“Merry Christmas, Mama,” Dove replied happily, running up to hug her.
Ella’s dad met her eyes over the top of Dove’s head, clearly wondering if she’d heard the conversation he was just having.
She nodded once, and smiled, so he would know she was pleased about it.
“I’ll just grab my coat and head out to feed the pony,” she said.
“No need,” her father said. “Your mother and Dalton went out to take care of that a few minutes ago. Roads are all clear, and your aunt and uncle, and the cousins are already on the way. After a couple of days cooped up, everyone was excited to get out of the house.”
“Not us,” Dove pointed out. “We’re excited to stayinour house.”
The doorbell rang, and then the front door opened and family began to spill in.
Ella and Dove went to greet them, hand in hand. As they gave and received hugs and well-wishes, she imagined all this through Dalton’s eyes and found that she couldn’t wait for him to get back to the house and soak in all the family traditions he’d missed out on growing up.
It was going to be a magical day.
When Ella’smother came in from pony duty, Ella, her dad, her aunt and uncle, and her cousin and her husband were all sitting around the kitchen table already, while Dove ran around the house with Olivia and Danny singing “Jingle Bells” at the top of their lungs.
Mom looked radiantly happy, her cheeks pink from being outside in the snow.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” she said as they all greeted her. “Oh, isn’t this nice?”
Ella got up and gestured for her mother to take her seat while she poured her a cup of tea.
Dalton came in a moment later. His cheeks were flushed too, and his jaw was tight.
He’s nervous,she reminded herself.There’s more family here that he hasn’t met yet.
“Help me with Mom’s tea?” she asked him quietly, gesturing him over to her so that he wouldn’t have to get caught up in the mix at the table right away.
“Sure,” he said, smiling in a way that told her he was relaxed again, now that he had a task to do.
“How was Goldie?” she asked him.
“Happy to see us,” he said. “That pony loves to eat.”
“Girl after my own heart,” Ella said, laughing and handing him two mugs of tea.
He carried one over to her mom.
“Thank you, Dalton,” she said fondly. “Ruth, Tom, this is Dalton.”
“Oh, we heard all about you from Lori and Dan,” Ruth said. “It’s so lovely to finally meet you.”
“You too,” Dalton said. “You’ve got some pretty awesome grandkids.”
That sent Aunt Ruth into a deluge of news and stories about Danny and Olivia. Ella was pleased to see Dalton lean against the counter and laugh alongside the rest of the family.
By the time breakfast was eaten and it was time for presents, it felt like he had always been part of the family. Ella laughed when he stuck a bow on top of his head just like the kids did when they opened their gifts.
There was nothing too lavish for the grownups, buther parents had bought Dalton a nice blue and gray flannel, which he put right on. Ella had gotten him a pair of warm gloves. And Lori and her family gave him a powerful LED flashlight. Each time he opened a gift the look of wonder on his face touched Ella’s heart. It was hitting her that he probably hadn’t received many gifts at Christmastime.
Once all the presents had been opened, Ella offered to take the kids outside to play, so that Lori and Dan could relax a bit. Dalton came along, and they all decided to trek out to the barn to bring Goldie some apple slices.
As the kids’ laughter rang out through the cold afternoon air, Ella felt like a kid again herself.
That evening,after the extended family had gone, Ella, her parents, Dove, and Dalton all sat by the fireplace.
