Post by Charlotte on Mar 27, 2012 22:15:00 GMT -5
Chapter 16
As the year wound down, Sundae and David continued to work on their music and prepare for the birth of their child. They worked on baby proofing the house and putting the finishing touches on the nursery. They wanted to start on some landscaping, too, but the snow came before they could. Instead they began to prepare for the holidays. Thanksgiving was celebrated with both families together, the first time for such a gathering. David’s family from out of state flew in to join the celebration and the day became a happy family reunion. After Thanksgiving, Sundae and David started planning how they would decorate their house for their first Christmas as man and wife. They shopped for decorations and picked out a real mountain pine tree, which they set up in the living room. They sat together and decorated it, stringing up lights and tinsel. David saw the glow in Sundae’s eyes as she added some ornaments her mom had given her.
“You okay?” he asked. She looked over at him.
“It’s just…a year ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of this, us being married and expecting a baby,” she said. David smiled and drew her into his arms.
“I know what you mean, but I also know God meant for us to be together. I don’t question it, I just thank Him,” he said.
“I do, too. I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life that He brought you back to me,” Sundae said. She then pulled back a little and kissed his lips softly. They both smiled when they broke the kiss and turned back to the tree. Sundae was finishing with her mom’s ornaments when David handed her a small box.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Something I hope you’ll like,” David said. She took it and opened it and pulled out an ornament of two doves holding a poinsettia flower. Behind them was a gold heart engraved with the words,
Our First Christmas
2012
“It’s beautiful,” Sundae said. David smiled.
“I found it at Hallmark when I was in the city for that meeting last week,” he said. He had been meeting with the label people about promotional efforts for his album, which was due to be released Christmas week.
“Have you decided anything about promo yet?” Sundae asked.
“It’s on hold, until after our little one comes,” he said and gently caressed her swollen stomach. She was now seven months along and really showing.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Sundae asked.
“They’re going to push heavily with radio around their Christmas programming and I’ll do some phoners with stations out of state,” he looked into her eyes as he caressed her stomach, “I’m not going anywhere until the baby’s here safe and sound,” he said. She smiled.
“Guess it’s a good thing I’m waiting on mine until then, too. We can make promo a family thing,” she said. He grinned.
“That would be so much fun,” he said. She grinned, too, and giggled softly. She then looked at the ornament again.
“This isn’t really our first Christmas, though,” she said and reached up and plucked another ornament, a silver snowflake, off of a branch, “This one was.” David took the snowflake and smiled as he looked at it. He had bought it for the first Christmas they shared as a couple in 2008. It was engraved as well with their initials and the year and the word ‘forever’.
“I like this one, too,” he said. Sundae gently took both ornaments and hung them side-by-side on the tree.
“Perfect,” she said and he nodded in agreement. They continued to add more ornaments to the tree, both family ornaments and new ones, and they enjoyed trading the stories of the family ones. Sundae’s favorite was an incredibly precious picture ornament that held a photo of a tiny David, no older than two or three, sitting on Santa’s lap.
“This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. We’ll have to have one made for the baby,” she said.
“That one’s abuelita’s favorite. She has one like it and brings it out every year,” he said.
“I can see why. You were so precious,” Sundae said.
“Were?” David asked. Sundae looked toward him and saw the twinkle in his eyes.
“Oh you. You still are,” she said, giggling. He chuckled, too.
“I like this one of you,” he said, holding up an ornament made of a photo of her at six in a soccer uniform.
“Oh geez, mom had to include the one from AYSO days,” she said.
“AYSO?” David asked.
“It’s a soccer program in SoCal. I started at four,” Sundae said. David smiled.
“I wonder if the baby will like sports?” he mused.
“I dunno. If he or she does love a sports I wouldn’t be surprised if running is one of them,” Sundae said.
“Soccer, too,” David added and she smiled.
“No doubt he or she will have a love or at least an appreciation of music,” she said.
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted for my kids to grow up with music like I did,” David said, and gently fingered an ornament shaped like a piano that his mom had given him. Sundae slid over beside him.
