Chapter 7 Josephine
Josephine
Somehow, there’s not a single scrap of wrapping paper in sight.
I guess that’s how it goes where there’s four dads each manning a trash bag on Christmas morning.
“Mommy! Come to my salon!” Dylan calls out from across the room where her new vanity is all setup.
“We’ll play in a minute,” Nicky tells her sweetly. “There’s one more present that still needs to be opened.”
I scan the floor, confused. The gifts from Santa weren’t wrapped, and all the other gifts are accounted for. Archie has his new guitar, and his amp. Delilah is already applying decals to her mini electric G-Wagon—
“Merry Christmas, Mama.”
My guys gather around as Kendrick hands me a small package.
“You guys,” I hedge, looking to each of them as the kids ignore us for their enormous piles of presents. “We said no gifts.”
“That is what you said,” Kylian confirms. “But none of us actually agreed.”
I scoff, because that sounds preposterous—although if Kylian says it, I’m sure it’s right. Leave it to my boys to sneak by on a technicality.
It’s wrapped with so much tape I have a hard time finding a corner to tear into—Nicky’s signature wrap job, I’ve learned.
“It’s from all of us,” Nicky explains.
The Decker adds, “We designed it together.”
Tears gather in my eyes before I even get through the wrapping.
I pop open the jewelry box to find a multi-colored gemstone necklace.
It’s gorgeous. Unique without being over-the-top or gawdy. Pave-style gemstones alternate with gray diamonds in a colorful yet understated design.
“It’s all of our birthstones,” Kendrick explains as he comes to sit beside me.
Nicky takes my other side, and Kylian kneels in front of me with Brendan in his arms.
“One stone for each of us, all connected by the gray diamonds that match your ring.”
My eyes flick to Decker’s, and he gives me the most tender smile.
The gray diamond ring I still wear as my wedding band was originally his mother’s. He offered to replace it multiple times during the first few years of our marriage, always taking my refusal for stubbornness.
I finally admitted to him that I love the gray diamond because it’s nontraditional and different—a perfect representation of the life we’ve created and the love we share.
“I love it,” I tell them, looking to each of my guys as Kendrick lifts my hair and Nicky clasps the necklace in place.
“But wait.” My hand lands on the chain and I chew on my bottom lip as a thought strikes me. “We haven’t decided if we’re done for sure.”
Archie attempts to play a chord—attempts being the keyword—and Dylan screams in protest. The girls begin bickering over by the play vanity, and Bren starts to fuss from the commotion.
I bite back a grin as Nicky kisses my cheek and rises to his feet, ready to go full Papa Bear on the bickering sisters.
“I’ll buy you another necklace,” Decker promises, helping me to my feet and wrapping his arms around me.
“Merry Christmas, Josephine. I love you now. I’ll love you forever.”
“Through every squabble,” I hedge, wincing when one of the twins lets out another scream.
Decker holds me tighter and buries his head in my hair before whispering, “Through every squabble. And through every storm.”