We’ve just had the most magical Christmas, my heart was full waking up and coming down the stone stairs in my tartan pajamas, hello Christmas chic, to a Christmas tree overflowing with presents. Thankfully, most of us are going back home on the Dirty Texas jet and don’t have to worry about excess baggage because everyone’s present buying is slightly out of control, especially those grandparents. Last year, with everyone together back home, celebrating Christmas was amazing, and I love how much our squad has grown and continues to grow each year. It’s been a year of highs and lows, but I wouldn’t change anything that’s happened this year because I honestly believe I’m stronger for it. I even bought something small for Chance as a peace offering. Yes, I know he doesn’t deserve it, but it’s fricken Christmas and I ain’t no grinch. Except that fucker got to me first.
“Merry Christmas, D,” he says nervously as he hands me a gorgeously wrapped present.
“Oh, thanks, you didn’t have to,” I tell him.
“But I did.” He shrugs, shoving his hands into his pajama pockets as he nervously rocks back and forth.
“I got something for you too,” I say, feeling bad as I only got him something small compared to the size of his present.
“You did?” he says, hopefully. I hand him his present. He quickly unwraps it and stares at the gift. It’s a silver bracelet with the inscription ‘Courage’ written on the inside. Thought it might help him. Tears well in his eyes, he is genuinely touched by the gift.
“You like it?”
“I love it, D, thank you,” he says, holding it close to his chest. “Now open yours,” he urges.
Okay, I open it and gasp as I pull out the Tiffany Blue box. “Chance!” I pull out a Tiffany & Co champagne bucket. This thing is nearly eight grand. “It’s too much.”
He shakes his head. “You’ve had so many things to celebrate, now and in the future, thought you would use it for all those bottles of champagne you’ll be popping. I’m so proud of everything you’ve achieved since …” He lets the words hang. “This way I could feel a part of your life still.”
Now I’m crying. “Come here,” I tell him as I give him a hug. “You will always be in my life as a friend.”
Those green eyes widen. “You mean that?”
“I do. Our friendship will take time to get back to what it once was.”
“That is the best Christmas present you could ever have given me, D, a chance to be your friend again.” I reach out and squeeze his hand. He sounds so low, and it’s Christmas.
“Come on, let’s grab some eggnog, I know where the whiskey is to spike it.”
We come back in with our spiked eggnog and take a seat back down on the couch. We watch Ryder zoom around in theremote-control Ferrari I bought him. It’s so cool. Sienna wanted to kill me, but at least Evan appreciated it.
“You have one more present,” Vanessa tells Christian, handing him a white box. He starts to open it, pulling out piles of tissue paper until he hits a red box, he then keeps going, opening box after box. I think Vanessa is pranking her husband until he gets to a pink box, and then more pink tissue paper falls out, next thing I know, Christian is crying. He pulls out a pair of baby onesies that say ‘Girls Rock’ across them.
No. Does that mean? Oh my god!
“We’re having girls?” he questions Vanessa, and she nods.
I knew it. The pink. Also, karma is a woman, and she has a funny sense of humor, giving that womanizing rock star two little girls.
“But how?” he asks genuinely shocked.
“Christian, if you have to ask how, you’re doing it wrong,” I tease, making everyone laugh.
“I wanted to give you this for Christmas, so I went back to the doctor’s office, they double-checked via ultrasound to see whether they could decipher via that, but they couldn’t, so I asked them to go ahead with a blood test to find out,” Vanessa explains.
“We’re having two little girls.”
“Yep, two little girls.” Vanessa smirks.
“Shit, we’re in so much trouble.” He grins as he pulls Vanessa into a heated kiss, making us all scream excitedly.
They are having girls.
“Two little Taylor princesses,” Christian yells out to everyone.
Best Christmas ever. My mind is already racing with ideas for the nursery and the clothes I’ve been looking at for the shop. They are going to be so happy that Uncle Derrick and Aunty Sienna own a boutique because two little girls will be expensive.
“I actually have one more present for you,” Christian tells Vanessa. What on earth could he be surprising her with? Nothing could beat her present. “Open it,” he says excitedly. Vanessa pulls out some keys.Are they keys to like some kind of sex dungeon?“Wonder what they could be for?” he asks her. But Vanessa looks confused. “Remember how much you loved Big Bear Lake? Well, while you were away in Paris, the boys and I took a little trip up there to look around … and I thought it might be a great place to bring up our kids. I bought you a house.”
