Thanks to @MichaelsGirl5sosx for the cover!! Go check out her stories they are really good!
"Momma! Momma, wake up!"
The sound of little feet padding against the floor broke through my dream haze, and I woke up to see Adam, 6, and Madison, 4, running up to my bed. I sat up slowly, stretching my arms above my head.
"Hey, Babies." I smiled, holding my arms out.
Both of them climbed on the huge empty bed, snuggling close to me.
"Do you guys know what today is?" I whispered.
They nodded animatedly, and I smiled.
"What is it?"
"Christmas!" They both screamed.
"Can we go open our presents, Mom!" Adam jumped off the bed, grabbing my hand and tugging on it.
"Come on, Mom, come on!" I laughed and got out, stopping at the crib to pick up my 6 month old Savannah.
Adam held onto my hand as we walked down the stairs and to the huge Christmas tree in the living room. Madison screamed as she saw the presents that "Santa" brought, and ran forward. Adam dropped my hand and, like Madison, sat in front of the tree. Laying a blanket down on the floor, I let Savannah lay on her stomach as I went to help the kids separate the presents.
"Are you ready to open them?" They both cheered their 'Yes's'.
"Go ahead." I smiled.
Madison tore into her first present, but Adam looked up at me suddenly
"Momma," He began, and I felt my throat tighten at the pain in his voice.
"Is...Is Daddy going to be here soon?" He asked.
Tears sprang into my eyes as I thought about that. I gave the only answer I could.
"He's trying. Daddy's trying so hard." I brushed his bed hair away his face, smiling sadly at him.
Truth was that he wasn't coming. He was stationed in Afghanistan right now, and wouldn't get leave until the end of January. He was trying to get it sooner, but everyone else was on leave. The phone rang, shrill and demanding, and I jumped up to go get it. The screen read Denise, and I pressed answer.
"Hello?" I asked, my voice a little scratchy from the tears.
"Demi?" My boyfriend's mom asked.
"Hello, Denise. How are you?" I leaned against the counter, watching the mess that the kids were making.
"Oh, I'm ok. How are you? The kids? Are they opening presents?"
"I'm trying. The kids are good, their opening the presents."
"That's good. The boys are here, and they wanted to talk to you." She called for her sons, and soon someone else's voice came through the receiver.
"Hey, Demi! Merry Christmas!" Frankie cheerfully yelled.
"Hey, Frankie. You too, Hun. Did you like your presents?"
"Yes! Thank you!" There was a sound in the background, like a door slamming and a scream.
"Uh, Demi, We have to go." Nick sounded worried, and I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Is everything ok?"
"Yea. Yea. Bye, Demi." He hung up, and I sighed.
I put on a smile and walked back out to the kids, who were trying to take some of the gifts out of the box.
"Grandma Denise says Merry Christmas." I told them, sitting down on the floor next to them.
I pulled the plate down from the table, and widened my eyes.
"Look, Kids! Santa ate the cookies! And he left a note!" I grabbed the phony note and opened it, happy to see the kids standing behind my shoulders.
"The...The cookies were...Won...wonderful, thank you. Merry Christmas, Santa!" Adam read the words out loud, and I helped him a little.
"That's from Santa!" Madison screamed, clapping her little hands delightedly. I smiled and nodded, placing the plate and note back on the table.
"Come on, kids, lets clean up. After that I will make us some hot cocoa, and we can eat cookies and watch TV. Sound good?" They raced around as we cleaned up, stuffing all the wrapping paper into a trash bag.
I told them to stay there and watch Savannah, and I walked quietly down the hall to the nursery. I grabbed the play pen and took it out to the living room, placing it at the end of the couch.
"Hey, Honey." I cooed, picking her up.
She smiled and made some baby noises, as I put her in the play pen with her rattle. The kids raced into the kitchen and stacked up cookies as I made three cups of hot cocoa, and carried them out. We flipped through the TV Channels until we found some Christmas cartoons, and I settled back into the couch. The doorbell rang then, and I set my cup down and looked out the peep hole. Some of the women from the neighborhood stood there, cookies and presents in hand. I opened the door and smiled.
"Hello, Demi." One of them called cheerfully.
"Good morning." I smiled.
Patricia stepped forward and handed me the platter of cookies.
"We know since Joe isn't here that it must be hard on you. Were so sorry. We got together and bought some presents for Adam, Maddison, and Savannah." I noticed the bag was full of presents. And I was a little surprised.
"You guys didn't have to do that, you know."
"Oh, we know. Just another way to help give back. Can the kids come? We'd like to watch them open them."
"Of course. Adam, Maddison!" I walked over towards the living room, and smiled at them.
"Someone is here to see you guys."
"Is it Daddy?!" Adam screamed, jumping up.
I shook my head slowly, wiping at a tear as it escaped.
"No, Hun. But they have presents." I smiled at them and they ran to the door, delightedly opening the presents they were handed. We were sitting on the front porch; I was helping Maddison open one of the presents, when a car pulled up. It was a black car, and I couldn't see in since the windows were tinted. I stood up as it parked in front of the house, I watched as 3 men in uniforms stepped out, looking at me.
"No." I whispered, shaking my head in denial.
The tears started flowing down my cheeks, as I anticipated the casket with Joe's body being carried out next. As the door opened, the one that would have the casket in it, I put my face in my hands and started crying.
"Daddy!" Adam screamed, and I opened my eyes in time to see Adam launching himself into a man's arm. He had on combat boots, an army uniform, and I traveled up his body. First a flat stomach and broad shoulders, then an amazing smile, with gorgeous eyes and hair that was in a perfect Mohawk.
"Joe." I whispered under my breath, as he caught a jubilant Maddison. His eyes locked onto mine, and he set the kids down. He walked forward with a purpose, and when he stood in front of me got down on one knee. I placed my hand over my mouth to cover the squeak that was coming, and Joe pulled something out of his pocket.
"My Demi." He whispered, then I looked down to see the box he was holding.
Inside of it was a gorgeous ring, and my eyes flickered back up to him.
"I love you, Demi, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?" The words played over and over in my mind as I stood there frozen. I lunged forward for the ring, and Joe slid it on to my finger, and smiled a huge smile.
"Yes!" I almost screamed. He stood up, wrapped his arms around my waist, and spun me around.
