It’s Christmas morning!

My eyes popped open and I hurried to look at the clock. Mommy and Daddy told me that I needed to stay in bed until at least seven before I could get up. I was allowed to peek inside my stocking, but I wasn’t to touch the gifts under the tree.

There were a lot of them! All different shapes and sizes; wrapped up in pretty paper that Mommy and I picked out, all on our own. She even let me help her wrap some of them, even though I didn’t do as good of a job as she did with her gifts.

7:05!

That was my cue to get out of bed.

Rushing to the bathroom, I took a pee, then washed my hands. I reached for my toothbrush and put some paste on it. I didn’t much like to brush my teeth, but it was Christmas, and I figured that it would be a good gift to my parents if I took care of business without them having to remind me to do so. A spit, then a rinse, and a smile in the mirror later, I was good to go.

Tiptoeing downstairs, the tree we’d gone and cut, then decorated with a mix of each other’s decorations was lit and awaited me.

And so was the most humungous, most beautiful stocking—ever!

Giggling, I kneeled down on the rug and plunged my hand inside the larger than life sock and came out with my first trinket.

But it’s wrapped.

Santa never wrapped my stuffers up before.

My mind went back to when Sarah told me last week that Santa didn’t exist. When I’d asked my parents, they’d told me that he only exists for those who believe in him.

Hmm… Maybe he decided to tease me this year because I doubted him? Daddy didn’t like doubt. He said that if we’re strong people, we always know what to think, how to act, and what to believe in. It didn’t matter what others thought. That’s why I still believe in Santa.

Unwrapping the first trinket revealed a pack of gum.

“Oh, yay!” I cried out, then reached for the next little treasure, which was also wrapped.

“Merry Christmas, lovely girl of mine,” Mommy whispered into my ear. I didn’t hear her come downstairs, but I was glad that everyone was finally up. That meant that we were that much closer to the surprise.

Jumping up into my new mommy’s arms and squeezing her neck until she giggled, I asked, “Where’s Daddy?”

“He went to get Grams.”

Yesterday was the best day ever, but I bet today would be better. Grams’s doctor told us we could take her home. Because she has really bad headaches still, and gets woozy, the doctor said that she couldn’t be alone. That means she had to come stay with us.

“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Grams called, and I let Mommy go to run and give Grams a hug. I missed hugging her.

All the gifts but one was opened, and paper littered the floor. I was bouncing on my knees, staring Daddy down so he could give me the go-ahead to give Mommy her gift.

“It’s time, baby girl,” he said.

“Time for what?” Mommy asked.

I rushed to my feet and ran to the tree to collect what Daddy and I had made. “Put your hand out,” I told her, handing the item into her palm as soon as she did.

“What’s this?” She inspected it with that artistic eye of hers. With the twinkle in her gaze, I knew she liked what she saw.

“Open it!” I hopped around. Why did adults have to take so long to open their gifts anyway?

“It opens?” Twirling the nut around in her hand, she must have noticed the tiny hinge on it. “Ah!”

Nestled inside the Christmas walnut Daddy and I decorated was the last piece that would make my dreams come true.

“Emberlyn Roth,” Daddy said, his voice a little shaky. Daddy didn’t do shaky; it was weird. “I know–”

“Yes!” she yelled out, then threw herself into my daddy, knocking them both down to the floor in fits of giggles as she kissed him silly, as Mommy likes to call it. Daddy does that a lot.

“You didn’t let me finish,” he grumbled beneath her, but kissed her back. I rolled my eyes. Them and their kisses. Even though I thought it was gross, I still felt happy when I saw them like that.

“Because I don’t need those words, Shane,” she explained. “I want to be your wife. I want to take care of our Lana Rose together, and–”

“And I want to have more babies…with you,” Daddy whispered, “watch them grow up into great human beings because their mother is the best person in the world to teach them everything.”

“Shane,” she cooed.

Oh no! Mushy kisses were worse than silly kisses. “Guys!” I whined, Grams laughing in the background.

“Come here, baby girl,” Daddy said, and I listened.

When I got close enough, he pulled me down into their heap.

“Are you ready to be a princess for a day?” Mommy asked me.

I nodded. “I’m ready for you to be my real mommy.”