"And we have another surprise," I say. "Elle and I got matching bikes so we can all go riding together."
Hannah laughs. "Matching pajamas and matching bikes too! Yeah!"
We watch her admire her new bike and helmet for a few minutes. She grips the handlebars, practicing how to climb on and off, then drops and lifts the kickstand a few times, getting the hang of it.
"Can I give Elle her gift?" she asks, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"How about she opens your gift," I suggest, "and then you open your last one?"
"Ooh," she coos, her eyes lighting up as they fall on the big, heavy box next to the tree. "Is that big gift for me?"
"Maybe," I say. "You'll have to wait and see."
She walks over to the tree and picks up a small gift and hands it to Elle.
"Thank you, sweetie," Elle says holding the box to her chest. "I love it already. Whatever it is."
"Open it!" Hannah says, clapping her hands in sheer excitement.
I smile and watch the scene unfold, tucking it away in my heart so I can remember it forever.
Elle carefully untangles the ribbon and opens the box. Inside, two necklaces are nestled in soft velvet. Each pendant is delicate and silver, shaped like a heart, with tiny letters etched into the surface.
She lifts one of them, her brow furrowing slightly as she examines the inscription.
“What does this say?” she asks, looking at me.
I smile, leaning in closer to her. “It’s in Irish Gaelic,” I explain. “It saysMáthair agus Iníon.”
Elle tilts her head, not quite understanding. “And that means?”
“Mother and Daughter,” I say gently.
Elle looks at the necklace again, her eyes softening. “Hannah, did you pick this out?”
Hannah nods eagerly, her little face lighting up. “Yep! I wanted you and me to have matching necklaces!” She glances down at her own necklace with pride. You're my other mommy, Elle. You take care of me, and I love you.”
Elle looks at Hannah, who is beaming up at her. “I love you, too.” she replies softly.
She lifts the necklace to her chest, her voice thick with emotion. “Hannah, this is… so beautiful. I don’t even have words for how much this means to me.”
Hannah’s eyes sparkle with joy. “I knew you’d like it! Now we’re matching!” she says, holding out her own necklace. “It’s just for us, like our secret.”
I can see Elle blinking back tears as she pulls Hannah into a tight hug. “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll always treasure this,” she whispers, kissing the top of Hannah’s head.
I can’t help but smile at the bond between them. It’s clear how much they mean to each other.
Elle looks up at me, her eyes soft with love and gratitude. “This is so special,” she says, her voice thick with emotion. “Thank you.”
"It was all Hannah," I say, smiling as I glance at my daughter. "She picked out the same necklaces for her mom, except those are in English."
Elle smiles at Hannah, her eyes shining. “Good,” she says. “You should have something just as special for your mommy.”
"Speaking of," I add, catching Hannah's gaze. "Your mom is picking you up in a couple of hours. How about you open your last gift and then we eat breakfast? After that, you can go get ready. Did you pack your bag last night?"
“I did!” Hannah exclaims, practically bouncing on the spot. “Am I spending the night at Mommy's?”
I nod, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Yes. She wants to spend Christmas Day with you, and she’ll bring you home in a few days.”
