Page 39 of Tempting Tessa

“Thank you,” she replies with a small smile on her lips.

After we all help clear the table, I banish Tessa from the kitchen while I clean up. She slaved away all day cooking, the least I can do is clean up for her. Once I finish, I join the rest of our family out in the living room where they’re watching the evening football game. We watch the game and enjoy everyone’s company. I just take in all the love of family that is in this house today and just sit back and soak it all in. I would have never guessed this time last year that I would be in this place now. I would have never guessed that I would have a woman by my side that I love more than life itself, a little boy who I couldn’t love more even if he was my own, and that I would be on my way to asking this wonderful, beautiful woman to marry me. I know Tessa isn’t quite ready for that yet, but I know without any doubt that it will happen one day, and my hope is that it is sooner rather than later.

“I think it’s time for us to make our way home,” my dad pipes up, dragging me from my thoughts. “It’s getting late and my bed is calling my name.”

“I think we need to head out as well,” Tessa’s dad says.

“Thank you all for coming over today. We had a fantastic time,” Tessa tells our parents.

“Of course, sweetheart. We wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else,” Teresa says.

“Hopefully next year Brian and Sara, David and Kate and Jessica will be able to join us. It sucks the years they are with their in-laws and not here with us, and poor Jessica is working today in the ER.”

“That would be nice,” Teresa and my mom both agree.

“Maybe we can all get together for Christmas even if it isn’t on the actual day,” Teresa adds. “You know we always have our Christmas Eve supper. Your brothers and family will be there, and I figured you three would be as well. Amanda, you Blake, and Jessica are all welcome to join us as well if that works for everyone.”

“Blake and I can attend for sure. I’ll check with Jessica and see what her work schedule is for then.”

“Ok, let me go kiss my grandson goodbye and get out of your hair. Thanks again for the great day, honey,” Teresa says to Tessa as she gives us both a hug and kiss goodbye before going to do the same to Ty.

My parents follow suit and a few minutes later it’s just the three of us. Ty is hardly keeping himself awake, as it is now an hour past his bedtime.

“Let’s go get you ready for bed, buddy. Want me to read to you tonight?” I say to Ty. “Your momma looks like she isn’t going to make it long enough to read tonight, so let’s go have a boys' bedtime story.”

Ty yawns. “I’m too sleepy. Can you carry me?”

“I guess, are you even going to make it to a book?” I ask him as I scoop him up to carry him upstairs. He lays his head on my shoulder and is out before I even make it to the top of the stairs. Since he’s out cold, I just put him to bed and go get Tessa to do the same to her. She’s exhausted after cooking all day for us.

When I come back downstairs, she’s already sleeping on the couch. “Hey, beautiful,” I say quietly as I rub her cheek with my fingers. “Let’s get you upstairs and to bed.”

“Ok,” she mumbles back to me as she curls up even more on the couch.

I reach down and scoop her up in my arms and carry her upstairs and to bed. She wakes up and we both get changed for bed. As much as I had looked forward to having a repeat performance of last night, I know she’s exhausted and it isn’t going to happen. I just want to hold her in my arms and fall asleep with her and that is exactly what I do.

The next few weeks blow by with normal holiday busyness. Christmas is upon us and it’s amazing to me to experience the magic of Christmas through Ty’s eyes. Having never been around kids, and especially that I’m close with Ty, has brought the magic back into my life. I might be just as excited as Tessa to play Santa for him. All our siblings and their significant others, as well as my parents, will be at Tessa’s parents’ house for Christmas Eve tomorrow night. This will be the first time we are all together at one time. It will be a large group, but I’m actually looking forward to it.

Christmas Eve at Teresa and Jim’s was amazing. Teresa is an amazing cook and didn’t disappoint at all with the spread she made. We had a great time getting to spend time with everyone and Ty left having been spoiled by everyone. We still need to set out all his presents now that we’re home, but I’m waiting on Tessa to get done putting him to bed to do so.

“Hey, sorry that took longer than normal to get him down. He was still all excited from everything he got at my parents’ house and excited for Santa to come tonight. I have a feeling we are going to have an early morning wake up tomorrow.”

“I figured so, and we will just roll with it in the morning. I think I’m just as excited as he is for tomorrow morning,” I tell her as she sits down next to me, leaning on me.

“This is my first time experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a small child. I can’t even explain to you how magical it is for me.” We sit in a comfortable silence, just relaxed, and holding each other for a few minutes. “Ready to get all the presents set out?”

“Yep, we might as well get it done.”

We pull out everything and Tessa arranges it just perfect. I sneak a few things in when she isn’t paying attention. She doesn’t know this, but I took Ty out shopping after school one day and helped him pick some stuff for her from him. I know her family has done a great job making sure she is never forgotten with Matt being gone, but I want to fill that place now and am excited for tomorrow when she opens her gifts. I considered for a while if I should buy her a ring for Christmas, but I still don’t think she’s ready for that. I just need to continue to be patient and the right time will come.

We have all the presents under the tree, I’ve eaten the cookies and drank the milk Ty left for Santa, and we are cuddled back on the couch. I can tell Tessa is ready to fall asleep and is fighting it.

“Hey, babe, why don’t we call it a night? You’re exhausted and like you said earlier, we’ll probably have a very early morning.”

“Ok, let’s head up to bed.”

We go upstairs and it’s a good thing we did as Ty is up bright and early at 5:30am. Tessa is able to convince him to cuddle with us until 6, but he’s too excited to get downstairs and see what Santa has brought him.

The next few hours are a whirlwind of wrapping paper, assembling toys, finding batteries and even a few tears from Tessa. She’s shocked by the presents that Ty and I bought for her. Ty picked out a beautiful mother’s necklace (with my help, of course) and some new fun scrubs for her. I got her a gift certificate for the same spa that Caroline took her to for her birthday for another day of pampering. I also wrapped up the plans that I drew up to renovate her master bathroom as she talked about so much after her birthday trip to the spa. I have a crew ready to start the remodel just after the new year as long as she approves what I have designed for her and she can pick out what colors and material she wants used. She loved both of these and I can’t wait to see how her bathroom turns out.

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