Page 30 of First Christmas

Lucas and I had talked about adopting a pair of kittens someday, both okay with the idea, and apparently her dad had chosen this as her Christmas surprise.

“Oh, sweetheart,” I laughed softly, kissing the top of her head.

“Do you like it? I have an in at the animal shelter through animal control. They said we could stop in tomorrow night and look at the kittens then, with no one else around.”

Nat just stood up and threw herself into his arms.

I watched my little girl soaking up all the love this man had to give us and got teary again myself.

They’d fixed a wonderful Christmas Eve lunch of boxed macaroni and cheese and came and got me from my cozy library when it was ready.

Locking it up and giving it an unbelieving shake of my head I’d followed them back in to eat. Afterwards we took turns opening our presents. Lucas was last to go and he only had a few.

One from me and one from Natasha. There was an envelope for him on the tree that he had no idea about from both of us. When it was his turn, after watching his girls open their presents Natasha was practically vibrating with anticipation again.

He was overzealous about the “World’s #1 Dad” travel mug that Natasha had gotten him and even got a little misty-eyed himself.

I’d given him a watch that I’d seen him looking at months before, that he passed by because he said his old one worked just fine. Lucas scolded me thoroughly for it, to Natasha’s delight, and I put him in place when I reminded me he’d gifted me a fully furnished library.

“We have something else for you, Dad.” Natasha walked to the Christmas tree and grabbed the envelope nestled in its branches.Smiling softly at me I returned the grin and watched her present it to him suddenly shy.

My hand covered my mouth because I was already near tears. We’d talked about this and I knew he wanted to do it, but we hadn’t bitten the bullet yet.

“What else could you all have given me that I don’t already have?” Lucas joked.

“Just open it.” Nat said, even more quietly now.

Lucas’ gray eyes met hers a little worriedly as his finger slid along the envelope, opening it slowly.

I kept telling myself I was not going to cry again.

Unfolding the small stack of papers, Lucas froze and I watched this six-foot-six man, covered in tattoos, dissolve into full-blown tears himself.

Natasha had handwritten a single question on the first page,

You already let me call you Dad. Can we make it official?

I went and had all the paperwork drawn up as we’d been working on it together for a while. He had been so unsuspecting that I’d done everything and all he’d have to do is sign along the dotted line.

Nat was crying.

I was crying.

Lucas was crying.

“Yes, Peanut. Of course I want to make it official in every single way we can.”

Nat jumped into his lap and they held each other while he smiled at me tearfully over her head.

My heart felt full, warm, and a weight seemed to roll off my shoulders.

Somehow, in that single moment, everything felt settled and more peaceful than it had in a long time.

Lucas kissed the top of Natasha’s head and stood, walking over to me, pulling me up to stand with him. Then he dipped me back and kissed me in front of our tree as Nat yelled gross and hid behind the pillow.

Everything was as it should be

Chapter 12

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