Bound

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Eleanor's POV 

"Eleanor?"

I looked to my right seeing Parker's sleepy face. It was Christmas eve just a few minutes before the clock strikes midnight. 

"Sorry, did I wake you?" I asked hiding the key that goes opens my private, art room in the house. I always locked it in case Luke and Peyton accidentally do a damage to one of my work.

"A little, yeah," he grumbled trying to sit up. "What is it? Is anything wrong?"

"No, no," I said a bit too quickly. "I'm just going to check on the boys and make sure they're asleep and haven't opened any gifts yet. I'll be back soon."

"Okay," he resigned believing my lie. 

I gave him a reassuring smile and slipped my feet into my house slippers walking out the room. I walked down to the lowest level and checked on my kids as well. They were soundly asleep. Then I walked to my safe haven and opened the door gently. Standing on the easel was the newly dried painting I did. 

It was a painting of Parker, the boys, and I. A family painting you could say. It was my most prized painting I ever did in my life. I worked hard on it and took weeks to finish. I was planning on just painting it, but ever since I found out Parker was all about family, I decided to give this to him for a Christmas gift.  

I gently took it off the easel, being careful of closing the door behind me and walking up the stairs. I went to the front foyer where all of the gifts were under the tree. I propped the painting against the other wrapped presents and placed a giant bow on the top frame. 

After making sure it wouldn't fall, I turned off all the lights and went back to the room. Just before I slept, I caught the time at exactly twelve midnight. It was officially Christmas.

"Momma! Momma wake up!"

"Wake Mum." 

I woke up being shaken quite violently by no other than my two sons. I opened my eyes and checked the time which was only seven am. These boys wake up early on Christmases!

"Daddy! Wake uppppp!" 

I heard Parker grumble beside me sitting up in bed. I did the same and smothered Peyton in a hug who was in the middle of copying his older brother on banging on Parker's chest. 

"Merry Christmas, Momma!" Luke said kissing me hugely on the cheek. "Can we open presents now? Can we? Can we? Can we?"

"Sure," I said a bit more sleepily. "Go on over there with your brother." I released Peyton and settled him on the ground. "Wait for Daddy and I before you open, alright?"

He nodded and ran out of the room with Peyton right behind him.

"Why'd you send them away?" Parker asked beside me slipping on his shirt covering his glorious body. 

"So I can kiss my husband on our first Christmas together," I stated leaning in towards him for a kiss.

He met me halfway pulling me closer to him. "Merry Christmas, ma cheríe." 

"Merry Christmas, Parker," I grinned giving him one more peck on the lips. "Come on. I bet you Luke already ripped a gift open."

We walked out of the bedroom and to the Christmas tree hand in hand. I was right. My eldest son was already in the process of opening a wrapped present. He couldn't read so I didn't know how he guessed that was his. I checked the ripped paper and sighed in relief that it was indeed one of his many gifts from no other than the man who spoils them most.