Chapter 33 #2
I narrowed my eyes at the scene unfolding, knowing that this joke was about to be on Collin and me if we didn’t find some way out of this.
“You know something?” I said, smiling, standing, and walking to where my wife sat with a questioning expression on the sofa. “We’re merely trying not to look like a bunch of dipshits for nearly screwing up Christmas.”
“So, you lied and blamed an innocent child when the truth came out?” Nat said with a laugh.
“That’s why I’m ending all this here and now. I admit that Collin and I weren’t fully aware we could damage the sleigh by bringing it off the packed road and through the forest,” I said.
“I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is not to hear a Christmas carol from you whilst admitting that,” Nat said with a laugh, comfortably sitting on her husband’s lap in an oversized chair.
“Well, it’s because the payback is over. Now, we can get back to our old ways of spending the holidays,” Collin said. “You know, boring and unmotivated for Christmas pleasantries.”
“As long as there’s no more singing,” Spencer added.
“Yeah, okay. It’s over. Merry Christmas Eve, everyone,” I said, knowing that even though it came to a bumpy end, the women had loved our way of bringing in holiday-themed activities based on Christmas tunes…
at least, that’s what I hoped. Being insufferably cheesy with the songs for a week certainly wasn’t easy.
“No,” Jim said. “It’s not over yet.”
I held my hands up. “It’s been exhausting, but now, everyone can return to their seasonal Christmas festivities the good old-fashioned way, by drinking eggnog, watching television, and opening a present on Christmas Eve.”
“We’ll put the kids to bed,” Collin said, leading everyone down a depressed and boring road just to get them all to admit that this was the best Christmas holiday they’d ever spent with friends and family.
“Then we can enjoy a little Christmas cheer while everyone delights in opening gifts tomorrow and pigging out on food so badly that we all go into food comas for the rest of the day.”
I smiled, seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces starting to change, “And you all get Christmas back the way you’re used to it.”
“I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve enjoyed all of this, even the silly Christmas songs,” Carmen shockingly admitted.
“The kids have been happy and engaged all week, and seeing them participate in all the thoughtful activities has been a delight. I don’t think I’ve ever been in the Christmas spirit more than I have on this wonderfully crazy trip,” she chuckled.
“I say we keep my bride happy,” Mark chirped, “and keep these Christmas celebrations going like we have all week.”
“Agreed,” Ash concurred. “Even though it’s been crazy, this has been the most exciting and hilarious Christmas I’ve ever had.” She stood up and walked over to me, “And it’s all because you and Collin couldn’t let it rest that those boys played a prank on the two of you.”
“All of you are very welcome,” I said. “Now, who wants to play Santa’s Christmas Eve elf and start passing out the Christmas Eve presents?”
My son immediately turned, and the boy, who was usually consumed by electronics and anything other than his family on Christmas Eve, was thrilled to be Santa’s helper. Knowing that my son had enjoyed this trip to the fullest made me grateful for what I had to endure to put these things in motion.
Sure, we heightened the festivities with Christmas tunes, a perfect and beautiful Swiss Chalet, sleighs, and reindeer, but even when all that material stuff was out of sight, John seemed a little lighter and happier.
He’d experienced the true gift of Christmas: being happy, silly, and carefree with the family and friends you love.
I could finally see and fully embrace that life is better lived when you’re with your loved ones, doing crazy and extremely silly things—even if you are at war with your brother while you’re doing it.
We were the most fortunate group of best friends in the world, not because we were spoiled with wealth but because we were always there for each other no matter what.
Gifts came in many different forms, and my greatest gift came from the happiness and good health of the people I loved most.
Jim stood and raised his glass after the Christmas Eve presents were opened. “To the best Christmas week ever,” he smiled at me, “and to the eternal goofballs who made it all happen.” Everyone sipped their drinks, and Jim finished by looking at the children. “Are you kids ready for Santa?”
“Yes,” they all proclaimed in unison.
“Then, it’s time I conclude this night by electing the one who will read ‘Twas the night before Christmas,” Jim said. He was always the one to read the story since he liked to do voices, but tonight, he was passing the torch. “Mark, would you do the honors?”
“I’d love to,” Mark said, looking like he’d just won an award.
I couldn’t imagine a better group of friends to celebrate this holiday with. There was nowhere else I’d rather be.
Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night…
Ash
I lay in bed, nestled tightly to Jake’s side, watching the snowfall. Large flakes floated like feathers, dancing in the chilly breeze, and I listened to the fire crackling in the fireplace, appreciating this beautiful Christmas Card view of the Alps.
“Good morning, angel,” Jake said, rousing awake and turning to face me.
I draped my leg over his perfectly polished and sexually satiated body, moving him closer to me and gaining a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Merry Christmas to King of all Christmas festivities,” I chuckled.
“Frohe Weihnachten,” he said in his cute morning voice.
“Oh?” I said, running my fingertips over his forehead. “I didn’t realize you’d been polishing your German. Care to translate?”
“Actually, it’s Swiss German dialect, and it means Merry Christmas,” he said, pretending to be pretentious.
“You sure are sexy with that second language you’ve picked up.”
“Well, I’m not fluent in four languages like my brother, but I’ve spent enough time being rescued from frostbite on a Swiss Christmas tree farm to learn a thing or two,” he laughed.
