Page 14 of Free to Rejoice
Corinna sits back down and accepts the hat from Caleb. She reaches in and calls out, “Phil.”
Phil’s grin can only be classified as evil. He doesn’t hesitate. He stalks over to Cassidy and snatches the gift from her like a cantankerous two-year-old. “No,” she whimpers.
“Take the chair.” Phil’s voice is diabolical, setting the family off in hysterics.
I’d feel bad for Cassidy if I wasn’t about to save her.
Phil turns to me and pulls my name, the last name, out of the hat. “Sweetheart,” he coos, even as he tosses the hat back in Em’s face. She sputters and curses him, almost dropping her white elephant gift.
To make this look good, I stand, holding my gift and the baby. I circle the room, slowly. I pause to admire Corinna’s gift and get a subtle wink. I meet Keene’s glare head-on, and I grin when he growls. This is too much fun. Then I reach a defeated Cassidy, who’s eyeing the monstrosity with despair.
“Cass? Honey?” I hold out the poo statue, which I know will be less painful for her than the parrot. She fumbles it around before she clasps it.
She looks confused, then wondrous. “Are you serious?” she whispers.
I chuckle out loud, even as Phil is yelling, “What the hell are you doing, Jace?”
“Corinna?” I call out. “It’s time.” She scurries upstairs to get Phil’s Christmas gift. “Cass, here, take Laura, and then you need to move.” After taking her daughter, she quickly vacates her chair. I sit. “Phil, can you come unwrap my gift for me?”
“You’re crazy, Jason.” But he does as I ask. Everyone bursts out laughing when the head of the yellow and green metal parrot becomes exposed. The narrow base, which is intended for umbrellas, appears.
“Jason, whatever you need for the next decade, it’s yours,” Cassidy declares fervently.
Suddenly, amid the noise and laughter, you can hear it.
Mew.
I pull Phil onto my lap. “If we wrap the bottom with twine and weight it down, won’t it make a great scratching post when he’s older, babe?”
Phil’s not breathing. His jaw is unhinged as Corinna carries the tiny little kitten toward him. “Merry Christmas, brother, from your amazing husband.” Corinna kisses him on the cheek as she hands him my gift.
Phil holds the kitten in his hand, all machinations from the white elephant erased from his face. “You got me a kitty?” His face is radiant.
“You said you wanted one.” This reaction is almost better than I expected.
“I never…He’s so…I love you so much.” Phil tucks his head in my neck and sobs.
Phil told me something I’ve never forgotten, something he’s never shared with his sisters. Before meeting Cassidy, a ratty old cat was what kept him company in between his “father’s” beatings. Being able to stroke that flea-riddled cat was what kept him sane.
“How about we open the rest of the white elephant gifts later?” Cassidy suggests. Moving from where she was perched on Caleb’s knees, she walks over to us. “You’re a good man, Jason Ross.” She brushes her lips against the top of my head, then moves away.
I nuzzle the top of my husband’s head. “What are you going to name him?”
“I don’t know.” Phil’s voice is filled with wonder.
Immediately, the family starts chiming in with cute names like Tiger, Fluffy, and Batter, when suddenly, Keene comes out with the perfect name. “Rebel. After all, look who his dad’s going to be?”
“Rebel,” Phil murmurs, stroking his small head.Mew.“It’s perfect, Keene.” Phil flashes him a winning smile. “And since we’re going out of order, I’ve waited for too long to give you this.”
Phil hands me Rebel and says, “Watch out for our baby.” Sliding off my lap, he goes to the pile of gifts on the floor. Reaching for the largest of the bags, he picks it up and walks it over to Keene. “Here's your Secret Santa gift. Merry Christmas, Keene.”
Everyone eyes the package suspiciously, especially Keene. “Thank you, Phil.”
A smile hovers around my husband’s lips. “I really think you’ll like it. There are a few parts.” Phil returns to my lap and takes Rebel back, stroking his head immediately.
Keene looks at the gift warily before he pulls out the tissue. Three gifts are wrapped inside: one small and two large. He looks at Phil. “Which should I start with?”
“The small one.”
