Ella made a loud scoffing noise. “More like a belly flop.”
“Nu uh! Micah?!” Alex cried out belligerently.
Micah had found a seat on the floor next to the couch even though there was an open seat and the ottomans open. “More like a half flip,” he said placatingly.
Ella rolled her eyes. “Whatever! It was a belly flop,” she said with a serious look to Jace.
Jace tried to hide a laugh behind his hand but he wasn’t that successful.
“Does no one else want to know what the surprise is?!” Jaxson yelled out in a pain filled voice.
I laughed. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if they told you.”
“When are we getting the surprise?” Jaxson squirmed like a child.
“How is he your brother?” Troy asked Jace with a crooked smile.
“If he didn’t look like me, I would question it,” Jace smiled wryly.
Another knock on the door resounded through the living room. “Come it!” Noah yelled. “It’s open!”
Will’s head popped in the door first. “Oh, good you’re all here. How are you feeling Blake?”
“Like I died. Literally,” I tried to say with a straight face. My way of handling my current situation was with humor. It may be dark humor, but it was still humor.
Noah and Jaxson groaned simultaneously. “That was bad,” Noah said swinging his head around to me. “Don’t quit your day job.”
I smiled wryly. “I’m feeling better. Thanks Pops.”
“Good,” he nodded as his eyes further assessed me. “Well enough to decorate the Christmas tree?” he asked as he before he nodded behind him.
Gavin and Jemmy came in carrying a real-life Christmas tree, followed by Megan and Sierra carrying copious amounts of bags. “We brought the decorations, snacks, eggnog, and Christmas movies!” Jemmy exclaimed happily.
Remy, Drake, and Noah jumped up to help carry in the rest of the bags and tree stand.
I sat up once again with a huge smile. Christmas decorating with my dad was a small pre-lit artificial tree. I loved our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, but I always dreamed about a large, real tree.
“Did you bring The Santa Clause? Any of them?” I asked hopefully.
The Santa Claus movies had been a tradition for Dad and me. We always played them as we decorated our Christmas tree, then let me stay up to late to watch all three of them. I rarely made it to the third one but he had continued to watch them. He laughed at all the funny parts, despite watching it numerous times. He always laughed easily. I loved that about him. I missed hearing his infectious laughter.
Megan laughed. “Of course. Along with It’s a Wonder Life, The Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Four Christmases, Jingle all the Way, Home Alone 1 and 2, because let’s be real, the other ones weren’t as good, and-” she started to continue before Jace cut her off.
“So, every Christmas movie known to man?” Jace teased.
Megan rolled her eyes at him. “We are so behind on the festivities. We should have started watching them the day after Thanksgiving.”
“Are we going to have Christmas movie marathons starting tonight?” Jemmy bounced around clapping her hands.
“That’s up to Blake and the boys,” Will said with a smile as he started pouring some eggnog in some glasses.
“Did we get the rum?” Megan asked as she leaned forward to kiss Will before she placed some of the bags on the counter.
I looked over at Jace with a raised brow as Jaxson looked at them in astonishment. “Is this a thing again?”
“You boys couldn’t be the only happy ones,” Will stated dryly but a smile lurked around his lips.
“Do you prefer Ma, Aunt Megan, or Megan?” Jemmy asked as she stood up from putting the trunk of the tree into the tree stand.