Dinner at Ethan’s and Elaine’s was perfect, as usual. The apartment was decorated in reds and greens and golds, and the meal was delicious. All my life, I'd wanted a real Christmas, the kind with gifts and a fireplace and a tree, roast turkey and all the trimmings. Most of all, I wanted a family who loved me.
I had all that now. Besides Ethan and Elaine, Heath and Christie were there with their two kids, and so with Kate, Sophie and I, we were a very loud and happy dinner table. Sophie took turns sitting on Kate’s and my lap, and occasionally, when she got fussy, she spent time on Elaine’s.
Ethan sat at the head of the table in his wheelchair, with Kate on one side and Heath on the other, and we took turns speaking about our year, and our hopes for the future.
Kate took my hand. “I couldn’t be happier,” she said. “Life’s so good.”
I squeezed, smiling at her. “Life’s the best.”
We opened presents after dinner and Kate was very happy with her gift of the nightgown and robe and the spa passes. She got me a great volume of Sherlock Holmes stories, which she saw me eyeing during a trip to a local bookstore. That plus several framed rock band posters for my office featuring Cream, The Beatles, The Stones and a few others. I couldn’t wait to hang them, and listen to their music while I worked on my fellowship research paper. Although I had taken a leave of absence, I wanted to continue working on the research paper to keep my mind fresh.
Once we were finished with the presents, and after tea and coffee, we left the apartment and made our way to St. Stanislaus’s for late mass and the choral music Kate loved. Kate would have liked for Ethan to come but he was still too immobile and didn’t want to go to all the fuss so the three of us went alone.
It was perfect. The perfect family Christmas. The only two things that would have made it better would be if my father had been alive, and if Liam had been part of my life, but I didn't want to feel ungrateful.
I was a very lucky man, and I knew it. It was all because of Kate – and Ethan. I had one resolution for the new year. I would never let either of them forget how much I appreciated and loved them both.
Chapter 16 : Kate
On Christmas morning, I woke to bright sunlight streaming in from the window. Drake was asleep beside me and I could hear Sophie sucking her pacifier over the baby monitor on my nightstand. I snuck out of bed and went to the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth. Then, I went downstairs to the kitchen and put on a pot of decaf coffee from Starbucks, before squeezing some fresh orange juice for our breakfast. I pulled out some bacon and eggs, planning on a special breakfast for us.
When I heard Sophie cry out over the second monitor we had in the kitchen, I put down the handful of green onions and went to Sophie’s bedroom, to find her rolled over into the corner, her head pressed against the bumper pad.
“Hey, baby girl,” I said when I went to her, picking her up out of the crib. “How’s my little one?” I kissed her cheek and took her over to the change table, to get her out of her wet diaper. She kicked and flailed her arms around while I changed her and put her in a clean romper for the morning. I’d bathe her later and get her ready for dinner at my father’s later in the afternoon.
I fed her quickly, moving her with ease from one breast to the other, burped her, then I put her into her jolly jumper swing downstairs in the kitchen. Then, I proceeded to make an omelet for our breakfast. I chopped up green onions, green pepper, and bacon, and then beat the eggs in a small mixing bowl. The scent of frying bacon mixed with the aroma from the onions and peppers smelled delicious. It was enough to make my mouth water.
Just then, Drake came out of the bedroom and peeked into the kitchen at Sophie and me.
“There’s my two girls,” he said with a smile. “It smells great in here.”
“There’s coffee,” I said and gestured to the pot. “Decaf, but if you pour me a cup in my mug, you can make some hi-test.”
“I might do that,” he said as he washed out my coffee mug and poured me a cup. Then he made regular coffee.
“Shall we open a present here first?”
“You’re eager to get to the presents?” I asked, smiling at the happy expression on Drake’s face. He loved Christmas. He ate it up, loving everything about it – the decorations, the lights, the gift buying and giving, the big Christmas dinner.
“I am. I can’t wait to see what you think of my gift.”
“I can’t wait for you to get my gift.” I smiled, thinking about it. My gift would make Drake’s Christmas.
With Sophie still in her swing, we sat beside the tree which was decorated all in gold and red, and Drake handed me his gift. I was eager to see what it was and quickly tore the paper off to find a pair of lamb’s wool ankle and wrist cuffs. Seeing them sent a jolt of excitement through me. We hadn’t done anything kinky since the attack.
“So this is what you had planned for tonight, hmm?” I said, wagging my eyebrows at him.
He grinned. “Guilty as charged.”
I tried one cuff out to see how it felt, imagining Drake tying me up and making me come again and again.
“I’m looking forward to Master D making an appearance,” I said and bent over to kiss Drake. “He must be feeling very deprived with his very vanilla lifestyle lately…”
“Not at all,” Drake said, ever the gentleman. He turned my face to his and looked deep into my eyes. “I thought you might like a little spice now and then. I’m perfectly happy the way things are, but don’t want you to feel cheated out of the man you married.”
“I don’t feel at all cheated,” I said, and I meant it. I knew that we had been way too busy dealing with the attack, Sophie’s premature birth and the aftermath to be involved in the lifestyle. When we had more time, I looked forward to us returning to our previous interests. I even imagined attending a dungeon party, if one were available.
Next, Drake handed me another gift. I opened it, realizing as soon as I saw it that it was a jewelry box. I pulled off the wrapping and opened it. Inside was a beautiful gold locket on a thin gold chain.