ONE YEAR LATER
DECEMBER 25th
5:58 A.M.
“Wake up. Tom, wake up.” Hannah shook her husband, trying to rouse him. Some nights he slept like a rock.
It was Christmas morning. She wanted to run downstairs, sit on the floor in front of their tree, and exchange gifts. Why was Tom always so hard to wake up when she wanted him awake, but whenever she wanted him to stay asleep, the tiniest noise woke him?
“Tom,” she groaned.
“What?” came the groggy reply as he rolled over in bed.
“It’s Christmas morning,” she reminded him.
“And?” He looked like he was about ready to go straight back to sleep. He hadn’t even opened his eyes yet.
“And I want you to get up.” She poked him, and then when that didn't work, she straddled him and planted her lips against his, kissing him passionately. That had the desired effect. Tom blinked his eyes open, his hands came out from under the covers to grasp her hips, then tried to find their way inside her pajama pants. “Hey, none of that.” She swatted them away.
“You kissed me,” he pouted.
“Only to wake you up.” She grinned, climbed off him, and grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the bed after her.
“Why are you so excited this morning?”
“Because it’s Christmas.”
Hannah practically ran down the stairs to the living room, where she went immediately to the small table beside the tree where she’d left milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. She was thirty-one now, much too old to leave snacks for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but she couldn’t let go of the tradition from her childhood. She loved that Tom went along with it, playing the role of Santa and eating the snacks, just like her dad used to when she was a little girl.
“He came.” She clapped her hands and held up the empty plate and glass for Tom to see.
He was standing watching her, looking almost impossibly hot as the sweat pants he slept in hung low on his hips, and his bare chest showed off his perfect abs. His eyes were twinkling merrily with amusement. “You’re so cute when you do the Santa thing.”
She poked her tongue out at him. “I am not cute.”
“Oh, you are.” He came to her, wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her against him. “Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Drake.”
“Happy Anniversary, Mr. Drake.” She kissed him, ending it when his wandering hands started to roam again. “Gift time.” She extricated herself from his grip and sat down in front of the tree, reaching underneath for one particular gift.
“Why are you so peppy this morning?” he asked again as he joined her.
“I’m always peppy on Christmas morning.”
“No, you're extra peppy today.” He was looking at her suspiciously.
“You’re just being paranoid.” She ruffled his brown locks. “Here’s your gift.”
Looking no less suspicious, he took the box and opened it. “New Christmas stockings,” he said as he pulled out the first one.
“So we can hang them on the mantle,” she beamed. “See, yours has Santa Claus on it.”
“And yours has Mrs. Claus,” he said as he reached into the box and pulled it out. Then his eyes grew round. “Hannah.”
Tears of joy filled her eyes, and she nodded. “Look in the box.”
He lifted out the third Christmas stocking, and picked up the pregnancy test with blue and pink ribbon tied in a bow around it that was lying underneath. “You’re pregnant,” he put his hand on her stomach.
“Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and this time next year, we’ll have a little baby Claus,” she put her hand over his.
“I love you so much.” He swept the back of his hand across her cheek then kissed her, tears in his eyes. Her big, strong, macho husband was crying.
“You’re happy, right?” she asked, suddenly anxious. They hadn’t talked about starting a family yet. They both knew they wanted one, but they hadn’t discussed the timing.
“Ecstatic,” he assured her. “This is the best gift you could ever have given me.”
“This is the best Christmas ever.” She smiled contently.
“You said that last Christmas,” Tom reminded her.
“I was wrong.”
“You betcha you were.” Tom pulled her into his lap and kissed her again.
Hannah laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled closer. Four years ago, she had hit rock bottom, and she couldn’t foresee a future where she was this happy. One year ago, she had been given a second chance, a chance to reclaim what she’d lost, to get her husband back. This year, she and Tom were celebrating their second first year anniversary with their baby growing inside her.
This really was the best Christmas ever.