2004;
I was woken up by noise coming from downstairs. Lindsey wasn't beside me and I was making myself more nervous by the second. I got up, tying my silk dressing gown around me and stepped into my slippers. I checked on my daughters in their rooms, sleeping so soundly. What precious gifts! I make my way downstairs cautiously.
"Hello?" I call out. What a stupid thing to do! If we were being robbed, why would the thief answer?
"Shhh! Steph, it's me" he whispers, rather loudly. I follow his voice into our living room and I gasp at the sight. There my beloved husband is in the middle of toy chaos! The boxes of some are ripped open, waiting to be put together and others are wrapped and ready.
"What on earth...." I sit down next to him, finding a spot that wasn't covered with tape, wrapping paper or toy parts.
"I'm sorry. Aria and Willow have toys that need to be assembled. I forgot all about it until now!"
"You scared me! I thought we had an intruder!"
He laughs and kisses my cheek. "I would have taken them out to protect all three of my girls."
"My hero!" I say, turning his face so he gives me a real kiss. I continue to kiss him all over and his eyes close.
"Steph, please stop"
"Why, baby?"
"I don't have much time to finish this. I'm going to throw you over my shoulder and take you back to bed if you keep at it"
I stop kissing him, giggling and wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "Sorry"
"It's okay. If it were any other time..."
"I know. I appreciate all your hard work. I remember when I was like five and a half, I asked for a blue baby buggy and I caught my daddy putting it together. He explained to me that Santa was in such a mad rush to take the presents to other kids all over the world that he didn't have time to put it together so he promised he would do him a solid and finish it's construction for him. Oh man, was Santa grateful! And you know what? I really did believe him"
"I bet you were the cutest little girl! If our daughters ever see me, I guess I know what to say now"
I chuckle. "Yes you do!"
I sit with him for a while as he studies the instructions and puts things together then I decide to help him wrap or put bows on the assembled toys. The sun is just rising when we finish and I bring him a cup of coffee.
"Steph, I have to put some finishing touches on your present so can you go back upstairs and make yourself busy? Please?"
"Honey, you didn't have to get me anything."
"But I wanted to. You spoil all of us all year long, you deserve to be spoiled too"
"You do spoil me, Linds."
"I do try." He says and I nod. "We have guests coming as well so we should probably get in gear"
"Alright, angel" I kiss him, stroking his cheek then go upstairs to lay out the girls' outfits and get ready myself. My parents are coming over as well as Chris, Lori, Jessi and Sam. Karen will be joining us in just a couple hours. We have a few other guests who will be dropping by. I cannot wait for all of them to arrive!
I shower, blow dry and style my hair and apply my makeup. I put on a figure hugging red dress that has long sleeves and shows off just enough cleavage, as well as piling on my rings and a couple of random necklaces- the angel wing necklace Lindsey gave me the year we had Aria, my signature crescent moon and another one that was gift from Lindsey when we renewed our vows in 2002 with the girls' birthstones on it. My black tights and high black boots finish off my look. I give myself a once over in the mirror, retwisting my curls I had created with the curling iron and spray on my 'special occasion' perfume, as Lindsey calls it, because knows he's going to get lucky when I wear it. I pass Lindsey in the hallway and he tells me he's going to get ready too.
