Epilogue
Renata
Two years later
Clap! Snap!
“Great job! Big smiles!” I shook a toy in one hand, as I snapped a few more pictures. “One more!” I took the last picture and blew out a breath. Saturdays in the studio during the holiday season were nonstop. Honestly, I was ready to collapse with all the overtime I’d pulled.
I finished up with my last client before my last one was due to come in. But this one, I wanted to see.
Exactly on the dot, my husband walked into my studio, holding our one-year-old daughter, Eliza. “Hey hey, we’re here.” Both of them were decked out in an ugly Christmas sweater with reindeer headbands. I had my own ugly sweater on as part of my work uniform. I just needed to grab my headband.
“Hi, my two loves!” I rushed over to them and kissed both of them. How I ever got so lucky to have this as my life, I’ll never know but damn did I cherish it.
After a quick engagement, Zion and I were married, a small intimate ceremony with only our close family. Shortly after, I found out I was pregnant, and our daughter came along. It was a surprise pregnancy but one we welcomed. It was never too early to get started on growing a family.
“Hi, baby. Say hi to Mommy.” Zion strolled over to me, his arm already open for me to slide under. I loved my large teddy bear, so warm and protective.
“Goo. Bah. Bah.” Eliza babbled, her chubby hands clapping as drool hung off her adorable, chubby face.
I kissed my husband and took our baby in my arms, hugging her close and breathing in her heavenly baby scent. She wore an I love Christmas now bring me presents, sweater and happily kicked her feet, babbling away.
“Okay, let’s get these pictures taken before the witching hour begins and our babes loses her cool.” I kissed her cheek and my husband once more. “Go sit. I’ll get the camera ready.”
I walked over to the camera and set it to take several pictures, a few seconds apart, set on a timer. Then the three of us posed for pictures, keeping it as light and playful as we could, though by the end, Eliza had had enough.
She fussed while I flipped through some shots, loving most already. I’d have to go through the rest of them later.
“I love our yearly tradition. So many memories.” Zion mused as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “We should put this year’s on our Christmas card.”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea.”
“Imagine if we could get the whole family involved and take a big group family picture. That would be fun,” Zion said, his eyes lighting up with his idea. “A lineup of the ugliest Christmas sweaters we’d ever seen, all proudly on display.”
I laughed. “I don’t know about proudly.” I looked down at my sweater and grimaced.
Zion laughed and kissed my lips before spinning in circles with Eliza. “You know you love it.”
“It’s grown on me. But only a bit.”
“A bit my ass. Now let’s go get some dinner. I’m starving.” Zion said.
And as our family grew, with two more children, so did our ugly Christmas sweater holiday photo.
Until one year, both sets of grandparents, April and her husband and three kids, Zion and I and our three kids, all joined in. A row of perfectly ugly Christmas sweaters in one big family photo.
Holiday memories to cherish forever.
THE END