Page 2 of The Santa Surprise

I punch his arm. “Don’t worry about me, dick. I get plenty and often.” Yeah lately the often has turned into few and far between, but I’ve never had trouble finding a willing female to share my bed.

Mara comes walking in, sitting between us. “You two are complete dogs.” She hits me with her elbow.

I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her into my side. “You love me.” I kiss the top of her head. She’s a junior in high school and almost ten years younger than me, but we’ve always been close.

Mom comes walking into the room. “I love having all my babies home.” We all shake our heads because she’s always getting emotional when it’s about her babies. “I’m so proud of all of you. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, Mom, we know.” Cameron comes in carrying his plate.

While we eat, Tiny snoozes in his dog bed. Right in the middle of our brood, and right where he likes to be.

Chapter Two

Aspen

“Mr. Daniels, how are you feeling?” I check my post-op hip replacement’s IV. He turns his head slowly to look at me. “Can you rate your pain for me? One being no pain and ten being the worst you’ve ever felt.”

“I-It’s about a six. I’m thirsty.”

I record his pain level and vitals in his chart. “Let’s start with ice chips and see how you do with those.” He nods so I grab him a cup. When I bring them back, I raise the head of his bed before handing them to him. “Take a small bite and let’s see how you do.” I check his catheter output, which is good.

Once he’s stable, I call up to the ortho floor and tell them I’m bringing him up. The process takes me a half hour and once Mr. Daniels is safely in his room, and I’ve given my report—I head back down to recovery.

That’s how the rest of my shift goes at Aldridge Community Hospital. I’ve been here for two months, having moved from Chicago. Everyone thought I was crazy, moving to a smaller town, but I wanted the change of pace—it just took me a while to find the right place and the right job to call home.

The moment I drove into Aldridge I just felt like I was where I belonged. I can’t explain it, but a sense of peace washed over me.

I pull into the parking lot of Tiny Tots Day Care and Preschool and climb out of my car. I use my little key card to enter the building. The girl behind the desk smiles up at me and I return it and head down to the butterflies room.

I can hear the happy screams, laughter, and I giggle. When I open the door, I find little ones running and jumping around. Then I spot my little princess who comes running toward me.

My daughter, Dakota, is three, and full of sass. “Mommy.” She hollers as she comes running toward me. Her curly light brown pigtails bounce as she launches herself at me.

As always, I’m prepared and hold out my arms. Dakota wraps herself around me like a little spider monkey. “How was your day, baby?”

“We wead books, drawed pituwes, and pwayed games.” She says excitedly. My girl has never met a stranger and loves adventure, which is what I told her we were going on when we moved here.

After we say goodbye to her teachers, I help her get her hat and coat on. She slips her little hand in mine and we head to the car. She sings along to the radio, making me smile on the way home. Dakota’s little voice is so soft and sweet, and she’s always loved singing.

My daughter has also loved music since she was in the womb. I’d turn on my music and lay my phone on my belly—she’d kick and roll, like she was dancing. Of course, Dakota gets her love of music from me.

It was at a Pearl Jam concert at Wrigley Field that I met her father. My one and only one-night stand and the little rascal in the backseat was the result.

“Mommy, I want chicken nuggies.” Speaking of my little rascal. I swear that is all my daughter will eat. Her pediatrician assured me that she’s okay and to just try and sneak veggies and fruits in there.

“Okay, I’ll make you chicken nuggies and salad.” She’ll eat salad if I drown it in ranch dressing, but at least that’s something.

When we get home, while she watches a movie, I make dinner, and then we go through our evening routine after we eat; bath, snuggles, story, and then bedtime. Once I kiss her goodnight, I head out to the living room to fold laundry.

I never wanted to be a mom, mine was a monster, and I was worried that I would become her, but the moment that test came back positive I vowed to be the best mother I could be. I couldn’t imagine not having her in my life.

When laundry is put away, I decide to head to bed.

***

I blink away the sleep and smile. Dakota snuck into bed with me sometime in the night. She’s burrowed into my side and my arm is around her waist. I take a second to inhale the sweet scent of her hair.

She’s the perfect combination of me and her dad, and I hate that I snuck out before exchanging information—of course, I left because I was scared he’d reject me in the morning. Sneaking out while he was sleeping seemed like the best plan.

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