White Plains, New York
Seven year old Aralyn Duke sat up in bed, blue eyes wide, and grinning.
“Tiff! Tiff, wake up! It’s Christmas!”
Tiffany Duke, her cousin and best friend just moaned and didn’t move from where she lay on her side next to Aralyn.
“Tiffany, come on! Let’s go see what Santa brought!”
“There is no Santa,” Tiffany groused. “Tim says so.”
“Tim’s a poopyhead!” Aralyn replied, throwing back the covers and scrambling out of the bed. “C’mon!”
Tiffany groaned and sat up, her honey colored hair only slightly ruffled, a startling contrast to the messy blond waves of Aralyn. They had been put to bed later than usual; well before midnight, but they had sat up whispering and giggling until way late and snacking on candy that Aralyn had snuck up to her room. Tiffany was sure she heard she heard sleigh bells at one point but Aralyn had fallen asleep.
Aralyn jammed her feet into her slippers and then grabbed her pillow, threatening Tiffany.
“All right, all right,” Tiffany folded the covers back and slipped out of bed, putting on her slippers. “Geez, Aralyn. What time is it?”
“Five fifty six,” Aralyn answered, glancing at the clock that ticked silently. “Daddy said we can’t wake him before six.”
“Think he’ll make us hot chocolate?” Tiffany asked, perking up.
“Of course. C’mon!”
Tiffany followed her exuberant cousin down the hall to Bo and Trixie’s room. Aralyn cracked their door, peeking in, and closed it in disappointment.
“They’re not awake,” she pouted.
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “Three minutes. Come on, let’s go see the loot!”
The girls tiptoed down the stairs, peeking around the banister in case Santa might still be lurking. The tree was lit up and the lights twinkled merrily, casting their reflection on the snow outside. Under the tree were brightly colored packages and the stockings were bulging.
Aralyn clapped her hands together in delight. “Tiff, look! Santa was here! He ate the cookies!”
“Tim says Dan always eats the cookies, that Daisy makes them special for him.”
“Tim doesn’t know everything,” Aralyn pointed out. “He’s being mean. Daddy wouldn’t eat Santa’s cookies.”
Tiffany looked doubtful but the pair began to creep around the tree to see which package was for whom.
The grandfather clocked began to chime six and Aralyn’s face lit up. She bolted towards the stairs, tearing up them as fast as her little legs would carry her. Tiffany followed closely behind.
Aralyn flung open the door to her parent’s room and tiptoed in. Tiffany waited in the doorway.
Aralyn carefully checked her father’s tableside clock. Six oh one. “Daddy?” she stage whispered. “Daddy, are you awake yet?”
Bo Duke had stirred the first time his daughter cracked open the door, but lay still. When the door shut, he smiled, knowing how his antsy daughter would have to go downstairs to see the evidence of Santa before she woke him.
Trixie, the heavier sleepier of the two, was sprawled on her stomach, sound asleep. Bo was draped over her, the way they had slept for the last ten years or so. He glanced at the clock and knew he didn’t have enough time to wake her the way they both enjoyed, so he brushed the sandy blonde curls from her neck and kissed it lightly, thinking about the present she had given him last night.
“There’s something I want to give you, but not in front of everyone,” she said, when they were done setting out the presents, nibbling on cookies and stuffing stockings.
Bo grinned widely. He sat on the edge of the bed and drew her to him. “No need to keep me in suspense, Mrs. Duke.”
Trixie rolled her eyes. “Get your mind of out of the gutter, Bo.”
Bo looked slightly puzzled. “Sweetheart, you okay?”
Trixie smiled. “Yes. It’s just an unexpected gift.”
Now Bo was really puzzled. Trixie took his hands from around her waist and placed them against her abdomen.
“We’re not done, Bo,” she said gently.
Bo frowned, momentarily and the meaning sunk in. “Baby?”
Trixie nodded, watching his face anxiously. They had agreed no more children a few months ago.
“I guess we better see about a refund on the vasectomy,” he said with a smile.
Trixie giggled. “Well, we probably didn't wait long enough, Bo, but it looks like we’re going to have another. Brian confirmed it yesterday.”
"You knew yesterday?” he asked.
“I had to process the information,” she said gently.“We had agreed no more. And with all the excitement going on, I couldn’t get you alone. Are you upset?”
“Upset?” Bo laughed and pulled her to him. “Not in the slightest. We have stretchy walls, sweetheart. You know I always wanted a big family. Boy or girl?”
With a laugh, Trixie touched his face. “You know it’s too early to tell. What do you want?”
Bo shrugged. “A healthy one. Another girl would nice, to even it out for Aralyn.”
“You think she needs help?” Trixie asked dryly.
Bo chuckled. “Three boys would be a pretty good accomplishment. As long as it’s healthy, I don’t care what it is.”
Trixie felt the relief sweep over her. “I’m glad. I was worried you’d be upset.”
“Why would I be upset?” Bo asked.
“Babies are expensive,” she sighed. “Plus, we had figured we only had fifteen years left before the twins were of age.”
“Trix, sweetheart, I ain’t worried. We’ll make it work.” He kissed her soundly. “Now I wanna celebrate.” He grinned at her.
He kissed the curve of her neck lightly, feeling her start to wake and respond. Then he heard the footsteps thundering up the stairs. With a sigh, he snuggled closer to Trixie to enjoy the few remaining seconds before—
The door flew open and he heard his little girl moving towards him, painstakingly quiet after the flinging of the door.
“Daddy?” came the very loud ‘whisper’. “Daddy, are you awake?”
He played possum until his princess leaned over him and he popped his eyes open at the round, cherubic face leaning over him. She grinned, showing the gap of the tooth she had lost last week.
“What time is it?” he feigned grogginess.
“Six oh one,” she said pertly, and then she hopped on the bed and shook him by the shoulder. “Daddy, c’mon! It’s Christmas, and after six!”
Trixie lifted her head. “Aralyn Duke, if you don’t stop jumping on the bed—”
“Get up, Mommy! It’s Christmas!” Aralyn sang, motioning Tiffany over. “Christmas, Christmas!”
Trixie laughed and lay back down. It was Bo’s turn to get up and deal with them.
“All right, Princess, that’s enough.” Bo caught her and hugged her tightly, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Go check on your brothers, and I’ll make you girls hot chocolate.”
“Yay!” they cheered. Aralyn scrambled off the bed and the girls ran for the twins’ room.
Bo leaned over and kissed Trixie one more time before he got up and found a shirt. The rest of the Clan would start arriving after breakfast for presents, football and lunch. He had hot chocolate and pancakes to make in the meantime. Honey, Luke were the lucky ones this year for a morning of privacy, Jace had spent the night at Mart and Diana’s.
Next year, he thought with a smile as he kissed Trixie on the cheek, they’d have another baby to celebrate.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
***
Author’s Notes
- A big yee-haa to my editor, the fabulous Donna!
- I usually don't write holiday stories but little Aralyn begged.
- Word Count, 1,206
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