AllFreeNovel
Share Us
All I wanted for Christmas was him. There was no greater gift than the guarantee that he wouldn’t be leaving come spring.
“I need to go, but I don’t want to leave you.” His chest vibrated with the softly spoken words.
“Then don’t go,” I whispered, unable to fight the emotion gripping my throat.
He didn’t move, his chest rising and falling, his breaths even and steady. I found comfort in his warmth. The house was silent, no movement from the kids upstairs, and I wanted to freeze this moment.
“I won’t let you go,” I eventually told him. He tensed. He refused to talk about leaving. It wasn’t up for discussion because if he needed to go to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, then he would. There would be no discussion.
“Amber, don’t ruin this moment with that darkness.” His voice was thick with emotion, and I knew the thought of having to leave us was just as hard for him as it was for me.
“We need to talk about it. We need to find a better way to fix everything because you leaving us is not an option. I’d rather sell everything than lose you to the war again.” He shifted beneath me, and I pulled back to look into his blue eyes. My hands framed his rough cheeks, fingers sinking into his beard. “We can find another way.” He closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. Then, his hands were on top of mine.
“I can’t think of anything else,” he confessed. “I’m not going to get a better-paying job, and I’m not taking you away from our kids.”
“There has to be a way. We can both work if one job isn’t enough. As long as I have you here, have you coming home to us every night, I don’t care how big our house is or what car I drive, Ryan. Don’t you understand that?” I brushed my lips against his ever so softly – just a whisper of a kiss.
“You are just as stubborn now as you were then, Spitfire.” He grinned, his blue eyes softening as his eyes ran over my face, finally coming to rest on my red lips. “Have I ever mentioned that you make red super damn sexy, baby?” I couldn’t fight the smile taking over my face or the blush blooming on my cheeks.
“Only a few times,” I admitted as he leaned forward, claiming my lips, staining his the same shade as my Candy Apple red gloss I had bought at the store this morning on sale.
“You better watch out, or you’ll end up on Santa’s naughty list with those lies spilling from those gorgeous lips, Mrs. Wilson.” The mischief in his eyes caused my heart to skip a beat.
“I never lie, Mr. Wilson,” I teased, my fingers sliding into his shaggy hair. I leaned forward and teased his lips with mine – just a soft caress before pulling back.
“You are such a tease, Spitfire. Just let me kiss you, Woman.”
“Why? Then the kids would see mommy kissing Santa Claus, and don’t you think we’d have a problem on our hands?” He shook his head and claimed my lips once more, giving me no room for argument as his hands dug into my hips.
We pulled back at the sound of someone running around upstairs, the soft thuds against the ceiling a gentle reminder that we weren’t just kids in love anymore.
My husband sighed in dismay. I smiled. “I guess I better get going. I have a whole lot of fires to put out at work and never enough time in the day to do it.” I stood and rose off his lap before turning to the entrance of the kitchen just as Kennedy stumbled in, her hair standing up. Her hands were balled up and rubbing at her bleary eyes.
She was the cutest little thing in the mornings.
“I’m hungry, Momma,” she grumbled, walking straight into my legs. I picked her up, and she curled into my embrace. “Pancakes?” she whispered on a yawn.
“Sure thing, sweetie pie.”
Ryan ruffled her hair and pecked my cheek before grabbing his to-go cup of coffee and his phone from the table. I watched as he exited the house, the garage door slamming shut behind him.
“It’s almost Christmas, Momma,” Kennedy mumbled, excitement creeping into her voice. “I really want that puppy.” My heart clenched. “Do you think Santa knows?” She stumbles over some words in her excitement, and my heart knocked against my chest.
Oh, he knows alright, but he can’t deliver.
“I’m sure you’ll get whatever your heart desires, my sweet girl. Now, come help Momma make those pancakes for your brothers and sister.” She nodded as I settled her down on the ground.
For once, I couldn’t wait for Christmas to be over. I couldn’t handle the pressure of their impending disappointment.
I just wanted to make this the best, worst Christmas ever.