“I have, too,” she said. He gazed down at her and then leaned down capturing her lips. They were both beaming as they pulled apart.
“So do you want to do lights outside, too?” Sundae asked. David laughed.
“Yeah, I already asked Daniel and he’s coming tomorrow to help me put them up,” he said. Sundae leaned up and kissed him again.
“And I get to supervise,” she said and he laughed again.
“Whatever you wish,” he said, hugging her gently to him.
The next day Daniel came by just after lunch and he and David set to work on the outdoor lights, while Sundae supervised from a comfortable perch on the front porch. She sat wrapped in blankets to keep out the cold and watched the guys crunch through the snow as they worked. They strung lights around the eaves of the house and then debated over what to add to the bushes and yard. Since it was his house, David won the argument and they started winding lights around the bushes. David was working around a particularly difficult bush; when Sundae saw Daniel sneaking up behind him, snowball in hand. She started to sit up, but Daniel quickly beckoned to her to keep quiet. David had just managed to get the lights in place when Daniel crept up behind him.
“Finally, I thought I’d never get this one done. Ahhh!!! Cold!!!” he yelped when Daniel dropped his snowball down the back of David’s jacket.
“Daniel!” David yelped, glaring at his brother.
“Sorry dude, I couldn’t resist,” Daniel said, laughing.
“If he gets sick, you’re paying the doctor bill, Daniel,” Sundae said as she got up and stepped out into the yard.
“Oh, lighten up,” Daniel said a lobbed a lump of snow at her as well. It lightly smacked her in the side of her stomach and she gasped at how cold it was. David saw her reaction and rushed over to her.
“Daniel!! You need to be more careful,” he said as came up to Sundae and slipped out of his coat and wrapped it around her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, that was just really cold,” she said. David wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her head.
“I-I’m sorry guys. I shouldn’t have been goofing around,” Daniel said. David looked to him and saw that he did genuinely seem sorry.
“We’re not mad, Daniel. We’re just scared of something hurting the baby,” he said, gently laying his hand on Sundae’s stomach.
“I know you are, and I really am sorry,” Daniel said. David managed a small smile.
“Apology accepted,” he said. Daniel smiled and turned back to the lights and David led Sundae back to her chair and resettled her with her blankets and then put his coat back on and rejoined Daniel to finish with the lights.
Later, when the lights were finished and Daniel had gone home, Sundae was relaxing in the living room flipping through a parenting magazine. She heard footsteps padding into the room and looked up with a smile as David came up to her and bent down and kissed her forehead.
“Hey, I hope Daniel’s little prank earlier won’t cause you to get sick. I know how easily you catch colds,” she said.
“I’ll be okay,” David said. She reached up and gently stroked his cheek and he gazed at her with a tender expression.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go for a drive into Salt Lake Proper? There’s something I’d like to show you,” he said.
“Sure, I’d love to,” Sundae said. David gently took her hands and helped her up.
“Let’s have a little something to eat and we’ll go,” he said.
“Okay and by the way, if I’ve annoyed you with any of my cravings over the last couple months I am so sorry,” Sundae said. David chuckled.
“It hasn’t been a bother,” he paused as they reached the kitchen entrance, “The watermelon, pickles and pretzels one was a little odd, though,” he said. Sundae laughed.
“What? I wanted sweet, sour and salty all at once,” she said. He laughed, too, and pulled her close to kiss the side of her head.
“Remember what I said when you first told me? Whatever you need, you’ll get,” he said. She beamed and leaned into him as they went into the kitchen.
An hour and a half later, they were driving into downtown Salt Lake City admiring the lighted windows of the many business buildings. David pulled into an affluent neighborhood and Sundae gazed at all the beautiful homes with their sparkling lights and glistening trees in their windows.
“This is so pretty,” she said.
“It is, but what I want to show you is up that way,” David said indicating the road ahead of them. She smiled, but was surprised when he pulled over.
“You just said it’s up there somewhere,” she said.
“It is, but it’s more fun to walk,” David said as he shut off the car. Sundae shrugged.
