Chapter 29 Kelly Kaplan

Checking for Santa

Christmas Eve

I still can't quite believe he's here, even though the way he just rocked my world was sort of like pinching me to prove it's true.

I can honestly say I've never been railed in my grandparents’ basement like that before.

“I feel bad,” I say. “I didn't bring your gift here with me.”

“You didn't need to get me anything. And I would never have expected you to bring it here since this was sort of a last-minute decision on my part.”

“Well, thank God for last-minute decisions because I couldn't be happier to see you.”

His eyes lift and meet mine. “I feel the exact same way.” He leans down to press a kiss to my lips, and then he asks, “So…what are the sleeping arrangements?”

“The bed I sleep in is a queen, and Mia is in a travel crib, so there's room for you next to me.”

“Is that okay?” he asks.

“Is what okay?”

“You know…sleeping in the same room, the same bed—in your grandparents’ house.” He averts his eyes back to the gift he’s wrapping.

I lean in and whisper conspiratorially, “Considering Mia exists, I think they probably put two and two together.”

“Still…don't they have rules?”

“If they do, nobody expressed them to me. I’m very much feeling like we should just apologize later if they’re offended by the two of us sharing a bed, but I don’t think they will be.”

“That sounds like a good plan to me,” he says. “If you’re sure.”

It's really sweet how he is thinking about what their potential rules might be and wanting to respect them, but I think after the conversations I've had with my family paired with the fact that I was going to take a redeye to get home to see him, they'll just be happy that we're together on Christmas.

I’m exhausted by the time we fall into bed beside each other. Between the emotions of being torn over whether or not to actually go home, finally making the decision only for my flight to be canceled, and then Austin showing up and draining every last bit of energy from my system, it’s been quite the day.

Morning dawns, and I’m awake first. I sneak out of bed carefully so as not to wake either Austin or Mia, and I head downstairs. The house is quiet and dark, and I’m reminded of so many other Christmas mornings right here in this house.

I stand by the window and stare out as morning dawns. It’s early here, but I don’t get these cold, snowy mornings back home. The sun is hidden behind clouds, but the world is starting to lighten after the darkness of night. The landscape is covered in snow, and flakes still fall but more lazily now than they did last night.

“Merry Christmas,” my mom says behind me, startling me. I jump and turn at the sound of her voice, and she comes in behind me to give me a little bear hug as my hand flies to my chest.

“Merry Christmas. You scared me.”

She laughs. “What are you doing up so early?”

“Checking for Santa.”

“I think he came last night,” she says with a twinkle in her eye, and I know she means Austin, and I can’t deny that it feels an awful lot like my Christmas wish came true.

My grandma comes down the stairs next, and it’s three generations of women from the same bloodline in the room for a minute. Once Mia’s awake, it’ll be four, and there’s something magical about having four wonderful females in the same room together.

“Is it true?” she asks as she walks over to the stovetop. She peels back the foil on something sitting there, and then she starts preheating the oven.

“Is what true?”

“There’s a football player upstairs sleeping right now?” she asks.

I giggle. “Confirmed. But he’s taken, so don’t get any ideas.”

She huffs in exasperation, but then she winks at me to let me know it’s all in good fun. “I think your grandfather would have something to say about that anyway.”

“What time is the baby getting up? Because I'm ready to start spoiling her,” my mom asks.

I turn from the window and roll my eyes. “I think you probably spoiled her plenty this trip. I don't know how I'm ever going to get her home and return to normal eating with all the treats you keep giving her.”

“Who’s going to teach her the value of a good chocolate chip cookie if not for her grandmother?” my mom asks innocently.

“Oh, I don't know…maybe her aunt who owns the bakery where her mom works?” I tease.

“How is the bakery, by the way? How’s work, and how’s Ava?” my mom asks, and we sit down at the kitchen table as my grandma starts the pot of coffee.

“Good,” I say. “Really good. Ava actually had me making wreaths for the decorations in the store. Some of the customers were interested in buying them, so I started making them on the side. We started getting more and more requests for them, and now I can hardly keep up with the demand.”

“That's incredible,” my dad says, appearing from out of nowhere. “Merry Christmas.”

We all wish him a merry day back, and then I say, “Thank you. It’s a fun hobby and one of my favorite things to do, but it's starting to take up a lot of time. I can't keep up with everything I need to do at the bakery and do this on the side…it’s exhausting, to be honest.”

“Have you gotten help for the baby?” my mom asks.

I nod. “We did a test run at a friend’s house the other day. She has a nanny, and she watches a whole bunch of kids. Mia seemed to enjoy herself, and we got a good report back. Though you know how much I would love to have her grandparents close by to spend more time with her…” I trail off meaningfully since they’re both in the room.

My mom was a kindergarten teacher for thirty-seven years before she retired. There's no one I would trust more to be with my little girl than her.

“I know, but with dad still working, we're not positioned to make a big move like that.” It's been the same excuse ever since I asked them to move out, and I get it. It is a big change to go from Louisiana to Vegas, and even bigger since they’re active in their community. I just wish they could be closer to us as Mia grows. I tried moving back to Louisiana when I was pregnant, but then being there means Mia doesn't get to be close to her dad. It's a tough balance.

Grandma puts the cinnamon buns in the oven, and just as it’s starting to smell really good in here, Austin appears in the kitchen with Mia in his arms. She’s smiling and jabbering “Dadada,” and he’s chuckling.

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” he says, and my grandmother looks positively starstruck. It’s the cutest dang thing I’ve ever seen.

We all say our good mornings, and my grandma serves up those cinnamon buns. My mom heated up a breakfast casserole, and we sit around my grandparents’ table eating before presents —just like we always have. It’s the magic of Christmas morning as I remember it from my childhood, but now my own child and the man I’m getting a second chance with get to experience it with me.

There’s something pretty incredible about that.