Clearing my throat, I turn her chin so she’s looking at me and state, “I have something I want to ask you. I know her teacher let us know what shereallywants from Santa, and in order for that to happen, you need to carry the same last name as me.” Grabbing the velvet felt box that’s been burning a hole in my pocket, I flick it open and present her with the ring I chose for her. I go down on one knee, reach up and grab her left hand with mine before asking one of the most important questions I’ll ever ask. “Will you marry me, Marnie? I don’t have all the pretty words, but I love you beyond measure, and I promise to always protect you and Becca until I’ve drawn my last breath.”
A tear slowly trickles down her cheek as she nods. “Yes,” she whispers. I slide the diamond on her ring finger as she keeps her eyes glued to it with excited admiration. Then she says exactly what I’ve been feeling. “Because I don’t see a future without you and that precious little girl by my side.”
Scooping her up, I carry her to our room as she looks down at the ring I slipped on her finger. I also put a letter from Santa in Becca’s stocking explaining that he was working on the adoption for her, so she’ll have a mommy and daddy before she knows it.
“You don’t think I look silly?” she asks after we’ve cleaned up from our impromptu celebration.
She’s wearing the adult version of the footed onesie that all the kids have, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more adorable in my life. “Nope,” I reply. “Now, let me take Becca to the bathroom, then we’ll get an hour or two of sleep so we can handle the chaos tomorrow.”
“He came! Ash, Marnie, Santa Claus came to see me!” Becca shrieks as she runs into our room.
Since I anticipated this might happen, thanks to Rebel’s insight, I have a pair of Christmas lounge pants on, and a long-sleeve Henley. Marnie, of course, matches Becca which has her giggling, especially once Marnie slides the antler headband on her head before she puts one on Becca’s, so they match from head to toe.
“Well, what are we waiting for? We better go see what Santa brought, huh?” I ask, slinging Becca onto my hip.
She’s gotten heavier over the weeks she’s been in our custody, but she’s still a little slip of a thing. When she gets a good look at the living room, which I suspect she didn’t even notice during her rush to our bedroom, I hear her gasp as her hands cover her mouth in astonishment. “Oh, my goodness,” she whispers, her head moving as though it’s on a swivel while she checks everything out. “He really is magical.”
“Yes, he is,” Marnie replies. A light knock on the door has her heading in that direction. When she opens the door, I watch as Chance prances into the room, catching Becca’s eye.
“What? Is that… is that a kitty for me?” she asks, her voice breaking and her chin quivering as she cautiously approaches the kitten.
Crouching down, I bring the little guy closer then scoop him up. “It is, and it’s from me and Marnie, sweetheart. He decided toshow up practically in my lap, so I figured he needed a little girl to take care of him.”
“I’ll do my very best. Does he have a name?” she questions, reaching out her finger to touch Chance on his head.
“Yes, his name is Chance,” Marnie says. “We have his litterbox already set up, so how about we show him where it’s at and then we can see what you got for Christmas, okay?”
I head to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate for my girls while I get a cup of coffee for myself. I think I’m going to need to mainline caffeine for most of the morning if I have a snowball’s chance in hell of staying awake and alert. Once I have the drinks ready, I carry them back into the living room, double check that the tree has plenty of water in the base, then settle on the couch to wait for Becca and Marnie.
Unsurprisingly, Becca has her new feline charge in her arms as she slowly approaches the Christmas tree, which is laden with gifts. She almost looks overwhelmed, and I glance at Marnie, my own eyes wide. She sits down next to Becca and asks, “How about we look in your stocking? We don’t have to rush through opening things, Becca, I promise.”
Becca runs into her room then comes back with her stocking, dumping it on the floor when she reaches Marnie. “I got a coloring book and crayons, some candy, some fuzzy socks, and a letter from Santa!”
“Do you want me to read the letter?” I ask as Marnie makes the appropriate noises while looking through the little treasures from Becca’s stocking.
“Yes, please,” Becca replies as she hands me the letter.
With a genuine smile aimed her way, I read the letter to her.
Dear Becca,
Thank you for telling one of my helpers what you really wanted for Christmas. I can tell you now that it’s Christmas morning, it’s going to happen! Both Ash and Marnie would love to be your new mommy and daddy, but they have to get married first, okay? You keep being a good girl and I’ll see you next year!
Love,
Santa
Becca’s eyes are wide and shimmery as she looks at the two of us before she starts crying, hugging Marnie. Not one to miss out on hugs from my ladies, I find myself on the floor enfolding both of them in my arms as my woman joins our girl in her tears. “Are these happy tears?” I ask, “because I’m definitely happy that Marnie agreed to marry me last night, and that you’re going to legally be my little girl, Becca.”
“They’re happy tears,” Marnie promises as she swipes underneath her eyes.
I hear something crinkling and look over only to burst into laughter. “Becca, look at Chance,” I whisper.
He’s currently scaling a group of presents, his focus on the Christmas tree that he seems to be interested in the most. “No, Chance,” Becca admonishes as she gently helps him down, finally seeing the Barbie set up. “Oh, wow, it’s like the one Mina and Ruby have,” she whispers as she reaches out and touches the house. “And there’s a pool too? And more Barbie dolls? This is the best day ever.”
While Marnie helps Becca hang up her clothes, leaving the toys in the living room so Becca has plenty of room to play, I clean up the wrapping paper, chasing after it as Chance plays with the crumpled balls. “Silly boy, you’ve got your own toys,” I mutter before I toss a jingle ball across the floor.
My heart is so fucking full right now, I can’t even find the words to express how I’m feeling. Becca was over the moon with each gift she opened, stopping to play with some of them instead of rushing through the unwrapping aspect. Not only is she thrilled, but my ol’ lady surprised me quite a few times with the thoughtful things she bought for me, and I got her as well with her stuffed stocking. I foresee her and Holly hitting up the after Christmas sales with the variety of gift cards I gave her. Not that I stopped there; no, she has new comfortable lounge outfits, several sweaters that I saw she had marked on her laptop for ‘later’, and best of all, a new SUV that she said she’d look at once we went downstairs for breakfast.
