The Jan’s Roses event lasted for another hour and a half, with each member of the Rose family approaching the stage to speak briefly about their personal experiences volunteering for the foundation. They pulled smiles and a few tears from their retelling of being able to touch someone’s heart because of the organization.

Josiah had been the funniest, cracking jokes, and looking on the bright side. While Julian had been more relaxed, congenial, and forthright. It was amazing to see them work the crowd without even trying, and as Norma sat watching, she couldn’t help but swell up with pride. Everyone was practically on the edge of their seat, and no one but Norma noticed when Christopher sat back and tossed an arm across the top of her chair.

 Norma bristled and waited for the curious stares and sudden frowns she had expected would come their way. But no one batted an eye; instead, they were engrossed in what Jonas was saying. It had relaxed her just a bit, more than she was willing to admit, so when Christopher closed the evening with his kind words and evening prayer, Norma had hope that things would work out, as he said.

 

It was in her nature to serve. Pushing through the swinging double doors of the kitchen, Christopher approached Norma from behind and slipped his arms around her waist. She jumped and tried to pull away from him, but he kept her locked in place.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked.

“What do you think? Someone has to keep things in order around here.”

Christopher turned Norma around to face him.

“This is our night. I’ve hired a chef to cook for the family for a reason. So you wouldn’t be in here like you are now.”

“I know,” Norma said, exhaling a breath.

“You’re nervous,” Christopher said.

Norma nodded. “Believe it or not, I had actually calmed down a bit, but as soon as we crossed the threshold, the nervousness came back. Then Nicolas and Alejandro’s flight were delayed, so they missed the entire event, and I’m not sure if they’ll get here tonight.”

Christopher rubbed her shoulders up and down.

“I could make some calls to see when their plane will touch down.”

Norma peered up at him. “Could you?”

Christopher gave Norma a knowing look. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll let the family know we’re waiting for Nicolas and Alejandro before we eat.”

“No, no,” Norma said. “Let’s not keep everyone waiting,” she said.

Christopher rubbed her shoulders again. “Amor…” he drawled. “I insist.”

Norma smiled softly. “Listen to me, oso de peluche,” she said. “I don’t know how much longer I can wait to have this conversation with la familia.”

“Would it be better for you if we got this over with before we eat? I for one would be extremely happy to get it out of the way.” Christopher paused. “That’s what we’ll do, right now.”

Norma’s eyes lurched, and her heartbeat raced. They’d been at home all of thirty minutes, and now she went back and forth over whether to spring their news on everyone so soon or wait until after dinner.

“Sweetheart,” Christopher said, grabbing her attention, “no more waiting.”

She sighed. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

Christopher’s smile was giant. “You sure?”

Norma smiled up at him. “Yeah.”

Christopher grabbed her hand and held on to it before pulling it to his lips for a kiss. They strolled through the kitchen door to the dining room. One by one, heads turned, and all in attendance noticed the joining of their hands. Christopher scanned the room and noticed a few members missing.

“Has anybody seen Julian and Desiree?” he asked. “Norma and I would like to make an announcement that everyone should hear.

“I’ll go look for them,” Claudia said, rising from her seat.

 

Upstairs, in the guest bedroom at the end of the hall, Julian had Desiree pinned against the wall, with her head turned sideways and her cheeks pressed into the sheetrock. She breathed heavily and tried with all the power in her not to shout as Julian thrust into her heated core. With her dress pulled up and her see through white lace panties around her ankles, Desiree’s eyes rolled as Julian drove into her with deep commanding strokes. With his feet braced on the outside of hers and his hands melting into her waist, Julian lifted her hips and dug into Desiree’s center with a fierceness that caused them to rock into the wall.

“Oooh, shit, oh my God, baby…” Desiree moaned. With her back arched, Julian leaned into her bottom and nibbled her ear as he hammered into her backside.

“Aaaah shiiiittt…” Desiree moaned again. “Fuck me, baby, yeah, yeah, yeah,” she sang as Julian tapped into her ass.

