Christmas Overnighted

by Lara Norman

  Cora looked up at Andy and her smile for her friend was warm. “It looks like everyone is through eating. Moving things into the living room is a fabulous idea.”

  “I'll do the dishes,” Julia volunteered as she started to stand.

  “No, I won't allow it,” Warren said. “Leave everything here and head into the

  living room. There's something for everyone under the tree, courtesy of Manu and Rewa.”

  Warren took Cora’s hand and they got up from the dining room table together. They picked up the leftover food and took it to the kitchen to wrap up and put away. Rewa came in and shooed Cora off, working with her son-in-law to get the most important aspects cleaned up. Cora kissed her mother on the cheek and squeezed Warren's bicep before making her way to the living room to be with her guests. Everyone else had gathered in the room that was technically the parlor but would never be that formal of a room while Warren and Cora lived there. The kids were sprawled on the floor in front of the tree discussing the lights and counting the gifts. Cora had officially met them at the wedding. She'd met Murray and Frances before then, including their spouses, Ruth and Adam. They had five children between them, and the little ones were chattering about the gifts and the lights as they knelt in front of the tree.

  “Okay, everybody. Would you like me to pass them out, or do you want to find the one with your name on it?” There were jumbled answers to Cora’s question as they all spoke at once.

  “Okay,” she laughed. “You can just go for it.”

  The kids picked up boxes, shaking them and checking name tags before passing them out. There was laughter and a lot of noise filling the big Victorian style house. It was exactly what Cora had dreamed of when she first saw the pictures of the interior of the house online as Warren worked on the remodel. Even more, it was what she’d envisioned when she had a change of heart about Christmas and everything that it entailed. She wanted to go all-out each year and celebrate the reasons behind the season, which to her were family and friends.

  Warren and Rewa rejoined everyone, and they sat on the sofa with Cora. Warren immediately picked up his wife's hand and kissed the back of it. It was times like this that he could look back on what he went through in his earlier years and be grateful for where it brought him. Though their schedules rarely meshed, he and Cora made each other their priority. If Cora had to work through lunch to get off early and go on date night with her husband, she did. If they had to eat lunch in Cora’s office on her busier days, they did. And the weekends were just for them.

  Though Warren, Cora, and their parents were opening their personal gifts the following morning, there was a little something under the tree for everyone to ensure they each had something to open at the party. For Cora, it was a silver necklace with a pendant of a C and W intertwined. She threw her arms around Warren’s neck and kissed him soundly.

  “I love it!” Cora immediately pulled it out of the box it came in and held it up to her neck to have Warren fasten it for her.

  “I’m glad you like it.” He carefully clasped the necklace as she held it for him.

  When he was through she turned around and looked at him with a secret smile. “I notice you don't have a gift in your lap.”

  “I don't, no.” He looked at her in amusement, positive that something was up with the expression she was giving him. “And the kids have passed out what was under the tree. Are you hiding mine?”

  “Well, sort of. Last year I had no idea what to get you, but I felt that it would be important to give you something. No matter how small, it was meant to be significant.”

  “I remember. It was a set of specialty business cards.” He gave her a tender smile. “I’ve about used them all, too.”

  “Then this is good timing, isn’t it?”

  Cora stood and retrieved Warren’s stocking from the fireplace mantel. She handed it to him and sat back down next to him. Everyone else had been talking and showing off their gifts, but the room suddenly grew very quiet. Even the children seemed to understand there was some significance to the moment.

  Warren looked around at all the faces and felt the anticipation of something important. He carefully put his hand in his stocking and pulled out a small rectangular box. It looked exactly the same as the gift she’d given him the year before, so he couldn't quite figure out why he felt that squeezing feeling in his gut. He glanced up at Cora one more time before he pulled off the paper and lifted the lid on the outer box. Inside was a black box bearing the logo of the card company that she had used the year prior. Warren was happy to have another set of the nice business cards made of thinly printed wood that looked stylish and professional. He gave Cora another look and felt the rush of anticipation leave him. He couldn't quite place the origin of the feeling, but it seemed there was no reason for it.

