Chapter 11
Michael
“We should buy a house here in Aspen.”
That is Nathan speaking, of course, massaging Dani’s shoulders as they stand in front of the wall of windows in our rental chalet. All it takes is one comment from Dani that she loves the mountain view and he’s suggesting we buy a house. Meaning, he would buy a house.
I’ve done well for myself in my career but I’m not in the buy-a-luxury-vacation-home-on-a-moments-notice territory.
Sitting on the couch sipping an old fashioned with the gas fireplace pumping out heat and the Christmas tree casting a soft glow onto the spacious room, I’m content to sit back and watch this play out.
I know exactly how it will go. Crew will jump on the band wagon because he thinks just about everything is a great idea no matter how impractical.
Then Dani will demure but then immediately cave.
Then it will be my job to point out how unrealistic buying a vacation home we’ll use once a year is.
Not that I mind. I relish my role of keeping my favorite people grounded and our family humming along. I’m good at it and I love all of them.
Nathan brings the big ideas, Crew the enthusiasm, and I rein them both in.
Dani is our reason, plain and simple.
“That’s a fantastic idea,” Crew says, right on cue. He moves over to the window to stand on the opposite side of Dani, putting his hand on the small of her back. “I’d forgotten how much I love to ski until we were out on the slopes today.”
“You almost had a career ending injury at least twice out there,” Nathan protests.
Maybe I won’t need to intervene after all. Maybe Nathan will come to a conclusion we don’t need another house all on his own.
“That’s why I need more practice,” Crew says.
“You were a natural, Danielle,” Nathan tells her.
I’m not sure that’s true either. Dani isn’t generally athletic and she gets nervous.
But she says, “It was a lot of fun, I have to admit. Though intimidating. I’ll stick to the beginner slopes.”
“Then it’s settled—we’ll buy a house.”
That’s definitely Nathan. I’m amused as I sip my drink.
“What do you think, Michael?” Dani asks, turning back to smile at me.
“I think skiing happens during hockey season and we’ll never be able to get out here. Especially this winter. Dani has her book signing in February, remember?”
We’re all proud of Dani for having her first book published and for just releasing a second novel. She obviously doesn’t need an income but she enjoys the creative process and meeting with readers at signings and conventions.
“That’s true. Damn it,” Nathan says. “I want to buy you something, Danielle. A house seemed perfect.”
She laughs. “This decision to go easy on gifts this Christmas is hard on you, isn’t it?”
“It’s impossible,” he grumbles.
We all agreed that excessive gifts are unnecessary and just add to the pressure of the holidays. Nathan was out voted on this. He loves excessive gift giving.
Crew kisses Dani and returns to the seating area. He swipes a nut off of a charcuterie we ordered from the resort’s catering, along with a full dinner service. Crew ate a massive amount of food both before and during dinner, but now he’s picking over what remains of the appetizer spread.
“I wish I could go to the signing,” he tells Dani as she also returns and sits down on the couch next to me. “But I’m playing in Seattle that weekend.”
Dani sits beside me and I wrap my arm around her. I’m happiest when my wife or our kids are snuggled up next to me like this.
“I know, Crew. Maybe you and I can take a quick road trip together in the summer without the kids.”
“Dude ranch?” he asks.
Dani laughs. “Or…anywhere with a pool.”
“Just go over to the McNeill’s if you want a pool,” Nathan says, predictably.
He still gets a little jealous over our solo trips with Dani.
“Nathan, do you want to go to the signing with Dani or stay home with the kids?” I ask. Either one will make me happy. I’d love to spend time with Dani, and I’m so proud of her writing, but I’m never going to be upset about hanging out with my two favorite littles.
“We can’t all go and take the kids?” He sits down in a chair and reaches for his drink.
I glance at Dani. She’s immediately shaking her head. “I don’t want to be away from the kids but that’s too distracting. I’ll feel pulled in too many directions and there’s nothing for them to do in Houston.”
“You should go with Dani,” Crew tells Nathan. “Let Michael stay with the kids.”
“You don’t think I can handle the kids?”
This is why I put the ball in Nathan’s court.
He’ll protest if we suggest he go. He’ll protest if we suggest he stay.
Because Nathan likes to be in control, but Nathan also likes to be with Dani and the kids all the time, at the same time.
Sometimes he even lingers when it’s time to go into the office and he loves the Racketeers.
