“Our first official dinner party went well,” I say, sitting up in bed.
“It did. I think they all had a good time.”
Our Christmas Eve potluck was everything we wanted it to be. Billy’s entire family, including baby Clementine, Faye and Mark’s little one, was in attendance. I loved being a part of her first Christmas. My brisket was a hit, as were Billy’s dinner rolls. His mom couldn’t believe I got him to cook, but I assured her, he volunteered.
“You bring out the best in him, Jo,” she’d said.
Billy rolls to his side to face me then places his palm on my stomach. Leaning in, he whispers, “Merry Christmas, baby Mathers.”
We decided not to announce the pregnancy last night. I wanted to wait until after my first doctor’s appointment to make sure everything is okay. Billy agreed. Besides, it’s nice to keep it to ourselves for a bit. It’s our secret for now.
Placing my hand on top of his, I smile at him. “You’re going to be the best daddy.”
“I know.” He chuckles. “And you’ll be an amazing mother.”
“I know.” One thing I know for sure, if we have more than one, I won’t love one child more than another one. I’ll love them equally.
“Shall we go see what Santa brought us?”
We exchanged gifts with Dad and Billy’s family last night. Well, it was mostly all about Clementine. She had quite the haul by the time she left. I did get a new Apple watch from my dad, and from Billy’s family, I got two gift cards. One to that spa I went to last year and another one from Amazon. They also bought me emerald earrings that match the necklace Billy gave me. Billy got several high-tech gadgets that he’ll have to explain to me someday. My dad gave him an Apple watch. He loved everything. Now it’s our turn to exchange gifts.
“You get the coffee going, and I’ll wait for you by the tree.”
“Babe, you’ll have to start drinking decaf now,” says Billy hesitantly.
“I know.” I sound like Eeyore when I say that. “I bought some decaf pods. I’ll have one of those.” I guess.
Joining me at the Christmas tree, Billy hands my cup of fake coffee and sits down beside me. “Which do you want to open first?” I ask him. I bought him some basic things like socks, underwear, a sweater, a pair of jeans, and a new wallet. But my big gift is a Blackhawks hockey jersey and two tickets to a Blackhawks game after the first of the year. My man loves hockey, and the Blackhawks are his team. I’m saving that one for last.
“I want you to go first,” he says, reaching for a package wrapped in colorful paper.
“If you insist.” I giggle. The box is large, like a coat box. Carefully tearing the paper at each end, I flip the box over and open the paper up from the back. With the box right side up again, I begin to pull off the lid. I peek at Billy, and I swear the man is holding his breath. What has he done now? I get the lid off and see tissue paper folded over onto itself. I take one side and pull it back and stop. I see something familiar beneath the paper. I don’t speak. I can’t. Gingerly, I pull back the other side of the paper and stare down. At my quilt.
“Billy.”
“They weren’t able to put the entire thing back together, so it’s much smaller than it was originally, but it’s large enough for your lap, or if you wanted to hang it, we can do that.” He’s talking a mile a minute. “They were able to find most of the words she’d stitched and did what they could to place those all over.”
Pushing myself to standing, I set the box on the coffee table. Reaching in, I take the quilt by the edges and pull it out of the box. He’s right, it’s significantly smaller than it was. But it looks almost exactly like it had before Gisele….
I could use it for my lap or… “This could be the baby’s quilt.” It’s just the right size. “I could design the room around this.”
Did I mention I’m crying? Well, I am. Like a fool. My face is a wet mess, and there’s snot, but I won’t get into that.
“Billy, I….” I grasp the quilt with both hands and hug it to my body. “Every day I wake up I can’t believe you’re next to me. You’re the sweetest, kindest person I’ve ever met, and you get me. You get me more than anyone ever has. But, doing this”—I hold up the quilt—“is, hands down, the most precious thing anyone has ever done for me.” I place my hand over my stomach. “Besides this.” I step closer into his waiting arms. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for putting this back together for me. But I’ll try, Billy. I’ll work my whole life trying to make you as happy as you make me.”
“You don’t need to work to make me happy, JoJo. You do it by being next to me whenIwake up every day. I just wanted you to have your quilt back. I’m only sorry they weren’t able to put it back the way it was.”
“It’s better now.” I smile up at him. “Because you had a hand in making it.”
“JoJo.” His arms pull me in closer. “How did we get so lucky?”
“I don’t know.” I often wonder about our chance meeting. “Fate. Fate brought us together.”
“Sure, fate played a part.” He nods. “But I prefer to give the credit to Santa.”
“Santa?” He doesn’t believe in Santa, does he?
“Sure.” He chuckles. “That night, I didn’t want to hang out in my room alone, so I walked down to the lobby and the hotel clerk was dressed up as Santa. I asked him if he knew a good place to get a beer and he said, ‘Ho, ho, ho. Sure, down the street. Dingus’ Bar and Grill’.”
I hadn’t heard that story before now. It makes me laugh. “So, Santa, huh?”
“Yep. It’s all thanks to Santa.”
I guess it is.
So, thank you, Santa.For everything.
* * *
