I threw a piece of candy at him. “My son will not be named Almond Rowe!”
All three of us were in hysterics when the doorbell rang, and it wasn’t long before everyone had arrived. It was a sea of hugs and kisses, each one of them telling me how happy they were to see me up and around and back home again. Even Virgil was sappier than usual, hugging me and ruffling my hair.
I loved each and every one of them. And Nicholas.
I didn’t know it was possible to feel more for him than I already did, but it happened anyway. Not only had he arranged this late celebration just for me, but he made it special in all kinds of small ways. He may have vetoed the traditional route for our baby’s name, but he was pulling out every tradition in the book for our Christmas. Everything from stockings hanging, carols playing throughout the house, serving eggnog… he even put on a Santa hat at one point. Nicholas was usually the antithesis of jolly, but his seeing to every detail to make me smile was something I’d never forget.
After we ate, I stopped him as we made our way to the library, pausing underneath some mistletoe he’d put up over a doorway. I grabbed his shirt, pulling him down to kiss me.
“Thank you for all of this.”
He opened his eyes and smiled down at me. “Are you having a good time?”
“It’s all wonderful. This means a lot to me.” Did he know he’d given me everything I always wanted?
“All I want is for you to be happy.”
I hugged him as hard as I could. “You always make me happy.”
He sighed into my hair, but didn’t pull away. I knew he was still feeling guilty-and perhaps some of his going above and beyond was an attempt to compensate in his mind-but it was progress for him to not rebuke my acknowledgment of how he made me feel.
Maybe time really was all he needed.
Eventually, we joined them all in the library, where the presents were piled around the tree and the fire was roaring. He pulled me down to sit between his legs on the couch, and we watched Geoffrey and Lory dispersing the gifts around the room.
It was a good thing I’d gotten most of my shopping done before my fall.
The atmosphere was loud and raucous, ten different conversations going at the same time, plus some wrestling breaking out between Geoffrey and Francis over whose gift was whose. I leaned back against Nicholas’ chest, loving every second of it. He made it even better when his arms came around me, his hands rubbing continuous circles over my belly.
I scanned around the room, noting each of those who were most important to me. Lory exchanged silent smiles with Francis. Courtney and Geoffrey laughed and tickled each other. Laura gushed over Virgil and John. Sarah chatted with Clara and Jefferson.
Each of them was special to me in their own way, and my heart felt so full knowing they were here at this moment to celebrate with me and Nicholas. That they shared our sorrows and our joys. None of them were blood-related, but they were all my family.
Clara was seated next to us and took my hand, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Before opening all the gifts, I did want to talk to you about your baby shower.”
I’d forgotten all about that. I cringed, remembering her wanting to give me a huge party. “I’m not really sure…”
She stopped me. “I was thinking-considering everything-that maybe you’d prefer something small? Maybe we could even do it here? Just us girls?”
I nod. “That would be great.”
She grinned. “I have the perfect plan in mind.”
I tried not to let that scare me, hoping she’d keep it low-key. Before I could fester over it too much, Nicholas distracted me. “How about Cory?”
Huh? I turned to look at him, wondering what he was talking about. When the lightbulb went off in my head, I couldn’t stop my giggles.
“No, we’re not naming him Cory.”
Eventually, they got all the presents handed out and Geoffrey turned toward me. “So, how is this going to go, ‘low? All at once or one at a time?”
It was nice to relax and join in with the smiles, the laughter, and even a few tears as everyone got their turn. Nicholas was extravagant with the gifts he’d chosen to give from us, things ranging from cars to all-inclusive vacations.
I was already thinking of ways to thank him… ways his perverted mind would appreciate. Those naughty thoughts weren’t being helped at all by his still constantly moving hands. Each time he made a pass over my stomach, his thumbs would brush the underside of my breasts. And I knew he was doing it on purpose.
I gave him some payback, gripping his thighs and wiggling against him. Finally, he rested his chin on my shoulder, his lips close enough to whisper in my ear. “Be careful, Willow. I’m about two seconds away from telling them all to leave and fucking you right here on this couch.”
Blood raced through my veins, and I probably turned bright red. Luckily everyone else was too preoccupied oohing at Jefferson’s gift from Geoffrey: some rare vintage bottles of Bordeaux for his wine cellar.
Nicholas and I had calmed ourselves down and were mostly behaving by the time it was my turn to open presents. I couldn’t believe all the things I received: clothes, jewelry, imported chocolates, first edition books. Lory and Courtney even had some pictures of the three of us together blown up and framed for me.
But the gift that brought the most tears to my eyes wasn’t even for me. Jefferson made arrangements for him, Nicholas, and Geoffrey to play rounds of golf together at various courses around the world, whenever they could get away. Apparently, some of these places were almost impossible to play unless you’d been a member since birth.