Epilogue
Christmas Day
Ivy
I woke up to an empty bed on Christmas morning. We were at my place because I wanted Addie to wake up to Christmas at our house. My parents had already called yesterday during the morning because, as they said, they couldn’t possibly predict what Christmas Day would bring and didn’t want to be confined to a time to call us. Addie hadn’t cared, and I found that I really didn’t either. Our lives were blessed without them.
Chief was getting around pretty well, so Jake had brought him to stay here last night so he’d be part of our morning activities. His parents were at his house with Drew. We were all gathering there for lunch and dinner, but the morning was just for us.
I wondered how long we’d do this dance between two houses. I’d say it was rushing things to think in terms of the future like that already, but Jake had gleefully—with my okay—thrown away my birth control pills after the Reds of Christmas, so I’d say our living arrangements would likely need to be figured out sooner rather than later. I’m sure to some it would make no sense. The typical order of dating, engagement, marriage, baby was not something I was too concerned with. Did I want to one day be married to Jake? Absolutely. Did I need it to happen before a baby? I think I’d already proven that it didn’t need to.
Speaking of, Noah had proven he truly had turned over a new leaf. Since he had visited a few weeks ago, he’d called and texted Addie at least once a week. He’d officially moved to Highland, we were all excited about it. Well, Jake was getting there.
It helped that Noah was reaching out to him too, even sending a care package for Chief in his recovery. He was coming over tomorrow for Christmas with Addie, saying he didn’t want to interfere with Jake’s family’s time with us today. Maybe one day we could all celebrate together, but these were good baby steps.
I rolled over onto my back and stretched. Sun streamed through the windows, so I knew I needed to get moving. Addie was a sleepyhead, but even she would want to be up early today to see what Santa brought. Just as I had that thought, the door creaked open. I looked over to it, expecting to see Addie’s tousled head, but Jake’s dark hair popped in, his eyes finding mine.
“There you are, sleepyhead. It’s all I’ve been able to do to keep Ms. Addie entertained. Shake a leg,” he said, coming to press a kiss to my lips.
I groaned. “Five more minutes.”
“Up, babe,” he said as he pulled me out of bed and slapped my butt.
“Promises, promises,” I grumbled, pulling on my robe, but then I turned to shoot him a grin to let him know I was kidding.
He shook his head at me.
Leaving my room, I looked and saw Addie sitting on the top of the stairs, talking. Glancing down, I noted that she held Jake’s phone in her hand, and she was clearly FaceTiming Drew. Sure. Makes sense.
“Hey Drew,” I said because what else do you say to this crazy family. Honestly, I was surprised we’d convinced Margot and Sam to wait for us all to gather at lunch. It was a Christmas miracle.
“’Bout time, Bookstore,” Drew called. “It’s Christmas. There’s no sleeping.”
“Clearly,” I replied.
“Let’s go, Momma!” Addie exclaimed, standing up and dancing in her Christmas pj’s.
“Hold on, hold on.” I slid by her on the stairs. “Let me get to the bottom of the stairs and take a picture of you coming down,” I said. I’d always wanted to do that traditional picture of kids waiting to come down the stairs, but that wasn’t the way Christmas at my parents’ place rolled. Well, it was time for new traditions.
Addie was practically dancing in place. I got to the bottom, and Jake was still at the top, running his fingers through her hair. His eyes locked on mine. “Ready?”
I smiled. Our first Christmas. Heck yeah, I was ready.
“Ready.”
“Now?” Addie said, looking at me.
“Now, baby,” I said, phone at the ready.
Addie ran down, jazz hands flying. She tore into the dining room, running to Bob the tree as Chief came from the living room. I’d bought him a crate so he had a quiet spot at our place, and he liked crashing in it when we weren’t around.
Addie stood in front of the tree, hands clasped. The lights were twinkling, and I noted that Jake must have gotten up to turn music on earlier because Christmas music was coming from a portable speaker on the dining room table. “Oh, Momma. Bob is so beautiful,” she said in a reverent voice. Looking around the tree out the window, she exclaimed, “And it snowed!”
I looked past her, and sure enough, several inches had piled up outside. I hadn’t realized that was in the forecast, but it seemed pretty perfect.
I pulled out a dining room chair to settle in and watch Addie open her presents. She talked to Drew as she propped up Jake’s phone a bit away from her so Drew could participate. I noticed that Sam and Margot were in the background, coming over and talking to Addie as she opened, then puttering around Jake’s house in the lull between gifts.
Addie’s gifts from Jake’s family would be opened at his place later. Here we just had the gifts from Santa and us. Even so, she squealed with joy at more tutus, rain boots with ladybugs all over them, books, and art supplies. As she opened, Jake brought me coffee and sat down beside me, an arm resting on the chair behind me. Finally, she finished.