“Alright, I just hope we don’t freeze out there,” she said as they got out and locked up the car. David reached for her hand and pulled her to him.
“I’ll keep you warm,” he said and she smiled as they started to walk down the sidewalk.
“This reminds me, I remember when you sang for the governor’s inauguration in ’09. You looked like you were freezing in the videos and pictures I saw. Your hands and nose were all pink,” she said.
“I was freezing that day. It was colder that morning than it is now. I had hand warmers, but they didn’t help much,” David said.
“I remember seeing you put one on your nose in one of the videos,” Sundae said.
“Yeah, then a fan told me it was going to snow that day and I was all, ‘It…is?’,” David said, putting the last in a whimpering tone.
“I remember that video, too. I just wanted to bundle you up in a couple layers of heating blankets,” Sundae said. David smiled.
“You would’ve made my day if you had,” he said. Sundae glanced up then and saw what looked like the towers of steeples rising toward the sky ahead of them.
“We’re right by the temple, aren’t we?” she said remembering the ornate Mormon temple that was a centerpiece of the city.
“Yeah, right up there,” David said. They continued along and, as they neared the temple, Sundae started to noticed twinkling lights in some of the trees. David paused in his stride and turned toward her.
“Close your eyes, love,” he said. Sundae giggled.
“As long as you promise to hold me up and not let go,” she said and closed her eyes and gave him her hands. He gently took them and led her along taking each step slowly. After a few minutes he stopped and steadied her and then moved to stand beside her.
“Okay, open your eyes,” he said softly into her ear. She did and when her vision focused she gasped. They were standing in Temple Square and the temple was lit for the holidays. All around it, along the walkways, were trees filled with twinkling lights.
“This is beautiful,” Sundae said as David slipped his arms around her.
“They decorate like this every year. I’ve wanted to bring you to see it for a long time,” he said.
“I’m glad you finally did,” Sundae said. He smiled and took her in his arms and they walked together beneath the sparkling trees. As they walked, Sundae thought again about where she had been a year earlier and how she had never expected to be where she was now. Her gaze wandered to the temple and she silently thanked God, yet again, for all the happiness that had come to her that year.
Three weeks later came Christmas. Sundae and David had decided to spend the morning at home and then go over to his parents’ house around lunchtime. Her family would join them there and they’d all have dinner. When Sundae woke up Christmas morning, she looked at the clock and sighed. It was 7:30 and the excitement of the day was already taking hold. She shifted on to her back, noting that David was still asleep, and looked at her stomach.
“You’d better not wake us up at this hour in the future. It’s a little annoying and your daddy’s not a morning person,” she thought with a small smile. She laid her hand on her stomach and let her eyes close. The next moment she felt a movement under her hand. The baby kicked. A grin split her face at that.
“Morning to you, too,” she whispered. The baby kicked again and Sundae couldn’t help a tiny giggle. The bed shifted then and Sundae looked over to see David rolling to face her.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said.
“It’s okay. We’ll have to get used to missing sleep anyway,” he said. She giggled again.
“Very true,” she took his hand and laid it on her stomach, “Feel,” she said and a moment later the baby kicked again.
“Someone’s active this morning,” he said.
“Wonder if he or she is practicing for the track or the soccer field,” Sundae mused.
“That felt like one of your goal kicks,” David said. Sundae giggled again and David beamed at her, his gaze turning tender. He cupped his had around her face and kissed her softly. The baby kicked again and they both giggled.
“Okay, okay, I’ll get up and eat,” Sundae said, looking to her stomach. David got up and came around the bed as she was pushing herself into a sitting position.
“Here,” he said, taking her hands and helping her to her feet. She smiled and kissed him again and he went and got their robes. He helped her into hers and handed her her slippers, before pulling on his own robe.
“Oh no, it’s happened,” Sundae suddenly said.
“What? What’s wrong?!” David asked.
“I’m okay, it’s just…I can’t see my feet,” Sundae said, looking down. She was far enough along that her stomach did indeed block the view of her feet. David smiled.
