Page 71 of The Blessings of Christmas
“You’ve got to settle down, honey.”
She felt relieved when Seth stooped and wrestled a huge box from under the tree. “Let’s get this party started.” He pushed it across the carpet toward them.
“Wonder what this could be?” Connor gaped at the gift. Really looked like he had no clue. Amanda was the one who’d spent an afternoon with Janie and the gift registry.
“Here’s how this goes. You have to open it to find out what’s inside.” Seth glanced at the tag. “This is from Mom and Dad.”
“Okay, smart ass,” Connor shot back with a good-natured smile. “I’m with the program.”
From the shape and size of this box, Amanda suspected it was the stroller. Excited, she peeled off the blue wrapping paper until finally just the cardboard box stood in front of them.
“Oh, thank you!” A picture of the orange and brown stroller filled one side. Amanda could almost picture the two of them pushing the stroller down Lake Street. Could almost feel the sun on their shoulders.
“Open it, son,” Connor’s father urged. “Not going to bite.”
When Connor whipped out his Swiss army knife, his brothers roared. He cut the tape and gave the box one good shake. The stroller slid out. What a picture to see Connor wrestling with that stroller. Cheers erupted at the sight of the Chicago Cubs logo on the front.
“I want my grandson to know from the start which team to root for,” Big Mike called out above the raucous laughter.
Amanda could tell Connor was pleased. Finally, he was going to enter the family inner circle where babies abounded and family jokes passed from one generation to the next. Her jitters calmed.
Joe joined Seth in passing gifts to Connor and Amanda. Most of the presents weren’t really a surprise. Well, not for her. Connor? Totally new territory.
“What the heck?” Connor turned the boppy pillow over in his large, capable hands. “The kid needs a neck brace?”
“This keeps him comfortable.” Amanda stashed it back in the box before passing it to Janie.
Smaller gifts made the circuit and Harper took notes so Amanda would have the right information for thank you notes. No surprise that their friends and family had been so generous.
As the afternoon waned and the pile of opened presents grew, Amanda’s sense of disbelief ebbed. Her future becameredefined by baby products. A sense of well-being swelled in her chest and glancing at Connor’s flushed face, she knew he felt it too.
Goofing around, Joe twisted open a container of baby powder by mistake and the sweet scent lingered in the air.
At the end, Connor stood. The sudden hush felt really weird in this rambunctious group. He had that commanding effect on people. Amanda’s heart twisted just looking at him. This whole frustrating process had been hard on her husband, although he’d been incredibly patient.
“I guess it’s no secret for any of you that Amanda and I have wanted this baby for a heck of a long time. We sure appreciate all this. Been a long ride to get here.” Connor’s voice thickened. She knotted her hands tighter in her lap to keep from hugging him. That would never go over. Not in front of the guys. After all, he was the oldest, the guy who always had everything under control.
But when it came to babies, no one had control.
The tension from all their arguments fell away. Her shoulders relaxed under the comfortable weight of her love for Connor.
“One final request.” Connor’s square chin came up and the grin was back. “Hope we can count on all of you to babysit!”
Amanda joined in the applause. Could she even picture leaving her baby with someone else? She wanted to spend hours counting each tiny toe and finger, charting every coo and burp, feeling the impossibly soft skin beneath her fingers. Ridiculous how her eyes filled. Crouching to the floor, she got busy stuffing the discarded wrapping paper into a trash bag.
When it came time to leave, Seth and Mark helped Connor carefully pack the gifts into the trunk and back seat of the Malibu. Amanda’s limbs felt like noodles, although the coldair cleared her head. Wasn’t easy to leave the warm comfort behind, but she had to work on Monday and so did Connor.
Snow had started to fall again but the white that had seemed menacing earlier now filled her with wonder. Had there ever been a more beautiful Christmas season? Would she look back and tell Sean about the snowy winter he was born? Connor fitted the final bag holding a handmade baby quilt in her backseat.
“Happy?” he asked, catching her around the waist
“Very.” She sank into a heated kiss that could have melted the North Pole.
Seth bounded up just as they broke apart. Arms folded across his broad chest, he skidded to a halt in the snow and grinned. “Let’s cut the PDA. The neighbors might be watching.”
Connor rolled his eyes. “Right. Think I’ve seen you and Selena in a clutch or two.”
Seth lifted one shoulder, cheeks stained pink. “Maybe.”
