Magical Christmas

The Hall

Ethan

Finally December 19th is here. Finally I don't have to avoid my wife all day. I felt bad for pulling the busy card on her. But if I met her and she demanded about my plan with her sad face I would lose it.

Thanks to Rainey and Zahira, my wife's assistant, they always alarmed me whenever Madeline left her office, they knew she would go to my office. So I would ran away from my office and Rainey would tell Madeline that I had emergency meeting. Yesterday she texted me from her office after another impromptu visit to my office. Why out of sudden you have so many emergency meeting, Ethan? And because I don't know how to answer her I said Sorry sweetness. I'm busy. And she was pissed. Literally pissed at me. She ignored me all day. She even went away for dinner with Ocean. She asked Meredith and Amy too but Meredith was busy with Christian since he just came back and Amy with her newborn. Ocean told me that all through the dinner the only topic was I'm so mad with Ethan!

I felt bad for my wife and my friends, everyone knows this plan except for her and everyone tried their best to not leak it to her. But not everyone as great as Meredith and Christian at acting. Rainey kept stammering whenever she took Madeline's call. I felt bad for her and her twin baby inside her tummy. Mike, he didn't even want to meet Madeline, said he is more afraid of the boss' wife. The coward! As for our other friends they had to endure Madeline and her madness. Like Ocean last night or a day before when Madeline called Tony and asked him whether he can hack on my phone. Tony said it against the law, and he is afraid that I will sue him. Madeline was so mad at him, telling him that he hacked Amy's phone back then and complained to him for an hour long.

I drive my car to Christian and Meredith's house in Malibu. The kids are sitting at the back of the Aston Martin. It's early morning. Madeline is still sleeping and I managed to sneak out from the room. Like I told you, everyone, literally everyone knows about this plan except for her including all the staff in the house. Even Justin knows since the beginning while Elizabeth and Liam just knew it last night. I don't think my 2 kids can control their mouth in front of their mom.

"Dad, you should make it up for mom," Justin says. Elizabeth and Liam are still sleeping. I lift them to the car.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Mom was crying yesterday"

Shit! "Why?"

Justin shrugs "she said you didn't answer her phone all day long and she couldn't find you."

I rake my hair.

"I told mom maybe you were busy. But she said you never too busy for us all these years."

She is right. They are my priority. Everything else lined up after Madeline and my kids.

"She called mama too" Justin called Ian and Mer papa and mama, since they are his godparents.

"And?"

"Mama tried to soothe her but still in the end of the phone, mom is still sad. So please..."

"I'll put the smile back on her face, Justin. I promise you" I say looking at him from the rearview mirror.

He nods firmly like he holds onto my promise. My oldest, Justin, is only 8 years old but I can see the Hall in him. Just like my grandpa, dad and me. While Elizabeth is the chill one just like her mom, Liam is the mix between us. We made a great kids together and I'm thank God for this everyday.

Madeline devotes all her life for our kids. And I'm sure they will be great people in the future that will make all of us proud. And I have their mother to thank too. That's why I'm planning this vacation, part of it to say my thanks to my wife, part of it to make up 8 years ago because of my stupid mistake, and another part of it I just miss our time. The two of us. I love my kids so much, but I do want to spend some quality time with my wife. Just the two of us embrace each other. After all we are only in a relationship for half a year, and then Madeline is pregnant with Justin.