“Christmas is a together-y sort of holiday.”
Winnie the Pooh
One more night. One more night of sleeping alone. One more night of worrying if she'll make it safely home. Just one more night...
Trevor Knight stared out the French doors from the dining room at the snow falling gently from a low gray sky. Dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt over a tee shirt left over from his rock and roll youth, with his feet shod in heavy wool socks, and holding his favorite mug full of steaming coffee, he was the image of relaxed comfort.
But looks could be deceiving.
Excitement was roiling within him. Tiffany had been deployed since February. He didn't know exactly where she was but he knew it was in a volatile part of the world. That was part of being attached to a Special Forces unit and a part he accepted. He might not like it, but he understood it, because not so long ago he'd been a Navy SEAL.
His grin was wry as he sipped his coffee. Hell! He was still one in his heart. Always would be. No longer active due to losing his left leg in a skirmish with insurgents, he nevertheless took his oath to protect the constitution very seriously and would still willingly lay down his life for it. And he knew Tiffany felt the same way. All of which was why he accepted their long separations.
It didn't stop him from worrying, though. Just as he knew she had worried about him during his deployments. It was the reality of serving, that the whole family served. Even those who weren't active duty. Who had never enlisted or been commissioned. When you marry a service member, you marry the military. A reason there were so many divorces among service members. The fact that both of them had made their careers in the Navy gave them a level of intimacy few military couples enjoyed.
It was their shared commitment, as well as their devotion to one another, that kept Tiffany and Trevor's ties strong during the long absences.
“Dad! Cameron is trying to plug in the Christmas lights again!”
Trevor turned just in time to catch his 8-year-old son trying to hide the plug to the tree lights behind his back. The young boy's face, so like his own at that age, admitted his guilt. Even though he struggled valiantly to appear innocent of all charges.
“Put it down, Cam.”
“But, Dad!”
“You heard me. Not until your mother gets home.”
“Ah man!”
The plug and the cord it was attached to was obediently returned to its place under the tree.
“How much longer until she gets here?”
Trevor's five-year-old son, Tristan, a little boy image of his mother, took his place at the table, and reached for the spoon beside his bowl of hot oatmeal.
“She'll be home tomorrow night.”
“Then we can light the tree?”
“Yes, then we can light the tree.”
“Aw right!”
Cameron took his own seat at the table.
“I don't know why we have to wait.” He whined, then slid a sly glance at his father before resuming his attempt at innocence. “Wouldn't she like it better if it was already lit when she got home?”
“We are waiting for her because we are always together when we light the tree. It's called tradition.” Trevor nodded toward the bowl in front of his son. “Now, eat your oatmeal and finish getting ready or you'll be late for school.”
Cameron sighed in childish disgust and reached for his spoon, while his father hid another grin behind his coffee mug. They were certainly a handful. But so had he been at that age. What went around then was certainly coming back around now!
Two hours later, with the boys now gone, Trevor was settled into his office and working diligently on his current commission. Upon his release from the VA hospital, where he'd received treatment and rehabilitation following the loss of his leg, he'd returned to college and earned a degree in graphic design. In the years since he'd built his own business designing websites, with a specialty in those needed by creatives in the fashion and art worlds. His skills were in high demand, which translated in a very lucrative income, all while allowing him to be at home for his sons. It was important to both him and his wife that they not become latch key kids, as they had been.
His phone rang it's special tone assigned to his wife and he relaxed back in his executive chair as he clicked the icon on the screen for the phone link.
“Hey there, beautiful!”
“Hey yourself, Handsome! What 'cha doin'?”
“Just a workin' and a workin'. What about you? Where are you?”
“Just arrived in San Diego.”
Trevor sighed.
“Almost home, then.”
Tiffany's voice lowered to a murmur.
“Almost. Another twenty hours or so. How are the boys?”
“Eager for you to be home so they can light the tree.”
She chuckled.
“I bet. Listen, I don't have long and I still need to run by Admin before I leave. But I wanted to warn you ahead of time that I'm bringing home a surprise.”
“Okay. Want to fill me in so I'll know what to expect?”
She laughed.
“Nope. I'll just say it's something we've discussed in the past.”
Trevor's brows rose even as he turned his head slightly to the side.
“We have, have we?”
“Yep.” Someone said something behind her. “I have to run.” Her voice lowered once more. “I love you so much.”
“And I love you. Be careful and we'll see you in the morning.”
