Chapter Sixteen

Nick

The sun was not yet up when I woke on Christmas morning. With Bobby in my arms and the sweetness of the day littles and lots of big people waited all year for, I didn’t want to waste a moment.

And I didn’t consider my sweet boy nestled in my arms to be wasted time, so as he slumbered on, I just held him and considered all the changes that took place in our life in the last few weeks. I’d met him when I was hoping for a promotion that I was denied and then given. Now I recognized I’d used my job as an excuse not to live a full life. And I was positive I’d be having that now with Bobby.

“Are you awake, Papa?” his sleepy voice asked. “I’m hungry.”

“Then you’re in luck because we have a big breakfast planned, remember?”

He rolled on top of me. “Cinnamon rolls and sausages and eggs and…everything.”

“And then presents.”

“Maybe first presents?” he asked. “I waited all night.”

“We agreed, didn’t we?”

He let out a huff. “I didn’t know it would be so hard.”

“How about we take a shower and put on our new Christmas shirts and then cook breakfast together?” I suggested.

“I’d argue that it would take longer, but I really like the idea of the shower.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me out of bed with him. “Let’s get all clean.”

And we did get clean…after we got messy, so it was an hour before we got to the kitchen to put the cinnamon rolls that had been rising all night in the refrigerator into the oven to bake. Soon the sausages were sizzling, the eggs scrambling, and we were ready to eat. Fortunately, we’d burned enough calories in the shower that we were both able to do justice to our breakfast before turning our attention to the rest of the day’s activities.

Starting with prezzies.

I was so excited about the gifts I’d bought for Bobby, both big and little. He hadn’t asked for anything in particular, but I’d taken note of all the things he admired as we spent time together. And the first thing I handed him was his stocking.

“When did you fill this?” he asked. “It was just empty when we went to bed.”

I shrugged. “Don’t look at me. Santa must have come and done it.”

Eyes sparkling, he plopped down on the floor and spilled the contents of the red velvet stocking into his lap. It was a drugstore stocking, nothing too fancy, but he loved it, and judging from all the cheerful oohs and aahs, he loved what Santa had found to stuff his stocking with.

“Santa shopped at the candy store we saw in the Christmas village!”

He certainly had, buying all sorts of Christmas candies that Bobby had pointed out. Including the chocolate reindeer that was “almost as good as a raccoon.” I’d also put in a top and a ball that sparkled when you bounced it, a couple of toy cars, and a crayon that drew in three colors. And then we got to the packages. I knew Bobby had to pare down so much when he moved, and he’d given up a lot of things he really missed, but until we got to the moving-in stage, which I hoped would be very soon, I didn’t want to overwhelm his apartment with anything too big. So small toys, some little clothes, a warm, lined hoodie, and a better drum for next year were my choices. After he opened each one, he came over and kissed me and thanked me. I’d also kept it not too expensive because I didn’t want him to feel like he couldn’t reciprocate.

“Okay, Papa, your turn!” He brought a box over to me and set it on my lap. “It’s only one thing, but I hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will.” I would no matter what it was because of the giver, but when I opened the box, I found an antique pocket watch inside. Something I’d seen in the Christmas village and which he had spent far more than he should on. But I would never insult him by saying so. I just hugged him tight to me and promised to carry it with me always.

“Turn it over, Papa,” he said.

On the back it said, simply, Best Papa . My eyes filled with tears. “You had it engraved.”

“No, it came that way. It belonged long ago to someone else who was the best papa then. I thought it was kismet.”

I held out my arms, and he came into them again. “I love you so much, my sweetest boy.”

“I love you, my best Papa. Merry Christmas.”

We spent the rest of the day relaxing together taking a walk and talking about the future. One that looked very merry and bright.