Page 88 of Once Upon a Holidate
“That bad, huh?”
“It was what I’d been expecting, but he kept telling me there were too many fluids and it was all terrifying.”
“So you’re getting along?”
She thought about how great things had been since she’d learned the truth about their past. “We are. I was wrong to pullback from him the way I did.” She sighed. “I talked to my mom about it a little. I asked her why she didn’t make me see my dad. I mean come on. I was a kid.”
“What did she say?”
“That she had made a mistake. She basically told me she was jealous of my relationship with my dad. I don’t get that at all. She’s my mom. But I believe her.”
“I’m glad you’re happier than you were.”
“I am. We put up a tree yesterday. My dad kept all my old ornaments. I couldn’t believe it.” She held up the silver quarter moon with the sleeping bear ornament. “Look what Wynn got us. When we pick a name for the baby, the store where she bought it will engrave it. Isn’t that adorable?”
He smiled. “It is. Of course if our little guy is late, it won’t be his first Christmas until next year.”
“You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that. I was so upset to have a Christmas baby, but now I think it would be amazing.”
“I’m ready whenever he is. I just want you to be okay.”
“I am.” She touched the screen. “I promise. Oh, I finished all the snowmen. I made one thousand of them. I put the check in our account. It’s going to really help with all the baby stuff and when we move into our next place.”
“I can’t believe you did that many.”
“My hands got sore, but it was worth it.”
“Open your bottom desk drawer.”
The change of subject confused her. “What?”
He grinned. “Just do it.”
She pulled open the drawer and was surprised to find a five-by-seven-inch envelope there. It was addressed to Wynn in Chandler’s handwriting.
“This is very strange,” she said. “You sent something to Wynn and it’s in my desk drawer?”
“I wanted to send you a surprise. Open it.”
She did and found a postcard from Hawaii. It was a view of their honeymoon hotel with a stunning sunset as the backdrop. The familiar tears returned as she turned it over and read the message.
You’re the best thing to ever happen to me. I’ll love you always.
“Oh, Chandler,” she said. “How did you get this?”
“I bought a few of them when we were on our honeymoon.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Which was the point. You’ll be getting them every now and then, over the years. Just to let you know how much you mean to me.”
“You’re the most wonderful man ever. I love you, Chandler.”
“I love you, too, Joylyn.”
***
The night Garrick and Joylyn came over for dinner, Wynn made tacos and served Christmas cookies for dessert. Joylyn kept yawning through the meal. When they were done, she excused herself.
