by Toni Aleo
Christmas never really mattered to Claire before. That changed when she came to live with Phillip and even more when she got with Jude. He made everything twenty times better, and she knew that she would be sort of bummed that he wouldn’t be there that morning. It sucked that he played and lived in a different state, but that’s what they’d signed up for. They saw each other a lot and she got by, but she decided that she might not sign the next contract when hers was up. She wanted to be where Jude was, and because of that, she was saving money like crazy.
They might have to miss some holidays together for the next couple years, but when it was time to have kids, that wouldn’t happen. She refused to raise kids in Vegas. And while it had been her hope and dream to headline a show, she figured that since she was doing it now, she wouldn’t regret it when she quit to be a wife and mom. That would be a long time coming, but she knew what she wanted in life and that was Jude Sinclair.
Claire: Fine. I’m gonna be miserable without you.
Jude: I’m always miserable without you.
She smiled as his next text came in.
Jude: I’ll see you soon. Have fun, get a dress or something for our wedding.
Her heart fluttered as she smiled dreamily. Their wedding. They were getting married very soon and she couldn’t be happier. She couldn’t wait to have Phillip give her away and to become Mrs. Jude Sinclair. When that happened, she’d have everything she could only dream of before.
Claire: 10-4 good buddy.
Jude: I love you. Have a safe flight.
Claire: I love you too. You too.
It was a long plane ride, but when she got off the plane and saw her aunt and nephew waiting for her, she almost came out of her skin in excitement. Running to them, she wrapped her arms around the both of them and hugged them tightly. It had been nine months since she had been home, and she couldn’t believe how big Sawyer had gotten.
“My goodness! What are you feeding this kid? Miracle-Gro?”
Reese laughed as Claire took Sawyer, kissing him all over his sweet face. He tried to get away, but he wasn’t going anywhere from his Claire. “He’s Phillip’s kid, what do you expect?”
Claire giggled as she nodded, hugging Sawyer tightly. “You have a point. He eats like a horse!”
“For sure! Ready? Your appointment is in an hour.”
“Appointment?” she asked, confused.
“Yeah, Jude asked me to get you an appointment for wedding dress shopping!”
Claire’s face broke out in a grin. “He did?”
“Yeah, he’s kind of sweet.”
“Yeah, he is,” Claire agreed as they made their way to claim her baggage and then out into the freezing Tennessee air. It had been so long since she had been home that the cold surprised her, and she cuddled closer to Sawyer.
“You look great, sweetheart,” Reese said as they walked to the car.
“Thanks, you do too!”
Reese grinned as they loaded the car up and then they were off. Blasting the heat, Claire held her hands to the vents, waiting for them to thaw as Reese navigated out of the airport. Pulling out her phone, she sent a quick text to Jude.
Claire: Landed and heading to the appointment you planned.
Jude: :) Hope you find the dress that will blow me away. I love you.
Her heart skipped a beat as she sent him back a smiley face along with that she loved him too and then leaned back in the car. She missed him like crazy but was glad to be home. Looking over at Reese, she smiled. Her aunt looked beautiful and almost like she was glowing. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she wore light makeup with jeans and an Assassins tee. Even all comfy, she was beautiful. Reese had always thought she wouldn’t be a good mom or wife, but she was both. The best, even.
“How’s everyone?”
Reese grinned. “Good, big dinner tonight to welcome you home. Elli has been cooking all day.”
“Great, I’m hungry,” she said with a grin. “Can’t wait to see everyone.”
“They are excited to see you. Guess what?”
“What?”
“Harper is pregnant.”
Sitting up erect, she shouted, “What?”
“Yup!”
“Oh my God! I thought she couldn’t have any more kids.”
“We all thought that, hell, she thought that, but she’s ten weeks!”
Happiness and excitement poured out her pores as her grin grew. “That is so awesome.”
“I know, we are all so excited. She’s a blubbering mess, but she’s not the only one.”
“Really! Elli?”
Reese laughed. “Nope, the in vitro worked and Audrey’s pregnant too.”
“Awww. That’s so awesome!
“Yeah, she isn’t telling the world, but everyone who knows is pretty excited. Our little Assassins family is growing.”
“This family has never been little,” Claire said with a scoff, but she couldn’t stop smiling. This was so awesome. All these women were basically aunts to her, and to know they were all getting their Happily Ever Afters was so fulfilling. She was next, and that made her giddy with excitement. “I’m so happy for everyone.”
“Yeah,” Reese agreed. “Also, Phillip and I have decided to start trying for another baby.”
Gasping, Claire completely turned in her seat and shrieked. “What!”
Reese giggled. “Yup, I stopped taking birth control, so we will see.”
“Eek! I am so excited!”
“We are too.” Reese giggled as she pulled in the bridal shop parking lot. Getting out, Claire ran around and hugged Reese tightly which caused her to laugh. “I’m not pregnant yet.”
“I know, but it’s exciting. I love babies.”
Reese’s smiled dropped. “Doesn’t mean you need one yet.”