  “You’re so sweet to refill my business cards. They're running very low, and I needed to order more, but hadn't gotten around to it, yet.”

  Cora accepted the kiss he gave her but put her hand out to stop him from setting the box down. “I changed the message on the cards. You should give them a look.”

  He frowned. Last year’s cards were straightforward, bearing his business name and phone number; information Cora could easily search for online. The words looked like they were etched with a wood burning tool and he truly enjoyed the professional appearance of them. He looked back down at the black box and lifted the lid, wondering what she would have changed. The cards looked almost identical, but as he looked more closely he saw what she’d been hinting at.

  “It says World’s Best Contractor by Day, World’s Best Dad by Night.”

  There was absolute silence and stillness as everyone paused to look at the couple on the couch. With the rush of understanding, Warren pulled Cora onto his lap and buried his face in her soft, fragrant hair.

  “We talked about not waiting, you know, but I didn't know how you’d take it if it actually happened. I didn't think it would be so soon, but I’m so ready, honey. I'm so ready to start growing our family.”

  “Oh, my God, Cora, I’m so freaking happy. This is the best thing you could have ever given me.” Warren pulled away from her neck to look at her face. She was crying, and he wiped at her tears with the tips of his fingers.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “God, I love you, too. When?”

  She gave him a watery smile. “July.”

  “Watch, we’re going to have a baby on our anniversary,” he chuckled.

  “Speak up over there! What’s going on?” Andy called from across the room.

  Warren held tight to Cora and picked her up as he stood. “We’re having a baby!” he shouted.

  There were whoops and cheers and a few stunned looks, mostly from Manu and Rewa who were continuing to be impressed by the change in their daughter since she met and married Warren Kline. Everyone rushed over to congratulate them, and Warren had to put Cora down so that she could be hugged by everyone. He didn't want to let her go, and he kept touching her in some way. Finally, he pulled her to him and hugged her tightly, stepping away only to place his hands on her flat stomach.

  “I couldn't be happier, Cora.” He gazed directly in her eyes to convey his feelings. He didn't want her to think for a second that he wasn't ecstatic.

  “We did it. We topped last Christmas.” She laughed. “What in the world will we do next year that can top this?”

  “We’ll have our baby’s first Christmas next year.” He hugged her tightly again. “I can’t wait.”

  “Oh God, I’m going to have a baby.” As the reality of the situation kicked in, Cora cradled her stomach and backed up to sit on the couch.

  Since the minute she’d suspected she was pregnant, she’d only focused on taking the test and telling Warren. She hadn’t put that much thought into the actuality of having a baby to care for and keep alive. “I was ready in theory, but in practice, I have no idea how to be a mom.”

  “Well, you didn't know how to be a wife
until you were one. You’ll be great, Cora, I’m sure of it, and I’ll be there every step of the way,” Warren promised.

  Roberta came over and knelt in front of Cora. “I’ll lend a hand whenever you’d like, sweetheart. David and I have been thinking of moving closer to Warren for years, and this is the perfect reason. Not to mention, the house Warren just finished is calling our names. We want to buy it and live close to the two of you. Soon to be three,” she added.

  “Mom, that would be perfect,” Warren said. “You’re going to be a grandma!”

  Though she was thrilled at the idea, Roberta had to give her son a hard time. “I’m not ready to be a grandma, Warren.”

  “Wait, you’re not?” The blank look on his face was exactly what Roberta was going

  for. She chuckled.

  “I’d rather be Nana. I think that suits me better.”

  Warren rolled his eyes. “Okay, Mom, you can be called whatever you want. You have time to decide.”

  “I would be honored to have your help, Roberta. Honestly,” Cora added. She had lucked out in the mother-in-law department.

  “It’s going to be perfect, just wait and see,” Warren said. “We've gotten this far by loving each other and working hard to make time for each other. I know we can do this, too.”

  “Well, don't forget that you have honorary aunts in me and Rachel,” Andrea said.

