Page 77 of Small-Town Secrets
While we were out, I spotted Nathan and Raphael on the other side of the road, pushing a stroller. "Happy holidays!" I called out, and to my delight, my twins followed my example.
"Happy holidays to you too!" my friends waved, and then Raph sprinted over to me. "Has Aaron given you your present yet?" he asked with an amused glint in his eyes.
"No, we're doing that in the morning."
"Aw, too bad. Well, call me when you know, okay?"
"Okay," I said, although I had no idea why he wanted to know about my Christmas present so bad. He'd already disappeared back to his mate's side, though, before I could ask.
For the time being, I decided not to think too much about it as I led the twins and the dogs back home.
To my luck, I didn't even have to prompt the kids toward the living room when we got in. They headed straight for it, even as I was still unleashing the dogs and rubbing the snow out of their fur with a towel.
"Daddy! Santa's here!" Tyler yelled as soon as he opened the door to the living room and then he dashed inside without waiting for a response from me. Chris was a little slower to follow, but he approached Santa too.
"Are you really, really Santa?" I heard Tyler ask as I stepped into the living room and watched the scene unfolding before me. Aaron had placed a few wrapped gift boxes under the tree while we were gone and now he stood before Tyler in his costume who was reaching up as if to pull on his fake beard. Aaron swiftly stepped aside, though, before the boy could grab a hold of him.
Meanwhile, our other son had discovered the presents and sat next to them, taking one and shaking it.
"You can't open that yet, Chris," I said. "And where are your manners? Don't you want to say hi to Santa?"
Chris put the box back down and turned around to look at Santa. "Hi, Santa. What's in the boxes? They're not empty like the ones in the store, right?"
I cringed as I remembered my son making away with one of those a year ago, only to realize that they were decorations.
"They're not empty," Santa assured him, and then he picked one up to give it to Chris. "Look, this one has your name on it. Open it."
Chris looked to me.
"You can openone," I allowed.
"I want to open one too!" Tyler demanded.
Aaron laughed in a close imitation of what Santa was supposed to sound like. "That's all right, boy, you can open this one." He picked another present from under the tree for Tyler, whose eyes grew wide as he tore the wrapping off.
Next thing I knew, a deafening squeal assaulted my ears.
I grinned at the obvious joy on my little boy's face. Aaron had bought him an ice cream maker. It wasn't his own parlor, but it was close enough.
"Look what I got, Daddy!" He ran to me, waving the heavy box at me with such vehemence I was a little scared he would injure himself.
"Have you said thank you?" I asked him.
Tyler turned around to Santa. "Thank you!"
I looked to my other son, who was busy staring at the gift he had received. He wasn't jumping up and down for joy, but I could see that he was pleased by the curve of his lips and the shine in his eyes. Aaron had gotten him a collection of games so he wouldn't always have to play the same one. He told me they were pretty cheap these days, since nobody wanted them anymore. Nobody but our son, anyway.
"Thank you," Chris said quietly, clutching the game box to his chest.
"You're very welcome," Aaron said, and then he laughed again. "I've got to get going now. There's lots of other little rascals waiting for me. Enjoy your gifts. Merry Christmas!" Aaron turned, jingled a little bell he got out of his coat pocket, and nearly stumbled over Casanova who'd joined us in the living room to tear up the wrapping paper Tyler had carelessly thrown to the floor while Sarge sat in a corner and watched him with a look of judgment.
The bulldog yipped as Aaron almost fell over him but didn't let himself be distracted. Fortunately, Aaron caught his balance. I laid a hand on his arm and accompanied him out of the living room.
"That was wonderful, thank you. Now go get changed so we can all have dinner."
"I thought you were gonna help me get out of this outfit."
"We don't have the time now. Tyler will be begging to try his ice cream maker in a minute."
