Page 65 of The Holidays with Dr. Mitchell
“So, it was like a foundation for you two?”
“I guess you could say that, yeah,” he said. “Now, if we were to decide on a place, where would you want it to be?”
“Well, I love the English countryside where Jim and Avery have their little castle estate,” I toyed with the idea.
“We could purchase a place near them and be neighbors. My brother will hate it,” he chuckled.
“Oh, please. He wouldnothate it,” I nudged Jake in his ribs playfully. “What about you? What were you thinking of?”
“I’d choose Italy,” he said casually.
“Italy?”
“Yeah, I’m a sucker for pasta and fine wines.”
I laughed, loving that my husband and I could have silly conversations first thing in the morning on a perfect Christmas day. We probably wouldn’t pull the trigger on a second home in Europe, but talking about it and listening to each other’s preferences was fun.
It had been a rough year for me, feeling lonely and distanced from the man I loved, but I felt renewed in our love again, and all it took was a solid break from the hustle and bustle of life and a good dose of family and friends to remind us of where our focus should be.
Work had a way of owning every one of us, rich and poor alike. Everyone was in their own private rat race, and if we didn’t take time to stop and recharge our batteries, we could be consumed by it. Having an amazing husband to kiss me goodbye every time he left the house was worth more to me than the ability to purchase a second home. Having children who lovedand appreciated everything we did for them, big or small, was something you couldn’t put a price tag on.
“I see you’re thinking aboutexactlywhat kind of English manor you’d like to purchase?” Jake said, interrupting my quiet thoughts.
I kissed his lips and ran my hand down his side, “No, I’m thinking that all of that would be wonderful, but I’m happy and content with having just this.”
He pulled my hand over his dick and smiled, “You mean this?”
“That too,” I chuckled, then hugged him. “I love you, Jacob. Thank you for making this the most memorable and festive holiday I could’ve ever asked for.”
“And I’d do it all over again, too, angel,” he said, becoming more serious.
“I’m sure you would, especially because it was all based on you giving your brother hell for the last couple of weeks,” I chuckled when his lips captured my bottom one.
“Well, that too,” he said, running his hand along my cheek. “Honestly, I enjoyed all of it. Seeing Kaley so happy and giggling at every silly thing we did just melted my heart. Her cute little angelic voice singing the Christmas carols she didn’t even know until now was probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” he grinned sweetly. “And John? That kid amazes me. I’m so proud and thankful that he got the most out of the experience. For a kid his age to look around and notice that he was enjoying this so much because of who he was with instead of what he would receive means the world to me. All I’ve ever wanted is for him to grow up knowing that all this money means nothing if you aren’t surrounded by people you love and who love you in return, and he understood it this week.”
My heart always skipped a beat every time he spoke so sincerely. “You’re a wonderful example to him and a tremendous father to them both,” I said, drawing closer to him.
“No, baby,” he said, his amorousness growing at the same pace as mine. “You’re the best wife a man could ask for and the most loving mom our kids could ever dream of having.”
Jake’s lips went to my neck while he parted my legs with his knee, allowing him access to the one thing that was aching for more of him.
Knock! Knock! Bang! Bang! Knock!
“Hold on, Collin,” Jake growled, stopping us from going further.
“Daddy, it’s Kaley! Santa came, Santa came! You have to come and see!”
“I suddenly forgot it was Christmas morning,” I chuckled. “Come on, let’s go,” I said, scrambling to get out of bed and pulling on my Christmas jammies and robe while Jake did the same.
Before I got to the door, where our impatient daughter stood banging away on it, Jake pulled me into his arms for another kiss, “Last night was incredible, but tonight, we’re going to make up for what we just missed out on and then some.”
“I’ll hold you to it,” I teased. “Merry Christmas, lover.”
Now, it was time to embrace the holiday traditions of opening gifts, but this year, I knew that I would see it from a different perspective and with a more grateful and happy heart.
This is what Christmas was truly about—love, cheer, happiness, and gifts given from the heart.
Merry Christmas!
