Summer
I’m up at 7am on Christmas Eve, since it’s a weekday. Zander runs to Finn with the cookies while I make us breakfast burritos and tidy up the house. When he returns, we eat. As we’re putting the dishes away, there’s a knock at the door. I go to answer and find all the guys, Troy, and Gabby, standing outside.
“Sunshine,” Seb exclaims, dropping his bags and picking me up in a hug.
“You’re all here,” I smile.
“It is our first Christmas together,” Alex replies with a smile. The others move around Seb, who still has me dangling in his arms.
When he finally puts me down, I follow everyone into the living room. People are putting presents under the tree and spreading out on the couch and floor. This is wonderful.
“Okay, you all need to open my present right now,” Seb yells, getting our attention.
He hands each of us a box covered in red reindeer paper. Seb is bouncing, he’s so excited. I rip the paper off to find a pair of Christmas pjs. Looking around, we all have the same kind, even Zander and Troy. “Hurry,” I say, choked up. He remembered my tradition.
“I knew we had to continue your traditions, Sunshine. I have a pair for Jake and Ray under the tree. Everyone scatter and get changed. It’s pajama day,” he exclaims before pulling off his jacket. He’s already dressed in his matching pajamas, and I didn’t even notice. Smiling, I tell Gabby to join me in my room. We quickly change and head back to the living room. Seb has a Christmas movie playing on tv and the fireplace and tree turned on.
“This means so much, Hurry. Thank you.”
“It’s an awesome tradition, Sunshine,” he says, pulling me down beside him on the couch.
“What’s next?” I ask everyone, feeling the holiday magic filling my soul.
“Christmas group picture by the tree, then presents,” Seb tells me.
“The guys usually come to my apartment, and we exchange gifts in the afternoon,” Alex tells me. “But we decided this would work better this year,” he smiles.
We gather around the tree. I get on my knees in front with Gabby as the others bend down or stand around us. Zander sets his phone on a dining chair and positions it to catch all of us before setting the timer and quickly sitting beside me. His phone takes several rapid pics, and he checks to make sure they turned out. We have one where everyone is smiling, and he promises to text us a copy later.
Alex and Gabby usually hand out presents to everyone, so they stand near the tree as we all find seats around the room. They've found the best method is for us to open gifts from one person at a time, so we start with Alex’s presents. We open them and throw the wrapping paper behind us once his gifts are handed out.
This continues through Bay, E, Zander, Troy, Gabby, and finally my presents. Not everyone bought for everyone else, but nobody seems to mind.
I sit back and watch with a smile on my face as my gifts are opened. I hope I did okay and everyone likes what I selected.
I got Troy movie passes. Bay got a sweatshirt and 2 pairs of mechanic's work gloves since he was complaining his were getting threadbare. I got Alex a medical journal subscription from the UK and a herbal medicine textbook. I gifted E a cooking class that will happen in February and a new apron. Gabby got a gift certificate to her favorite clothing store and a Sephora facial gift set. Finally, I got Seb a t-shirt and tickets to an NBA game in Charlotte. The Hornets are playing the Celtics, his favorite team.
Our group seems extremely pleased with all the presents. Zander and Troy pick up the wrapping paper into garbage bags, while we each gather our gifts into the various bags kicking around. I place my and Zander’s presents back under the tree. We're saving our gifts for each other until tomorrow.
Once the mess is cleaned up, we hang around the living room, watching movies and looking over our presents. Zander orders Chinese for lunch, which we eat at the table and island before everyone leaves. I give Gabby and the guys all hugs and wish them a Merry Christmas. Bay takes Olivia’s gift with him so she can open it in the morning with her other presents. He has family coming over for dinner tomorrow, and Steven's invited a few people to have dinner with him, Alex, and E.
I flop back on the couch after the last person is out the door. “That was amazing, Dad.”
“It was darling,” he smiles. We show each other what we received since we didn't get a chance to earlier. I got printed photos to add to my photo album and a bracelet from Bay, a selection of essential oils from Alex, an indoor plant and seeds from E, and a pair of earrings from Seb.
I grab the pjs for Ray and Jake and our gifts while Zander turns off the tree and fireplace, then he drives us to their condo. Raygreets us at the door, ushering us inside. “Merry Christmas,” I smile.
“Merry Christmas, you two. How are you?”
“Great. I have matching pjs for you and Jake,” I tell him, handing his over. “Please get changed, and I’ll give these to Will.”
Ray nods and heads for his bedroom.
I go into Jake’s room next, kissing his cheek. “Merry Christmas, handsome. How’s your day going?”
“Good Sum,” he smiles. “I like your pjs.”
“Good, because I have a pair for you too. Will, would you mind helping Jake change?”
