I SHOULD BE USED TO the Silvermans’ extravagant ways. This Christmas, though, was ridiculous. Stephan’s Aunt Gillian had gone beyond overboard. I understood this year she had her first grandchild, Sebastian, but the baby was only two months old. Stephan’s Uncle Carl and his wife Annabelle had twins who were older at four months, but still way too young to appreciate everything around them. The mega mansion was lit up brighter than the northern lights. Inside the house there were Christmas trees in every social area. Mistletoe hung above doorways, gold, silver, green and red balls in long wreaths on the walls. All six trees had presents under them and the number of them for the new babies was insane. I was sure Andrew and Oakley had a count on how many presents everyone had. They were constantly checking for new ones.
The tree at home had overflowed. I myself had gone a little overboard on the babies. They were just so adorable. They were turning me into a clucky mess. I wasn’t ready for a baby though and I knew Stephan felt the same. Uni was hard work and I was only just starting to get used to having a loving family. I wouldn’t know what to do with a child of my own at the moment. I was watching though; the way Bailey and Annabelle were with their precious bundles. I had no doubt that Stephan would be an amazing father when we decided to have children of our own, but I’d never had great role models. My best friend Jess’s mother was the closest and only loving parent I had seen until I moved to Reed Creek. So I intended to soak up the love that now surrounded me and watch how loving parents were.
This morning was different from last year. We’d stayed at Stephan’s Aunt Gillian and Uncle Albert’s house. Oakley and Andrew had woken everyone up at the crack of dawn. Five was way too early in the morning. I sat at the long table that could seat more than twenty people trying not to fall back asleep in my food. Annabelle rested her head on Carl and her eyes were closed. Baby Jake cradled against my mother-in-law Evelin, and Angelica in Gillian’s arms. I was surprised Gillian wasn’t holding her own grandchild, Sebastian, but I looked next to her and saw the little cutie was in his grandpa’s embrace.
“You want one?” Stephan’s breath tickled the nape of my neck.
Shaking my head, I turned to him to look into his eyes. They were lit up with playfulness. “Maybe in three or so years. I’m happy to practice making them, though.” I winked at him, and he made my favorite sound, his deep laugh.
“Do you think they’d notice if we went back to our room?”
I nodded. “Um, yes. Are you crazy? Oakley and Andrew have turned into hawks. I didn’t know they had this type of motivation in them.”
He shrugged. “Those two have always been Christmas crazy. It’s when they get spoiled the most. Before the new additions they were the babies of the family.”
I glanced at the two boys, er, men. They were eighteen and had finished high school this year. They were both going to the same university as the rest of us.
Griffith University next year was going to be Silverman central.
I had a feeling as I looked around the table at all the Silvermans, my family, that next year would be a busy one.
Life had changed so much in a year. I was a mother. My first Christmas as a mother. My fears that I wouldn’t be able to be a mother or a good one, seemed silly now as I gazed around at my family and all the love and support they showed me. Any help I needed, I received, and sometimes I got more than I wanted, but I wouldn’t change my life or how it had turned out. Sure, I wished my parents were alive, but now being a parent myself I now knew they would have wished for me to be happy. To enjoy my life and live it to the fullest.
Richard was my best friend, lover, and now the father of my child. He surprised me every day with how he was with me and now our son. I felt beyond blessed that he had taken over the primary role of caring for Sebastian by being a stay at home father. I went to uni and work assured that Sebastian was in the best hands.
This Christmas, even though Sebastian was too small to really enjoy the presents, I felt so much excitement at just having him and knowing our family was building. I’d joined Oakley and Andrew when they’d counted all the presents and I knew Sebastian was going to have some major loot, so much so that it would take more than one car trip to take everything home.
I had a ball going shopping this year with Sebastian in mind and Carl and Annabelle’s twins. I’d gone nuts in Babies‘r’Us. It was Richard who I’d had trouble buying gifts for. He had everything already. That was the down side of being with a man that had lots of money. In the end, he was getting silly things that I wasn’t sure he’d wear or keep, like shirts with sayings for new Dads, and I got him a mug that was blank and as he put his hot coffee in a picture of me in lingerie showed up. Well, that little present I didn’t think he’d get rid of, but I was sure I wouldn’t see him in the t-shirts, well non-name brand ones.
Richard’s hand reached for mine and he squeezed it. “Penny for your thoughts?”
“I was just thinking of my lack of presents for you and picturing you opening them.”
“Little raven, I can promise you that anything you get me I will like. I love you.” He eased his chair back and before I could voice any protest he leaned over and rested his hands on my waist and lifted me onto his lap. He nuzzled my neck and his whiskers tickled my skin.
“I love you too.” I chuckled because I was sure he was going to eat his words. “I’ll remember you said this after you’ve unwrapped them.” I patted his chest before I snuggled back against him grateful the chairs were huge and closed my eyes content.
I was exhausted. Thank God for Carl’s family. I was sure if his sisters-in-law weren’t baby crazy I’d never sleep. I was definitely coming around to the idea of a nanny. My twins were demanding and didn’t like to sleep when I did.
My mother helped out when she wasn’t busy with her own things, but the biggest help was Carl’s family. My mother was sleeping in this morning, lucky her, and coming to Gillian’s house for lunch along with some others of the spouses’ families. I mean, who the hell got up at five in the morning? Crazy people I tell you.
I tried to remember if the presents I brought had name tags, and hoped they did. Carl had attempted to help wrap and it was terrible and I forbade him to touch any of the presents. I was surprised, too. I was sure a doctor would have wicked skills at wrapping, but Carl didn’t. If I didn’t know he was one of the best doctors I would be worried.
Presents. So many presents. For the last two or three days, I felt like all I did was breathe wrapping presents and making sure I had something for everyone. A wicked grin spread over my face and I snuggled against Carl as I thought of his presents. I’d gotten him shirts with sayings for new Dads—thanks for the idea Bailey—and I also got him one with a pic of his baby girl saying, ‘No one messes with Daddy’s girl.’ Angelica was a major Daddy’s girl. If it wasn’t for me breast feeding her she’d never be in my embrace and not for my lack of trying, she just wanted her dad. She would be screaming her little head off and then Carl would hold her and it would be an instant stop. I was grateful that Jake was a Mummy’s boy so I had at least one kid.
Closing my eyes, I clung to Carl and didn’t care we were at a massive dining room table. I had an amazing husband who was an awesome father and twins who were a handful but healthy, and I was spending Christmas with our family. Who could want more? I knew I was lucky and as I opened my eyes and looked around the room I saw that everyone was looking like me. Grateful, happy and content. We all knew how lucky we were to be together at Christmas.
“Merry Christmas, Carl.” I eased back and gazed up at him.
He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “Merry Christmas, too, honey.”