“That’s because it’s too chilly out for what they’re wearing and none of them want to put ‘real clothes’ on today,” Holly says. “I mean, can you blame them? We want today to be all about family and relaxing. Getting dressed doesn’t convey that at all. How’s the kitten doing?”
“The last I checked, he had worn himself out again zooming through the living room playing,” I reply. “I found him crashedout on his back underneath the tree. Y’all don’t think we went too overboard, do you?”
Esther is already shaking her head. “No, I don’t. A lot of the things she got are toys, sure, but she had next to nothing when she arrived here. Y’all got her plenty of fun learning things too, as well as clothes. Plus, she’s a good little girl. Some spoiling never hurt anyone.”
“I’m not looking forward to when she finally realizes she’s safe with us and throws a fit,” I admit. “How will I handle having to discipline her when it happens?”
“That’s a problem for Future Marnie, not you,” Holly decrees. Glancing at the clock over the microwave, she says, “Let’s go see if we can get the girls to help us set the tables so we can eat. I’m ready to curl up and watch a few movies.”
“Yeah, through your eyelids,” Esther teases, causing me to laugh. I love their relationship and I’m so grateful that Esther and Paul, and even Samuel, have pulled Becca and I into their lives.
“Can I wear this to bed again?” Becca asks as we head upstairs to hopefully wind down from the day.
“I don’t see why not,” I muse.
Ash opens the door and I burst out laughing. “Oh, my goodness, he’s definitely an orange kitty, isn’t he?” I ask as I look at Chance, who is currently perched on top of the Christmas tree. “Guess he’s saying he’s the star now, huh?”
When the kitten sees us, he immediately scrambles down the tree and I watch as ornaments hit the floor and start rolling. He bats a few around but is still making a beeline to his human, who scoops him up in her arms and kisses his head. “You’re a silly boy, aren’t you?” she asks. “Let’s go get you some wet food.”
I raise my brow at Ash who shrugs. “I told her this morning that we’d give him some wet kitten food at night for dinner, but we’d leave out dry food all day long,” he says. “I’m going to go and help her with opening the can because I don’t want her to hurt herself when she pulls off the lid.”
“Good idea,” I murmur as I take a stack of my own clothes into our room to put into the hamper to wash. I had already washed all of Becca’s before I wrapped them so she could wear whatever she wanted without waiting on me to do laundry.
Once I’m in there, I decide to go ahead and run a load because the thought of wearing some of the snuggly sweat sets that Ash and Becca got for me settles deep inside. I grab the basket that I’ve got sorted, then take it into the living room before I go into Becca’s room to see if she has anything I can add.
“What are you doing?” Ash asks.
“I was going to head to the laundry room and throw in a load of clothes,” I admit. “I kind of want to wear comfy clothes until she goes back to school.”
“I’ll take care of it, sweetheart, you go enjoy our girl. I think she and Chance are camping right now.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do.”
Becca’s eyes, while tired, are still sparkling as she looks up at the two of us from her bed. “This was the best day of my life,” she quietly whispers since Chance is passed out on her pillow, his little tail wrapped across her neck.
“It was the best day of mine too,” I tell her. “Do you want to know why?” I probe.
“Yes, please,” she requests.
She’s always so polite, and I briefly wonder if it’s because Pauline worked with her on manners, or if she got in trouble when she wasn’t that way by her aunt, then decide it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, Ash and I will shape her future. The past is just that, the past.
“Because I got to spend it with the two people I love with all my heart,” I reply. “You and Ash. Plus, the rest of our family, of course.”
“Best day ever,” she murmurs, her eyes already drooping.
“Good night, sweetie,” I say, leaning in to kiss her only to get a wet nose pressed against my forehead for my efforts. “You too, you silly bean,” I tease as I smooch her kitten then smooth out Becca’s wayward tresses before kissing her. “Love you, Becca.”
Ash follows suit, and it’s not long before we’re sprawled together on our sectional couch, limbs entwined, as we unwind from the busy day. He’s got a beer in hand while I’m sipping on a frothy hot chocolate. “If I keep eating the way I have been, I’m going toneed to go up a size or two,” I murmur while he flicks through the channels.
“Ask me if I care, Marnie,” he murmurs. “Because how big or small you are doesn’t really matter to me other than the fact that I want you healthy so you’re by my side for the rest of our lives.”
“Good answer,” I tease. “Although in reality, I don’t think anyone who’s of sound mind could resist Esther’s cooking. I’m sure once the holidays have passed, things will go back to normal.”
We’re pretty much Christmas movie’d out, to be honest, since we watched every single animated movie with Becca, and have already watched some of my personal favorites. I plan to slowly introduce Becca toIt’s a Wonderful Lifeand several others as she gets older, just like my mom did with me.
“How about this?” he asks, causing me to stop my musing and look at the screen.
I squeal and clap my hands when I see he’s got the firstJurassic Parkqueued up. “Are we going for a marathon?” I ask.
