And no matter what craziness just went down, our family will always love one another, just as they’ve always loved Austin.
He is family now after all. My family. And something inside me tells me he gave me the best gift of all this Christmas.
A start to our very own family.
I’ll know in a few weeks when I visit my doctor, my love, my everything…him.
EPILOGUE
Austin
One year later
“This is our Tiffany Soleste pendant in platinum with an aquamarine and diamonds. It’s a vivid aquamarine that’s surrounded by round brilliant diamonds set in platinum with a sixteen-inch chain. The aquamarine is pear-shaped and the diamonds carry a carat weight of one point two five with a total carat weight of nineteen,” the lady who works at the Tiffany’s store says.
I try not to laugh…at myself.
“I don’t know what all that fancy lingo means. All I know is that’s the same shade of blue as my wife’s eyes. I’ll take it.”
“An excellent choice,” she says.
“The one and only choice. The perfect choice.”
“Actually we do carry it in tanzanite as well.”
“I’m not talking about this necklace. That’s irrelevant to me. I’m talking about my wife.”
“Oh,” she says with a smile. “Right,” she says. “Congratulations to your wife. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
I nod and make my way to the checkout.
I could tell her that of course she’ll love it, because she loves me, but this time I’m able to refrain. I’ve been working on it actually. There’s nothing I like more than gushing about how lucky I am to have her, but I have to work on toning it down a bit as I do it so much it embarrasses her. In a way I kind of like seeing her cheeks get red and that shyness come out. I think deep down she does enjoy the attention, but I also understand I can be too much at times.
It’s just that I love her so damn much and I want the entire world to know I’m the luckiest guy in the world, and that she’s mine all mine.
I make my way to the front of the line and the lady gives me a curious look before pointing at me.
“You were in here last year about this time, weren’t you?”
I nod.
“I remember you. We still talk about you around here.”
One eyebrow raises and I grit my teeth, nearing snarl level. No other women should be talking about me. I belong to my wife, just as she belongs to me.
“Not like that,” the cashier says. “So sorry.” Apparently she can read my expression, not that I’m doing anything to hide how I feel about her words.
“It’s just that we’ve never had a customer come in before who had a chance to purchase something on discount and wanted, no literally demanded, to pay full price. We still talk about how the manager came out and was telling you, ‘But it’s on sale sir,’ and you still refused the discount. We had to call the home office for a one time approval so our cash register wouldn’t be off at the end of the day.”
“I remember,” I say wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. I don’t really care for this attention and I need to get home and get this gift-wrapped. I’ve got a lot of gifts to wrap this Christmas as a matter of fact.
I must have bought about thirty for my wife and literally one hundred for our twins, Sara and Mara.
“I’m really sorry,” the cashier continues. “But can I ask you why you did that? I love reading mystery novels, and I can usually figure them out about a third of the way into the book, but I can’t read you at all. I was guessing maybe you wanted to show full price for customs as you were taking it to Russia or China to sell at a huge premium? That’s all us girls in the back could come up with. That or, and I apologize, someone was considering selling fakes online and wanted the higher price to show the savings. Regardless, I just have to know.”
And I just have to know why this lady won’t just let it go.
I take a deep breath and reach for my debit card, handing it to her. She scans it and the transaction is quickly approved. I sign the slip and she puts it in the light blue, or whatever color that’s called, bag with the gift. I could turn and walk away now, leaving this a mystery forever, or…I can use this opportunity to gush about my wife.
I passed up on the first chance minutes ago. I’m not going to miss another.
“Are you married to the love of your life?” I ask.
She blushes. “Well, I’m seeing someone, and he’s…he’s okay I guess.”
“You need to cut that off right now.”
“Excuse me?”
“Because when you meet the one, you’ll know. You won’t compare them to other people because they’re incomparable. You won’t even think of anyone else, because you’ll only think of them. It will all happen instantly, the moment you see them, and you won’t even have time to think. That’s the beauty of it. And when you do find someone like that the last thing you ever want to do is give them something you got on a discount…because my wife…she’s priceless. I may have paid ‘full price’ or whatever it’s called in here last year, but truth be told I would have given every cent I had to my name and all my future earnings for that diamond ring, if I knew it was going to make her happy for just one second. That’s because she’s the one. Mine. And I’m hers. And we love each other where it matters most. Right fucking here,” I say putting my hand on my heart.
I watch as the lady crumbles to the ground behind the register.
“Gina fainted!” her co-worker says.