“I didn’t say that,” Crew says, snagging another nut. “Don’t be so sensitive. I just thought you might enjoy fucking Dani on the jet on the way down to Texas.” He smirks because he knows Nathan won’t be able to resist that idea.
“Mm, I like the sound of that,” Dani says. “I’ll be sure not to wear panties that day.”
“Michael, you can stay with the kids if you’re fine with that,” Nathan tells me. “Maybe your parents will want to come up for the weekend.”
“That would be great.” I squeeze Dani’s knee. “Should we open our gifts now?”
She nods and stands up. “Let me pass them out.”
Excitement is on her face as she gathers the gifts we put under the tree and passes one to each of us. God, I love this woman. She glows when she gets to take care of the three of us in any way, and it’s beautiful to watch.
“Who goes first?” she asks.
“Age before beauty,” Crew says, leaning back casually on the couch, his gift seated next to him. “That means you’re up, Nate.”
Nathan rolls his eyes. “This better be a muzzle for Crew. That’s my idea of a perfect gift for me.”
“Hush,” Dani tells him. “No teasing, please. This is important to me. I’m nervous about these gifts.”
“I’m sorry,” Nathan immediately says.
Even Crew looks contrite. “I’ll love anything you give me.”
“Michael, you go first,” Dani says, giving me a smile.
I take off the wrapping paper and uncover a sterling silver frame with a picture of me with Isabel and Oliver. It’s from the hospital when Dani delivered Oliver and I’m introducing Isabel to her baby brother. There’s awe and joy on my face.
Instantly, my chest tightens and I feel tears forming. “I’ve never seen this picture. I absolutely love it.”
“It was buried in the nine thousand pictures Nathan took that day,” Crew says. “My eyes are still tired from scanning through all of them to find one Dani liked.”
“I thought you could put it on your desk at work,” she tells me.
“That’s perfect.” I kiss her softly. “Thank you.”
“I’m next,” Crew declares, already ripping open his package. “Oh, sweet! It’s a Daddy and Me class for me and Oliver.”
“I know you feel like you’re missing out when you’re on the road all season,” Dani says. “We thought this would give you some nice one on one time with Oli. It goes all summer.”
“I love it.” Crew stands up and comes over to cup Dani’s cheeks with both hands. “I love you.” He kisses her.
“Now Nathan,” Dani says when Crew eases back and returns to his seat.
When Nathan pulls out the sweatshirt, he studies it for a minute, holding it up in the air. He doesn’t say anything.
“Do you like it?” Dani asks.
I know that it says, “Dad, est. 2023” on it.
His nostrils are flaring and he nods tightly at Dani’s question. It’s clear he’s too emotional to even speak. Instead, he simply pulls it on over his long sleeve shirt he was wearing while skiing and smooths down the front.
“You were right about the simple gifts,” he manages to choke out with tears in his eyes.
This time Dani stands up and goes to him. She pulls his head against her belly and strokes his hair for a few seconds. He takes her hand and kisses the back of it.
“Your turn,” he tells her, turning her and giving her ass a pat. “The three of us picked it out together.”
Dani obeys and carefully unwraps her gift. It’s a long jewelry box. She lifts the lid and gasps when she sees the bracelet. “Oh, my. It’s beautiful.” She immediately tears up. “These are Isabel and Oliver’s birthstones.”
“You deserve something special for all you’ve given us,” Crew tells her. “And for being the best mother our children could ever have.”
Now she’s crying in earnest and she hands me the box. “Put it on me.”
“There’s room to add stones,” Nathan says.
“Later,” I quickly add. “Two babies in less than two years is a lot on your body.”
She holds her wrist out for me to fasten the bracelet. “Much later,” she says, wryly. “I would like some time to just enjoy what we have.”
“I would say whenever you’re ready so am I, but we both know that's on Michael and Crew,” Nathan says with a grin. “Though I’m happy to buy us a bigger house when the time comes.”
We all chuckle together and Dani admires her bracelet, turning her wrist to the right and left. “Right now I think you should take me to the bedroom. It would be a shame to waste that lingerie I bought for this trip.”
Crew immediately is off the couch, tearing his sweatshirt off over his head. “Lingerie should never be wasted.”
Nathan reaches out his hand for Dani and she lets him tug her to her feet. I run my hand down over the curve of her ass while Nathan kisses her.
“I think we have a new holiday tradition.”
Then I stand up and follow my wife and her husbands to the bedroom.