On Christmas Eve, Catherine arrived at Steve's house carrying gifts for him and the children. Steve opened the door and seemed upset. " Hi, Cath!" He hugged her really tight and she hugged him back in the same way.

Steve grabbed her by the hand and took her inside the house. Catherine saw Lyla sitting on the couch playing with a doll.

"Hi, you must be Lyla. Am I right?" Catherine said to the girl.

Lyla stood up and approached Catherine. "Yes, you do."

"Hi, Lyla. I'm Catherine, but you can call me Cath."

"OK," Lyla answered and looked at the packages Catherine had in her hand. " Did you bring me a present?"

"Daughter, don't be indiscreet," Steve told Lyla.

"It's all right, Steve," Catherine replied and then offered the biggest package to Lyla. "It's yours."

Lyla smiled at Catherine and took the package that was practically bigger than her.

"Let me put it on the couch for you," Steve helped her out. "What do you say when you win something from someone?" Steve asked.

"Thank you," Lyla said to Catherine.

"You're welcome, my dear."

Catherine looked at Steve and asked about Caroline and Don.

"They went to their grandparents' house," Steve replied upset.

"Because of me? If you said they were going there because of me, I wouldn't have come."

Caroline is only there because her cousins and her aunt came from the mainland and she was so excited about seeing them, but Don is there just to spite me. Only my little girl and you remained. So this Christmas it will be just the three of us."

Catherine took a small package and offered it to him. Steve took the box and opened it.

"It'll be the four of us. I didn't plan it, Steve. The doctor said I could never do it, but it happened and I'm really glad it happened."

Steve looked surprised at the positive pregnancy test. "That's wonderful, Cath."

"I was afraid that maybe you didn't want to," Catherine told him. Steve hugged her affectionately. " Of course I want this baby, Cath. It's our baby!" Steve knew he'd have even more problems with Don, but he wouldn't let it take away the joy of being a father again.

"I thought I'd call her Liz if it's a girl," Catherine told him.

"You want it to be a girl, don't you?"

"Yes," Catherine replied.

"Then let's hope it's a girl," Steve put his hand on her belly and kissed her forehead.

"Daddy, look at this!" Lyla showed Steve the painting book she got from Catherine. "And I got a new doll too!"

"What a beautiful doll, daughter. I also loved your book to paint," Steve kissed Lyla's forehead.

Steve called Catherine into the kitchen to talk. " Cath, I need to tell you something that I haven't told anyone, not even Danny, but you have to promise me that you'll never tell anyone."

"Sure, Steve. You didn't even have to ask, I would never tell anyone anything you said in secret. '

"You must wonder why I let Don do what he does to me. He blames me for their mother's death, but the truth is she was in the car with her lover the day of the accident."

"And you don't want to destroy the image they have of their mother, do you?" Catherine asked him.

"Not only that. One of the children isn't mine."

"Don?" Catherine asked and Steve hung his head while denying.

Catherine went to the door that separated the kitchen from the living room and looked at the little Lyla who was still playing on the couch. "Oh no, Steve ... Lyla?" She whispered.

Steve confirmed it and Catherine comforted him. "Of the three, she seems to be the daughter who loves you the most."

"Yes. I live as if there were a sword over my head, Cath. My late wife told me the truth after Lyla was born. She asked for forgiveness and I forgave her for the children, but then I found out that her apology was not sincere. I don't know if the children's grandmother knows this and I'm very afraid of losing Lyla. She's happy here and I don't want her taken away from me. She has a heart condition and will need surgery in the future. I love Lyla, Cath."

Catherine hugged him. "She's your daughter, Steve. You take care of her."

"I have to endure Don's attacks and I'm losing my son because I can't tell the truth. I don't know what to do, Catherine."

Steve let some tears roll and Catherine held his face with both hands. "Whatever has to be resolved, it will not be resolved today. Today is Christmas and I don't want to see you sad. Two of your kids aren't here, but two are. We'll sort it out in the future. You're not alone anymore, I'm here to help you."

"Thank you, Cath. You're the light of my life, you know?"

Lyla ran into the kitchen with the book in her hand. "Daddy, will you help me paint Santa?"

"Of course I do, darling. Fetch the crayons and bring them to the table."

Lyla took the crayon and the book and put them on the table. "Cath, will you help me too?"

"It will be a pleasure to help you, dear " Catherine replied as she caressed Lyla's long hair.

Lyla slept two hours later and Steve put her to bed. He went back to the living room where Catherine was waiting for him. " When you're tired just say so, and we'll go to bed," Steve told her.

"Okay," Catherine replied.

"I put a rollaway bed in my room for Lyla so she won't be alone. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, Steve. It's okay."

Steve sat next to her on the couch. "You know, Cath, I feel so relieved to have been able to tell you everything I've been through. It's like I've lifted a two-ton weight off my back."

Catherine stroked his arm for a while. "This whole situation is gonna get better, Steve."

Steve kissed her and asked her if she wanted to eat anything else. "Liz must be hungry."

"We don't know if it's a girl," Catherine told him.

"She, or he, will be very welcome," Steve said to Catherine.

"Thank you," Catherine smiled and hugged him. "Merry Christmas, Steve."

Steve reciprocated the affection. "Merry Christmas, Cath."

PS: I wish each of you a Merry Christmas!