I just turn and walk out of the store.
I’ve got what I wanted, and it’s not inside this bag. It’s waiting for me at home, our home. The one we just moved into outside the city where our kids can run and play and do all the things kids are supposed to do. And that’s exactly what they’ll be doing in a few years from now when we give them their first puppy for Christmas.
And most importantly it’s a home and not a house. That’s because my family is there and that starts and ends with her.
My wife. My love. My life.
And when I see her smile when she opens this up on Christmas morning it won’t matter if I spent a nickel or nine million dollars. All that will matter is all that’s ever mattered…she’s priceless, and she’s all mine.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Austin
Christmas Eve
Three more years later
“I’m sorry, sir, we’re closing early today,” the lady at the front of the store says. She’s not big but she’s got guts, stepping in front of me so I can’t enter. If I worked retail this time of year I’d do anything I could to get out of the store, even if it meant stepping in front of a man who had a full foot and a solid hundred pounds on you. I can feel her pain, thanks to my wife, who has taught me a ton about empathy.
“It’s okay, Sandra,” Dennis, the story manager says, escorting me through.
“How’s your wife doing, Dennis?” I ask.
“Good man. Thanks. We’re really looking forward to having our first child.”
“You’ve got my number on speed dial, right?”
“In the first spot.”
“Put me in second. Your wife should always be in first place.”
He smiles as we walk towards the back where everything is stocked.
“That’s what I like about you Dr. Abbott. You’re a family man. Family first.”
“Always,” I say.
I turn my head while he spins the combination to the safe. Seconds later he pulls out a hard-shelled big Pelican case. I feel like we’re special ops soldiers in some action flick, and this time of year that might not be too far off.
“Everything you requested,” he says.
“Thanks, my man,” I say handing him an envelope with the payment and a very generous tip.
“Need me to have security walk you to your car? It’s a jungle out there this time of year.”
“Don’t worry. Now that I’ve got these I’m feeling
like the big swinging dick six hundred pound gorilla who runs that jungle.”
We both laugh and then shake hands.
“Looking forward to welcoming your first child into the world with you.”
“We’re glad you’re team over there at the hospital are the ones. We wouldn’t think of letting anyone else in the world do the honors.”
“Thank you. I’m honored,” I say, and do I ever mean it.
Our handshake ends and we part ways.
I walk through the store and towards the exit.
The deal was simple. He delivered the things my babies wanted this Christmas, and one of my colleagues delivers his babies as soon as his wife goes into labor, which should be in about two weeks.
I’m an ER doctor or else I’d do the honors myself. Even so I promised him I’ll be present, mostly just there as a show of support and to be an extra doctor which should psychologically help to settle him knowing that so many doctors are on hand for the delivery, even though I’m pretty clueless about delivering babies.
I still paid him for Fingerlings Hugs, Hatchimals Hatchibabies, Pomsies Speckles Plush Interactive Toys, Little People Take Turns Skyway, and more…and I gave him a generous tip too. I didn’t want him to be out of pocket, all I wanted was to make sure my family got what they wanted this holiday season.
I almost never go shopping, but stopped by the mall two months prior to see if there was a way I could get all this stuff before Christmas. Not a chance. That’s when I had to turn my attention to finding a different way.
It didn’t matter. I’d do anything to make my family happy. Anything.
Just like they make me happy, so much in fact, that I’ve cut back my hours at the hospital so I can watch our first set of twins, Sara and Mara, and now our second set too, Levi and Eli.
After four kids in four years Madison needed a break, plus she wanted to pursue her career.
I told her she never had to work a day in her life, but she wanted to and I was more than happy to support her in that, just as I am in all parts of her life.
She puts in about three days a week, or twenty-four hours total, which was perfect. It gave her a chance to get a “break” from four little rambunctious rugrats for awhile in addition to making friends and spending time with people her own age…and mine.
And the age difference hasn’t meant anything to us. If anything it’s been a blessing. Damn…blessing. Another of those words I would have never said as a “single guy.”
But it’s definitely a blessing as it allows me to impart the wisdom I’ve learned over the years. I don’t pretend to know everything, but I do think I know just enough to make life a bit easier for everybody, and she’s definitely that…my everything.
I step out into the parking lot, a big smile on my face knowing how much fun tonight’s going to be.
I love Christmas Eve and after we wear the kids out with games I’ll get to do a different kind of “wearing out” with my woman. Damn, I swear my appetite for her is insatiable. I want her just as much as I did the first minute I laid eyes on her, somehow I’d say even more.
