Chapter 40
Sierra
We spent Christmas Eve at Daniel’s house, celebrating with him and his girlfriend, whom I quickly became friends with. Ellie fell asleep on the way home, so Jack carried her up the stairs and put her to bed. Thank goodness I was smart enough to change her into her pajamas before we left Daniel’s house.
Jack and I got all her presents and placed them under the tree. We set the Bitty Baby out, along with the crib and carriage from Santa. After we filled her stocking, we headed to bed. It had been a long day, and we were both exhausted.
I heard the bedroom door fly open and the pitter-patter of little feet across the room. Ellie jumped on the bed, announcing it was Christmas.
“It’s Christmas! Wake up! Wake up!”
Glancing at the clock, it was six a.m.
“I want to open presents!”
Jack reached over, grabbed her, and held her tightly. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
“Merry Christmas, Daddy. Come on. Get up. Get up.”
Rolling over, I smiled. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, my love.” Jack reached over and ran his finger along my forehead. “Okay. Let’s go open presents!”
Ellie flew down the stairs and ran over to her Bitty Baby.
“Look what Santa brought me!” she said, tightly hugging the baby, putting it in the crib and then the carriage, and pushing it around the house while I made the coffee.
“Told you she’d love the doll.” I smiled.
We took our coffee to the living room and sat in the middle of the floor. Ellie excitedly opened all of her presents and loved everything we bought her.
“Your turn.” I smiled at Jack, handing him his presents.
“This is for you.” He handed me a large box beautifully wrapped with a red bow.
Tearing off the paper, I saw the name Chanel written across the box. Removing the lid, I pulled out the beautiful Chanel handbag and noticed another small, wrapped box. Opening it, I saw the matching wallet.
“Jack, I love it!” I threw my arms around him.
“Every woman needs more than just one handbag.” He winked.
“Thank you so much.” I planted tiny kisses all over his face.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “I hope that purse is big enough. Maybe you should open it and check out the inside.”
“It’s more than big enough.” I smiled, setting it down.
“Open the purse, Sierra,” Jack said.
Picking it back up, I opened it and saw a small box sitting inside. Pulling it out, Jack took it from my hand before I could open it. He went from a sitting position to one knee and grabbed my hand. My heart started racing.
“From the moment you walked into my office, I knew you were special. I had never known what love was until I met you, Sierra. You have completely changed me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He flipped open the lid. “Will you marry me, Sierra Knight?”
I stared at the gorgeous diamond, and tears sprung to my eyes.
“Yes, Jack. Yes, I’ll marry you!”
He took the ring and placed it on my finger as Ellie stared at us.
“She said yes, Ellie!” Jack exclaimed as we stood up. He spun me around, smashing his mouth into mine. “I love you so much, sweetheart.”
“I love you more.” I grinned.
One Year Later
J ack and I were married on December 1 st with a beautiful ceremony and reception. We wanted to get married around the holidays since it had become our new favorite season. All of our family and friends joined and celebrated with us in the grand ballroom of The Pierre, which was elegantly decorated with Christmas décor serving as our backdrop.
I was no longer Jack’s assistant. He gave me the option of either staying and working for him or staying home with Ellie. It was easier to stay home, so we didn’t have to hire a nanny. Jack hired a private chef to come to the house and give me cooking lessons. I never knew I’d find a passion in cooking. I loved it so much that I cooked almost every night.
Jack and his father rebuilt their relationship, and so did my mother and me. Within a year, our lives had changed drastically. We both went from despising the holidays to looking forward to them more than anything.
Jack hadn’t heard from Claire in a year, and Ellie had stopped asking about her. She now considered me her mother and called me mom, which warmed my heart and brought me so much happiness. Both Jack’s father and my mother made up for not being around when Jack and I were kids by spoiling their granddaughter rotten.
One Year Later
December 5th
J ack
“Come on, sweetheart. You can do it. One more push.”
“I can’t, Jack.” Sierra fell back on the bed. “I can’t.”
After twenty-four hours of labor, my wife was exhausted.
“Sierra, I promise. One more big push, and it’ll all be over,” her doctor said.
Helping her up, I held onto her. “You can do this, sweetheart.”
She gave every bit of her last energy, and I watched my son be born. His soft cries were music to my ears.
“He’s beautiful, Sierra.” Tears formed in my eyes.
“Here you go, Dad. Cut the cord.” The doctor handed me the scissors.
Leaning over, I held her as our son lay on her chest.
“He looks like you, Jack.”
I proudly smiled because I could see it. After the nurses took him and cleaned him up, they handed him to Sierra. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at him.
“Another holiday miracle.” My thumb stroked his little head. I leaned over and kissed Sierra. “Thank you for giving me the best Christmas gift of all. I love you.”
“I love you more.” She smiled.
“I’m going to tell everyone he’s here. I’ll be right back.” I walked into the waiting room, and our family and friends stood from their chairs.
“Alexander Theodore Atlas is here.” I grinned.
Everyone shouted and congratulated me with hugs and kisses.
“Daddy, can I see him?” Ellie asked.
“You bet.” I picked her up.
I took her to Sierra’s room and set her on the bed.
“Hi, sweetheart.” Sierra smiled. “Meet your brother, Alexander.”
“He’s so tiny.” She touched his hand.
Sierra handed him over to me and I sat in the rocker. Tears formed in my eyes as he slept in my arms. I didn’t get to do this with Ellie, which I’d regret for the rest of my life.
We spent another Christmas celebrating big with family and friends. I often sat and wondered what my life would be like had I never sat on that bench. Everything my grandfather said to me rang true. It just wasn’t about the decorations or the presents. It was the nostalgia of it all—the sacred memories stitched together, about believing that joy could exist even when things weren’t perfect. And for those fleeting days around that time of year, how we let ourselves believe that miracles, big and small, are possible.
I was sitting in my office when my assistant, Katie, opened the door.
“Jack, your interview for the accounting position is here.”
“Send him in.” I stood from my desk.
“Mr. Atlas?” A young gentleman stepped in.
“You must be Rory.” I extended my hand.
“Yes. Rory Rhodes.” He placed his hand in mine.
“I see you recently graduated from NYU with honors.”
“I did.” He cleared his throat. “I see you go all out for the holidays.”
“I do. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” I smiled.
He looked down and fiddled with his hands.
“Is that a problem for you, Rory?” My brows furrowed.
“Uh, well, my friends call me Scrooge Rhodes. I don’t like the holidays, and I don’t celebrate.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s all a bunch of bullshit as far as I’m concerned. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I really need this job, Mr. Atlas. I’m desperate.”
“You don’t believe in the magic of the holidays?” I asked.
“No.” He breathed out a laugh. “I don’t believe in that at all. My life hasn’t been all that great. I’m sorry. I have no idea why I just told you that. I’d totally understand if you didn’t want to hire me.”
I stood up from my desk, grabbed my coat, and put it on.
“Come on, Rory.”
“Where are we going?”
“For a walk around the city. We have some work to do if you’re going to work for me.” I smiled.
Thank you for reading Unwrapping Romance: A Single Dad Holiday Romance!