Epilogue - Blake - Two Years Later
"Blake, why are you not helping?"
"Do we really need another box of ornaments? I think our home is already pretty Christmasy to me. It was like this the whole month, why are you hanging mistletoe everywhere?"
"Maybe, I'm hoping my husband will kiss me more if I hang more mistletoe."
I hold my wife by the waist, guiding her gently until she’s against the wall.
“I didn’t know you were starving for kisses,” I murmur, voice low. “I’m such a bad husband.”
She giggles and moans when I lick the side of her neck, just like I know she likes.
"Well, I think it's going to bring luck to everyone that's coming. Plus, Carly told me you never once hosted a Christmas dinner. We need to be at our best."
"December is always stressful for you, you should take the time to rest."
"Oh, that reminds me, I need to go to Book Peak tomorrow, they need more postcards."
Her business has been growing, but she hasn't stopped organizing events because she has a lot of fun working on those.
Her illustrations are scattered throughout the house, framed or just held with a piece of washi tape.
I love to see her talent showcased everywhere.
On my bedside table sits one portrait of her, one I asked for right at the start of our relationship, telling her I need to wake up with one Poppy on each side. It's one of my most prized possessions.
"You're such a workaholic. You can't worry about our decor and your business at the same time. Our apartment looks fine. No one is going to care. I've already prepared all the food you asked me to. And you still want to go to the parade, don't you want to get some rest for just one day?"
"Don't you think the parade is an important milestone for us?"
I shrug. "For me what's important is to be by your side."
"You're so grumpy!"
"I'll be there at the parade if you want me to. You know I can't say no to you."
"That's true." She has the nerve to wink at me.
"You know I'll find a way to make you sit still for a while."
She grins expectantly so I do, I make her sit on my face as I eat her out like I was born to do this.
I do believe that. I do believe I'm meant to be here with her.
Right here. In the two years we've been together, it's like everything’s fallen into place.
I love this woman more than I love anything else in the world.
She's the light I never thought I needed.
I'll complain about celebrating Christmas but it's not a chore when it's with her, I've learned to enjoy this holiday just by watching it through her eyes.
It's not just a holiday for buying presents but one that’s about cherishing the people by our side.
I thought that I had so much of my life figured out before I met her but I clearly still have a lot to learn.
"Go fetch me that box, please," she asks as soon as she's out of her daze.
"I'm losing my touch clearly," I mutter as I grab said box, feeling like she switched to full productive mode too quickly.
"Can you get that small blue box on top?" She points at it. I've never seen it before, it doesn't fit exactly with the Christmas theme. "Open it."
Inside, there's an ultrasound picture. It catches me off guard.
"Are you...?"
"Yes. Do you want to...?"
"Of course I do, Poppy. Of course I fucking do."
She's now crying. I hug her as I kiss each tear away. "You too?"
"Yes, I'm so scared though."
"We'll figure it out together, I love you so much."
"I love you too."
I don’t know how long we hug like this, but we only break apart when it’s time to leave for the parade.
We wrap ourselves in scarves, gloves, and hats, but as I glance at her, I realize she’s barely protected from the cold.
“You need another scarf,” I insist. “It’s going to be freezing outside.”
“I don’t need another scarf. I’m pregnant, not sick.”
I grab the scarf she’s wearing and tug gently.
“Poppy,” I say, lowering my voice, “You need to let me protect my family, please.”
She feigns an eye-roll but her strong smile gives her away. “Fine, fine. Another scarf. Happy now?”
"Yes, much happier. I don't think I can get happier than this."
Her smile widens and, as so many times in the past couple of years I think: I'm so glad we got locked in together that Christmas Eve.