After clicking the icon to end the call, he sat for a moment considering what she'd said. A surprise? That they'd discussed? He knew she couldn't be pregnant, so he had no earthly idea what she would be so coy about. After a moment he shook his head with a grin and returned to work.
The next morning was the first day of Christmas vacation and the boys were enjoying their freedom. As soon as they'd had breakfast and finished their chores, they began clamoring to go outside for a snowball fight. Knowing Tiffany would be home anytime, Trevor had told them they had to wait because he had something he had to do first. Typically, his oldest son objected.
“Ah, Dad!”
“Ah, Cameron!” his father mimicked. “You'll be going outside, but first I have something I need to take care of.”
“What?”
“Layovers to catch the meddlers.”
“Is it a surprise?” asked Tristan.
“What makes you think it's a surprise?”
“Cause you always tell us the truth 'cept when you're hidin' somethin'.”
Trevor frowned in mock disgust.
“I never could pull anything over on you two, could I?”
“Is it a present?” Cameron guessed excitedly.
“Sort of.”
“For which one of us?”
About that time Trevor heard a car door slam.
“For all of us.”
“For all of us?” Tristan's eyes were huge as he imagined what it could be. “Is Santa bringing us all bicycles for Christmas?”
Trevor blinked.
“Bicycles?”
“Yeah! Both me and Cam asked Santa for bicycles. Maybe he will bring us all one so we can all ride together.”
“That's a dumb idea!” Cameron scoffed, earning a frown from his father.
“No, it's not,” Trevor told him sternly. “Now apologize to your brother.”
Before the little boy could comply, the front door opened and a gust of cold rushed in, bringing with it a cloud of powdery snow, and a figure in uniform who dropped her bag before closing the door behind her.
For a moment there was silence before the boys exploded, rushing forward in unison to greet their mother.
“Mom!”
“Momma!”
Tiffany dropped to her knee and enveloped both boys in her arms, laughing as she hugged them close and peppered kisses over their heads and faces.
“Hey there, guys!” She hugged them close again. “Oh! I'm so glad to see you! Look how you've grown!”
Both boys were talking at once, their voices high pitched and their words rapid-fire, as Tiffany looked over their heads at her husband waiting his turn.
“Okay, guys,” Trevor interrupted them and watched as Tiffany rose to her feet, “Let your dad say hi, too.”
They watched, their faces alight with joy, as their father approached and took his wife into his arms for the first time since February. His welcoming kiss was enthusiastically returned several times before he hugged her again.
“It's about time you got home.”
“I was beginning to think I wouldn't make it after that last screw up at headquarters.”
“Mom!” Tristan interrupted them urgently. “Dad said he has a surprise for us.”
Trevor chuckled as he drew away, but kept his arm around Tiffany's shoulders.
“Your mom is your surprise, Tris.”
“Really?” he frowned. “Oh.”
Tiffany laughed as Cameron elbowed his brother.
“Well, I brought you a surprise.”
Immediately both boys perked up expectedly.
“Is it bicycles?”
Her response was much like her husband's had been.
“Bicycles?”
Trevor shook his head wryly.
“I'll explain later.”
“What surprise?” Cameron demanded.
“Tell you what. Let me get settled then I'll give you your surprise. It should be here by then.”
Now all three males wore puzzled frowns and she grinned mischievously.
“Deal?”
“Deal!” her sons responded, followed by Cameron asking, “Dad can we go outside now?”
Jumping at a chance for a few minutes alone with his wife, Trevor nodded.
“Go get bundled up, and stay in the back yard!”
“Yay!”
The sounds of pounding little boy's feet disappeared down the hall.
Tiffany sighed wistfully.
“They've grown so much just in the months since I've been gone.”
“Yeah.”
Wrapping both arms around her, they shared a deeper kiss filled with promise.
“I'm so glad you're home.”
“I'm so glad to be home.”
“So what's the surprise?”
Her impish smile returned.
“You'll see.”
With a groan, Trevor lifted the bag from the floor and followed his wife, and sons, down the hall.
In the end, Cameron and Tristan weren't outside very long before the cold, and their mother's presence, brought them back indoors. There they found their parents sitting at the table with steaming mugs of coffee and a plate of apple cranberry muffins left over from breakfast. Tiffany had changed from her uniform into well loved jeans and a sweatshirt, leaving her hair loose about her shoulders.
“Your surprise will be here any minute,” she told them, “so go get changed.”
