Emmaline gasped, “Wow.” There was a massive tree in the corner and a giant screen television with a bunch of remotes, all clearly labeled. The bedside table had a leg lamp that had me laughing because Dylan loved that movie.
I climbed into the bed saying, “I love the clothes Haley snaps me into. This dress actually feels like I’m wearing pajamas. I’mso comfy and cozy right now.” Warm milk and hot chocolate appeared in front of me. Sam giggled, “This is so cute.”
Chelsea agreed, “It is.” I glanced at Emmaline because I would follow her lead here. Emmaline shook her head and linked, “Let’s catch up for a minute before we jump into the Melanie not being here situation.”
I hugged our little group before saying, “It feels like forever since we all got together like this.” Valerie replied, “It has been about three years.” Sam laughed, “Oh, surely not.” Kiara replied, “Sugar also doesn’t think it’s been that long.”
Chelsea agreed, “It can’t be.” Emmaline said, “Well, some of us have missed BAGG days here and there.” Sam hadn’t been in years. Sam gasped, “Oh god, I guess I have been missing those. I’ll be there next time. The pups are just so busy.”
Valerie said, “Yeah, we should definitely put something on the books for at least once a month.” I agreed, “Definitely.” Sam sighed, “I don’t know if I can make it every month, but I can try.” Emmaline offered, “I can pop you in.”
Sam replied, “I wouldn’t want to put you out. Sharon could pop me in.” I grabbed my hot chocolate as Travis left discreetly. Jackie linked, “I feel like it’s not me, and Sam is being weird.” I agreed, “It’s definitely not you.”
I teased Sam, “Aren’t you a busy bee?” Sam admitted, “Melanie is so much busier than the boys ever were and now she’s got this dance thing.” Sam sighed then admitted, “I’ve never seen anyone dance like my daughter does, and Ladybug loves it so much already. I forget how old she is, and god. I don’t know, guys. It’s so much dancing. Maybe it’s too much, but she loves it. I just don’t know.”
Chelsea whispered, “Sam.” Sam explained, “The boys didn’t have something like this and Melanie’s a genius too. Don’t ever lie to her, guys. Ladybug’s whole face scrunches up, just likeDrake’s. She’s so damn smart and I’m completely out of my depth.”
I snorted, “You are literally the only one in this room who wouldn’t be.” Everyone looked at me. I asked, “What? Sam deals with Drake all the time and we don’t.” Sam replied, “He was eighteen when we met!” I asked, “And? He’s still a genius. Just treat Melanie like she’s older.”
Sam admitted, “I do that.” I nudged her, “Then you’re doing your best, Momma. That’s all we can all do.” Sam started to cry, “I just feel like everything is so confusing all the time now. I feel bad because she’s so busy, then I feel bad if I think it’s too much. Who am I to say that, you know?”
Emmaline answered, “Her mother.” Sam insisted, “Melanie loves it all though.” I replied, “Sam, if you think your daughter needs to take a break then you’re right. Melanie’s only three years old. Maybe the teachers are overly excited about her talent and pushing. You can push back. You are a momma she wolf, they will hear you roar.”
Sam pulled at her hair, “I feels crazy all the time. I’m too harsh with Ladybug, I am. Well, maybe not. I really don’t know guys.” I glanced at Emmaline who was biting her lip. Chelsea whispered, “Sam, you’re doing a great job with Melanie.”
Sam looked at us all with a pleading expression, “You know what it’s like with your mate being a total pushovers for their little girls.” I snorted, “Preach, Sam. Buttercup cut a bully’s hair and Dylan took her out for ice cream.”
Everyone snickered. Jackie said, “I shouldn’t say it, but that pup deserved it.” I replied, “Yes, but Buttercup still had a punishment for it. Plus, we paid for the haircut the pup needed to fix what my daughter did. Buttercup did chores to earn money to pay us for it. Dylan gave her a damn cookie every day until she’d paid us back for the haircut because he felt bad.”
