Love's Unwritten Contract

11

The following day, I woke up to Oakley bouncing up and down on the bed, shaking Dominic, which turned to wake me because I was curled into a ball pressed into his chest. Dominic groaned slightly. "Okay, yes, it's Christmas. Give me a mama a bit, go downstairs, and wait on the couch." the little boy laughed at the fresh smell of coffee seeping into the room, my hair a mess, which definitely was worse than the term bed head. " How did you sleep, Ophelia?" Dominic's voice beside me as he rolled out of bed; he grabbed a shirt and pulled it over his head, heading to the bathroom after I pulled myself out of bed, not caring if I stayed in the shirt I had slept in, I grabbed a pair of shorts that hid under the shirt. Before I left downstairs, the other Dominic siblings were up and already making breakfast. Oakley is already sitting at the table with a few cut pancakes resting on his plate." As I said to Oakley, sit and eat before the presents." Ozella laughed softly, pouring two cups of coffee and pushing one towards me. " I'm not that hungry, thank you, though." I took the cup carefully, walked over and sat with the boy; Dominic walked in, grabbing the other cup Ozella had poured as she made mine. Oakley finished with his plate. As I finished my mug, I got up, took his dishes, and placed my mug and Oakley plate in the sink; everyone was out of the dining room and headed for the main room. I walked in, and everyone was sitting around. Oakley was bouncing on the spot. " He came, he came!!" He cheered and started passing out the gifts with the names he knew; all of Dominic's siblings got one, and Oakley grabbed it for himself. The paper started flying. I made sure to get a present for each of Dominic's siblings, a gift as they were here for the holiday. I would have felt bad if they hadn't gotten anything. They and Dominic all got matching pj's " real-" smack to the back of Ace's head before he could continue his train of thought, " thank you," he grumbled, followed by the others with their thanks.Oakley finished opening all his gifts. He was quick to start playing with the ones he could open independently. Seeing all of them busy helping Oakley open the rest of his gifts, I started cleaning up the wrapping and garbage. " So Dominic, you didn't get your wife anything, or is she getting her gift tonight," Ace smirked, causing me to choke on the air. "No. I told him not to get me anything. I prefer the time with loved ones, and that's all, and there is a child here." I quickly choked out and threw out the full arms of trash I had. They mutter and curse at one another under their breaths. The boys fought, ensuring I was out of earshot. " enough fighting." I grumbled and sat beside Oakley. Watching him showcase all of the new gifts he got.The day came and went. Soon, it was dinner. The house was empty, and Dominic's siblings went to their parents for the night as tomorrow we would have dinner at Juliette's and Easton's place. I had made a small ham with rice for the three of us. " I feel awful. I will make sure you have a gift for tomorrow, Ophelia, I promise you." Dominic had been apologizing since his brothers and sisters left. " stop apologizing. I told your brother I didn't want gifts, and it's true I don't want them." I added cleaning up the mess that had been made during dinner. Oakley took a bit to put down for bed tonight as Dominic decided to let him stay up for a bit longer than normal, but once he was in bed, the little boy was out like a light. I laid in bed, found a book to read, and plugged in my headphones, blocking the world around me.

Dominic's view

Heading up the stairs, I walked into the shared bedroom, seeing Ophelia with her headphones in and her nose in a book." Hey, everything good?" I asked. I stood at the door, waiting for a response, but nothing came, and I was too tired to do anything. I changed into the pj pants I had gotten from Ophelia to match the rest of my siblings. I still felt awful that I hadn't gotten her a gift. But before we stop at my parents tomorrow, I would make up some excuse to stop at a store to find her something. My head hit the pillow as I was out like a light, as a colourful scene painted front the black.

I woke up in my room at my parents, filled with photos of myself and my girlfriend and soon-to-be wife. I smiled softly, heading downstairs. Ozella seemed quiet and refused to make eye contact, and Bella was sitting on the couch in tears; my mother came from the kitchen to give Izabella some tea. " I swear, did that ass hole touch you again, Bella," I spoke carefully, thinking her father had touched her, but nothing. She shook her head; I walked over, crouched before her, and took her hands. Bella was shaking violently. "P-please don't get mad, Dominic, please-" her trembling voice. I removed one of her hands, pulling out a small strip that bared two apparent lines. " what is this izabella..." I mumbled, carefully taking the strip from her. "Dom... that is a"