Page 123 of Ask Your Mom If I'm Real

I grinned as I stood next to Chris, absently watching instead of opening our presents.

I noticed that someone else wasn’t opening any of hers, either.

Merriam’s eyes were entirely focused on her daughter as she blissfully opened her presents, her eyes so wide and excitement bubbling.

But still, I could see the tears in her eyes, too.

Just like her mama.

I walked over to Anleigh, helping her open her next one.

I grinned when I saw what it was.

A Christmas blanket.

“So pwetty,” she whispered.

I ran my hand over it. “Very soft, too.”

She hugged it to her chest, and those silent tears started to fall.

I reached for her and pulled her into my arms.

Then I turned for her mother and pulled her into my arms, too.

The people around us went silent as the two ladies in my arms had their quiet breakdowns.

Only when I was sure that they were both okay did I pull back and say, “That’s some blanket.”

Merriam started to giggle. Anleigh took my joke seriously and nodded her head.

I ripped the tags off of it, spread it out, then wrapped it around her.

“Christmas colors look good on you, Annie,” I teased.

She beamed.

I walked back to Neesha, who was also now crying, and winked at her before grabbing the rest of Anleigh’s unopened presents and brought them to Merriam, who now had Anleigh on her lap.

“Why don’t you sit down here with me,” I suggested. “Let your mama open her presents?”

“Yeah.” She threw herself into my arms.

Merriam watched me for a solid minute before she tentatively reached for her stack.

She carefully ripped the paper open and revealed a scarf.

“Oh,” she said as she ran her hand over it.

“That’s from me!” Grams said. “I wrapped it last night when I heard you’d be here. I’ve been wanting to give it to you since I moved in!”

Merriam ran her hands over the cashmere fabric before smiling at Grams and saying, “I love it.”

Anleigh and I opened the rest of her gifts as Merriam opened hers.

Between the two of them, they had a pretty good haul.

We were lost in wrapping paper and gifts when there was an interruption.

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