Tamer Lorika

After the birth of their daughter, Camilla, new parents Natalie and Maura are looking forward to their first Christmas as a real family. But obligations are fierce -- when both girls are guilted into attending family functions, Christmas looks like it’s going to be split, busy, and no fun for anyone.<br><br>Maura’s dad is overtly resentful of the life Maura’s built, but Natalie’s passive-aggressive parents may be even worse. The relationships are worth saving, and Natalie hopes, at the end of it all, she can keep her promise to Maura and Camilla that together they will live happily ever after. Can the two women defend their new family from ... the rest of their relatives?

And We Will Live Happily

Natalie took her eyes off the road for just long enough to kiss her hair. “I’m just glad you’re out of there,” she muttered fiercely. Maura put her hand on Natalie’s bicep, feeling how tense the muscles were. The woman wasn’t kidding.


It was hard to accept, that she’d just walked out on her father, that she…well, she probably wasn’t going back. Not any time soon. And it hurt too much to fathom that no one in that little huddle had even thought of stopping her. Not a word of protest.


Natalie was right, though. Everyone else had walked the fuck out, followed her, put herbefore her father. It was the first time that anyone in her family had done that. No one else put her first, except Natalie.


Chapter 8