Karissa
Years Later

“Ho-ho-ho!” Brock roars as he passes out gifts to the gathered children. 

Tatiana squeals when she tears the paper from hers. Elliot, in his typical careful fashion, tries not to rip the paper. 

“I never realized how much work Santa did each year,” Lily says with an exhausted sigh. 

“I guess I’m lucky because I have Dottie and Mom back at the house doing all the wrapping for me.” I look over at Aurora. “Dottie should be swinging by after she leaves to give Little Dottie her gift. Or…many gifts. You know Dottie.”

“I sure do, and I don’t know if I have any more space to put them all.”

After the kids open their gifts, we sing carols and make cookies for Santa before saying goodbye.

On the way home, Corbin places his hand on my thigh, giving it a squeeze. “Six long years.”

“Long years? Is that how you describe our time together?”

“Happy years,” he clarifies, his smile damn near melting me. 

“That’s more like it.”

We pull into the driveway, and Elliot runs inside the house, calling for Dottie and Grandma Sharp. 

Even though one is in college and the other is in high school, my half-sisters made the trip along with Mom and Dad. It might seem weird that I call him dad, considering I met him when I was twenty, but it’s what he wanted me to call him, and I was happy to do so. 

Mom comes over, carrying Elliot on her hip. “Thank you for letting us stay in your lovely home for the holidays.” 

“We’re happy to have you,” Corbin says as he brings several mugs of hot cocoa into the family room. “Though a few years ago, it wouldn’t have been possible without the addition.”

Dottie gives us each a hug. “You know, your father would have loved to be here,” she tells Corbin. “He would have been so proud. Your momma too.”

“I know, but if I can’t have them, I’m happy to have you.”

After she leaves, we sing karaoke, set the milk and cookies out, then send Elliot to bed. 

My sisters excitedly place Santa’s gifts under the tree before we wish them goodnight. 

“Before going to bed, I have a surprise for you,” Corbin confesses. “And…it’s kind of a big one.”

“I don’t know if I can handle much more Christmas joy,” I tell him. 

He hands me a folder, and I open it, finding a picture of a girl around five years old with long blonde hair. 

My brow crinkles. “What’s this?”

“You’ve been talking about fostering kids, and I thought it might be time. Her birth parents are deceased, so chances are, we’ll get to one day adopt her.”

“But…you always had worries.”

“I did, and I still do, but I want to give to you what others couldn’t when you were young. Even if I am scared.”

Tears well in my eyes. “Who is she?” 

“Her name is Tessa, and I’ve already started the paperwork, but we can back out at any time.”

“Back out? Why would I want to?”

Corbin shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I thought you might want to pick one yourself, and I was worried about Elliot.”

“Elliot’s been begging for a sibling, so we don’t have to worry about him. And I don’t care if I get to pick them. When do we get her?”

“I’d received a call at the party, and, as it turns out, she’s getting dropped off tomorrow. The paperwork is all in my name, because I wanted to surprise you, but you’ll have to fill out some forms tomorrow.”

“Wait, did you say tomorrow?” I practically shout. “But it’s Christmas, and we don’t have gifts!”

“Oh, we have gifts. I bought her plenty. Your family has been busy wrapping her gifts while we were out, though we’ll need to place them under the tree because she wasn’t supposed to come to us for a couple of days.”

“They kept this from me?” I shake the file. 

Corbin laughs. “Yes, but only because I asked them to.”

I throw my arms around Corbin and sob into his chest.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” he says, smoothing my hair back and kissing my forehead. “Now let’s get to bed.”

I pull back, eyes wide, mouth gaping. 

“Unless you’d like to do something else.” He waggles his brow enticingly. 

I bring my hand to the growing bulge in his pants. “I hear Santa’s coming to town, and I’ve been very good this year.”

“Ho-ho-ho—it’s off to work I go.”

The End

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