Chapter Sixteen
Star
As usual, Caelum was awake before me. The night before, Caelum let me open one present. It was technically a gift for me and him: matching jammies with candy canes and gumdrops on them. I might have cried.
We took a picture in front of the fire and another by the tree, photos we would keep to ourselves but that made the whole holiday a bit sweeter.
I stretched a little more than necessary.
Caelum had taught me to bask in the anticipation and I’d grown to like it.
I was sure he had a grand breakfast made, as he always did.
The smell of coffee was already in the air.
Out of bed, I noticed my jammies laid across the back of the chair and decided to get back into them for our Christmas morning activities.
This year, I wouldn’t be alone. This year, I had a partner and a daddy to share the best holiday with. Excitement bubbled in my tummy as I brushed my teeth and made my way into the living room.
I walked over to the window where Caelum was staring out at the snow, coffee in hand, warm and fuzzy robe wrapped around his body. I laid my head against his back. “Merry Christmas,” I said.
Immediately, he put his cup down and turned to embrace me. “Merry Christmas, Star. How did you sleep?”
“Really good. I always sleep well here. Those hotel beds have nothing on yours. Plus, you’re so warm, and you whisper my name in your sleep.”
He sucked in a breath but then released a chuckle. “You know what? I’m not embarrassed about that. I stopped dreaming of you a while ago but I am again. You live in my awake and my asleep.”
Who needed to rip open Christmas presents when he said things like that?
“I’m hungry. Should we make some breakfast?”
“You know better, sweet one.” He kissed my forehead. “Breakfast is in the oven. We had a very special Christmas breakfast growing up, and I wanted to continue that tradition with you. If you don’t like it, we can always change it up but I hope you do.”
I bounced on my toes. I looked forward to making new traditions with Caelum, but I also wanted to make new ones. We walked into the kitchen together where he pulled two casserole dishes from the oven, one red and green and the other blue with snowflakes on it.
“Did you buy those especially for Christmas?”
He put them on the counter then shut the oven. “I bought them this year. I wanted everything to be perfect. Our first Christmas together.”
He could not get sweeter. “Okay, what is it?”
“This one is a savory breakfast casserole. Sausage, eggs, bacon, and bread on the bottom, all topped with cheese. The other is cinnamon rolls. My parents made them from scratch, but I haven’t learned that recipe yet.”
“It all smells incredible.”
“There’s also peppermint hot chocolate or coffee. Whichever you prefer.”
This man, devoted to me in so many ways. I hoped my gifts reflected how devoted I was to him.
We had entirely too much food together, sitting under the tree. We shook presents and guessed about the gifts, but Daddy insisted on not opening any until after a decent breakfast.
I had two sets of presents, according to Caelum. One set was for my little side and the other one was for me, the grown-up side.
We opened presents one by one, enjoying the time together while one of my favorite movies played in the background, the one where the kid gets left home alone.
I got Caelum a new jacket and some new things for the kitchen, since he loved to cook.
He got me all kinds of things. New toys.
New footie jams and playthings for the tub.
My own set of plates with cups and the little silverware I asked for. He got everything on my list.
Once we were done, he had me try on some of the things, and I settled on the warmest pair of jammies while we put on another Christmas movie and settled in for a lazy day.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go see your parents today?”
He snuggled me in closer, kissing the top of my head. “I’m sure. Besides, I told them about you and that I wanted us to spend the day together. I feel like I haven’t seen you in too long and I want to soak this up. We have to make the most of the time we have with your schedule.”
“We do. And we will. I promise.”
After a few more movies, we decided to get bundled up and go outside. We spent hours making snowmen and snow angels and every other snow creature in between. Our noses grew red, and our fingers tingled from the icy conditions.
But we were happy.
Happier than I had been in years. There was no paparazzi since we were in his backyard, and there were no phone calls or worrying about future auditions. No text messages telling me which tabloid I was in now.
No bogus headlines.
Just me and the love of my life.
I stopped in my tracks as Caelum gathered up what he was calling the biggest snowball of them all. The thought came out of nowhere.
That didn’t make it any less true. Caelum was the love of my life.
He always had been. But the timing had been off. He and I had needed to do some growing up and maturing. We also both needed to realize what made us tick.
He was caring and kind and thoughtful—everything I dreamed about in a man.
“What is it?” he asked, immediately noticing my change of mood.
“Just thinking,” I said, shrugging it off even though it was the most life-changing epiphany.
He walked over, his monstrous snowball forgotten. “You can tell me anything.”
Could I? Could I trust him with my love?
I sighed. Of course I could.
“I was thinking that I was in love with you, Caelum. I don’t know if it’s too early to say that or if it’s the wrong time.
If you don’t feel the same way, it’s perfectly fine.
I know I’m rushing thing…” My words were cut off by his surprisingly warm lips.
He grabbed my waist and picked me up as we both broke into giggles.
“You love me? Say it again.”
“I do love you, Caelum.”
He searched my eyes and then kissed me once more before cupping my face. “I love you too. I love you and I’m in love with you.”
We kissed some more until the snow began to come down hard. “Let’s get you inside and get something warm inside you. Tea or hot chocolate or…”
“You?” I asked, waggling my eyebrows.
“We can arrange that as well. Merry Christmas, Star. You are the best present I could’ve ever received.”