Page 7 of A Perfect Christmas with Chaos
But then my eyes drift down to the damn present—the one that just happened to arrive when I wasn’t home.If I had been the one to get it from the postman, I would’ve thrown the damn thing in the trash because I’m pretty sure I know who it’s from and mark my words; nothing good is in that present.Ember’s only going to regret opening it, and I swear to God, if someone fucks with her today of all days, there’s gonna be hell to pay.
***
EMBER
A PRESCHOOL.
He designed and built me a freaking preschool above the garage.As I look around at the space, I gape as I take it all in.It wasn’t enough that he went and made half of the space an apartment we could rent out—a space that I’d asked him if we could offer to Ivy when I find her.But then this gorgeous man goes and builds me a damn preschool.
Good God, what am I going to do with him?
Love him.
Hell yes, I am.
Because this...this is amazing.
There’s a huge tree in the middle of the room.It’s not real, obviously, but it’s so cute.The center of the trunk is hallowed out, and it’s massive.Mav says it’s for reading time.But God...it’s the neatest thing I’ve ever seen.
My gaze travels from the tree to the shelves filled with books.Will’s beaming beside them.“She helped me pick out some good ones,” Mav motions to Will.
“Jeez, Mav.This is incredible.”
“Bethany helped too.I didn’t really know all the stuff you’d need, so I gave her a little money, and she did some shopping.She got the little table and chairs and the mats.The rest of it, I ordered online and had delivered to the clubhouse.”
Leaving his side, I walk through the room.It’s so colorful, and the tiny chairs make my heart flutter.When I get to the other side of the room, I see a plethora of supplies: boxes and boxes of crayons, paint, paintbrushes, toys, small blankets, and nap mats.“Oh my God.How did you know?”
“Like you said.Lily spills everything when she’s drunk.”
“Drunk.Drunk.Drunk,” Will sing-songs.
Mav’s brows purse together, and he gives me anoh shitexpression.
I laugh.Looking around again, I breathe out, “I can’t believe this.This is amazing.”
His hands circles my waist and he pulls me into him.“So you like it?”
“Love.Love.Love.”
He kisses my neck.“Merry Christmas, baby.”
Holding my hands over his, I whisper it back to him.“Merry Christmas.”
***
WHEN WE deliver thenews about the new baby to Will, she takes it better than we thought she would.She simply asks if it’s a boy or a girl, to which we tell her we don’t know yet and that we’ll find out in about a month.She probes a bit to see if she’ll have to share her toys, but otherwise, she’s not really concerned.She just shrugs and asks if Mav will teach her how to ride her bike now.
Then we venture outside.I help Will put on all the protective gear we bought her.Mav double-checks that the bike is safe and ready.I snap a picture of the two of them as Will mounts the new bike.The concern on Mav's face is priceless, next to the excitement on Will's.
There are a few rough starts, but all too soon, Will gets the hang of it and yells for Mav to let go—something I can tell he’s reluctant to do.
Will’s a lot like him, though, talented in so many ways, and honestly, it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she took to that bike like she’s been riding it for months.What does astonish me is Mav’s response.He seems almost disappointed and follows her around like a sentinel, ready to catch her if she even wavers for a moment—an act that fills me with amusement and pride.
It also makes me realize how valuable second chances are.To think I could have missed out on all this...
I guess sometimes, for the right person, giving them another chance is the only choice that makes sense.
Eventually, Mav realizes Will’s got this and backs off.He makes his way to me, and when he comes to stand by my side, his arm circles my waist.Smiling, I snuggle into his side and wrap my arms around him.