Claire laughed out loud, hard, and shook her head. “Believe me, not happening. We are gonna wait till my contract is done. I don’t want to raise kids in Vegas.”
“Thank sweet baby Jesus,” Reese muttered as she got Sawyer out. Claire grinned as they made their way inside. They were greeted by a gorgeous blonde and then escorted back into a room. When they entered, Claire immediately saw the big bouquet of white roses and grinned. They were her favorite flower and Jude knew that.
“The groom has these waiting for you.”
Reese awwed as Claire giggled. Going to the vase, she took in a big breath of them before grabbing the card and tearing it open.
Claire,
It was chance that I met you.
Fate that we fell in love.
And a blessing that you want to marry me.
I can’t wait to be yours for the rest of my life.
Enjoy picking the dress that will be the start of our forever.
I love you.
Yours,
Jude.
“Oh my God,” she gasped, covering her mouth. “He is so amazing.”
Reese smiled as she took the card and read it, tears gathering in her eyes. “You need to frame this.”
“I plan on it,” Claire agreed, taking the card and tucking it back in the envelope. On cloud nine, she began searching for her dress, but she wasn’t having any luck. She had tried on thirteen dresses and really didn’t like any of them. She wanted something perfect. She wanted a forever kind of love dress. Defeated, she let out a breath and met Reese’s gaze.
“The dress might not be here.”
“But yours was,” Claire said and then she paused. She loved Reese’s dress. Like, a lot. Turning slowly, she met Reese’s gaze. “Wait. You’re like my mom, right?”
Reese smiled. “Well, yeah.”
“You know how brides wear their mom’s dresses… So can I wear yours?”
Reese’s eyes clouded with tears as she slowly nodded. “I would love that.”
She wrapped her arms around Claire tightly, kissing her cheek. “I love you so much, Claire.”
“So that’s a yes?” she asked and Reese laughed.
“Yes, of c
ourse!”
Closing her eyes, Claire hugged Reese and knew this was the right choice. Phillip and Reese’s love was something out of books, and her dress was gorgeous. It was a forever kind of love dress, and Claire couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather wear than Reese’s dress.
Her mom.
Being home was great. She spent time with her family, got to see some of her friends, and it was wonderful. But, she missed Jude. It was Christmas Eve night and Claire knew she should be happy, but she wasn’t. She hated that she wasn’t with him. Closing her eyes, she waited for him to answer as a tear rolled slowly down her cheek.
When he answered, she said, “I miss you.”
His chuckle sent chills down her spine. “I miss you, baby, two more days.”
“But you won’t be here for presents or pie or anything. I’m going to be lonely without you.”
“You will not. I bet Sawyer is driving you crazy.”
“He is, but I miss you,” she whined, wishing like hell that there was no distance between them. “I’m going to wake up and you won’t be here on my favorite holiday.”
“Wow, thanks for making me feel like an ass,” he complained and she felt bad instantly.
“I’m sorry.”
He laughed. “I know this sucks. It does, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“No, I’m sorry, you’re right, I’m being a brat. I just hate being apart. As soon as my contract is up, I’m done, and I swear you are going to have to peel me off you.”
“I look forward to it. I love you, Claire. I do. So much.”
“I love you more than that,” she said with all the conviction in the world. Sometimes people picked at them saying they were so young and in love, but she loved it. She loved how intense they were about each other and couldn’t wait until the moment they would be joined together as one. It would be the most amazing occasion of her life with everyone there to share in their love. They may be young, but they knew this was it. This was forever.
They talked for a little longer about his parents, and then she yawned, dead on her feet. She had gone shopping with Reese and Sawyer for last-minute gifts.
Laughing he said, “Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow before the game.”
She smiled as she pushed back her tears. “I’ll be watching.”
“Good. Enjoy your gifts tomorrow.”
“I wish you were one of them. That would be so hot, you under the tree with a bow.”
He chuckled. “I was thinking the same thing, but you with bows on your naughty bits.”
She giggled as heat engulfed her. “Don’t turn me on if you can’t get me off.”
He scoffed. “Oh, baby, I can get you off with just my words, but I don’t want you coming, screaming in your uncle’s house. He already wants to kill me ninety-nine percent of the time.”
She giggled. “But hey, that one percent, he likes you.”
“I doubt that, but he’ll like me soon enough.”
“Sure,” she agreed and he laughed.
“Okay, I love you. Call you tomorrow.”
“Love you too.”
When she hung up, the sadness was there, but this was the life she’d chosen. Hockey players came and went on the holidays, so she’d better get used to it. Especially since she was about to marry one.
“Claire! Claire! Claire!”
Claire slowly opened one eye to see Sawyer on her chest, smacking her with his palms.
Stretching, since this wasn’t the first time her little guy had done this, she said, “What, honey?”
“Santa came!”
She smiled as she cuddled into him. She needed the comfort because when she was out of the bed, it would mean that she was spending Christmas without Jude. She really didn’t want to accept that, but Sawyer was wiggling and then was dragging her out of the bed.
“Come on, Claire-bear! Santa came!”
“I know, buddy, but I don’t want to,” she complained, kissing his hands.
