A Playskool farm mooed for at least the seventh time, and a firetruck blared its siren.
“Don’t let Heidi steal my stuff.” One of Grant’s girls stomped her foot.
“Look at this, Katie!” the girl she thought was Beth and Marc’s daughter called.
“Unnn Anny!” A toddler came flying over with a box, and Will’s brother scooped her up.
Andy had already opened his gifts from both her and Will, as well as the zillions of others from Will’s family. Now he, Steve, and Nate were playing a game on the floor away from the little ones.
“I have something for you.” Will pulled a rectangular box out of his pocket and handed it to her.
She tugged on the paper and pulled it open slowly. In true Will fashion, he took the paper from her hand and put it in the trash bag at his feet. He was currently the only one in the room worried about cleanup.
Aly smiled teasingly.
“I know. I know. Enjoy the experience; don’t worry about the mess. I’m trying really hard.” Will rolled his eyes.
She turned back to the box and snapped it open. Nestled inside was a beautiful rose gold heart on a simple chain.
“It’s mine,” Will said softly. “Tuck it close to yours to keep it safe.”
It took her a second to understand that he meant his heart. The necklace was gorgeous, but he was really giving her his heart. She traced the outline with her pointer finger.
“It’s beautiful.”
Will pulled the box away and had the necklace on her before she even said okay. Which wasn’t shocking. The heart fell just between her breasts, and he leaned down and placed a kiss on top before bringing his lips to her ear.
“I really want to put a different type of mark on your tit, but this one will do for now.” His voice was a growl.
She shivered and swatted him in the stomach. “Stop it,” she begged, shaking her head and hauling herself up to grab the gifts she’d brought with her.
“Wait.” Andy came over with a box in his arms. “Me first.”
Will opened the gift, making sure his paper was thrown away. “A blender.”
“It has three cups plus the big blender so you can keep making me those crappy kale things.”
“Language,” someone yelled from across the room.
“Thanks, dude. We’ll try it out when we get home.”
A box hurtled through the air then, and Andy had to duck so it didn’t hit him. “Steve!” Andy disappeared after his cousin, picking up the empty box as he jogged past it.
“Here.” She handed him the boxes wrapped in green striped paper, the small one on top of the larger flat box.
Will pulled the paper off the smaller of the two, revealing a picture frame ornament. Inside was a photo from her Christmas party. Aly and Will had their heads tipped together, a blurry Christmas tree in the background.
“Hell yeah, it is,” Will mumbled.
The frame saidFirst Christmas of Forever.
Will opened the next box and looked at the scrapbook with a furrowed brow. She cringed internally, hoping this hit right.
On the first page, she’d put a small note with a photo of him and Andy from two weeks ago at the swim meet.
Thanks for being his consistency-turned-parent. We both love you.
The corner of Will’s mouth turned up, and he flipped the page.