There was a knock on the door that caused Desiree to freeze, and her eyes stretched in horror that they would be caught. But not Julian, as if he hadn’t heard a thing, he continued his assault on her pussy, grinding into her hot center with deep plunging thrusts. Desiree couldn’t help but bite down on her lip. She didn’t want Julian to stop no more than he did.

“Hey Desiree, are you in there?” Claudia called.

Desiree swallowed and tried to get her voice together while Julian hips bucked back and forth.

“Um,” Desiree said just as her eyes rolled again. “Yeah, I’ll be out in just a second,” she said hurriedly.

“Okay, well, whatever you’re doing, try to make it quick, Daddy Rose and Auntie Norma have an announcement to make that they want us all to hear.”

Julian slammed into Desiree’s ass so hard the slapping of their skin resounded around the room. Desiree’s head fell forward into the wall again, and a wailing whimper escaped her lips.

“Desiree?” Claudia asked.

“I got it!” Desiree shouted as she ground her hips into Julian’s damaging blows with a bite of her bottom lip.

Keeping her mouth closed tight and biting down on her teeth Desiree braced herself against the onslaught of Julian’s rowdy strokes. Regardless of her will, a high-pitched squeal left her mouth and Julian pulled her off the wall and placed a hand across her lips.

Desiree bit down on his fingers, and Julian fucked her hard, making her come on his shaft with a tide of cream.

“Oooh my God,” she sang, and Jaden serenaded her with his linguistics as his language barrier crossed as he succumbed to his on release. Desiree loved when Julian went from speaking French, to Spanish, then Italian. Telling her all the many ways he desired her. Julian rested a head on her shoulder briefly before slowly slipping out of her womb and turning her in his arms.

They kissed, long and steady, with warms mouths showering each other’s lips, faces and chins with impassioned love.

Drowsily, Desiree prompted, “We better get downstairs and see what all the fuss is about.”

“I know,” Julian answered, “but would it be bad if we skipped the announcement and went straight to bed?”

Desiree smiled, still in a fog of love. “I don’t think so, but the others might.”

Julian nodded. “Always the voice of reason.”

Desiree chuckled. “Maybe if we get down there quick enough, they’ll be frank, and we can head on out.”

“You think they’ll notice if we skip out on dinner?”

“Damn,” Desiree said. “We’re doomed.”

Julian chuckled, pushing his lips against the side of Desiree’s forehead.

“Bathroom first,” she said. Desiree sauntered to the guest bathroom with Julian’s arms wrapped around her from behind. They cleaned each other and washed their hands, tucking Julian’s shirt back inside his pants and reapplying buttons.

They readjusted Desiree’s dress, and she finger combed her straight bob cut hair before they joined hands and made their way to the dining hall. As they got close, they stole goofy grins at one another, unware that they both glowed with a shine only a coupling could cause. When they reentered the kitchen, everyone turned to look at them, Samiyah particularly since she had been ready to eat from the moment they arrived.

“Did you two get lost?” Christopher asked.

Desiree and Julian glanced at each other with the highlight of a smirk dancing around their mouths.

“Sorry for our disappearing act. We heard you have an announcement to make,” Julian said, diverting the attention back to his father. Desiree squeezed his hand softly in a silent thanks, and Julian squeezed back.

Just then the doorbell rang. Christopher and Norma exchanged glances, and they both excuse themselves to answer the door. When the door opened, Nicolas and Alejandro stood with huge grins on their faces and thick coats wrapped around their cold bodies.

“Mamá!” they chorused.

Norma’s mood brightened significantly, and she opened her arms. Both Nicolas and Alejandro moved to her, and they hugged tightly. Christopher closed the door and held back while the family reunited. It warmed his heart that the boys had made it in town and just in time for their exciting news.

After greeting their mother, Nicolas turned to Christopher. “Mr. Rose,” he said, holding out his hand for a shake. “Happy Holidays.”

Christopher returned Nicolas’ stern handshake. “Indeed,” Christopher said. “How are you, son?”

“Doing very well. San Antonio has been good to me,” he said with a smile.

“That’s good to hear. I’m told you and your brother will graduate this upcoming spring.”

“Yes, sir,” Nicolas said. He was proud of his achievement, and his smile bubbled over.

Alejandro took his turn greeting Christopher, and they also chatted briefly about his graduation.

