Luca
CHRISTMAS MORNING
I wake before the sun, my eyes adjusting to the darkness of the bedroom. Elena's warm body curls against mine, her breathing steady.
For a moment, I simply lie there, savoring the weight of her head on my chest, the simple miracle of this Christmas morning.
For too many years, I came home for Christmas, waking alone, celebrating with my family and then La Corona, but always ignored by Elena.
The thought still cuts, but the pain dulls with Elena's body pressed against mine.
Down the hall, the kids sleep in their rooms. The idea of being a father still staggers me sometimes.
Hell, the idea that Elena and I may have made another child… or three, God help us, is equally as staggering.
But I’m confident that Elena and I are on solid ground. The cruelty and bullshit that pulled us apart won’t divide us again.
We won’t let it. We know what life is like apart and now how it is together. Together is a million times better.
I check the clock. 5:03 AM. How are they still asleep?
As a kid, I was up at 4:30 racing down to the tree. I listen for any sign of movement from the hallway.
I picture their faces when they see what Santa brought. The bicycles. The new games for the gaming system. Their own baking tools because while they make a mess, they enjoy baking. I might have gone overboard, but how do you make up for six missed Christmases in one morning?
The bed shifts beside me, and Elena's sleepy laugh fills the darkness. "You're worse than they are. They won't be up for at least another hour."
"An hour?" I groan, turning to face her. "That's impossible. It's Christmas morning."
"They were up late," she reminds me, tracing lazy patterns across my chest. "And unlike their father, they need more than four hours of sleep to function."
I capture her wandering hand, bringing her fingertips to my lips. "I slept five hours, thank you very much."
"My mistake," she teases. "A whole five hours. Practically hibernating."
"I just want everything to be perfect," I admit, pulling her closer, wondering if we could spend part of the next hour enjoying each other’s body.
"It already is. You're here. We're together."
I'm about to respond when the unmistakable sound of small feet pattering down the hallway reaches us, a whispered "Shh!" followed by muffled giggles.
“Thank God.” I’m so eager for this moment, it’s ridiculous.
The door creaks open, and three small shadows slip into the room. Their excitement is palpable, vibrating in the air like electricity.
"Is it time yet?" Rocco whispers, though his version of whispering could wake the neighbors.
"We waited forever," Elio adds, bouncing on his toes.
Adalina hangs back slightly. "We didn't want to wake you, but…"
I sit up, pretending I haven't been awake for an hour already. "Santa came?"
They nod in unison, eyes wide and sparkling. I have another one of the moments of awe at being a father.
"Can we go see?" Adalina asks, her small voice hopeful.
Elena sits up beside me, her hair tousled from sleep. She gives me a knowing smile. “Shall we see if Santa came?”
I throw back the covers. "Race you downstairs!"
They squeal with delight, bolting for the door.
Together, we descend the stairs, the triplets racing ahead while Elena and I follow.
Her hand finds mine, squeezing gently as we watch our kids disappear into the living room.
“Should we wake your father?” she asks.
“How about I check on him and make some coffee?”
She laughs. “You’re pushing your luck if you think they’ll wait that long.”
I’m able to bring my father to join us, but Elena’s right in that the coffee has to wait.
I watch the kids for a moment, taking in the scene. They stand before a mountain of gifts.
Their eyes are wide, mouths hanging open in perfect circles of wonder.
"Santa came," Adalina whispers, her voice reverent.
"Look at all of it!" Rocco exclaims, bouncing on his toes.
Elio turns to me, his expression serious. "Did you see him, Daddy? Did you hear the reindeer?"
I nod solemnly. "I thought I heard something on the roof last night."
They dive into the presents with abandon, paper flying, ribbons discarded, squeals of delight at each discovery.
Elena settles on the couch, camera ready, capturing everything.
I sit on the floor among them, helping with stubborn packaging, answering excited questions, watching their faces transform with each revelation.
My father is as delighted as the children. “Your mother would have loved this,” he says to me. “Being a grandma.”
I reach over and give his hand a squeeze.
When Adalina unwraps the art easel, she goes completely still before launching herself into my arms. "How did Santa know?"
"He knows everything," I tell her.
The boys are racing their new toy cars across the hardwood. Elena catches my eye over their heads, her smile so bright it nearly blinds me.
"I have one more surprise," I announce, catching Elena's eye across the sea of discarded wrapping paper. She nods, her smile encouraging me forward. The kids pause their play, looking up with curious expressions.
"Last night, I asked your mom a very important question." I reach for Elena's hand, drawing her closer to me. "I asked her to marry me."
For a heartbeat, the room is silent.
“Well, it’s about time,” my father mutters teasingly.
Then all the kids erupt at once.
"You're getting MARRIED?" Rocco shouts, jumping to his feet.
"Like a real wedding?" Adalina's eyes grow wide. “Can I be in it?”
"Does this mean we'll all live together forever?"
Elena laughs, kneeling down among them. "Yes to all of that. Your dad and I are getting married."
"I can be the ring boy!" Rocco declares, puffing out his chest.
"It's called a ring bearer," Adalina corrects, already in planning mode. "I want to throw flowers. Pink ones. And purple. And we need a cake taller than Daddy!"
"Can I wear a suit like yours?" Elio asks me.
I gather them all into my arms, these miraculous children. "You can wear whatever you want. This is our family celebration."
As they break away, diving into increasingly elaborate wedding plans—Rocco insists we need fireworks, while Adalina debates the merits of different cake flavors—I settle in next to Elena.
“Who knew they were wedding planners?” I quip.
“They’re as happy to be a family as you and I are.”
Her words make my heart swell with emotion.
A month ago, I didn’t really know these kids. Now they’re as essential to me as air.
“Don’t forget your old papa,” my father says to them.
Adalina rushes over to him. “You can be the best man, Papa.”
My father’s eyes twinkle with life I haven’t seen in a long time.
I pull Elena close to me as I realize it’s finally happened. I've taken back my life. My family. My future.
And I will never let them go again.