He smiles and kisses me. “I love you more than life, JoJo,” he whispers against my lips.
“I love you too. Now tell me, why are you scared?”
Liam pulls away and looks into my eyes. “I want Paige to live life to the fullest. I want her to follow her dreams, not Mack’s, or anything they create together. I want her to explore, travel, and find her passion before she settles down. I’m scared they’re heading in our direction. When I was Mack’s age, I cared about three things: football, Josie Preston, and having sex with her.”
I can’t help but blush even though the situation doesn’t call for it. “We can’t stop them from falling in love, but we can prepare them and encourage them to think for themselves. I think Mack has a good role model in Noah, and Paige does as well with the twins. And I think you overthink sometimes. We just gotta go with the flow, Mr. Page.”
Liam growls and tackles me onto the bed. “You know, I brought my Santa hat. Tonight, you can sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas.”
“Deal,” I tell him. “But fair warning, I’ve been very, very naughty this year.” I wink and get up before Liam can do anything. I’m to the door when I hear him groan into the blankets.15LiamWhen you have a houseful of people, including three teenagers, and a brand-new baby, the Christmas tree is overflowing on Christmas morning. At some point, after everyone had arrived, Harrison, JD, and I decided that all three of us needed to play Santa. Handing out presents and wearing a Santa hat is something each of us does for our family, and it only made sense that we’d continue with our traditions. The only issue we couldn’t decide was how it would work. Thankfully, we have brilliant women to guide us, men, along in our lives. I don’t remember who blurted the solution out, but it made sense. The dads will take turns. It’s as simple as that.
This Christmas is unlike any other, at least the ones we’ve had in the past. Everyone is here, except for a few people. We’re missing Harrison’s mom, Mason’s dad, Ben, and Katelyn’s parents. My mom, Josie’s parents, and the Davises side of the family. But it’s Mack who I’m focused on at the moment. I’m sure the boy feels awkward, celebrating such an important day without his family. However, Josie has gone above and beyond to make sure he’s comfortable. He has presents under the tree, mostly from Nick, who made sure his son wasn’t going to go without gifts, but from us as well. Watching Mack move among our tight-knit family, it’s like seeing what my future will be. He fits in, and that scares me. I think deep down I want him to be on edge and always on his best behavior. I think I want him to be like I was when I was his age, afraid of Mr. Preston. Although, that fear didn’t stop me from being a complete shithead.
“Dad, are you going to stand there all morning?” Noah’s voice brings me out of my reverie and to the present. He’s sitting on the couch, with his wife and best friend curled into his side. Elle is sitting next to them. Nola’s sitting on the last cushion, and Quinn is on the floor in front of his future wife. Katelyn and Harrison sit together on one of two love seats, with baby Oliver nestled in the middle. Jimmy and Jenna claimed the couch closest to the fireplace. Jenna’s cold. Betty Paige, Eden, and Mack are on the floor, anxiously waiting for their presents. And my wife, the love of my life and the reason I am who I am, is patting the spot next to her. I push myself off the doorjamb and make my way toward her.
“Merry Christmas,” I say as I sit down and kiss her just below her ear.
“Merry Christmas to you.”
If I could meet and fall in love with her all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me, and I hate that I let her down for ten years of her life. I’ll never stop trying to make up for what I put her through.
“Is it presents time?” Betty Paige asks. I have a feeling everyone is waiting, and not so patiently.
“JD, you’re up first,” Harrison says. JD stands and puts his Santa hat on. He tries to laugh like Santa while leaning back and holding his non-existent belly. The dude is skinny, always has been.
“I think you need to eat a sandwich, Santa,” I blurt out. Everyone erupts with laughter, except for Jenna.
“He’s perfect,” she says.
“Thanks, wifey,” JD replies. He crouches down and picks up the first package. It goes to Quinn. We thought about waiting for everyone to open their gift but realized we would be here forever, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing. JD continues to pass out presents and then hands the Santa duties off to Harrison, who continues. By the time it’s my turn, I’m down on all fours, under the tree, pulling out the last of the gifts.