Colton laughed. “Oh yeah, she’d be like Krampus on your roof! You’d want no part of that!”
“But don’t worry about me. Most of my staff don’t have anywhere to go for Christmas.” Dean opened his arms to the loft. “My place has always been The Land of Misfit Toys! I’m hosting Christmas here for all my boys.”
"That sounds amazing." Colton turned to Aiden with a smile. “Aiden, are all these gifts for you?” He pointed to the large pile of presents under the tree.
“Yes sir, I think so, but I have to wait until Christmas morning.”
Such a polite kid,Colton thought.Dean is already rubbing off on him.
“You don’t have to call me sir, Aiden. Just call me Colton.”
Aiden smiled and returned to his mini keyboard on the sofa.
Colton held on to one small gift. “Here.” He handed the gift to Dean. “This is your stocking stuffer, but I want you to open it now.”
Dean accepted the gift and eagerly tore through the wrapping paper, revealing a black and white photo in a silver frame. The photo was of Dean and Colton’s first handshake on the day of the video shoot.
“Wow! I love this! Who took this?”
“The team archivist.” Colton answered.
Every NFL team had an archivist, a photographer and videographer to document anything and everything about the team, preserving history.
Thankfully, the photographer had captured the moment of their first handshake. Their first touch, their first thunderbolt. When Colton first saw the photo, he had almost been embarrassed at the huge smile that showed the level of adoration in his face. But upon closer inspection, the photo captured the same admiration in Dean…seizing a moment in time for the both of them.
“I love this so much! Thank you.” Dean hugged Colton, kissing his cheek. “This is going on my desk in the studio, right next to your note.”
Dean showed Colton around the loft. The roof was decorated with another Christmas tree, along with festive, illuminated life-sized snowmen around the edge of the pool. In the guest bedroom, where Aiden would be sleeping, Dean had another small tree decorated with ornaments of musical instruments and sports doodads. All specifically catered to Aiden.
Colton grabbed Dean in the guest bedroom and kissed him deeply. “Dean, this is adorable! You did all this in twenty-four hours?”
“Yep! I want Aiden to have the best Christmas ever. I’m gonna spoil him rotten. Even if it is just for four days.”
Colton couldn’t help it. Tears began to leak from his eyes.
“You’re crying?! Okay wemustbe spending too much time together. I’m starting to rub off on you!” Dean joked.
Colton poked his ribs. “You dork! No but, this isreallysweet, Dean! Aiden is going to have a great Christmas.”
“That’s the plan! Speaking of…it’s time to decorate cookies!” Dean grinned, grabbed his hand, and pulled Colton back into the kitchen.
***
Dean
Colton grabbed a drink from the fridge and took a seat at the island.
“Okay, Aiden,” Dean called. “You wanna decorate some Christmas cookies?”
Aiden dropped what he was doing on the sofa, ran to the island, and hopped on a stool.
The holidays were Dean’s fondest memories of his childhood. Thanksgiving and Christmas were his favorites, but no matter the holiday, the entire family would converge at his grandma’s house in rural Georgia for a meal.
The country house with pale yellow clapboard siding sat at the end of a long dirt driveway and had a porch that stretched across the entire front of the house with a swing hung between the white columns. During the holidays, his grandma would cook forhours. Cooking for her family was her love language, and Dean was happiest helping in grandma’s kitchen.
Each holiday, extra tables were set up in the kitchen and down the central hallway, to accommodate their massive extended family. It was always a chaotic, boisterous affair…with good food, laughter, sometimes arguments, but always family.
Those holiday dinners with his grandma were what Dean missed most. He'd never forgive his parents for tossing him aside, depriving him of all those festive dinners with his family.