“Allow me,” he said and bent down. He slid her slippers on to her feet like the prince trying the glass slipper on Cinderella. When he stood back up, he took her hands in his and kissed her fingers and then led her out of the room and downstairs. There they went into the kitchen and made tea and then walked into the living room. They stood for a moment looking at the tree and the presents under it, thinking of the future.
“Can you imagine all the toys that’ll be under that tree in a couple years?” David mused.
“Yeah, and stockings on the mantle,” Sundae agreed.
“Stockings?” David asked.
“Well yeah, what else does Santa stuff?” Sundae said. David smiled.
“I know, but you said stockings. More than one?” he asked. Sundae took his hand.
“I’d like to hope so,” she said, looking into his eyes. A grin spread across his face.
“I’d like that, too,” he said. He gently hugged her to him and they held each other for a few minutes. Sundae then looked at the tree again.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for presents,” she said. David chuckled.
“Alright,” he said as they stepped over to the tree. They sat beside it and started in on the pile of gifts. There were only gifts they’d gotten for each other, as they would trade with their families later. They took turns opening the gifts and soon there was only one left. Sundae picked it up, but was surprised to see that there was no gift tag on it.
“Who’s this one for, there’s no tag,” she said.
“That’s because its owner doesn’t have a name yet,” David said, taking the package. He pulled off the paper, revealing a box, which he opened. He pulled another box out of the first, this one silver, and handed it to her. She took it and saw that it was a memory box and was engraved with the words,
Our Baby
“This is so sweet,” Sundae said.
“I thought we could keep it in the nursery and when the baby’s old enough, he or she could have it as a keepsake,” David said. Sundae smiled and leaned over and kissed him. Her smile grew when she pulled back.
“You’re right about a name, you know. We do need to think about that,” she said.
“Which is why I asked our moms if they could find the books they used for us to borrow,” he said. Sundae reached and hugged him tightly.
“What would I do without you?” she murmured.
“Lets not ever find out,” he replied. They sat, holding each other for a little while and then pulled apart and got up to get ready for the day.
As the year wound down, Sundae and David continued to work on their music and prepare for the birth of their child. They worked on baby proofing the house and putting the finishing touches on the nursery. They wanted to start on some landscaping, too, but the snow came before they could. Instead they began to prepare for the holidays. Thanksgiving was celebrated with both families together, the first time for such a gathering. David’s family from out of state flew in to join the celebration and the day became a happy family reunion. After Thanksgiving, Sundae and David started planning how they would decorate their house for their first Christmas as man and wife. They shopped for decorations and picked out a real mountain pine tree, which they set up in the living room. They sat together and decorated it, stringing up lights and tinsel. David saw the glow in Sundae’s eyes as she added some ornaments her mom had given her.
“You okay?” he asked. She looked over at him.
“It’s just…a year ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of this, us being married and expecting a baby,” she said. David smiled and drew her into his arms.
“I know what you mean, but I also know God meant for us to be together. I don’t question it, I just thank Him,” he said.
“I do, too. I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life that He brought you back to me,” Sundae said. She then pulled back a little and kissed his lips softly. They both smiled when they broke the kiss and turned back to the tree. Sundae was finishing with her mom’s ornaments when David handed her a small box.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Something I hope you’ll like,” David said. She took it and opened it and pulled out an ornament of two doves holding a poinsettia flower. Behind them was a gold heart engraved with the words,
Our First Christmas
2012
“It’s beautiful,” Sundae said. David smiled.
“I found it at Hallmark when I was in the city for that meeting last week,” he said. He had been meeting with the label people about promotional efforts for his album, which was due to be released Christmas week.
“Have you decided anything about promo yet?” Sundae asked.
“It’s on hold, until after our little one comes,” he said and gently caressed her swollen stomach. She was now seven months along and really showing.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Sundae asked.
“They’re going to push heavily with radio around their Christmas programming and I’ll do some phoners with stations out of state,” he looked into her eyes as he caressed her stomach, “I’m not going anywhere until the baby’s here safe and sound,” he said. She smiled.