Knowing she’s carried our four babies inside that beautiful body of hers…damn, don’t even get me started on how fucking hot that is and how turned on that gets me.
And she’s gonna see just how turned on I get tonight, as I do every night, and afternoon, morning, and every other time of the day for her, when I bury my cock inside her so far that we make twins again. There’s just something about when the two of us get together on Christmas Eve…sparks fly like the Fourth of July and nine months later we’ve got two bundles of joy.
As I’m almost at the Range Rover I spot two cocks, or dickheads, that are coming straight at me and they sure don’t look like they’re about to spread any joy my way…more like spray some lead.
I’m not sure what I see first, the MS-13 tattoos just off the corner of their eyes, which means they’re part of the most savage gang in the world, the El Salvadorian Mara Salvatrucha (MS) gang, or the reflection from the chrome pistols they pull from the front of their pants.
“Hand over the Pelican case, esé!”
“We’ve been watching you homes. We know what you got and now you’re gonna get got, fool.”
I don’t say anything and avoid making eye contact, just slowly put the Pelican case on the ground and my hands in the air.
“That’s right bitch. Toys are ours.”
“We’re gonna get so much cash for these stupid things,” the one guy says to the other as they approach me.
I stay still.
“Cash yeah, but don’t forget I’m pulling out the Hatchimals Hatchibabies for my little girl.”
“And I get the Nylabone Dental Dinosaur for my lady’s Pomeranian. That little thing is small, but damn is it ferocious.”
He knows I got the Nylabone Dental Dinosaur? How long have these guys been watching me? Who tipped them off?
The thought of him taking my kids Christmas toys pisses me the hell off, and the thought he’s going after my dog Buster’s toy too?
“You said my lady gets the Nylabone Dental Dinosaur, and you get the Hatchimals Hatchibabies.”
“Nah, dog. We traded when we were playing Dominos the other night. Remember?”
“We didn’t trade. You trying to punk me fool?”
As much as I despise gangs, I thought they were like super tight knit families. Not these two, unless you count dysfunctional families.
“Oh hell no,” they both say at the same time, tucking their pistols away and putting up their dukes.
The one slugs the other, sending his pistol sliding across the parking lot.
They’re so involved they don’t even seem to notice.
I dive for the pistol, and point it at them.
“Don’t move or I drop both of you pieces of trash. I’m leaving with the Hatchimals Hatchibabies and the Nylabone Dental Dinosaur and everything else. And if you two decide to try anything you’re leaving in body bags,” I snarl, foaming at the mouth at the thought these two deadbeats thought they could ruin my children’s, and my dog’s, Christmas, taking what’s theirs.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial 911.
Apparently the police were already on the scene, knowing malls are madhouses this time of year.
They get the two guys cuffed and tell me these guys are serious criminals, although they could have fooled me.
The best part is they’re here without the proper paperwork and are wanted on a laundry list of charges back in their home country. The U.S. Officials there have been working hard to curb L.A. Violence, which means after they’re shipped back home they will face lengthy prison sentences, and not just get a slap on the wrist and set free.
That’s the most important part, because it means they can’t come after me for revenge, not that they’ll remember what I look like or anything about me once they get inside that prison cell and have to spend all their brain power figuring out a way to stay alive.
Not me. The only creativity I need is coming up with more ways to excite my family each and every day and put smiles on their faces, and that requires almost no thought from me because it’s effortless. They like what I like and I like what they like.
We’re one in the same, forever. And at the end of they day, they’re mine and always will be. Mine, because this possessive doctor is forever and always in when it comes to my family...in love with them forever.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Madison
Christmas Day
Twenty-five more years later
“Grandma.”
“Yes, pumpkin,” I say to Holly, my five-year-old granddaughter who’s cuddled up underneath my right arm, while her twin sister Eve is cuddled up under my left, as we lie on an oversized beanbag together on Christmas morning.
“Why is grandpa holding those leaves over his head and moving his fingers like that?”
“Well, sweetie…he’s moving his fingers like that because he wants me to com
e over there and stand next to him.”
I pause as Austin’s eyebrow raises, shooting me a bit of a naughty look.
“And those leaves are actually mistletoe,” I add.
“Missile toes?” Eve says, joining our conversation.
I can’t help but smile. My grandkids are so doggone precious. I know every grandma must think that, but I really do think mine are the bee’s knees.
Possessive Doctor's Christmas: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Know What He Wants Book 89) Page 8