Page 33 of Home For Christmas

December 19th

What the hell had I been thinking when I agreed to go shopping with the guys? Maybe it had more to do with the fact that we’d agreed to make a day out of it and thought we’d take the entire family into town, then have a nice dinner out. It would give Marla a break from cooking for the entire clan, and with the ranch looking like a winter wonderland with the snow falling, downtown would surely have a picturesque quality to it.

Right after breakfast while Derek, Colt, and Ty went to the big house to help get all the kids ready, Greg, Harrison, Jasper, and I were used as the muscle to move most of the decorations Harrison had at his old house into the truck. By the time we got back to the ranch and unloaded the truck into the garage, the commotion was all at Marla’s house and Jasper’s home was blessedly quiet.

Well, quiet but for one kid. When we walked in, we found Lydia sitting on the couch in Jasper’s living room playing a game on her tablet. She was nine going on nineteen and grinned at us with a big smile.

“Hey, Pop dropped me off here about fifteen minutes ago. My brothers were driving me nuts. He told me I could hang out here until you all got back.”

Her auburn hair had been pulled into a ponytail, and she was wearing a fuzzy Christmas sweater and a pair of jeans and looked like she could swipe the keys to one of the trucks off the hook and drive off if she wanted.

It took us another fifteen minutes before we were ready to head to the big house to get everyone else. As it turned out, Harrison’s storage barn was dusty and dirty, and we’d all needed to change before we could think about heading into town with the family. Getting ready was easy compared to figuring out how to get everyone into town.

In the end, we settled on taking three different vehicles to give us the ability to spread out, even though finding parking downtown was anything but easy. Pleasant was still a quaint area with minimal street parking. Growing up, the only time the area was busy was after little league or high school football games when the entire town seemed to show up for ice cream from the only ice cream parlor in town. Ty and I had shared many nights curled into a bench next to the old video rental store as we chatted with friends, a time before sexuality and confusion muddied our waters for years. I couldn’t say I ever wished to go back to my teen years. I was enjoying this season of my life, crazy toddlers and all.

“It’s really gorgeous with the snow covering everything,” Ty marveled as we unbuckled Meadow and Mason from their car seats. I couldn’t help but agree with his observation. Downtown was gorgeous with the lights in the trees and the windows lit up in brightly colored shops, giving it the illusion of a watercolor painting.

I heard Derek say, “Come on, kid,” as he held his arms out. I’d expected to see him help Jack or Carter out of the back of the truck, but instead Lydia’s face came into view. The squeal of delight and the beaming smile she gave him as he placed her gently on the ground gave me hope for the future. Meadow and Mason were still in the scream randomly at all hours of the day and night stage, and watching Derek and Colt with their three kids, but especially Lydia, reminded me that this would pass at some point. I just didn’t know when.

“Divide and conquer?” Marla asked us as we all met in front of the bakery. Colt was staring longingly at the pastries, and I wasn’t sure if he’d even heard the question.

Another discussion followed—people debating on what Jasper’s house needed, what shops were around the area now, and when to meet up for dinner. My head was beginning to swim with all the commotion around us. I’d just gotten to the point that I was getting ready to step in and say something when Derek gave a sharp whistle and drew everyone’s chatter to a stop.

“Jesus, we’re not going to get anything done at this rate. Let’s see what they need then go from there. Christmas lights, right?” he asked Jasper, Harrison, and Greg.

Harrison nodded. “So many. White lights. I’m going to use my multicolored ones outside but inside needs warm white lights.”

Marla held up her hand. “We’ll find those.”

“Great. Christmas ornaments for the tree?” Derek asked the three.

Harrison spoke up that time. “The tree is almost bare, and Greg says he doesn’t have that many ornaments really worth saving. I’ve got a lot but not nearly enough to fill the tree we have.”

Derek nodded his head sharply. “Great. Colt, the kids, and I will focus on Christmas ornaments. What about decorations?”

Jasper shook his head. “What else do you need but lights and ornaments?”

Ty laughed. “That would be a yes. Dec and I will work on those.”

“What are decorations if they aren’t lights and ornaments?” Jasper asked again, that time a little frustrated that we’d ignored his question.

“The things that go around the house. You know, like a little decorative Christmas tree for the table or something to go on that giant mantle you have.”

“Stockings!” Derek gasped.

The three men we were shopping for drew silent. “I actually don’t have a stocking for myself. It got lost years ago and never replaced. I just have one for each of the kids,” Greg finally said.

Jasper shrugged. “There’s one at Mom’s for me.”

“That doesn’t count,” Derek stated, disbelief in his voice. “Mom has a stocking for everyone. We’ve had them since we were born. You need a stocking for you at your house.”

“Are we staying at your house for the duration?” Ty asked from beside me.

Jasper, Harrison, and Greg all shrugged their shoulders, but Jasper spoke up. “I don’t have a problem with it.”

Marla hummed. “I like having the kids at the house. It was nice to get to spend time with them without their dads roughhousing and riling everyone up.”

“I feel called out,” Ty huffed, but he was smiling.

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