“Guess it’s a good thing I’m waiting on mine until then, too. We can make promo a family thing,” she said. He grinned.
“That would be so much fun,” he said. She grinned, too, and giggled softly. She then looked at the ornament again.
“This isn’t really our first Christmas, though,” she said and reached up and plucked another ornament, a silver snowflake, off of a branch, “This one was.” David took the snowflake and smiled as he looked at it. He had bought it for the first Christmas they shared as a couple in 2008. It was engraved as well with their initials and the year and the word ‘forever’.
“I like this one, too,” he said. Sundae gently took both ornaments and hung them side-by-side on the tree.
“Perfect,” she said and he nodded in agreement. They continued to add more ornaments to the tree, both family ornaments and new ones, and they enjoyed trading the stories of the family ones. Sundae’s favorite was an incredibly precious picture ornament that held a photo of a tiny David, no older than two or three, sitting on Santa’s lap.
“This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. We’ll have to have one made for the baby,” she said.
“That one’s abuelita’s favorite. She has one like it and brings it out every year,” he said.
“I can see why. You were so precious,” Sundae said.
“Were?” David asked. Sundae looked toward him and saw the twinkle in his eyes.
“Oh you. You still are,” she said, giggling. He chuckled, too.
“I like this one of you,” he said, holding up an ornament made of a photo of her at six in a soccer uniform.
“Oh geez, mom had to include the one from AYSO days,” she said.
“AYSO?” David asked.
“It’s a soccer program in SoCal. I started at four,” Sundae said. David smiled.
“I wonder if the baby will like sports?” he mused.
“I dunno. If he or she does love a sports I wouldn’t be surprised if running is one of them,” Sundae said.
“Soccer, too,” David added and she smiled.
“No doubt he or she will have a love or at least an appreciation of music,” she said.
“Yeah, I’ve always wanted for my kids to grow up with music like I did,” David said, and gently fingered an ornament shaped like a piano that his mom had given him. Sundae slid over beside him.
“I have, too,” she said. He gazed down at her and then leaned down capturing her lips. They were both beaming as they pulled apart.
“So do you want to do lights outside, too?” Sundae asked. David laughed.
“Yeah, I already asked Daniel and he’s coming tomorrow to help me put them up,” he said. Sundae leaned up and kissed him again.
“And I get to supervise,” she said and he laughed again.
“Whatever you wish,” he said, hugging her gently to him.
The next day Daniel came by just after lunch and he and David set to work on the outdoor lights, while Sundae supervised from a comfortable perch on the front porch. She sat wrapped in blankets to keep out the cold and watched the guys crunch through the snow as they worked. They strung lights around the eaves of the house and then debated over what to add to the bushes and yard. Since it was his house, David won the argument and they started winding lights around the bushes. David was working around a particularly difficult bush; when Sundae saw Daniel sneaking up behind him, snowball in hand. She started to sit up, but Daniel quickly beckoned to her to keep quiet. David had just managed to get the lights in place when Daniel crept up behind him.
“Finally, I thought I’d never get this one done. Ahhh!!! Cold!!!” he yelped when Daniel dropped his snowball down the back of David’s jacket.
“Daniel!” David yelped, glaring at his brother.
“Sorry dude, I couldn’t resist,” Daniel said, laughing.
“If he gets sick, you’re paying the doctor bill, Daniel,” Sundae said as she got up and stepped out into the yard.
“Oh, lighten up,” Daniel said a lobbed a lump of snow at her as well. It lightly smacked her in the side of her stomach and she gasped at how cold it was. David saw her reaction and rushed over to her.
“Daniel!! You need to be more careful,” he said as came up to Sundae and slipped out of his coat and wrapped it around her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, that was just really cold,” she said. David wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her head.
“I-I’m sorry guys. I shouldn’t have been goofing around,” Daniel said. David looked to him and saw that he did genuinely seem sorry.
“We’re not mad, Daniel. We’re just scared of something hurting the baby,” he said, gently laying his hand on Sundae’s stomach.
