“Santa is here! Santa is here!” My two beautiful daughters jumped up and down by the side of our bed. Sophie and Annabelle had been counting down for the past twenty-four days. Christmas was always a big deal in our house. The whole month of December was, in fact.

My beautiful wife went all out for the holidays every year. The house was decorated so completely that it gave those department store North Pole setups a run for their money. Not only was my wife perfect in every way, she was also kindhearted. Holly volunteered at several places every year, and we all took part in her charity.

“We’re coming. Why don’t you two go and attack your aunt Rachel first?”

“She’s been up since five, Daddy. We asked if she saw Santa, and she told me she is one of his helpers,” Annabelle said as she pulled the covers off of her mother and me.

“Hey, nugget. How about the two of you go downstairs and open one present each? We will be down in a flash,” Holly said as she started getting out of bed. I smiled at her huge belly and how she was trying to level herself. She looked at me and gave me the evil eye, and I started laughing.

“You know, carrying three babies is pretty hard. I wish you could know what this was like.”

I kissed the top of her head and put my arms around her, resting my hands on her giant belly. “Sweetheart, if I could carry these babies, I would. I know how much pressure it is for you. Thank you for giving me Sophie, Annabelle, and these three little ones.” I kissed her head again, and she smiled. She got out of bed, putting on a robe, and looked over her shoulder at me, winking.

“Let’s go open presents,” I said as I slapped her sexy ass.

Holly

The girls opened their presents, squealing with excitement. I loved seeing how happy they were. I looked at my handsome husband as he started assembling all the toys for Annabelle and getting a bunch of hugs from Sophie for the grand piano he’d bought her. Bryant was the one who’d noticed how talented she was when he saw her playing the piano at his old house one day. He insisted she be put in classes right away, and ever since then, the piano had become her passion.

I went to the kitchen and started putting the breakfast dishes away with Rachel. She was looking at her phone and smiling. The last few months, she had been very secretive with that phone. It drove Bryant crazy, but I kept telling him that she was in her twenties and she had a right to her own life outside of us.

“You ever going to tell me who puts that smile on your face?” I asked as I put the plates in the dishwasher.

She was silent for a second then grinned wider. “You can’t tell Bryant.” I nodded.

“Of course not. Girls’ secret.”

“It’s Roy.”

“Roy? My old boss Roy?” I said, a little shocked.

“Yes. It’s new, and I don’t even know if he feels the way I do about him. He keeps saying how young I am, but a fifteen-year age difference is nothing. Five years and we are still dancing around each other.”

I stood there with my mouth open, shock filling me. Rachel had a thing for Roy Timpson? As far as men went, he was an amazing person, kind and funny and generous, and I supposed the fact that he looked the way he did didn’t hurt him.

“Promise me you won’t tell Bryant. You know how he gets.”

I smiled, knowing exactly what she meant. Bryant tended to get a little insane when it came to protecting the ladies in his life. I nodded, letting her know I would keep it between us.

“Can the love of my life please come into the family room? I would like to give her my present,” Bryant called from the other room. I left the kitchen and walked over to him. He grabbed my hand, leading us to the oversized chair by the tree. He sat down and pulled me onto his lap.

“Well, Santa thinks you have been very good, and he wanted me to give you this.” He handed me a cream-colored envelope. I opened it and found Bryant’s resignation letter from his hockey team. He might be thirty-nine now, but experts said he had another ten years of playing. Bryant was considered one of the best players of all time. His name was up there with the likes of Wayne Gretzky.

“Bryant, why?” I asked, not sure why he would give up something he loved so much.

“It’s your hard work. I want you to fulfill all your dreams. Besides, our daughters and these other three little ones on the way are going to keep me so busy.”

It took a moment for his words to register. Bryant was going to be a stay-at-home dad. The tears of joy started streaming down my face. I couldn’t believe I was so lucky to be with a man like Bryant. His whole life now revolved around protecting his family and making sure we were happy and secure.

“I love you, Bryant. You are the best man in the world, and I am so lucky you picked me.”

“I’m the lucky one, baby. I was lost until you found me. You gave me life, Holly. You gave me everything. I love you, sweetheart. Today, tomorrow, and forever, you are mine.”