  “And me,” Julia spoke up. “Though, I guess I’m old enough to be an honorary

  grandma.”

  “I’ll take it,” Cora said in appreciation. “The more the merrier.”

  “Does this mean you’re quitting your job?” Rewa asked tentatively.

  “No, Mother, I’ll keep working. I want to figure out how to do both. It’s only one reason I’ll need help, but I’m positive we can work it out together.” She looked at Warren. They’d discussed it before she went off her birth control. She would work and he would put more responsibility on his foreman so he could be home when needed. Cora wasn't against daycare, but she wanted to wait until their little one was a bit older before crossing that bridge.

  “Oh,” Rewa said. It was more in line with her thinking for Cora to remain home with any children she had, but Rewa didn't want to upset her daughter so she didn't say anything else. They'd spent enough estranged years with a damaged relationship that she didn't want to risk rocking the boat again.

  “It’s okay for you to wonder, Mom. It’s even okay for you to give me your opinion. I’ve grown enough in the past year that I realize I can’t hold your beliefs against you just because they might be different than mine.”

  Manu chuckled. “That’s more like the daughter that I knew years ago. It’s only too bad that we alienated you and wasted so many years apart.”

  Cora said, “I promise we’ll come and visit you more often. Well, as often as we can with a newborn. You might have to come here for the first year.”

  “I think I can work something out. I don't want to miss out on my grandchild's life.” Manu had reached the point where he never thought he would be granted the possibility of grandchildren. He was positive his daughter had given up on being a wife and mom, and he was happy to be wrong.

  “Warren has friends in California, Dad. Even though he’s found it difficult in the past to go back there, we’ve been talking about making the effort. Now we have even more reason.”

  “I would love to have you. You’re going to love the beach.”

  Roberta moved to sit on the couch next to Cora. “I do think you’ll love it, and if Warren isn't able to go I know you’ll understand why.”

  “I want to try, Mom. We’ve made so many changes to ourselves over the past year. We've made efforts where before we didn't bother trying. We’ve grown and become better people. We’ve done things outside of our comfort zones, and sometimes we only did them once,” he said, thinking of sledding down the hill the year before. “But the point is, I’ll make the effort to go to the beach with Cora because she deserves that part of me. Our pasts don’t define our futures.”

  Tears were streaming down Cora’s face as she listened to her husband. He was right. They had gone out of their way to be better people, to get out there and try new things. New activities, new experiences, and new challenges had made them grow and learn. “I love what we’ve created,” Cora said to Warren.

  “We’ve managed another excellent Christmas. May we have many, many more like it.”

  “Here, here!” David spoke up.

  Everyone agreed with that sentiment, but Cora could only see her husband. She rose and went to stand in the circle of his arms. She gazed at the love in his eyes and saw their future there reflected back at her. It was going to be bright and beautiful.

  About the Author

  LARA USED TO SCRIBBLE her fictional characters down on legal pads in high school, and then not show them to anyone. In recent years, she started posting her work in public forums for feedback, which gave her the courage to publish professionally.

  She needs copious amounts of coffee and chocolate to survive. She enjoys eavesdropping on the character conversations in her head, which she has been assured doesn’t make her crazy. She always gets the best ideas while in the shower, driving, or about to fall asleep.

  Though she’s a Florida girl at heart, Lara currently resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband of twenty years and their three children, where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age fifteen.

  You can find her at:

  https://www.laranormanauthor.com

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  Don’t miss Lara’s exciting debut book, Jack and Crush!

  He’s never done anything like this before.

  Arriving home fresh from the hell of Kandahar, Fletcher Bennett ends up at a bar. The straitlaced military man finds himself looking for a distraction. He’s mortified when he wakes up and discovers he’d found it in a strange woman’s bed.

  There’s something different about this one night stand.

  Outgoing. Outrageous. Outspoken. These are all words Lillie King has had used to describe her. Not one to chase after any man, she’s not unhappy when circumstances keep bringing the sexy soldier her way. But when they lose contact after Fletcher is called back for yet another dangerous mission, she fears the worst. Is this the end?

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