Page 121 of Sweet Poison

She leans over the table, and kisses me quickly before pulling back. “Stop thanking me and just wait until we open presents! Santa might have left a surprise or two for you there, too.”

Santa…

I laugh softly, my heart full. I don’t care for presents. The best present I could ever receive wakes up every morning next to me. I don’t need anything else. With her beside me, I believe in magic—the kind that lingers in the air, filling our home with love and joy. Willow is the best Christmas gift I ever and will ever receive. Nothing will ever top her.

Half an hour later, we both finish breakfast and move to the living room. The scent of fresh pine fills the room, and the twinkling lights of our massive Christmas tree, which stands proudly at the corner of the room, cast a warm glow over everything. Willow adorned the tree with shimmering ornaments, huge candy canes and tiny fairy lights that blink in time with the rhythm of the music playing softly in the background. Beneath our tree is a mountain of brightly wrapped presents, each one topped with a perfect bow, waiting for us to open them.

The ones that look like mother Christmas wrapped them herself are from Willow and the ones that look like someone gave a chimp wrapping paper—those come from me.

My wife’s eyes light up as she scans the gifts. “Okay, I can’t wait anymore! Time to unwrap!” she says, her excitement contagious. She picks up a tiny box, barely the size of her hand, and hands it to me, her smile widening. “Here you go, grinch!”

“What’s this?” I ask, shaking it lightly. The sound of something soft and crinkly inside makes me curious.

“Just open it!” she urges, bouncing on her toes, her face lights up with excitement. “Hurry!”

“Okay. Okay.” I carefully unwrap the paper, revealing a small box. As I lift the lid, my breath catches in my throat. Nestledinside is a baby-sized Formula 1 jacket, emblazoned with the logo of my team. I pick it up, the soft fabric and familiar colors making my heart race. I look back at Willow, completely stunned.

Is this real?

What…?

“Wild One… is this what I think it is?” I can barely get the words out.

She nods, her grin lighting up the room more than our obnoxiously large Christmas tree. “This will be our last Christmas as a party of two!”

A wave of disbelief and happiness floods through me. “You mean…?”

“Yes!” she beams, her eyes filled with love. “We’re having a baby!”

In that instant, my heart thuds like crazy. I leap up, scooping her into my arms and spin her around carefully, trying not to hurt her now that she’s carrying precious cargo. “You’re giving me a baby? Fuck, fairy.” My heart races, overwhelmed with emotion.

She laughs, holding onto me tightly and kissing my mouth. “Merry Christmas, Grinch!”

I glance at the tiny jacket again, imagining a little version of her dancing around our garden dressed in a fairy costume. A mini her.

Life can’t get better than this.

No, it can’t.

“Merry Christmas, fairy,” I whisper, pulling her close, knowing that this moment is just the beginning of our greatest adventure yet. An adventure we’ll get to share with our child.

And as if the weather is in tune with the joy in our hearts, snow starts to fall outside covering everything in white.

Willow smiles. “I knew it!”

She sure did.

And as the snow begins to fall gently outside, I know that this Christmas will be one I’ll remember forever because of her.

Because of my dream come true.

Epilogue Two

WILLOW

“Her love is the spark that lights up my world.”— M

The soft thuds of tiny feet hitting the floor wakes me from a deep, peaceful sleep — a delightful surprise after the madness of wrapping gifts with Madden late into the night. The man goes out every year but this year he truly brought Santa’s Toy Shop to our home for the kids.

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