Page 91 of Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope
Still laying on the floor playing with the puppy, Greyson nodded. “Andy’s the cutest puppy ever, aren’t you, boy?”
“Andy?” Andrew asked, shocked. “You named your dog Andy?”
Greyson nodded.
Andrew knelt down to scratch the dog’s head. Andy wouldn’t hold still long enough for much of a petting, though, jumping around and licking Andrew’s hand, before going back to pounce on Greyson and eliciting more happy little boy giggles.
Andrew glanced up at Morgan and, eyes looking a bit watery, she shrugged. “I tried to talk him into Rover, but he insisted upon Andy.”
“If I’d known, I’d have gotten him puppy supplies.”
“I’m sure he’ll love whatever you got him,” Morgan said, sitting down on the sofa to smile at where Greyson played.
“Do you want to open your present?” Greyson asked, going over to the tree and pulling out a large, rectangular gift.
“Sure. I have one for you, too. But my gift is going to seem underwhelming next to a puppy.”
Morgan laughed. “Topping this Christmas in years to come won’t be easy, that’s for sure.”
Andrew glanced at where she sat on the sofa, smiling, and was struck once again with how pretty she was. “It has been a good Christmas, hasn’t it?”
She gave him an odd look. “You’ve been at work all day.”
“I’m here now.”
“Here’s your present.” Greyson handed the gift to Andrew.
Andrew took the present, then while Morgan and Greyson watched, opened what felt like a frame. What it was took his breath away.
On one side was Greyson’s colored snow globe ornament. On the other side was the photo that Frank’s wife had taken of them standing next to their snowman.
Teeth clenched from the emotion hitting him, Andrew swallowed. “Bud, this is great.”
“I knew you would love it.”
“But I feel guilty taking your snow globe ornament rather than your mom having it.”
“I drew her one, too,” Greyson said. “Grammy helped me frame it for Mommy’s Christmas present.”
“I’ll treasure this always,” Andrew said, thinking he’d snap a picture of the gift so he could keep it on his phone with him wherever he went. How many times in the future would he look at this photo and wonder what life would have been like if things had been different?
“Is that for me?” Greyson asked, pointing to the presents Andrew had set down prior to petting the puppy.
“Greyson, that isn’t polite,” Morgan said, causing Greyson to make an apologetic face.
“Sorry,” the kid said.
“My fault. What was I thinking, not giving this to you first thing?” He handed over the larger box to Greyson, then picked up the smaller one and handed it to Morgan. “This one is for you.”
Morgan stared at Andrew. “You got me a present?”
She’d gotten him one, but had never dreamed he’d reciprocate. Not that she was positive she was going to give him his gift. She’d not even put it out under the tree because she hadn’t wanted anyone to know what she’d done in case she opted not to give it to him.
“I think you’ll like it, and it’s certainly a trendy gift this Christmas.”
“Wow, I love this!” Greyson exclaimed, having ripped into the package to unveil an extensive fire department block set. “This has a lot more stuff in it than my other set.”
Andrew and Greyson talked firefighting block sets a moment, then he said, “Open yours, Morgan.”
