nodded her approval.
    “She’s a designer. You should see the clothes she makes for herself.”
    “She made an all new wardrobe for her sisters for Christmas.”
    Daniel stared at Maggie.
    “What?” Maggie asked. “I peeked.”
    “That girl amazes me sometimes. Who am I kidding? She amazes me all the time.”
    Maggie only smiled into the tree. She reached up and lightly touched the little sock monkey ornament.
    “A young woman named Eleanor gave that to me,” Daniel said. “She’s an—”
    “Oh, I know exactly who Eleanor is.” Maggie’s eyes widened. “I know who she is even better than you do. You just thank your lucky stars you didn’t end up with that one.”
    “Well, I know she doesn’t want kids, either.”
    “Least of your worries, I promise. Her future…” Maggie whistled through her teeth. “Let’s just say it gets… interesting. But I won’t say any more. I’d hate to ruin the surprise for you. I’m almost out of time, anyway. And there’s something else you need to see.”
    Daniel’s heart clenched at her words “out of time.” He wasn’t ready to let her go again. Not now. Not ever.
    “What is it?”
    “Nothing much,” she said with a sly smile. “Only this.”
    Maggie waved her hand and the living room exploded with light and sound once more. Daniel heard laughter and music. Voices everywhere speaking French and English. Spinning around he saw a room full of children and teenagers wrapping and unwrapping gifts. And in the middle of it stood Anya looking beautiful and flushed and frazzled.
    “Where are we?” Daniel asked before realizing the absurdity of the question. “I mean… when are we?”
    “One possible future. You’ve invited Anya’s siblings to come for Christmas. Anya’s never been happier.”
    Daniel watched as another version of him came into the living room, Camille slung over his shoulder.
    “Did anyone ask for a Camille for Christmas?” Daniel bellowed to the room. “Santa left her on the front porch. Anyone?”
    “I did!” Anya came to him and took a squealing, giggling Camille from his arms. “I wanted a Camille to do my dishes for me. And cook. And clean. And brush Leonard and scoop his poop.”
    “No! No! No! Not poop!” Camille cried out in giggles. “Give me back to Santa!”
    Daniel couldn’t stop staring at the other version of himself, the future version. He looked like an idiot, grinning from ear to ear like that as he gazed at the room full of children and Anya beaming like a new bride. New bride? Daniel glanced at future Anya’s hand and saw his engagement ring shining on it. In this version of the future, he’d asked her to marry him and she’d said yes. He liked this version of the future. Whatever it took, he’d make it happen.
    “I’ve never seen you look happier either,” Maggie said. “Not even on our wedding day.”
    “I was terrified on our wedding day.”
    “Thought you were making a mistake?” Maggie asked with a wink.
    “Thought you were.” Maggie’d had money. He’d had none. She was older. He was younger. So many things could have gone wrong, and so many things had. And yet… He didn’t regret a day with her. Or a night. Especially not the nights.
    “Marrying you was the smartest thing I ever did.” Maggie waved her hand and the lights dimmed, the laughter died, and the future faded away. Once more they stood in the quiet, Christmas tree-lit present.
    “We were good together, you and I.” Daniel took her into his arms and held her close. He felt her fading on him already and refused to let her go. Not just yet, anyway.
    “Better than good.” Maggie relaxed into his arms and slowly swayed. “I can sing, too, if you recall.” Softly she hummed an old favorite Christmas song of his.
    “Have yourself a merry little Christmas…”
Maggie sang into his ear in a voice lower and huskier than