Page 2 of A Collier First Christmas
“This is going to be the biggest, best Christmas season Collier has ever seen.”
“Babe, what exactly are we talking about here?”
“You know, the usual.” I started listing off all my plans.
Thomas laughed and held up a hand to stop me. “Ice sculpting? You do know it probably won’t be cold enough for that here, right? Some years the pond isn’t even frozen over enough to skate on until New Year’s.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yes. I think you’ve been watching a little too much Hallmark lately. This is Wyoming, not Maine.”
I pouted, wondering what I could sub in for the ice sculpting idea.
“Fine. Can we at least check the pond and keep the ice skating if it’s safe to do so?”
He grinned. “That, I can do for you.”
“Now where are the decorations for around town and the barn and who usually puts them up? I want them bigger and brighter than ever this year.”
“Lil, I know you’re excited for Cammie’s first Christmas, but you don’t have to overdo it.”
“If you say she won’t even remember it, I’m going to slug you for real.”
He just shook his head. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, she’s going to remember every second of her life with all the videos and pictures you’ve taken.”
That was it, I hauled back and punched him in the arm. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt him, just enough to let him know he was irritating me. All it did was solicit a deep rumble of laughter from him.
“I’m just saying, I know it’s going to be perfect.”
“It has to be because our daughter deserves perfect.”
“She does have a perfect mother.”
I rolled my eyes and snorted.
“Too much?”
“Just a bit.”
“I know you, Lily, even God himself can’t change your mind once it’s set, but it’s also my job to protect the two of you. Stressing yourself out over all of this isn’t good for you or for Cammie. Why can’t we just do a relaxing, laid back, family Christmas this year?”
“You’re the Alpha, Thomas, and I’m the Pack Mother. It’s our duty to provide a memorable Christmas for the entire Pack. It’s our job.”
He sighed, but he didn’t say a word.
I knew aside from some decorations scattered around town, that they had never done anything like this before. I didn’t care about that fact. I wanted my daughter to grow up in a picture perfect town that celebrated the holidays to the fullest and I was determined to make that happen.
I knew with the baby it was going to be hard to pull it all off.
“I’m going to need a committee,” I announced.
Thomas groaned. “I’ll start the inquiries right away.”
I squealed and threw one arm around him.
“Ow!” I yelled as Cammie clamped down on me uncomfortably.
Thomas laughed. “How dare you interrupt her lunch.”
