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Holly
It’s a break in tradition, but we decide on Christmas in the city for the second year running.
Steve suggested it mainly on account of Sister O’Halloran.
“She’s not getting any younger,” he reminds me, puffing air out of his cheeks, pushing away whatever thought I know is too much for him to even think about right now.
“The kids will love it,” I encourage him.
“Luke’s already making noises about us moving back there,” I joke, but Steve’s quick look tells me no.
“Luke’s five,” I remind him. “I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad still have the final say,” I remark, glad it makes Steve smile.
“It’s just I like it out here,” he says.
“And so do we all,” I remind him, feeling dumb for even mentioning something Luke just said off-hand.
But I know it’s Sister O’Halloran he’s really worried about.
“She said she had some big news on the phone,” he tells me somberly.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” I tell him, rubbing his huge back, moving closer until I can hold him properly. Kissing him until we both forget everything.
Like the first day we met, each kiss is like the first.
We love our kids as much as each other, but a five-hour road trip with Luke, Jayden, Millie, and Porter, and another one on the way.
No thanks.
I’m six months pregnant again, and there’s no way I could sit in a car for that long by myself, let alone with four kids plus a giant husband.
Steve’s chartered a ‘small plane,’ he called it. A Learjet is what it is, had to call ahead to block the highway just to land the damned thing.
Hank’s driving us out from the house, having a little vacation of his own with his wife and child, house-sitting for us while we’re away.
It’s a comfortable forty-minute flight, and it feels like within the hour, all six of us, with baby making seven, are in Sister O’Halloran’s little office and living quarters.
“Don’t touch anything,” I caution Luke, who’s already eying the room to see what mischief he can make. Millie’s still clingy, and Porter still small enough to hold.
Luke and Jayden, though? I gotta watch ‘em.
So much like their dad, it’s spooky.
Sister O’Halloran finally joins us all, along with Doctor Sterling. Hugs and kisses all around until the older kids are all squirming, Luke pronouncing everything finally as simply “Gross.”
But it’s Steve I’m worried about. He looks almost gray with worry.
Sister O’Halloran senses it and rushes to give us the news to ease Steve’s mind.
“Well…,” she begins, then presses her front teeth over her lower lip. She looks lost for words for the first time since I’ve known her.
“What is it?” Steve insists, taking her hand. “I can take it. Just tell me, for god’s sake.”
Doctor Sterling clears his throat, and Steve looks over at him, expecting bad news only a doctor should give.
“Steven. Holly… Sister O’Halloran. I mean Molly and I… Uh… What I’m trying to say is….”
Steve looks more confused than ever, and I’m inclined to share that feeling when we all turn to the sound of Sister O’Halloran’s gentle, rocking laughter.
