When the sun rises, I roll over into something warm. Opening my eyes, I find Keaton sleeping next to me. His face so relaxed and comfortable. Tracing a finger over his chest lightly, I draw shapes over him. His eye's open, and I give a shy smile. "Merry Christmas." I tell him, and he smiles
"Merry Christmas!" He greets kissing me softly.
"As nice as this is, we need to get up." I whine
"Can't we stay here all morning?"
"No; because it is Christmas morning, and there are going to be three very hyper children searching for us."
"Oh, fine!" He cries, throwing his hands up. Laughing, I jump up stretching.
"You're staring." I chuckle
"Damn right, I am!"
"Get dressed." I laugh tossing a pillow at his head."
"Yes, ma'am." he agrees, standing and searching for his clothes.
"So; I wanted to do something, but I don't think you are going to like it very much." I bite my lip
"Listening."
"Im want to call Dylan. See if he is still in town."
"Why?" He asks, not angry but confused. "You're not regret..."
"No; Of course not. It's just he was right about a lot of things. One of them was that Christmas without the kids is not much of a Christmas. If he is still in town, I'd like to at least offer for him to be with them."
"You sure about that?" He checks
"Ya, I am; I'll have to co parent with him for years. With any hope, it doesn't have to be hard."
"If that's what you want, do it." He tells me.
His clean clothes are down the hall in his own room, so he has no choice but to go. Kissing me at the door, he looks happy.
I feel happy. "See you soon?" He checks
"Well, I have to see what Santa brought on that sleigh of his." I tease waving him away. After my door is closed, I track down my phone and dial Dylan.
"Hello? Holly?" He answers
"Merry christmas."
"It's a bit early Holly is everything alright?"
"Yes, I just wanted to ask you something. Are you still in town?" I ask, and he is quiet a moment
"The snow shut down the airport. They say it's supposed to open again this afternoon."
"Well, I was thinking since you are here. Why don't you come back to the hotel and have Christmas with us."
"Are you serious? You'd let me join you?"
"Why not? The kids would love it."
"And your family?"
"Won't mind at all. As long as you and Keaton can restrain yourselves from any further brawling."
"So he is there?"
"Yes, him and his daughter. If that is too much, I understand..."
"No. It's great. I'd love to."
"Good, then I'll see you soon."
"Okay, and hey Holly?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you; And Merry Christmas." He says and hangs up.
Fifteen minutes later, I changed into a white sweater dress, gold black boot wedges. I knock on the kids' door before pulling it open. "SANTA!" the children yell jumping up.
"Yes, yes, merry Christmas. Now let's get you all ready so we can go open those presents, yes?"
"YA!" They cheer.
"Okay, come on." I smile
We are joined by Keaton as I finish letting out Maddy's hair the braids from the night before now in waves around her head. "I hope you have her dress." I call from the bathroom.
"Of course I do." He laughs."Is it safe to come in?"
"It's clear." he enters with her dress.
"Well, look at you ladies all looking so cute!" He gushes spinning Claire around by her finger.
"Thank you!" She smiles.
"Two more seconds, and you're free to go." I tell Maddy pinning the sides uo with some shrimps bows and leaving her with her dad. Running into the next room to fix Daniels hair. Only three minutes later, we are making our way down the hallway, my hand warm in Keaton's.
Walking into the ballroom, I immediately catch my mother's glance. Her eyes dart to our hands. She elbows my dad, who turns quickly. I want to tear my hand back but manage to restrain, knowing it would hurt Keaton. I hear clapping and turn to see Hardon slow clapping his way to us.
"I have to say you two. It's about time." He grins, pulling us both into a hug.
"Here here," dad cheers, raising his coffee mug.
"Oh, stop." I laugh
"We are just waiting for Paige and Ava, then we can get going." Mama informs us,"so get yourselves a coffee now."
"Don't have to tell me twice." I smile pulling Keaton with me,"my coffee addiction can not be placated!" I laugh
"That makes two of us. I can be an absolute monster without it, " he says seriously
"Oh, so different than any other day, then?" I tease elbowing him lightly.
"Uh, Holly, there's someone here for you." Paige announces upon entering the room Dylan at her side.
"You made it." I smile,"Daniel Claire look who made it!"
"Daddy!" They scream, running over and wrapping their little arms around his legs.
"You made it." I greet, still holding hands with Keaton, who offers his open one out to Dylan.
"Glad you could come. Keaton." He introduces.
"Dylan; And I was glad for the call." They release one another, and Claire jumps into her daddy's arms.
"Alright, everyone, come on." Pop calls us to the tree.
Spending Christmas like this warms me. All of the kids are overfilling with pure joy and happiness. We spend our day together playing games and prepping food. After dinner, mom passes me my guitar, which I take gladly sitting next to Keaton. we play carols. Together, we sing Silent Night, jingle bells, frosty the snowman and the Grinch.
Keaton begins playing all I want for Christmas, and I join in. We are all singing when Keaton stands to his feet. He turns to face me as he sings, "All I want for Christmas is you." He sings low, bending down on one knee.
"What?" I gasp in a now quiet room.
"I know we have only just reconciled; that we have a lot to learn. But holly I have wanted you for too long to waste any more time. We will figure everything else along the way."
"You're serious?" I question watching as he pulls out a small red box from his pocket.
"I may have bought this ring ten years ago, but I've never been more serious than I am now." He clears his throat. "So Holly, will you marry me?" He asks, opening the box.
I don't answer right off glancing at Claire, then Daniel, who sits on Dylan's lap. Dylan looks back at me, a small smile on his lips and nods. Only once, but I feel the weight of it.
Lastly, I look at Maddy at my side.Her eyes shining bright. "Do you mind, Maddy? Sharing your daddy?" I ask. She offers me the biggest, sweetest grin
"With you?" She checks
"And the kids." I reply, and she doesn't say anything but jumps up on my lap, hugging me tight.
"Well, alright." I smile, squeezing her back and looking to Keaton. "Yes." I whisper, trying to hold in the tears welling in my eyes.
The room explodes with aplause as Keaton places the ring on my finger. I set Maddy down and am pulled into a long kiss in front of all these people.
YOU ARE READING
Christmas past to present!
RomanceTecently divorced mother of two heads home for the holidays where she comes face to face with her high school sweetheart Keaton Brown. Can she resist the old attraction? Does she even want to try?
