Chapter 2 Mammoth

D ecember 2 nd —

The baby monitor beside my head began wailing as I heard my infant son’s needy, angry cries. My eyes snapped open as my Reaper prodded me, but he didn’t need to give me the boost. I already woke up with Jonah’s first whimper. Any noise he made had me instantly alert.

In fact, this was the first night I didn’t linger over his crib for an extra half hour after he closed his eyes, just to be sure he was breathing, warm, contented, and resting. Maybe it was a bit extreme, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the perfect baby I had the honor to be the father of.

Two amazing, tiny humans brought into my life because of Rowe. I sat up, blinked the sleep from my eyes, and shuffled into the nursery, careful not to wake my wife. Jonah must have sensed my presence because his cries grew shrill as I reached into the crib and carefully lifted him. At only ten pounds, he was so tiny.

My poor little guy had a wet bottom, and I couldn’t blame him for being upset about it. I changed his diaper, remembering to keep his bottom half covered so he didn’t pee all over me like he did the first day I brought him home. Both Rowe and Jakey laughed for days, and I couldn’t resist a smile at the memory.

I cradled my boy to my chest and smiled when he instantly fell asleep. He’d be up soon and ready to eat, so I didn’t bother putting him back in bed. Instead, I held him close to my neck, where he liked the warmth and my scent. I learned about skin-to-skin in the hospital and took time every day to nap with him like that. Rowe and Jakey did it, too.

Patting Jonah’s back, I returned to my room, pausing to check on Rowe. She’d been a champ in the delivery room despite a difficult birth, and the bruising, soreness, and pain were fading. I watched her as she slept, marveling that I got to call her mine. Rowe was one of the strongest women I ever met. She repeatedly proved that with her fierce love for her children and sticking by my side. For better or worse, right?

Fuck, I was fortunate. Some would say blessed. I couldn’t argue that I had everything I ever wanted.

“Daddy?”

I turned around, spotting Jakey in the doorway. “Hey, Bud.”

He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as I joined him in the hall. “Is Jonah okay?”

“Sure. He had a wet diaper. Didn’t like a cold butt.”

Jakey giggled. “I don’t like that either.”

“No one does,” I agreed. “Want some hot chocolate?”

“In the middle of the night?” He stared up at me with wide eyes. “Is that naughty?”

My lips twitched. Ever since he heard that Santa watched kids for Christmas, he’d been on a mission to stay on the nice list. “Nope. Santa knows that’s okay because you’re with a parent.”

He beamed. “Okay. Then yes, I want marshmallows too.”

“Done.”

We walked downstairs, and I placed Jonah in his bouncy seat, buckling him in as he continued to sleep. Jakey stared at his brother, lifting a tiny blanket to drape over him. The care and concern for his brother was sweet. Rowe worried Jakey might get jealous of the new baby, but I didn’t. Jakey wasn’t that type of kid. His heart was huge.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah?” I asked, putting water on to boil. “You got something on your mind?”

He glanced at the floor, toeing at the hardwood floors with the tip of his sock. “I got a question.”

“Go for it,” I encouraged.

“I didn’t want to ask Mama ’cause she might get sad.”

Hmmm. “Well, I promise I won’t.”

“Do Mamas and Daddys ever love one baby more than the other?”

Aww, shit. I stopped what I was doing and approached Jakey, lowering into the empty chair beside him. Looking straight into his eyes, I held his troubled gaze.

“I suppose there might be a parent or two who have felt that way,” I began, deciding always to be honest with Jakey. “But,” I emphasized, “I can tell you with complete certainty that Jonah is tied with you as a favorite. Both me and your mama love you equally as much as we love your new baby brother.”

His chin wobbled, and he squirmed in his seat.

“How about we hug this out?” I suggested, holding out my arms.

Jakey rushed into them, hugging me tight around the neck.

This kid. He proved every single day that I was the luckiest man in the world. Who would have thought I’d find my family so late in life? Approaching fifty, I had contentment I never believed possible before I met Rowe.

Jakey sniffled as he sat back. “Jonah is more love for our family.”

“He is,” I agreed.

“So, it’s okay if my heart feels a little stretched, right?”

My hand clutched my heart, bunching the t-shirt I wore. “Mine’s a little stretched, too. And yeah, that’s a wonderful thing, son.”

