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“Oh my god,” Sarah squeals. “You two are going to make the cutest kids.”
We all laugh at that. “I might need you to talk me off the ledge occasionally,” Rae says to Sarah. “I’m nervous, but trying to be positive.”
Sarah wraps an arm around Rae’s back. “Everything’s going to be fine. I’ve decreed it. Sister privilege.”
“Love you,” Rae whispers.
“Love you more,” Sarah whispers back. Then she rests her hand on Rae’s stomach. “But I have a feeling I’m going to love this little one the most.”
My heart beats harder.
I’m going to have a baby with the love of my life. Best Christmas ever.
Miles
The lights are low, and I’m gently rocking Emmie in the recliner in the living room. It’s near the window so we can look out at the edge of town as we relax and rock her. Last night was rough. Emmie must be growing already because she ate nonstop last night. We didn’t officially get up for the morning until after nine, which is late for both Amelia and me, but when Emmie drifted back off around six-thirty, Amelia and I happily crashed in each other’s arms.
We had a quiet Christmas morning, complete with Christmas movies and a homemade feast of strata and cinnamon rolls. Then I crashed on the couch around noon while Amelia fed Emmie. One second I was awake and the next I might as well have been in a coma. Sleep deprivation is no joke, which is why I sent Amelia to take a nap after I woke up. She’s been asleep for a couple of hours now, and Emmie has been sleeping for most of that time, too. The sun has just set, so I’m enjoying the view of the large decorated pine tree out in front of our building. It’s strung up with lights and huge baubles.
I put on a mix of soft Christmas music, and I’m soaking up every precious second with Emmie in my arms. I didn’t know how deeply it was possible to love until she was in my arms.
“Hey,” Amelia says, padding across the hardwood floors toward me. “She asleep?”
“Yep. Though she’ll probably wake up when she smells the milk.”
Amelia laughs and walks over to the chair, carefully sitting down sideways on my lap. She rests one hand on Emmie’s back and her head on my shoulder. “She is a milk monster right now. My boobs fill and then deflate.”
“They’re still perfect,” I mutter, turning to kiss her lips. I wrap my free arm around her.
“This is perfect,” she whispers.
We decided not to do any presents this year, agreeing that Emmie is our present. We’re going to do some special gifts on Valentine’s Day, but for today, we’re just enjoying life as a family of three. I made chicken parm—which has become one of Amelia’s favorite foods—for dinner and some homemade gnocchi. I made the dough and Amelia shaped them.
We spent time with my parents last night, but after visiting Amelia’s mom at the nursing home, we’re mostly closing up shop, trying to keep all the dangerous bugs around this time of year away from Emmie. Spending a low-key Christmas at home, after all we’ve been through, has been perfect. In fact, I’m not sure I have a better Christmas memory than this.
“The tree is beautiful,” Amelia says. “Especially with the lights in the distance.”
“Would you want to stay here long term?” I ask.
She thinks for a moment. “I wouldn’t hate it, but I’d prefer a house in the country. Not crazy far in the middle of nowhere, but… we lived on a dead-end road when I was growing up. Even though it was still in town, it was out of the way and off the beaten path. I loved that. But you grew up in town, so I’m open to living down here.”
“You know what’s funny? I loved growing up downtown. I had a blast with my best friends, running back and forth between their houses, but ever since we lived at the lake house in college, I grew to love the peace. Though, I wish I could have it both ways. Our kids and our friends’ kids all running between each other’s houses, but out in the country.”
Amelia smiles wide. “Maybe we could.”
“How? There’s only one house close to the farmhouse, and it’s a small Cape Cod. It’s cute, but not my idea of home.”
“True. But Rae, Aaron, Sarah, and Joel have a lot of property. Maybe we could convince them to share some… whenever we’re ready to build.”
My eyes light up at that. “Are you serious?”
Her smile grows a little more mischievous and she shrugs. “I already call it a cult… we might as well live on the same property and make it official.” She shakes her head. “No, the truth is, I love the idea of our daughter growing up with a big family all close by. I loved the life I had with my parents, but I always wished for more family. I got over wanting siblings when I was young, but I would’ve loved to have cousins and a fun aunt and uncle… just more. I had so much love from my parents, but I wanted more love for all of us.”
“You are my dream girl. How the hell did I find you?”
She tilts her head, that mischievous smile I love so much dancing on her lips. “Right place, right time. That smolder you gave me from across the room. The way you held my gaze when you spoke to me. Then you sealed the deal when you went down on me in the bathroom.” She laughs and pats my leg. “Now here we are.”
“Well, when you put it like that, I guess our trajectory makes sense.”
