Happily Ever Christmas

~Nine~

When we got back to the house, my kids both ran out onto the porch and Frodo leapt happily out of Steve's arms and into Bradley's, and all was right with the world again.

"Frodo! Don't you ever weave me again! Bad, bad doggy!" My four-year-old son scolded his dog as he swung the poor creature back and forth, holding the poor thing by its upper body.

"What do you say, huh, champ?" I said to my son, smiling down at him. I was just happy that he was happy again. Nothing hurt me more than seeing my children cry, to know they were upset and that I could do nothing to comfort them. I couldn't be both Daddy and Mommy for them, unfortunately.

"Thank you, mister!" Bradley said to Steve shyly, then he turned and scampered off with his beloved dog at his heels.

"Make sure Frodo doesn't go out into the backyard unless you're there to watch him, Bradley!" I shouted after him as he charged away down the hallway.

"Okay, Mom!" He shouted back.

I sighed, casting a rueful smile up at Steve.

We had moved into the foyer area by now and were working at getting out of our coats and boots and things.

My daughter cleared her throat and I looked over to see her watching us closely. Watching Steve, to be exact.

"Mama? Who's this?"

"Oh, sorry, sweetie. It's been such a crazy day. This is my daughter, Olivia Decker. Honey, this is Steve. He's a friend of, uhm, of Mrs. Hamilton, from next door, you know? Anyway, your Aunt Susan invited him to join us for Christmas dinner when she found out that he didn't have anywhere particular to be."

Steve smiled and lowered himself onto a knee to offer his hand to my daughter. "Nice to meet you, Olivia."

"Hi." She wasn't nearly as shy as her little brother, and now that she had turned six, she had a new sense of empowerment in her little life. She shook his hand solemnly as she looked him over.

I watched her closely and I could tell that she liked what she saw.

"Mrs. H has friends?" Olivia said.

Steve and I laughed heartily at this and Steve straightened back up.

You had to love the bald candidacy of children.

*~*~*~*

I ducked out of the holiday hubbub for a moment to dress for dinner. Frankly, I was tired of wearing skinny jeans and I was ready to get back into my flannel, plaid pajamas.

If I was to be entirely honest with myself, I would have moped around the entire time in my pajamas with no makeup on and my hair up in a messy bun, if Steve Coleman wasn't here.

But he was here, the handsome, mysterious enigma, and so I went upstairs to my old bedroom where I had been staying. I'd had to give the room up to my great-aunt, Frances, but I still had most of my clothes in the closet.

I changed into a dark plum colored dress and I curled my hair, then combed it out to make it wavy. I even took time to do my makeup; adorning my eyelids with purple and gold eyeshadow to complement my green eyes. I dusted my cheeks with a bit of shimmer powder, and I swiped on mascara and then a true red lipstick.

I slipped on a pair of little dangly snowflake earrings then eyed myself critically in the mirror, smoothing my hands down my body and turning to the side. I frowned and sucked in my tummy.

Dammit, why had I had to indulge in so many sweets over the last year? I should've been wallowing in ice cream a lot less and thinking about maintaining my hot bod for the sake of my future self a lot more, who was now my present self.