He smiled and brushed tears from his cheeks. “Can I have my hot cocoa now?”

“Just one more question first?”

He nodded, moving back to his chair.

“You want a candy cane or a spoon to stir it?”

His face lit up, and his cheeks widened with a grin. “Candy cane.”

I mean, what other option was there?

“No boring spoons,” I announced as I ruffled his hair and made his hot cocoa, unwrapping a candy cane and dropping it into the mug. When I handed it over, Jakey began to stir, noting how the peppermint scent filled the room as he stirred.

“Wow, it’s magic,” he observed, watching the candy cane slowly melt into the chocolatey goodness.

My heart melted with it as I took the chair beside him, sipped on my drink, and crunched on the remainder of the candy cane. It was early, about five in the morning before we retreated to the living room, where I put on a holiday movie and settled on the couch.

Jakey snuggled into my right side after I removed Jonah from his bouncy seat. I ended up far too warm and comfortable, hardly able to keep my eyes from closing as Jakey’s soft snores reached my ears. Little Jonah was pressed against my upper chest as I held him with one hand, my other arm wrapped around Jakey.

Being a father, husband, and provider for my family has become my greatest achievement. I would trade nothing about the hard years it took to ready me for this.

Rowe found us cuddled together as the sun rose, bathing the living room in soft amber light. Her hand rested over her heart. I caught the sheen of tears as she sniffled.

“Hey, my love. Good morning.”

“Good morning. How long have you all been up?”

“Since three,” I admitted, fighting a yawn.

“How about I feed Jonah and make some breakfast? You can take a nap with Jakey.”

“Sounds perfect.”

As soon as she walked away with Jonah, I closed my eyes. It seemed only a few seconds later that Rowe was pressing her soft lips to mine. Waking up to her kisses was my favorite way to greet the day.

“Wake up, my handsome husband.”

Jakey giggled. “Am I handsome?”

“Of course!” Rowe answered, tickling our boy. “And cute. Sweet. Adorable. Talented. And very, very ticklish.”

He slid to the floor, scrambling to get away as I laughed. “Breakfast ready?”

“Yep. I even made you cheesy grits.”

My hand slapped over my heart. “Woman, you’re absolutely perfect. I love you.”

She smirked. “Love you too.”

Later that afternoon, as I helped Rowe put up the Christmas tree and string the lights, Rael and Nylah stopped for a visit. The twins rushed down the hall to Jakey’s room and I heard him laugh as they entered, enthusiastically greeting the two mini versions of the club’s S.A.A.

Rowe and Nylah left us and decided to bake some holiday cookies as I draped the different strands of garland and finished hanging ornaments on the tree. Tomorrow, Rowe would put out the rest of the holiday decorations, but I stuck to the tree, the mantel on the electric fireplace, and the outdoor illumination. I’d already put up the icicle lights along the front porch and over the garage the previous weekend. As I finished with the final touches and stacked the boxes so I could return them to the garage later, I noticed the scent of cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla coming from the kitchen.

“Hey, my reason for living,” I called out.

Rowe’s sexy voice answered, “Yes, my voracious husband?”

“Got anything sweet for me to eat?”

She didn’t skip a beat when she answered in a sing-song voice. “That’s for later, Mammoth.”

Rael chuckled. “I didn’t think it could get any cheesier with you two.”

“Like you’re not worse,” I replied, popping the top on a beer before handing one to him.

“Never said any different,” he quipped as we sank onto my couch, facing the fire that flickered in the hearth.

“True enough.”

Rael sipped on his beer and then ticked his head in my direction. “So, I think Papa should be Santa this year.”

I snorted. “He’s been Santa every year for the last four Christmases.”

The gleam in Rael’s eyes was too gleeful. “He’s solid white, man. Have you seen that beard lately?”

Uh-huh. “Stop stirring shit up.”

He blinked a few times, batting his eyelashes. “Me?”

“Yeah, you. Ain’t any other crazy motherfucker lookin’ to start trouble so his Reaper can fuck around over the holidays.”

“Fuck, Mammoth. Why you always gotta ruin my fun?”

“Somebody has to keep you in line.”

“Nylah does,” he reminded me.

“Sometimes.”

He chuckled. “True.”

