Page 75 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

He sat in one of the side chairs and patted his knee. “Come.”

“You want me to sit on your lap? Who do you think you are, Santa Claus?”

He laughed as I parked myself on his knee.

“I can watch you open one or two presents, but then I have to get back,” I reminded Amelia and let Bryan know what I was thinking.

“Amelia, sweetheart, bring that box over to Nova.” He extended his arm and pointed at a long, thin box.

“You got me a present? I asked.

“I did get you a present, but I think this one is from Santa Claus.”

“Open it. Open it,” Amelia said as she danced in front of me.

I didn’t understand this child’s level of self-control. At her age, I would have plunged into the pile of presents and begun shredding wrapping paper like some kind of piranha.

“Oh, these are beautiful,” I said, opening the box to reveal ruby red, leather gloves lined in fleece. I slipped my fingers into their comforting warmth. “These are perfect. So perfect. Too bad Santa didn’t show up a couple of days earlier. I really could have used these the other day.”

“Well, now you can use them the next time we have snow.”

“I’m going to have to remember to thank Santa Claus for these. They’re fabulous. Okay, Amelia, your turn.”

She turned and stared wide-eyed at the plentitude of gifts in front of her.

I wondered if the sheer number of gifts was overwhelming her to the point she couldn’t make a decision. Suddenly, with an almost feral growl, she crawled halfway under the tree and began tugging out a large box.

“Is that one from Santa?” I asked.

“They’re all from Santa,” Bryan told me. “Well, not all. There’s a couple in there from me.”

“And what about her grandmother?” We spoke in low tones as Amelia tore into the package.

She didn’t rend the box into mulch, as I would have expected. But each long tear of paper was loud and covered our conversation.

“I have to call Mother later. She’s either going to come over here later, or we’ll go to her house, and Amelia will get her presents then.”

I really wasn’t looking forward to meeting his mother again, but maybe being Bryan’s fiancée would make a difference.

“She’s perfect!” Amelia wailed as she exposed the contents of the box. It was one of those Country Girl dolls.

“Oh, she’s so pretty,” I said.

Amelia pulled the doll from the box and cradled her. “She’s exactly what I wanted.”

I felt more than heard Bryan relax with a heavy sigh. I guess he hadn’t been completely certain about that doll.

After we ate breakfast in front of the tree and Amelia continued to open present after present, I was happy to sit curled up on the couch, tucked up under Bryan’s arm, watching Amelia as she played with her new toys. And she had so many new toys. Her Country Girl doll came with all of the accessories, and then there were clothes for Amelia and building block collections. It was an impressive haul. I was content and could have sat and stayed there for a very long time.

“Why haven’t you been returning my calls?” The sharp voice of Bryan’s mother cut through my bliss. “What is she doing here? Bryan, what have I told you about the?—”

“Mother, before you say another word,” Bryan started, “what have I said about letting yourself in unannounced?”

“If you had answered your phone, I’d have been announced.”

“It’s not even lunchtime. I didn’t think we were doing anything until later,” he said.

I started to shift away, but he stopped me with his hand on my arm.

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