“I know you are, and I really am sorry,” Daniel said. David managed a small smile.
“Apology accepted,” he said. Daniel smiled and turned back to the lights and David led Sundae back to her chair and resettled her with her blankets and then put his coat back on and rejoined Daniel to finish with the lights.
Later, when the lights were finished and Daniel had gone home, Sundae was relaxing in the living room flipping through a parenting magazine. She heard footsteps padding into the room and looked up with a smile as David came up to her and bent down and kissed her forehead.
“Hey, I hope Daniel’s little prank earlier won’t cause you to get sick. I know how easily you catch colds,” she said.
“I’ll be okay,” David said. She reached up and gently stroked his cheek and he gazed at her with a tender expression.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked.
“I was wondering if you’d like to go for a drive into Salt Lake Proper? There’s something I’d like to show you,” he said.
“Sure, I’d love to,” Sundae said. David gently took her hands and helped her up.
“Let’s have a little something to eat and we’ll go,” he said.
“Okay and by the way, if I’ve annoyed you with any of my cravings over the last couple months I am so sorry,” Sundae said. David chuckled.
“It hasn’t been a bother,” he paused as they reached the kitchen entrance, “The watermelon, pickles and pretzels one was a little odd, though,” he said. Sundae laughed.
“What? I wanted sweet, sour and salty all at once,” she said. He laughed, too, and pulled her close to kiss the side of her head.
“Remember what I said when you first told me? Whatever you need, you’ll get,” he said. She beamed and leaned into him as they went into the kitchen.
An hour and a half later, they were driving into downtown Salt Lake City admiring the lighted windows of the many business buildings. David pulled into an affluent neighborhood and Sundae gazed at all the beautiful homes with their sparkling lights and glistening trees in their windows.
“This is so pretty,” she said.
“It is, but what I want to show you is up that way,” David said indicating the road ahead of them. She smiled, but was surprised when he pulled over.
“You just said it’s up there somewhere,” she said.
“It is, but it’s more fun to walk,” David said as he shut off the car. Sundae shrugged.
“Alright, I just hope we don’t freeze out there,” she said as they got out and locked up the car. David reached for her hand and pulled her to him.
“I’ll keep you warm,” he said and she smiled as they started to walk down the sidewalk.
“This reminds me, I remember when you sang for the governor’s inauguration in ’09. You looked like you were freezing in the videos and pictures I saw. Your hands and nose were all pink,” she said.
“I was freezing that day. It was colder that morning than it is now. I had hand warmers, but they didn’t help much,” David said.
“I remember seeing you put one on your nose in one of the videos,” Sundae said.
“Yeah, then a fan told me it was going to snow that day and I was all, ‘It…is?’,” David said, putting the last in a whimpering tone.
“I remember that video, too. I just wanted to bundle you up in a couple layers of heating blankets,” Sundae said. David smiled.
“You would’ve made my day if you had,” he said. Sundae glanced up then and saw what looked like the towers of steeples rising toward the sky ahead of them.
“We’re right by the temple, aren’t we?” she said remembering the ornate Mormon temple that was a centerpiece of the city.
“Yeah, right up there,” David said. They continued along and, as they neared the temple, Sundae started to noticed twinkling lights in some of the trees. David paused in his stride and turned toward her.
“Close your eyes, love,” he said. Sundae giggled.
“As long as you promise to hold me up and not let go,” she said and closed her eyes and gave him her hands. He gently took them and led her along taking each step slowly. After a few minutes he stopped and steadied her and then moved to stand beside her.
“Okay, open your eyes,” he said softly into her ear. She did and when her vision focused she gasped. They were standing in Temple Square and the temple was lit for the holidays. All around it, along the walkways, were trees filled with twinkling lights.
“This is beautiful,” Sundae said as David slipped his arms around her.
“They decorate like this every year. I’ve wanted to bring you to see it for a long time,” he said.
“I’m glad you finally did,” Sundae said. He smiled and took her in his arms and they walked together beneath the sparkling trees. As they walked, Sundae thought again about where she had been a year earlier and how she had never expected to be where she was now. Her gaze wandered to the temple and she silently thanked God, yet again, for all the happiness that had come to her that year.
