Sam and Cooper walk into the kitchen then, duffle bags slung over their shoulders. I’m sad they’re not coming with us this year, but I’m happy they’re spending Christmas with Sam’s family. This year will be Rachel and Michelle’s last Christmas in their Dayton home before they officially move here to Chicago in January.
Sam’s older sister, Rachel, will be inseminated early next year with Cooper’s sperm in hopes of a pregnancy. She very generously offered to act as their surrogate so that Sam and Cooper could start a family. Their mother, Michelle, is movinghere, too, to be close to her kids and to help Rachel through the pregnancy.
As Shane carries the kids’ supplies to the SUV, Cooper comes to give me a hug. “We’re going to miss you, kiddo,” he says, and then he plants a kiss on the top of my head.
I squeeze him back, wrapping my arms around his sturdy torso. “We’regoing to missyou,but I think you’re doing the right thing spending Christmas with Sam’s family. Next year, everything’s going to change for you guys. At least I certainly hope so. It’ll be nice to have this quiet time together as a family. Please give our love to Rachel and to Michelle. I’m sure his mom is probably a bit anxious about the move.”
“Michelle seems excited,” he says. “Both about the baby and the move. She’s already got some interviews lined up in January for nursing positions.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Luke asks. He’s standing beside Cooper, craning his neck upward to see Cooper’s face.
Cooper picks him up and props him on his hip. “Remember? I told you Sam and I are going to spend the holiday with Sam’s family, and they live in a different state. We won’t be gone long. I’ll see you in a few days.”
Luke nods despite the frown on his face. “Will Santa be able to find you in a different state?”
Cooper smiles before he presses a kiss to Luke’s forehead. “Don’t you worry, pal. Santa will find us.”
Sam returns from the garage after loading their gear into his pickup. “Hey, why the sad face?” he asks as he ruffles Luke’s hair.
“He’s going to miss you guys,” I say. “Plus, he’s worried that Santa won’t know where you are.”
Sam nods. “Right. Well, there’s nothing to worry about, pal. I texted Santa to let him know where we’ll be.”
Ava starts fussing in her highchair. Cooper and Sam pay her a visit and kiss her goodbye, too. We wave good-bye as they exit into the garage. Just as they’re leaving, I receive a text message from Shane’s brother Jake, who lives next door to us.
“Aiden, your dad wants you to come home. They’re all packed and ready to leave.”
Aiden pumps his fist in the air. “Yes! I’ll see you at the vacation house, Luke. Don’t be late.”
Shane returns from taking the last of our things out to the car. He pulls me into his arms. “Why the sad face?”
“This is the first year we haven’t spent Christmas with Sam and Cooper since I met you.”
Luke reaches up to pat my back. “Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll keep you company.”
“I’ll keep Mama company, too,” Shane says with a grin as he leans in to kiss my cheek. “I’m hoping I’ll get a lot of opportunities to keep Mama company over the holiday. With two grandmas and numerous aunts and uncles at the house, we’ll have lots of childcare options.” And then he reaches around and pats one of my butt cheeks.
“Look, it’s snowing!” Luke cries as he races over to the back patio door to gaze out at the white stuff swirling around in the air.
“Don’t forget to bring your snow boots,” I tell him. “I’ve already got your snowsuit packed. You’ll need to bundle up warmly if you want to play in the snow.”
Luke races for the coat closet by the front door. “Don’t worry! I’ll get my boots.”
Shane grabs his keys. “All right, gang. Grab your coats and let’s go. We’ll pick up Grandma Ingrid, and then we’ll be on our way.”
“And my snow boots, Daddy,” Luke says as he holds them high above his head. “We can’t forget my snow boots.”
* * *
Normally, it takes only thirty minutes to drive north to Kenilworth, but because of the heavy snowfall, traffic has slowed to a crawl. Traveling this close to Lake Michigan, we’re bound to feel the lake effect, meaninga lotof snow can fall in a short time.
Shane and I buckle the kids into their car seats in the middle row of the Escalade before we drive across the street to pick up my mom. She climbs into the backseat and sits between the kids. Shane and I are sitting up front, of course. While he’s concentrating on navigating the snow-covered roads, I field text messages from the rest of the family.
I read them aloud to Shane as they come in.
Jake: Watch the roads. The farther north, the worse they are.
Hannah: Our flight out of Denver has been delayed because of the weather. We’ll see you when we see you.
