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I love everything about this man. Our life.
One year ago today, we made promises to one another under Willow Falls’ Christmas tree, for better or worse, in sickness and health. We let nothing hold us back in following our dreams. Liam followed through with his dream and started his journey to become a firefighter. And let me tell you, he is the sexiest firefighter. Liam helped me realize my worth, and with a little guidance from a financial advisor, I opened my own advertising business in town. It’s been a thrill of a ride already, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of our forever.
Speaking of plans, a silly grin surfaces, and I raise my lips to brush against his. “Fine, you win. But I get to give out the first present. Don’t move.” I squirm out of his hold and disappear down the stairs. My heart skips a beat as I run to our enormous Christmas tree, bright, with a beautiful array of colors and ornaments. When we searched for our first home together, I had only one requirement: tall enough ceilings to accommodate an enormous tree.
I push through the cluster of gifts that weren’t there when I fell asleep until I find the small box hidden in the back. When I make it back to our room, I jump on the bed and straddle Liam.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a pony! Open it.”
“We said no gifts.”
I laugh at that one. “Says the tree downstairs magically piled to the brim with them.”
Liam chuckles softly. “Are you saying the magazine cut out of the KitchenAid mixer wasn’t a hint?”
I shrug. That mixer better be under the tree. “Just open it. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t spend any money on this one.”
He eyes me suspiciously. “It’s not that,” I say about the gag gift I gave him for his birthday. “And you liked it, so shut up.”
“I would have liked it more if you hadn’t lost the key.”
Whatever.
I push him to hurry up. My pulse quickens as he pulls at the ribbon. He opens the box, and I stare intently at his face, watching, waiting…
His stomach muscles tighten as he takes in my gift, his eyes glued to the box. He takes too long to respond, and I worry this is going south. His mouth parts. His Adam’s apple bobs. “Not as good as the handcuffs?” I ask, my voice shaky.
His gaze lifts to mine. He clears his throat, blinking away tears. “Are you…?”
“About to get really fat and moody? Yes.”
Liam drops the box holding my positive pregnancy test and grabs my cheeks, pulling my lips to his. “I’m gonna be a dad. . .” Drawing in a deep breath, he kisses me harder. Then he scares the hell out of me when he hollers to the ceiling, “I’m going to be a fucking dad!” Happy tears shed down both our faces as he flips me under him. The way he looks down at me with so much love creates a warmth in the deepest part of me. “Thank you.”
I giggle against his lips. “What are you thanking me for? It’s kind of a shitty gift. I mean, you did partake in half of it, so it’s half yours, half mine.”
“For being the reason my heart beats. Bringing happiness into my life. Loving me.” He spreads little pecks over my face. “Thank you for giving me the best Christmas present a man could ever receive.”
Okay, he got me there. My eyes dance with unshed tears as I look up at my soulmate, my husband, the soon-to-be father of my children. With a full heart, I reply, “I better have gotten that mixer. . .”
Three years later…
“Seriously, you need to start thinking of other gifts to give him,” Kelly Anne laughs over the phone.
“I know. I mean, how lame to always get Henley shirts and pregnancy tests.” I sigh. What I need to do is find some self-control.
“Hey, if I had a husband who looked like that, I’d be poppin’ out babies left and right too.”
Nine months after I gave Liam my present, Nicholas was born. He was all Liam in the looks department with my attitude and the present that kept on giving. His laughter, his quirky little faces, his determination… he was perfect.
When I handed Liam another box the next Christmas, he was just as ecstatic. We both cried. Our family was growing.
“I mean, you didn’t give him one last year. Does that count?”
“True. And it disappointed him when he opened the small box with the set of keys to a new truck instead of another test.”
“See! Your man is perfect, and he wants you all plump and making his babies. I’m happy for you, but please tell me you’re going to practice some self-control after this one. You’re way more fun when you can drink.”
