She knows me all too well. “Of course, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. You ladies are always welcome here, anytime. Same goes with Shandy and Brandy.”
Christy trips while walking around the SUV, but manages to stay upright. That girl, I think she’s the Webster’s dictionary exampleof someone with two left feet. She does well at her job at the sandwich shop, though, and she’s grabbed a couple of bags to bring in.
Mary has Daisy’s hand in one of her hands and a bag in the other. She lifts it up. “I have something I made in here, but I was hoping to get you to take a look at it. I feel like it’s missing something.” She creates, does art? She’s always so quiet, I don’t feel like I know her that well. “I would be honored to look at whatever you want to show me, dear. Let’s all go inside. This extra bite in the air is making it colder than a polar bear’s toenails.”
Kimbra pulls up with Bailey just as we’re walking inside, and they hurry inside as the wind decides to pick up at the same time, bringing the temperature down even more. She gets up the steps and gives me a smile. “Thank you for inviting us. I haven’t done this in years, and Bailey loves this sort of thing.” She leans in and gives me a one-armed hug as she’s holding Bailey’s hand. “You should know you’re stuck with all of us now. We’re family now.” I close the door to leave the cold outside and see that Anna and Linnea have already jumped into things, getting the stuff out on the table. I grab the bag I got earlier and hold it up. “So you girls who are over eighteen, I didn’t get ya special ones, but I’ve got plenty to go around for us. I thought our younger crew might like these.” I pull out three kid-sized aprons, with each of their names on them.
Daisy sees them first and squeals. “Our own? For keeps, Mona?” I love how the little ones call me that. I nod. “Yep, for keeps, Daisy. That’s why I got your names on them, so we always know which one is yours.” She and Bailey run over and grab the bag, pulling out the aprons. Less than a minute later, they both look at me. Daisy asks, “Why are tere free of them?” She’s still working on the ‘th’ sound, though, with her pigtails, it’s all so precious. Leave me alone, I was a boy mom and never got to experience this with a little girl of my own.
I take the third apron from Daisy and answer her. “We have one more girl near your age joining us. I think you both might know her. Zaria?” Both girls nod. Daisy looks at Bailey. “Daddy says she’s a cousin, so we family.” She looks over to Anna for reassurance, and Anna nods. “Yep, she’s a cousin. You got it right.”
Bailey, who just put her apron over her head and is letting Mary tie the back for her, speaks up. “She’s not my cousin, but I knows her from school. I play wit her at recess lots of times.” I let the two of them talk as I grab stuff to finish setting up the table. Linnea calls out, “Should I make another pot of coffee or whatcha thinking?” I walk into the kitchen, and Linnea has my coffee pot in her hand. “Well, we can have coffee, coffee with somethin’ in it, or I got stuff to make hot chocolate. We can doctor that up too, if we want, with or without alcohol. It’s up to you, ladies.”
Anna, Linnea, and Kimbra all do that silent conversation thing, and when Anna gets that shit-eating smile, I know the answer. “We’ll make both and make what we want. We drink more than one or two, and the guys can come get us after church. 'Tis the holiday season and all.” I couldn’t agree more.
We get the coffee and hot chocolate going, and the girls are figuring out what cookies to decorate first while they wait for their hot chocolate. Each girl picks out a cookie to start when there's a knock on the door. Linnea waves me off, so I know chaos will be contained, and I go answer the door. I open it to find not only Zaria but Thomas and Brett. “Why hello, you three! Come on inside before you freeze your tails off. I swear it most definitely smells like snow is comin’.” Zaria is almost jumping up and down in excitement. “Are we gonna get to eat some of the cookies?” Oh, to be young and have her energy. I nod. “We will. I think there are two little girls at the table who you know, who are just getting started decorating. There’s an apron with your name on it if you wanna go join them.”
She takes off without a look back at her dad. I look at Thomas and shrug my shoulders. “I guess she’s comfortable and happy to stay.” Brett gives me a small smile. “I told her Aunt Anna would be here and Daisy, too. She’s been chomping at the bit to leave since she woke up this morning.” He moves off, no doubt to say hi to Anna.
