Chapter 10

LACEY

I was woken up by the excited yelling of a little girl. Blinking sleepily, I groaned and rubbed at my eyes. Next to me, Blake picked up his phone to check the time. "It's not even seven yet, how can she be so bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?" He grunted and rolled over, hiding his face in his pillow.

"I would kill to have as much energy as a four-year-old," he grumbled, his voice muffled by his pillow.

With a laugh, I threw back the covers and revealed his taut peach of a bottom, which I tapped playfully before getting out of bed. "She's never going to forgive you if you make her wait too long to open her presents."

Some time during the night when we had been asleep, it had started snowing. The mountains outside were covered in white caps, and the pine trees glistened with the fresh snowfall. Snow flakes were still falling, giving a magical feeling to our snowy white Christmas.

Blake gave a resigned sigh as I went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. By the time I emerged from our room, Emilia was about to explode with anticipation. She ran up to me as soon as I stepped foot out of our room.

"Lacey! Lacey! Santa was here!" She tugged on my hand and dragged me to the Christmas tree in the living room. There was a pile of presents under the tree.

"Wow! You're right. Let's wait for Uncle Blake to wake up and then we can open them," I said with a smile. Blake and I had brought out the presents late last night after Emilia went to bed.

He stumbled into the living room wearing his navy blue robe. His hair stuck up in all directions, making his head look like a porcupine.

"Look, Uncle Blake. Santa left us lots of presents."

Blake wrapped his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. "He sure did," he murmured.

"Can we open them now?" Emilia begged. She practically bounced on the tips of her toes in excitement.

One by one, we opened and exchanged our presents. Emilia tore through the wrapping paper on the first and biggest present. It was from Blake, and he had gotten her bunny dollhouse playset that was almost as tall as her. Next, Emilia opened my present.

"Bunny ears!" I helped her don the crocheted hat and tied the chin straps around her chin.

Those were her main presents. Her other presents included a large pillow-sized stuffed bunny as well as a bunny backpack and bunny school supplies. Given the events of this year, Emilia opted out of preschool, but she was going to start kindergarten next year.

Next, it was time for me to open my presents.

"Emilia helped me pick both of them out," Blake said. He seemed nervous as I unwrapped it. Was he afraid I wasn't going to like what they got me? There was a black velvet box that looked like a necklace box. I gave him a quizzical look before I opened it. There was a gold and silver pen inside. Picking it up, I held the pen in my hand and savored the heavy weight for a moment before I put it back in the box carefully. It looked and felt expensive and I didn't want to drop it.

Quickly, I unwrapped the other item, revealing a thick leather bound journal. I stroked the soft leather cover wistfully. It was perfect. Finally, I had a nice notebook to jot down my ideas.

Blake tucked a finger under my chin and tipped my head up. "I can already hear your thoughts. Don't you dare hold back because you're afraid to mess up the journals. If I have to, I will buy every last journal and bit of stationery for you if that's what you need. Just write, Lacey."

My eyes grew moist. Nobody had ever known me like this. "Thank you, Blake, Emilia."

Emilia grinned up at me.

"I love it. I love you," I murmured.

"I love you too." He placed a gentle kiss on my lips. "Merry Christmas, my heart."

From her place on the floor next to the tree, Emilia giggled. "Your turn, Uncle Blake."

"Okay, let's see what we have." Blake retrieved the present I helped Emilia pick out. With careful precise motions, he removed the wrapping paper without tearing it.

He pulled out the mug and read the words on the side. World's Best Uncle Is A Sourdough Dealer. "Thank you, Emilia. I will use it for my coffee this morning."

Next, he opened the present I got him. My hands grew sweaty as I waited for him to reveal what was inside. Would he think it was stingy and cheap?

Blake unwrapped it with the same care as the other present. He opened the cardboard box and held up the little bread loaf ornament inside. The glass bauble was coated in a light layer of sparkling paint, making it glisten in the sunlight.

He laughed. "This is perfect, Lacey. I can't believe you actually found a bread ornament." With a pep in his step that rivaled his niece's energy, he sprung to his feet and found a bare spot on the tree to hang the ornament.

Blake picked Emilia up in his arms and joined me on the sofa. Emilia laid her head on my shoulder. "I know Santa really exists," she whispered in my ear.

I smiled. "Because he got you the dollhouse you wanted?"

She shook her head. "Because you're here with Uncle Blake. That's what I asked for. I love you so much, Lacey."

I pulled her tight against my chest. Over the top of her head, I met Blake's soft eyes. "Oh, sweetheart. I love you very much too. I will always be here with you. Forever."