We ordered pizzas since the ladies were baking. I remembered plain cheese for Jakey, and we set the kids down at the coffee table in the living room to eat once the pies arrived.

Jakey finished his slices and turned to me, eyes bright with excitement. “Can we have root beer floats and watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas ?”

“Sure, Bud.”

He leaned closer to Gavin and Gage, whispering but not low enough for me to miss his words. “That’s why he’s the best Daddy. Mammoth never says no when I want to have fun.”

Awww.

Rael helped me clean up the trash as the boys got settled. Jakey gathered blankets and pillows and shared them with his friends. The boys remained on the floor for the duration of the movie, which surprised Rael.

“I need to bring them over more often.”

Once Rael, Nylah, and the kids left, I helped prepare Jakey for bed. He immediately fell asleep and missed most of the story as I finished his bedtime read. Rowe fed Jonah and placed him in his crib as we met in the hallway.

“You know, Nylah mentioned that Rael thinks Papa should be Santa.”

“He said the same to me,” I revealed.

“Well, I guess that defeats the purpose of the suit I bought.”

“For me?” I asked, liking where this was going.

“Mhmmm.”

“Do I get to try it on?”

“If you wear only the suit,” she whispered. “It’s in our closet. Big red box. You can’t miss it.”

When did she sneak that in?

“I’ll be right back. Get the mistletoe ready,” I teased.

Ten minutes later, I crept downstairs in my Santa suit, hat, a fake white beard that perfectly concealed the real one, and my black shitkicker boots. Biker Santa. I almost wore my cut over it but decided I didn’t want to strip too much off before I had my woman naked and shaking from pleasure.

I found my Rowe standing by the fireplace under the mistletoe, the new sprig added as I dressed in my costume.

She winked as I approached, placing a hand on one hip. “I’ve been an awfully good girl this year, Santa.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I want the gift you promised.”

“It’s long, hard, and over nine inches,” I rumbled.

“Oh, why Santa, aren’t you naughty?”

She had no idea.

Rowen’s fingertips grazed my chest, opening my suit jacket to caress along my chest. She stopped at my newest tattoo with a heart, rowboat, and her name written in bold script—my tribute to my wife and ol’ lady Rowe and those first weeks we met when she rowed away from me instead of closer, at least, in the metaphorical sense.

“You’re my Christmas wish, Mammoth. The one I never thought to ask for.”

Fuck, I loved this woman. “You, Jakey, and Jonah are all the presents I need. This Santa already has everything.”

A sly smile curved her lips. “I can think of something else.” Her hand slid down my abdomen and paused above my groin. “Maybe you should kiss me, Santa, and find out.”

Hell yeah.

She hung that mistletoe for a reason, and I wouldn’t waste it.

“OH, SANTA.”

My eyes slowly opened as I heard my Mama whisper. She didn’t stay up this late often. Hearing her voice made me curious. My feet slid from the bed when I heard her giggle, and I crept to the stairs, slowly taking each step until I got low enough to see.

A gasp left my lips, and I slapped my hands over them. Jumping up and down, I almost made too much noise.

Mama stood by the fireplace, and in front of her, speaking too low for me to hear. . . was Santa .

He’d come!

Wait. It was too early.

Confused, I stared at the back of his red suit as she smiled and nodded. Ohhhhhh. Santa was telling her I was on the nice list! Yes!

I fist-pumped the air.

But what if he saw me sneaking down here? Would that make me naughty? Oops!

I turned and lifted my foot, ready to return to bed, when I saw my mama kiss Santa. No. He kissed her .

Wide-eyed and instantly angry, I wanted to shout for him to leave my house. Santa wasn’t supposed to kiss my Mama. That was my Daddy’s job!

Mammoth wouldn’t like that.

I narrowed my eyes, lifted my chin, and decided I had to form a plan. Santa couldn’t come back to the house and try to kiss my Mama again.

Stomping on the stairs, I didn’t care if either heard me.

Where was Daddy? Sleeping?

I walked into my room and sat on my bed, yanking the covers over my cold feet. How did I get Santa to leave my Mama alone? Get off the nice list.

Oh. I could change that. Easy.

I just had to get on the naughty list, and I knew how to do it. But first, I would draw a picture for Daddy and put it in his stocking so he would know what the big man in the red suit planned.

Nobody, not even Santa Claus, would ruin Christmas.