Thomas gives me a smile. “She was excited to come before she knew they were going to be here. She loves this stuff. As much as I want to give her everything, this decorating and baking is way beyond my capabilities. I usually have to try and find a kid’s baking day at one of the bakeries, but this…this is so much more. I want to thank you. Thank you for welcoming me and my kids so kindly and warmly, but really, thank you for making my dad smile again. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him smile so regularly. I just…just thank you.” I look at Thomas and can see how genuine he is. “Your dad makes me happy, and I’m so glad we reconnected all these years later. He makes me happier than I thought I could be.” Not one to linger on emotions, I move on from the subject that is making my eyes threaten to leak. “Do you and Brett want to stay? I’ve made tons of cookies and have a pot of coffee going.” He shakes his head. “No thanks. The boys are both at a friend’s, so I’ve got to get my Christmas shopping done. I haven’t bought a thing yet and gotta get on it. I know Brett does too.” Thomas and Brett say their goodbyes and let me know they’ll be back in a couple of hours to collect Zaria. She barely waves goodbye to them as she’s completely engrossed in her friends and decorating cookies.
Looking around at everyone gets me in my feelings, as I always do this time of year. It brings out the sentimental in me. I love having my house full of family. I remember as a kid wishing fora big family one day since I was an only child and my parents weren’t close with any of their family.
I learned long ago that family is who you choose it to be—blood has nothing to do with it. Anna and Linnea have seen me at my best and my worst. They are the true definition of sisters. They're there for me anytime and not afraid to call me on my shit either.
Anna picked me up off the floor after Mitch died and helped me to see that life wasn’t over and I had a lot to still live for. She’s also the one who kicked my ass in gear after my heart attack and makes sure I stay on my meds and eat healthy-ish most of the time. Hell, she’s been my family longer than my parents were. Speaking of the wench, Anna walks over to me and hands me a mug. “Have a cup of holiday cheer, woman. I added just enough to your coffee so we can handle listening to the girls sing Christmas songs off-key all afternoon. Lord help me, not one of them can carry a note.” I must give her a look as I take my first sip because she continues on. “Okay, so the only one of our group of bitches who can is Millie. Where is she, by the way?” I take another sip and head into the chaos. “She agreed to cover the diner so Rob can go see her boy on visiting day. He’s got two more years, I think, before he’s released.” Anna gives me a nod. It’s the nod of understanding that only another mother can give. Our boys may drive us to the edge of sanity, but there’s nothin’ like a mother’s love of her baby boy, no matter their age. I may not have a lot to show for my life after I’m gone, but the fact thatI raised Mick to become a good man, a loving husband, and an amazing dad is all I could ever hope for. See? What did I tell ya? This time of year gets me all in my emotions, damn it.
I take another sip of my coffee, which has to be more alcohol than coffee, and it warms me as it goes down. Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be cold anytime soon if Anna stays in charge of the drinks. My phone pings in my pocket. I’ve got texts from two people. First is Madison saying she’s on her way, but a diaper blowout had her running home to clean up. Lord, I don't miss that. I swear, Mick timed his blowouts for when we were just far enough from home to not go back.
The second text is from my man.
Jason: I think I might have scarred Mick just a little bit LOL.
Me: How’d you do that?
Jason: Club decided they’re having a Santa for the kids to sit on and take pictures with at this year’s Yuletide party. Guess which prospect gets to do that?
Me: The only one who’s got a sexy beard and a deep enough voice? The one who’s coming home to me?
Jason: You got it. Well, they got the whole get-up, complete with a wig, beard, and full costume. I said I would do it if Icould take it home for the night afterward…Mick might have disliked thinking his mom has an active sex life LOL.
Me: How the hell does he think he got here? I’m not even close to the Virgin Mary. But I like your thinking… think Santa could grant me my Christmas wish in person this year?
Jason: I think that could be arranged…what’s your Christmas wish, baby?
Me: All I want for Christmas is you.
Jason: Quoting Christmas songs already? Anna putting some wink in your ladies’ coffee today?
Me: Back to your meeting, Prospect. What goes on when we womenfolk are together is behind the wall—like Vegas. What happens on a girls’ day stays there. I’m getting off the phone to go decorate about ten thousand cookies for you and your buddies. Love you.
Time to channel my little girl and decorate. Oh, and I need a second cup of coffee, maybe a third. I see Linnea has more things out to decorate the cookies with, and she’s got Christmas tins lined up to fill with the cookies and the fudge she made earlier. Her phone comes to life with her well-crafted Christmasplaylist filling the air. It’s definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
CHAPTER FOUR
December 19th
Jason
