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He scoops me into his lap and holds me for a while before I move to kiss him. When we separate, he takes the box from my hand and slides a beautiful, sparkling diamond ring onto my finger.
“I love you,” he says with a wide smile.
I kiss him one more time and hold the side of his face with my newly adorned hand. “I love you too!”
EPILOGUE
DANIELLA
All my life, I wanted a big family. I wanted to do all the things normal families did, especially around the holidays. Now, I finally have a chance to do that. I admit I might have overdone it with the “Baby’s First Christmas” stuff this year, but I’ve waited my whole life for this.
Dominic and I sit on the ground in front of the Christmas tree, handing out gifts back and forth while we watch our son, Daniel, shake the new rattle he got excitedly. He’s on his tummy, squealing with excitement.
“I’ve never seen him so happy.” Dominic laughs while we watch him.
Daniel moves around, staring up at the beautiful twinkling lights on the Christmas tree in awe. “He likes the lights.” I giggle, grabbing some tinsel and shaking it gently on the tree so it shimmers for him.
“He’s just like his mother.” Dominic leans forward and kisses me.
We finish opening our presents and put onMiracle on 34th Streetto watch with some hot chocolate. After last year, I decided that this would be our new tradition. Dominic and I sit on the couch with Daniel snuggled in between us, watching the movie. I’m so happy I feel like I could cry, but instead, a huge smile fills my face and I don’t let it fall for the rest of the day.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
DOM
Ten Years Later
“Why don’t we just get all new ornaments?” Daniel asks me while we follow Daniella and the girls in the Christmas aisle.
I watch the love of my life walk ahead of me, admiring her from behind for a moment while she bends down to grab something from the bottom shelf.
“It’s one of my old family traditions,” I explain to my son while we walk a few feet behind the girls. “We buy one ornament every year, and the rest of the decorations are old antique ones.”
“That’s weird,” he mumbles before walking ahead. I laugh and shake my head.
The alarm on Daniella’s phone rings and she quickly turns it off. “It’s time for them to get in line to see Santa,” she says to me.
The girls cheer beside her and begin talking amongst themselves about what they’re going to ask him for this year.
We hurry through the store, buy the ornament the kids all agreed on, and make our way to the Christmas display in the center of the department store.
“You guys get in line,” I tell them, ushering them to where they need to go. “Mom and I will be waiting right here.”
The kids all hurry into the line and excitedly look around at the giant candy canes and people dressed in elf costumes around us.
“You don’t think Daniel is too old for this, do you?” Daniella asks me after a minute. “He hasn’t said anything to you about Santa, has he?”
I smile at her and wrap an arm around her shoulder. I know how much the kids' experiences with the holidays mean to her, and one of the kids not believing in Santa would break her heart.
“Not yet,” I say, easing her worries. “He still thinks Santa’s going to bring him a new gaming console.”
I lean down and whisper in her ear, quiet enough that the other parents around us can’t hear. “You know I still have the Santa hat from the park, right?”
Daniella laughs and gently nudges my arm. “Stop it!”
“How about I put it on later and you can sit on my lap?” I smile down at her and gently pat her ass.
“Unfortunately for you, it won’t be anything like it was ten years ago.” Daniella sighs, wrapping her arms around her torso. “What I wouldn’t give to have that body back.”