Laughing, the boys disappeared down the hall, pulling their coats off as they went and leaving a trail of melting snow in their wake. Trevor had given up trying to wheedle the secret from her and was waiting deceptively calm for it to be revealed.
Minutes later, as the family sat around the table finishing off the muffins, there was a knock at the door. With a smile Tiffany rose to her feet.
“I'll get that. You all go wait in the living room.”
Obediently, father and sons followed her from the room and congregated in the designated room while she went to answer the door. The door opened to another blast of cold air and snow and they heard her laugh.
“Jim! Come in. The boys have been waiting impatiently for their surprise.”
A big, bearded bear of a man entered. And in his arms he carried a brown and black puppy.
There was another of those moments of surprise before Cameron and Tristan again erupted, rushing forward to greet the newcomers.
“A puppy!”
“Careful,” Jim's voice cautioned them as they crowded near him, “He's a little scared.”
“Is it ours?” Tristan asked, reaching out to gently pet the small canine head. The puppy responded by licking the little boy's hand.
“He sure is.”
It wasn't long before the puppy was wiggling with as much excitement as the kids were, accepting the pets from his new family with just as much joy.
Setting the puppy down, Jim stuck out his hand toward Trevor.
“Merry Christmas!”
Trevor shook his head as they shook hands.
“You could have told me.”
“And ruin the surprise?” Jim winked at Tiffany. “Besides, she'd have killed me.”
Tiffany laughed and stretched up to brush a kiss on his bearded cheek.
“Yes, I would have.”
She smiled down at her sons and their new friend.
“He's one of those you found on the side of the road?”
Jim nodded, frowning.
“Yeah. We lost two but managed to save the other four.”
“What happened?” Trevor asked quietly.
Jim's deep voice lowered so that his words were heard only by the two adults.
“We were checking the water lines outside of town when we found a box of puppies someone had dumped in the ditch. It was during that first bad cold spell and they were in bad shape.”
“Someone needs to be shot,” was Trevor's succinct response.
“What's its name?” Cameron's question broke the sad moment and Jim's smile returned.
“Whatever you want it to be. I've just been calling him Mutt.”
“Mutt's a weird name.” Cameron responded.
“Well, I like it,” Tristan disagreed, “I think he should just stay Mutt.”
Cameron shrugged then focused again on petting the puppy.
“I guess he'll stay Mutt,” Trevor grinned.
They visited for a few minutes longer before Jim took his leave, leaving the family to enjoy their reunion and the welcoming of their new addition.
The rest of the day was spent in a whirlwind of activity as the boys bubbled over with excitement, soon exhausting not just the puppy but themselves as well. Early in the afternoon, Tiffany was able to get a last minute appointment with a veterinarian and after Mutt was checked out, they made a trip to the local pet supply store where they stocked up on everything the puppy would be needing. Not least of which was a wire cage to help with the housebreaking.
That evening after Cameron and Tristan had finally gone to sleep, and Mutt had finally lapsed into silence inside his wire cage, Trevor and Tiffany snuggled together on the couch taking in the beauty of the newly lit tree. A bottle of Zinfandel and two glasses were on the table before them and Bing was singing White Christmas in the background.
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve,” she said softly, “Were you able to get all of the boy's gifts?”
“Well...”
She drew back and worriedly looked into his face.
“Well?”
“There was apparently something we missed.”
“We did?”
“Well, Santa was able to get the you-know-whats.”
“Okay...”
“But apparently he was supposed to get two more as well.”
“Two more? Why? And for who?”
“For us.”
“Us?”
“Yep. Apparently they expect us to ride together.”
“When did this happen?”
“I just found out this morning.”
“What are we going to do?”
“I guess Santa will have to make a run to the workshop tomorrow.”
“I don't know if he'll find any by now.”
“Well, he'll try.” Trevor lifted her chin. “Right now, though, he just wants to concentrate on Mrs. Claus.” He grinned. “Wanna play Dirty Santa?”
What a wonderful tale! A bit rushing it before Thanksgiving but I know you wanted to get it before us because you were excited about writing it and posting it.
I was surprised that the tree lighting, such a big deal in the beginning, simply disappeared with all the excitement of mom coming home and the expected surprise of a puppy. But I guess it was by design. Even though you could have slipped it in right after she arrived home and the puppy was running around the living room.
And I have to assume that Jim was an uncle, because I don't recall reading who he was to the family.