“We’re so sorry we couldn’t make it to the event.”

“Well it’s no fault of your own,” Christopher said. “Why don’t you two follow us to the kitchen and have a seat? We are about to eat dinner, but first we have some great news to share.”

“Sure, sure,” Nicolas said.

They meandered to the dining room and all eyes turned to them as they entered.

“Hey!” the family sang.

“Nicolas, it’s felt like years since we’ve seen you!” Jonas said, approaching Nicolas with an incredulous smile.

“I know,” Nicolas said, “it’s been too long, but school and studies have kept me preoccupied. I promise I wasn’t ignoring you.” The men laughed as everyone exchanged greetings.

After a few minutes, Nicolas and Alejandro removed their coats and got comfortable at the table. The room was warm and toasty, and the table had been set. Standing at the head, Christopher cleared his throat. He scanned the room, looking from one face to the other, warmed even further by the joining of his family and the new additions that had been added. The only person not in attendance was Quentin, who’d headed to his parents’ house with a sudden emergency. Christopher hoped they were all right, and he knew he’d find out soon.

“Don’t keep us in suspense, old man,” Josiah cracked out, causing a few snickers to float around the room.

Christopher chuckled then his face became serious. “For a long time, after your mother passed, the only ones we’ve depended on was each other. Although we received sympathy and condolences from those on the outside, it was us,” Christopher pointed to his boys and his girls, “that held each other together. We went through a time so dark it was almost tough to make it through the day, but each of us became a listener, advisor, and leaned on one another’s shoulders became the thing that bonded this family together even more. None of that, could’ve been done without this woman right here.”

Christopher reached out and pulled a blushing Norma against his side.

“True that!” Josiah said while all the others nodded in agreement.

“Norma and I have both had the pleasure of watching you grow up, move out, and add to the Rose dynasty. Today, I’m happy to announce that I will be doing the same.”

The room had gotten quiet while they all hung on Christopher’s words.

“You see, while Norma was busy being our friend, our sounding board, our nurturer, and a mother figure in our lives, I was busy falling in love with her, and recently, I asked her to be my wife, and she said yes.”

Not a single person moved, blinked, or made a sound. They all sat with eyes wide, taking in the significant news that Christopher just laid on them. Next to him, Norma froze, her limbs paralyzed, her lungs closed to the oxygen in the room. Her eyes went around the table, landing on each of them one at a time, but she couldn’t gauge their reaction as they sat with blank faces looking over at them.

The moment Norma thought she could feel her limbs, she silently informed her legs to move. But they didn’t, holding in place next to Christopher as he draped an arm across her shoulder and rested a hand against her arm.

The silence broke when Phoebe burst into tears and dropped her face into her hands. Everyone turned to her as she stood and trotted around the table toward her father. As she neared, Christopher dropped his arm from Norma’s shoulder and reached out to Phoebe. He pulled her in for a hug and let her cry into his chest, giving Phoebe the time she needed so she could say her peace. Phoebe sniffed and took deep breaths, then gathered herself enough to speak.

“For the longest time,” she paused and attempted to steady her breathing again. “For the longest time, I didn’t know if you would ever love someone again.”

Her voice cracked, and Phoebe paused then let out another deep calming breath.

“I thought you would live in this house alone, forever.” She pulled her lips in and rubbed them together. “Honestly, Dad, it broke my heart.” Phoebe began to cry again, and Christopher held her tight. Jaden and Jonas rose from their seats and so did a few others. Slowly they made their way to Phoebe as she cried against her father’s chest.

“I never meant to worry you,” Christopher said. “When you’re a parent, you put the needs of your kids before your own. Falling in love with Norma happened over the years as we all grew and healed together. There’s always a divine plan in place, and I don’t want you to worry about me anymore.”

Phoebe’s tears fell continuously with her arms wrapped around her father’s waist. Behind him, Phoebe reached out, grasping for any sign of Norma.

Norma eased into their space, and Christopher opened up and pulled Norma in, and they all hugged as Phoebe tried with all her might to calm her spirit.

“When?” Phoebe asked.

Christopher glanced over at Norma, then around to all of his kids.

“Christmas,” he said.