More than Expected

Part 64

December 25, 2014
She cried last night. She's cried every night for the last two weeks. As the holiday approached quicker, the more upset she got. She decorated this home that she was supposed to be sharing with her son and fiancée, but she only has half of them with her. She wasn't this upset during Thanksgiving, but she was with family and friends. She thinks because she is completely alone with Royce for Christmas, it's adding to her melancholic state. But she chose this. Her parents offered to fly down to be with her and so did Martha.
     She told them not to come. She said she just wanted it to be her and Royce. She didn't think it was right that Royce's first real Christmas be shared with others when his own father couldn't be here. Even though Royce's first Christmas was technically last year and Rick was there for it, her son was only two months old. This would be the first year he could be an active participant in the festivities. She had taken him to a Christmas parade in town a few days ago and he loved it. She could see his eyes widen in wonder at the various people, lights, floats, and animals.
     Now, she lays in bed after spending hours tossing and turning. She had gotten Royce down 11:30 the night before and then she carefully placed the presents under the tree and filled her son's stocking. Once everything was in place, she unplugged the tree and went to take a shower. It's was nearing 2:30 in the morning when she finally slipped into the cold, empty bed. This night, it seemed extra cold and empty. She then slept for about an hour before waking up and tossing and turning.
     It's now nearing 5:00 in the morning and she's had enough of the tossing and turning. She stands and goes into Royce's nursery where her baby boy is fast asleep. As gently as possible, she lifts her son from his crib and mentally pats herself on the back when she does so without patting his back. She carries him into her room and settles him in bed with her. She and Rick agreed that once he returns home, Royce sleeping in their bed would not happen as often as it did now, but he understood why she liked having the baby boy close while he was away.
     While he was gone, Royce was her sense of security. She presses a kiss to the top of Royce's curls before she buries her nose in them and shuts her eyes. With her son close by, she falls into a more peaceful sleep that she had been trying to find for the last two and a half hours. She doesn't wake until 9:00 when Royce is sitting up in bed next to her. She smiles, "Good morning, buddy. Merry Christmas." She whispers. "Mamamama." Royce babbles and it makes her smile. It's not as clear as 'dada' but he's getting close.
     She pulls him down to her and kisses his cheek repeatedly. He begins pulling at her shirt, "Mamamamama." He babbles again. "No, buddy, only for night-night." Kate reminds him. She's been working harder on weaning him and so far it's working. She's gotten it to where he only nurses at night to fall asleep. Sometimes he will pull at her shirt, but she simply tells him 'no' and reminds him when it's time to nurse and he'll stop. He does so now for which she thanks him, "Thank you, Bubba."
     She kisses his check once more, "Let's go open presents!" She exclaims as she stands from the bed and lifts him into her arms and carries him out to the living room and gasps, "Royce Alexander, look at what Santa brought you." She coos. He looks up at her claps and she chuckles, "Yes, Bubba." She sits on the floor with him in her lap. She grabs box after box, helping him unwrap present after present until they were sitting in a pile of empty boxes, torn wrapping paper, and toddler toys. She smiles as she watches him push around his vacuum as he sits.
     She's hoping that by getting that for him he'll start walking soon. He also got a baby piano toy, some blocks, and a bunch of other sensory gifts. She watches him play with his shapes when her phone begins to ring. "Royce! Look who it is." She shows him the phone as she presses answer, "Hey Buddy! Merry Christmas!" "Dada!" Royce says happily as he points at the phone, "Say 'Merry Christmas, Dada'." Kate coos to her son. "Where's Mama?" Rick asks. Kate turns the phone back to herself and pulls Royce into her lap.
"Merry Christmas, beautiful." "Merry Christmas, handsome." They stare at each other for a few seconds, "Did Royce enjoy opening his gifts?" "Yes, he did very much. He's playing with a bunch of them now. I'm probably going to feed him something and then put him down for a nap so I can clean up and put his new toys away." "Sounds like a good plan. So, all in all, a good Christmas?" "Well, it was definitely missing something, but we'll get that next year." Kate says, "I'm sorry, baby." He whispers so gently and painfully that she wants to cry.
She shakes her head. "It's not your fault. We just want you home." "Soon, love, very soon." He says and she nods with a smile, "I'll let you guys go and enjoy the rest of your day. Merry Christmas. I love you both so much." "Merry Christmas. We love you too." They blow kisses and end the video call. "Next year, Royce. Next year, Dada will be with us. We'll have Christmas, as a family." She promises her son. And maybe another one on the way.
Part 64! Let me know what you think!