Christmas Interlude
Steve
I’m
just starting to come out of a deep sleep when I feel a soft pressure against
my lips. It is warm and makes me smile against the velvety softness. The
pressure retreats and I open my eyes to stare into Joey’s gaze.
“Good
morning,” I slur out.
“Merry
Christmas, baby.”
I
wrack my brain, thinking about the day. It’s rough, still trying to wake up my
foggy brain. But he’s right. It is Christmas.
“Merry
Christmas,” I reply.
Joey’s
smile lights up the room. He always was a big kid when it came to Christmas.
And this year he’s been even more enthusiastic.
“Let’s
go get Aiden,” Joey says enthusiastically as he jumps out of bed.
“Baby,
baby,” I say quickly, grabbing his arm.
“What?”
“Let
him sleep. What time is it?”
“Seven.”
“Well,
we gave him his bottle about two so he should be up soon. But let him sleep.”
You
would have thought I killed his dog the way he looks at me. He’s just so
crushed. “But it’s his first Christmas.”
“I
know. But it’ll be Christmas all day. Besides, he’s only three months old. He
has no idea what’s going on.”
“But
don’t you want to see what’s under the tree?”
“Considering
I bought half of it, I think the excitement can wait. Come on, let’s go back to
sleep. Aiden will be up soon enough.”
Joey
gives me a dubious look before sliding back down against my chest. I wrap an
arm around him and hold him tight.
I
spend the next hour or so holding my man tight, drifting in and out of sleep. I
don’t think Joey is asleep and I’m proven right when the first cry comes from
the nursery. Joey is out of bed like a shot, almost racing down the hall to get
to our boy. His movements wake me up the rest of the way and drag myself out of
bed at a much more sedate pace.
I
head to the nursery and stand just inside the doorway. Joey has Aiden wrapped
in his arms, swaying our baby from side to side. I can hear him whispering
words to Aiden, but I can’t make them all out since he is facing away from me.
But when I hear the word ‘Christmas’ I figure Joey is explaining the holiday to
him.
When
Joey finishes saying his piece, he turns to face me with a huge smile on his
face.
“Okay.
Aiden understands Christmas now. We can go open presents.”
I
smile as I walk farther into the room. “Oh, he does, does he?”
“Yes,”
Joey says with upmost confidence.
“He’s
sucking on his hand.”
Joey
looks down at our baby as I chuckle at his obviousness. But Joey is not
deterred. “Come on, Scrooge. We’re going to open presents.”
So
the three of us head downstairs. The Christmas tree we set up in the living
room is still surrounded by presents of all sizes and shapes. Joey immediately
sits on the floor next to the present pile. Knowing his arms must be getting
tired, I grab Aiden’s reclining chair and sit it next to him.
Joey
takes the hint and straps Aiden in before grabbing the presents. As he starts
to sort them out, I go and make a bottle for Aiden, who is starting to show
signs of fussiness.
Joey
manages to hold off his excitement a little longer while we feed and change
Aiden, but by the time I finish, he is practically vibrating with excitement. The
presents are not only divided up by person, but also neatly stacked by size.
“Now
can we open presents,” Joey says as I strap Aiden back in his chair.
“Go
ahead,” I say amused.
The
rest of the morning passes in a blur or laughter and wrapping paper. Joey and I
got Aiden clothes, toys and all sorts of other things babies need. He doesn’t
notice. But Joey and I have fun, laughing and smiling over the gifts we got
each other. Eventually, all of the gifts are open and we start playing. We try
to engage Aiden with some of his toys, but he quickly losses interest before
falling asleep.
“Joey,”
I call to him just as the clock hits noon.
“Yeah,”
he calls from behind his new tablet. He has been engrossed in the things since
Aiden fell asleep.
“We
have to get ready to go to Lucas and Hal’s place.” We’re having dinner with our
two best friends, since neither one of us have a relationship with our families
anymore.
Joey
lifts his head and pats the seat next to him on the couch. I head over and sit
in the spot, leaning over to kiss him as I go.
“What,”
I ask once I’m settled.
“I
love you.”
“I
love you too.”
“And
this has been the best Christmas ever. I don’t think it will ever get better
than this.”
I
chuckle. “Sure, it will. In a year or two Aiden will start being interested in
presents and Santa. Then it will get even more fun.”
Joey
just smiles more. “You’re right. That will be more fun. I won’t be the only one
excited about the holiday.”
“I’m
excited. Just not as much as you.”
“Scrooge.”
“I
am not,” I reply indignantly.
“Yes,
you are. But you’re my Scrooge.” Joey leans over and kisses my lips. And in
this moment, I know they’re will be many more Christmases to come. And as long
as I have Joey and Aiden, they will all be merry and bright.
Well,
there is your 2013 Christmas Interlude. I hope you enjoyed it. Remember there
will not be a new part next week as I will be working, spending time with
family, etc. But check back on January 6th for Part 5. At that time,
we will be going backwards in time to where Part 4 left off. See you all then.
Have a great holiday everyone!
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