“For all the time we spent in Europe with my dad, you’d think more of the languages would’ve stuck, but hey.
I rarely have to speak Italian or French when I’m performing open-heart surgery, so it’s just as well I let Jim focus on that. ”
“Well, I’m happy you grew up experiencing so many other countries and cultures, even if you never learned the languages,” I smiled, loving when Jake reminisced on the fond memories of his past. “You know, we should look into getting a vacation home over here.”
“Well, it’s not so easy to buy a residential property in Switzerland if you aren’t a citizen, but I’ve considered looking at other places from time to time. I never imagined my lovely wife would care to have anything like that, though.”
“It does seem kind of foolish to bring it up after all the beautiful lessons we’ve all learned this Christmas,” I said.
“What, that money and material possessions don’t buy happiness?” he laughed.
“Exactly,” I chuckled. “Maybe I’m just caught up in this peaceful bubble we’ve been in here, and I don’t want to leave?”
“Baby, it’s okay to desire things that you’re capable of having,” Jake said, “and I know you well enough to know that buying a second home overseas isn’t the key to your happiness.
We have more than enough money to make that happen; in fact, I would love to have a place where we can take our kids whenever we feel like it.
My brother and I loved vacationing in Europe with my dad.
It was a bonding experience that kept us close. ”
“So, it was like a foundation for you two?”
“I guess you could say that, yeah,” he said. “Now, if we were to decide on a place, where would you want it to be?”
“Well, I love the English countryside where Jim and Avery have their little castle estate,” I toyed with the idea.
“We could purchase a place near them and be neighbors. My brother will hate it,” he chuckled.
“Oh, please. He would not hate it,” I nudged Jake in his ribs playfully. “What about you? What were you thinking of?”
“I’d choose Italy,” he said casually.
“Italy?”
“Yeah, I’m a sucker for pasta and fine wines.”
I laughed, loving that my husband and I could have silly conversations first thing in the morning on a perfect Christmas day. We probably wouldn’t pull the trigger on a second home in Europe, but talking about it and listening to each other’s preferences was fun.
It had been a rough year for me, feeling lonely and distanced from the man I loved, but I felt renewed in our love again, and all it took was a solid break from the hustle and bustle of life and a good dose of family and friends to remind us of where our focus should be.
Work had a way of owning every one of us, rich and poor alike.
Everyone was in their own private rat race, and if we didn’t take time to stop and recharge our batteries, we could be consumed by it.
Having an amazing husband to kiss me goodbye every time he left the house was worth more to me than the ability to purchase a second home.
Having children who loved and appreciated everything we did for them, big or small, was something you couldn’t put a price tag on.
“I see you’re thinking about exactly what kind of English manor you’d like to purchase?” Jake said, interrupting my quiet thoughts.
I kissed his lips and ran my hand down his side, “No, I’m thinking that all of that would be wonderful, but I’m happy and content with having just this.”
He pulled my hand over his dick and smiled, “You mean this?”
“That too,” I chuckled, then hugged him. “I love you, Jacob. Thank you for making this the most memorable and festive holiday I could’ve ever asked for.”
“And I’d do it all over again, too, angel,” he said, becoming more serious.
“I’m sure you would, especially because it was all based on you giving your brother hell for the last couple of weeks,” I chuckled when his lips captured my bottom one.
“Well, that too,” he said, running his hand along my cheek.
“Honestly, I enjoyed all of it. Seeing Kaley so happy and giggling at every silly thing we did just melted my heart. Her cute little angelic voice singing the Christmas carols she didn’t even know until now was probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” he grinned sweetly.
“And John? That kid amazes me. I’m so proud and thankful that he got the most out of the experience.
For a kid his age to look around and notice that he was enjoying this so much because of who he was with instead of what he would receive means the world to me.
All I’ve ever wanted is for him to grow up knowing that all this money means nothing if you aren’t surrounded by people you love and who love you in return, and he understood it this week. ”
My heart always skipped a beat every time he spoke so sincerely. “You’re a wonderful example to him and a tremendous father to them both,” I said, drawing closer to him.
“No, baby,” he said, his amorousness growing at the same pace as mine. “You’re the best wife a man could ask for and the most loving mom our kids could ever dream of having.”
Jake’s lips went to my neck while he parted my legs with his knee, allowing him access to the one thing that was aching for more of him.
Knock! Knock! Bang! Bang! Knock!
“Hold on, Collin,” Jake growled, stopping us from going further.
“Daddy, it’s Kaley! Santa came, Santa came! You have to come and see!”
“I suddenly forgot it was Christmas morning,” I chuckled. “Come on, let’s go,” I said, scrambling to get out of bed and pulling on my Christmas jammies and robe while Jake did the same.
Before I got to the door, where our impatient daughter stood banging away on it, Jake pulled me into his arms for another kiss, “Last night was incredible, but tonight, we’re going to make up for what we just missed out on and then some.”
“I’ll hold you to it,” I teased. “Merry Christmas, lover.”
Now, it was time to embrace the holiday traditions of opening gifts, but this year, I knew that I would see it from a different perspective and with a more grateful and happy heart.
This is what Christmas was truly about—love, cheer, happiness, and gifts given from the heart.
Merry Christmas!