Three weeks later came Christmas. Sundae and David had decided to spend the morning at home and then go over to his parents’ house around lunchtime. Her family would join them there and they’d all have dinner. When Sundae woke up Christmas morning, she looked at the clock and sighed. It was 7:30 and the excitement of the day was already taking hold. She shifted on to her back, noting that David was still asleep, and looked at her stomach.
“You’d better not wake us up at this hour in the future. It’s a little annoying and your daddy’s not a morning person,” she thought with a small smile. She laid her hand on her stomach and let her eyes close. The next moment she felt a movement under her hand. The baby kicked. A grin split her face at that.
“Morning to you, too,” she whispered. The baby kicked again and Sundae couldn’t help a tiny giggle. The bed shifted then and Sundae looked over to see David rolling to face her.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said.
“It’s okay. We’ll have to get used to missing sleep anyway,” he said. She giggled again.
“Very true,” she took his hand and laid it on her stomach, “Feel,” she said and a moment later the baby kicked again.
“Someone’s active this morning,” he said.
“Wonder if he or she is practicing for the track or the soccer field,” Sundae mused.
“That felt like one of your goal kicks,” David said. Sundae giggled again and David beamed at her, his gaze turning tender. He cupped his had around her face and kissed her softly. The baby kicked again and they both giggled.
“Okay, okay, I’ll get up and eat,” Sundae said, looking to her stomach. David got up and came around the bed as she was pushing herself into a sitting position.
“Here,” he said, taking her hands and helping her to her feet. She smiled and kissed him again and he went and got their robes. He helped her into hers and handed her her slippers, before pulling on his own robe.
“Oh no, it’s happened,” Sundae suddenly said.
“What? What’s wrong?!” David asked.
“I’m okay, it’s just…I can’t see my feet,” Sundae said, looking down. She was far enough along that her stomach did indeed block the view of her feet. David smiled.
“Allow me,” he said and bent down. He slid her slippers on to her feet like the prince trying the glass slipper on Cinderella. When he stood back up, he took her hands in his and kissed her fingers and then led her out of the room and downstairs. There they went into the kitchen and made tea and then walked into the living room. They stood for a moment looking at the tree and the presents under it, thinking of the future.
“Can you imagine all the toys that’ll be under that tree in a couple years?” David mused.
“Yeah, and stockings on the mantle,” Sundae agreed.
“Stockings?” David asked.
“Well yeah, what else does Santa stuff?” Sundae said. David smiled.
“I know, but you said stockings. More than one?” he asked. Sundae took his hand.
“I’d like to hope so,” she said, looking into his eyes. A grin spread across his face.
“I’d like that, too,” he said. He gently hugged her to him and they held each other for a few minutes. Sundae then looked at the tree again.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for presents,” she said. David chuckled.
“Alright,” he said as they stepped over to the tree. They sat beside it and started in on the pile of gifts. There were only gifts they’d gotten for each other, as they would trade with their families later. They took turns opening the gifts and soon there was only one left. Sundae picked it up, but was surprised to see that there was no gift tag on it.
“Who’s this one for, there’s no tag,” she said.
“That’s because its owner doesn’t have a name yet,” David said, taking the package. He pulled off the paper, revealing a box, which he opened. He pulled another box out of the first, this one silver, and handed it to her. She took it and saw that it was a memory box and was engraved with the words,
Our Baby
“This is so sweet,” Sundae said.
“I thought we could keep it in the nursery and when the baby’s old enough, he or she could have it as a keepsake,” David said. Sundae smiled and leaned over and kissed him. Her smile grew when she pulled back.
“You’re right about a name, you know. We do need to think about that,” she said.
“Which is why I asked our moms if they could find the books they used for us to borrow,” he said. Sundae reached and hugged him tightly.
“What would I do without you?” she murmured.
“Lets not ever find out,” he replied. They sat, holding each other for a little while and then pulled apart and got up to get ready for the day.