I heft the box into my arms and slowly walk back to the living room, making sure to avoid any random toys laying in my path.
Soren has Rachel sitting in his lap on the leather recliner while Sara Beth appears to have picked out the gift she’s going to open after Rachel, the small blue and silver wrapping paper shining under the Christmas lights.
Kneeling on the area rug in front of Soren and Rachel, I set the box down with a smile as Rach fights out of her dad’s hold to join me, mirroring my position.
“Alright, this is a fragile present, okay? You can’t shake it around like you did the others.” Rachel gently places her hands on either side of the box lid and solemnly nods. “This is from your dad, me, and Sara Beth because we love you.”
“I love you, too. Can I open it now?”
Soren coughs, and I know he’s trying not to laugh at her eagerness.
“Wait until I have my camera ready. I want to video this.” It only takes a minute, but when I’m finally set up, I press record and mouth, “Go ahead.”
Rachel rocks side to side in excitement then, slower than I would have expected, removes the lid. The bunny immediately hops up on two paws, her nose twitching.
“A bunny!” Rachel gasps as the baby startles and skitters back from her loud yell.
“Indoor voice,” I caution.
“A bunny!” Rachel tries again, marginally quieter. Her little hands reach into the box and lift the bunny for snuggles against her chest. “Is it a boy or a girl? What’s its name?”
“It’s a girl, and she’s yours, so you get to name her,” Soren says.
Rachel bites her lip then glances at Sara Beth. “How’d you name Whiskers?”
“I liked how his nose twitched and made his whiskers tickle my cheek.”
“Hmm… They do tickle, but she can’t be Whiskers, too.” More thinking causes her features to scrunch up. “I’m gonna name her Pipsqueak because she looks like Pipsqueak from the show.”
Of course, she went with aMy Little Ponycharacter.
“That’s a cute name, and it fits because she won’t get much bigger.”
Rachel buries her face in Pipsqueak’s soft fur and murmurs, “I love you so, so,somuch. You’re the cutest, softest…”
“Hey, don’t insult Whiskers,” Sara Beth cuts in.
The two girls bicker over who has the best bunny while Soren grabs my arm and tugs until I’m in his lap.
“Merry Christmas, baby. I’m saving your Christmas Eve present for later,” he rumbles.
Cuddling into his heat, I whisper in his ear, “Is it your dick? Because it’s been the same thing each year.”
“And you love it every time.”
“I do.” Pressing a kiss to his bearded cheek, I sigh, full of happiness. “I love you.”
CHAPTER NINE
DECEMBER 24
BECKETT CALDWELL
My phone rings, and I debate ignoring the call, but Beth leans over to swipe the screen to answer when she sees it’s my brother.
Instead of Soren’s grumpy face, though, it’s my niece and an adorable bunny squished to fit in the small window.
“Look what Mom and Dad and Sara Beth got me! A bunny! His name is Pipsqueak and…” Rachel continues to babble about her new best friend while Beth and I struggle not to laugh at her enthusiasm.
