R H A P S O D Y

{41}✔️

Tuesday, December 25th

{Dahlia's POV}
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"Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up!" I whisper yelled as I slapped my dad's chest and then climbed onto the bed, bouncing up and down slightly. I made sure not to move around too much because I was still scared of causing Josephine any pain even though she'd had the baby a week ago today, plus I didn't wanna hurt dad's broken leg. I tried to stay relatively quiet too since I didn't wanna wake Bowie up. My former room was now his nursery and it was a little down the hall, but still, I didn't wanna be too loud.

"How—Why—Who let you in?" Dad whispered sleepily before looking over at the clock. "It's 4:30 in the morning, Dahlia. You didn't even wake up this early when you were a kid!"

"Come on, you guys were gonna have to get up soon anyway cause the baby—"

As if on cue, Bowie started screaming. Josephine sighed as she slowly sat up and pushed the covers back. "I'll get him. Dahlia, I'm blaming his crying on you. Usually, he doesn't start until 4:37. You owe me a warm glass of milk and some blueberry pancakes."

"Denny and Ori are gonna get started on the Christmas Breakfast after we open gifts," I told her before sending her a sheepish smile. She pushed my head to the side playfully as she walked by me and then out of the room. I turned to look at dad again and grinned as I stood up and threw the covers off of him. "Come on, dad! Cora and Denny are down there waiting! If you're not down there in the next couple of minutes they're gonna start opening gifts without you!" I whined.

He let out a grunt in response before slowly sitting up. I quickly grabbed his crutches and helped him stand up before we walked out and I led him to the bathroom. I grabbed his toothbrush and put his toothpaste on it for him before reaching up to start brushing his teeth, but he quickly grabbed hold of my wrist.

"I can brush my teeth by myself, Dahlia." He sent me a knowing smile. I've been over here every day since Friday. Fixing his food for him, helping out with the baby, picking out his clothes, even changing the tv for him. I know I'm being a little ridiculous, but I can't help it.

"Are you sure—"

"You know I appreciate you helping me out, but I'm telling you, you don't have to worry about me," He told me for the millionth time. He leaned down to kiss my forehead before nodding his head toward the door. "Now, get out." He ordered playfully.

I let out a small 'hmph' before doing as told and closing the door behind me. I lingered for a few moments, just in case he called me for help, but he didn't, so I headed down the stairs.

Cora was curled up in a ball on the floor, sleeping. She was always the first up every year, and also the first to fall right back asleep. She looked exactly how she did when she was little, and it made me smile. Denny had thrown a blanket over her, and now he was crouched in front of the tree, bouncing on his knees as he clutched his hands together and eyed the gifts. His messy hair was flying everywhere and it somehow made him seem younger than he was. He was always the most excited on Christmas despite being the oldest.

Barbie was over at Julia's. They did a coin toss and Denny lost, so Barbie got to spend her very first Christmas Eve with Julia and Kit, and Julia's boyfriend, Wade. Julia promised to bring her over early this morning, around seven, and to let her spend her second Christmas Eve with Denny.