“If I catch you running in the house one more time, I am going to paddle your naughty bottom with my brush. Am I completely understood, Little girl?”
“Yes, Mommy, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
Two hard swats land just below my diaper before she wraps me in her arms, pulling me close. Eyes closed, I snuggle into her breasts, my mouth watering at the scent of her milk even though I just nursed this morning.
“That’s my good girl. I know you’re excited but Mommy wants you to stay safe, remember?”
“Yes, Mommy.”
The doorbell rings again, reminding us both why I was running in the first place and Mommy sighs. “I suppose we should go let the others in before Victoria wears that doorbell out.”
Giggling, I grab her hand, dragging her behind me toward the front door. Our entire family is waiting outside, and a cheer goes up among the crowd as the door swings open.
“Lexie!”
Racing forward, my best friends in the whole world all tackle me to the ground at once, and the house comes alive with the sound of their excited chatter. I love them all, so very much, and while I still have my moments of jealousy, we’ve become the family we were always meant to be. Even Tori, who is now one of my favorite people on the planet despite our rocky start.
And now we get to celebrate our very first Christmas as a family. There’s talk of Santa and presents and all the fun things their Daddies and my Mommy have planned for us and we’re still talking a mile a minute to each other as we’re ushered into the parlor.
Where we all stop dead and stare at the giant, real-life Christmas tree standing in the middle of the room.
But it’s not just the tree, it’s the man and the woman standing proudly beside it, wide grins stretched across their faces that have half a dozen shocked squeals piercing the air.
“Auntie Gray! Uncle Axel!”
Completely forgetting my earlier promise to Mommy not five minutes ago, I break free of the group and go running to them, throwing myself into Auntie Gray’s arms as she laughs.
“I guess that means you like your surprise, little one.”
“I do, I do! I always wanted a real tree!”
Grinning, Uncle Axel hoists me up in his arms. It’s a move that’s taken some getting used to, as he’s one of the few people capable of doing so, but I love how very Little it makes me feel.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I squeeze. “Thank you, thank you, this is the best Christmas presentever.”
“You’re welcome, little red,” he says with a laugh of his own, using the nickname he granted me when he and our other uncles first started visiting just for fun instead of work. While I love all our lumberjack uncles, Axel is my favorite and not just because he sneaks me candy whenever Mommy isn’t looking.
But then Uncle Axel’s gaze latches on something behind me and his smile turns sympathetic. “What have you done now, Lexie?”
Turning, I find Mommy standing behind us, holding her hairbrush. “Come here, Alexis Paige.”
Aw, crud. Uncle Axel puts me back down on the ground and I slowly drag myself to stand in front of my Mommy. “Sorry, Mommy.”
“You absolutely will be in a minute.”
Taking me by the arm, she sits on the couch and pulls me over her lap. Cool air brushes over my skin as she whips the diaper off me, and I can’t help but whimper slightly in anticipation.
“Wejusthad this discussion, little girl. Clearly Mommy’s words are not getting through to you without some help.”
The hard wood of her brush cracks against my skin and I let out a long, loud howl, my feet fluttering against the couch. Over and over she paddles my bare bottom, and with each swat it feels like a bajillion bees are stinging my flesh.
“I’m sorry, Mommy, I’msorry!”
“Little girls do not run in the house.” As she lectures, she shifts her focus to my sit spots, and tears form in my eyes atthe sharp pain. “EspeciallymyLittle girl inmyhouse. Isn’t that right, Alexis Paige?”
“Yes, yes, Mommy, I’m sorry! I won’t ever do it again!”
“I’ll settle for making it through the New Year,” she responds dryly as she continues to paddle my bottom.