“But you have to!” he protested, pulling her.
Knowing that he was going away and that Phillip and Reese were probably waiting on her, she got out of bed with a huff. “You owe me hot chocolate, kid.”
“With peppers!”
She smiled. “Yes, with peppermint.”
She took his hand and they made their way through to the kitchen where Reese was standing.
“Merry Christmas, honey.”
Claire shrugged. “Be way merrier if Jude were here.”
Reese smiled as she shrugged. “Don’t be a Grinch.”
Claire giggled as Sawyer said, “Yeah, don’t be a Grinch!”
“Claire being a Grinch?” Phillip asked, coming into the kitchen with a coffee cup in hand. “Maybe we should send her to the North Pole?”
Sawyer agreed. “Yeah, Santa needs to put the Christmas in her!”
“Sorry, I’m a little down. I’ll perk up, give me hot chocolate,” she said, picking up her little guy just as Reese handed her a cup. Music was playing, which wasn’t odd, but the song made her a little sad. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was the song, and usually she liked it, but today she could do without hearing it.
“You have to be happy. Santa brought you something,” Sawyer said.
She scoffed. “Santa always skips me.”
“Nooooooo, not this time, come on!” He wiggled and she put him down. He pulled her into the living room, and when her eyes caught sight of the present, she squealed. Sitting by the tree with a huge red bow on his head was Jude.
“Jude!”
His face broke out in a grin as he stood, catching her as she jumped into his arms. Covering his mouth with hers, she kissed him deeply as her heart came out of her chest. Holding her close, he smiled against her lips as he spun her around. Pulling back, he grinned down at her, the bow falling into his sweet, gorgeous eyes. Elated, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“They canceled the game because no one can fly into New York, it’s snowing so bad. So instead of going back to California with the guys, I came home. You wanted me under your tree, so that’s where I wanted to be.”
Kissing him again, she wrapped her arms around his neck and almost started to cry. Kissing her jaw, he then kissed her nose and smiled, his heart beating against hers. She couldn’t get over how gorgeous he was, and he was all hers. She had missed him so much and he was there. In the flesh, on Christmas with her. There could be a million gifts under the tree, but the most important gift was looking deep into her eyes with his arms holding her tight to him.
“Merry Christmas, Claire.”
She grinned as she looked into the eyes of her forever. “Merry Christmas, indeed.”
The Adler residence not only looked like Santa crapped all over it with Christmas decorations but it also looked like a tornado had gone through it. Wrapping paper and toys covered every square inch of their living room, but Shea Adler didn’t care.
His family was happy.
Like they had done for the last seven years, they woke up at the butt-crack of dawn and surrounded the tree, passing out gifts. With each year, it became more hectic though. When it had been just him and his gorgeous wife, Elli, it was easy but consisted of a lot of sex under the tree. Then Shelli came, again easy. Then Posey, still easy, but when the twins came, things started to get a little rowdy. By the time Quinn came, it was a mess. Lots of tearing of wrapping paper and lots of screaming, but he didn’t care. The kids were always happy.
And he actually liked the chaos.
“Mommy, I love it! Thank you! Daddy, you’re the greatest!” Shelli exclaimed as she held up her new iPad.
“But I want an iPad, Daddy!” Posey complained.
“Open the box, honey,” Shea said softly. She did then gave him a sheepish grin.
“Thank you, Daddy,” she giggled, holding up her iPad.
“You’re welcome, honey,” he said as Elli leaned against him.
She looked gorgeous with her hair a mess and in his b
ig Assassins tee with long pants. Her feet were covered by the new reindeer socks Quinn had gotten her. She had on earmuffs the girls had given her and also gloves the twins had picked out.
“Warm and toasty?” he asked and she grinned.
“Oh yes, my kiddos give the best gifts, don’t you think?”
He chuckled as she looked him over. He was wearing a big, bright purple scarf that the girls had selected, along with knee-high hockey socks that the twins had gotten him, and reindeer slippers. He looked like a total loser, but he wore his gifts with pride. “I say I think you are right.”
She smiled before leaning up to press her lips to his. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned her forehead against his jaw as they watched the kids tear open presents and cheer when they got something they wanted. He always loved when they got clothes though. Their faces were priceless. Especially Owen’s. He didn’t hold anything back and made sure they all knew that a gift wasn’t what he wanted. Shelli was kind and always thanked them for things even if she didn’t want it. Which didn’t happen a lot.
Just to mess with her though, he got her a Ninja Turtle, and when she opened it, she asked if it was for one of the boys. He told her no, it was for her, and her face was something for the books. He’d never laughed so hard in his life before telling her it was his, when really, he was going to give it to one of the rookies. The other kids were just happy to get to open presents, and he enjoyed that they were so ecstatic. They still had Christmas with his family later that night, and they were even going to Elli’s dad’s house the following day, which would be awkward because her mom and sister would be there. Since they were still trying to suck up to Elli, he was sure that they would get something overly extravagant for the kids, and he hated that. They didn’t have to buy the kids’ love or Elli’s, they just had to be good to them.