Sam sighed, “I just feel like I go to overboard where Drake would relax. Then I feel like I’m right, but that feeling fades. Like when we walked in here. I just can’t believe we left Melanie at home. It’s Christmas Eve for god’s sake. Oh my god, I’m a terrible mother.” Sam burst into tears.
Kiara told me, “Sugar is inconsolable.” I started to cry too because of my darn hormones. I told my friend, “You’re not a bad mom, Sam. Bad moms don’t care, or cry about punishments they hand out. You were trying to do what was right.” Sam hiccupped, “Ladybug pleaded with me to believe her. Oh god.”
Chelsea said, “Sam, adults saw her.” Sam nodded, “I know. She’s just such a bad liar that…” Sam trailed off. Emmaline whispered Fealish to calm Sam down. Valerie hugged her, “Babes, we all have issues with our pups, and sometimes we are too harsh as parents. You have trauma about border crossing.” Damn, that was true.
I pointed out, “Drake does too.” Not like Sam did, but still. Sam grabbed some tissues saying, “I left my three year old alone on Christmas Eve while every other pup is here. The catch is I can’t have her come here now. Then Melanie will think if she cries, I’ll cave. That’s a bad precedent to set. I should’ve just stayed with her.”
I reasoned, “Well, surely she’s not alone. Right?” Please god, let me be right. Sam gasped, “Of course not. Mrs. Dutton, the angel that she is, offered to stay back and watch Melanie. That woman has a way with Ladybug, just like Esther does.”
Emmaline corrected, “Just like you do too, you’re her mom. You’re spending all that time at all the dance stuff with her.” I chimed in, “Not to mention the awards she gets.” Sam laughed, “Guys, you know I’m hopeless at science. Drake listens to Mel and checks over her work while I’m in awe of the new invention she’s made.”
I reasoned, “Sure, but you kick ass at math.” Sam conceded, “That’s true.” Chelsea rubbed our friend’s arms. Sam whispered, “I left my little girl at home alone on Christmas Eve. Oh my god, what is wrong with me? Melanie loves Christmas so much and I probably robbed her of that. She’s going to go to therapy one day and point back to today as the day she started to hate Christmas.”
I shook my head, “No, I may not know how to fix this since Melanie coming isn’t an option but that won’t happen.” Emmaline chimed in, “Well, she could come.” I sighed, “I’d love it, but Sam has a point. You can’t set a punishment then back down.”
Emmaline winced. I reasoned, “If Sam had said she could come late that would be one thing. Melanie is young and realizing she could game the punishment system is something a Beta pup would notice. Pretty fast too.”
Everyone made a face because I was right. I waved, “The point is, Dylan can fix it. My man can literally fix any situation.” Kiara purred, “Yes, mate will do something perfect.” I grabbed the phone admitting, “I don’t know if this just goes to him, but he did say I could call him on it.”
The phone said, “Dylan will receive your alert and answer shortly, Lacy.” I snorted, “Thanks.” Chelsea said, “I want to say I’m surprised that it's a Christmas phone, but I’m not.” Jackie said, “The surfing Coca-Cola bear and Santa is cool though.” That was the part I was using, the base had numbers on it, but it must be charmed.
Dylan was instantly on the phone and on his way to me. I hung up saying, “Sam, we are totally getting cake.” Sam sniffled, “I doubt that.” Emmaline chimed in, “No, you absolutely are. Anytime Dylan shows up with Lucas, he has urged my mate to get the same thing he was getting. Even when Lacy wanted some weird pregnancy craving, I was offered the same thing.”
I snickered, “It did get funny this pregnancy. I do love it when you’re pregnant though, Emmaline. Especially you’re cravings, because Dylan just has the most random things everywhere at all times to make sure you can have anything you want.” Emmaline busted up laughing, “He does.”
I winked, “Little do you know there are floors dedicated to having everything you could possibly want. I’m pretty sure hearing about Cali’s birth and then with what happened to Astrid in Black Mountain while she was pregnant traumatized him.”
“Dylan’s determined you’ll never have to pop anywhere for a snack. I mean it when I say literally everything you could want is in the house when you’re pregnant. Even though I pointed out to my husband that you can conjure what you want.”
