by Kat Mizera
“I want everything we do together to be magical,” he said, kissing the side of my face, my temple, and then the tip of my ear, sending goose bumps down one side of my body. “You and Gracie have become my world in a very short time, Margot.”
“You too.” I nestled deeper into his embrace, the words “I love you” on the tip of my tongue as I drifted off to sleep.
28
Tore
My mom called me the Sunday after Thanksgiving, a cheerfulness in her voice I hadn’t heard in a long time.
“Tell me everything,” I said as I played Candy Land with Gracie. Margot had gone to the store, so I was entertaining her but I was so tired of Candy Land. At some point, I was going to have to find something else she liked.
“I left John,” Mom said. “I’ve moved into one of those long-term hotels until I figure out where I want to go. I was going to wait until after the holidays but I couldn’t. I saw my lawyer on Monday and he said the sooner the better, so I’d been packing up my stuff a little at a time, taking it to my friend Jenna’s house, and after I saw you the other night, I packed up the last of my shit and left.”
“What did he say?” I asked, drawing a card and trying to focus on the color even though I was more interested in talking to my mom.
“Well, you know, he wasn’t happy, but he couldn’t stop me. He said I’ll be hearing from his lawyer, but that’s okay, he’s being served with the papers at work tomorrow.”
“Are you going to stay in Chicago?”
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “I can move anywhere with an airport since I’m on the road so much, but if I stay here, John is going to make a nuisance of himself.”
“You could, you know, come here. We have a big airport with tons of flights every day.”
“I could…” She hesitated. “I guess the problem is that I don’t want to get settled in Las Vegas to be close to you and then have you get traded.”
“But spending a year with us in the same city is way better than us just keeping on the way we are. And now you have two more reasons to be close to me.”
“Margot and Gracie.” There was a smile in her voice even though I couldn’t see it.
“Exactly.”
“Tore, we haven’t been close for a long time—emotionally or geographically. Are you sure you want me close enough to be in your business?”
“Well, you and I are both on the road a lot, so I can’t see how it would be a problem. And then we’d have holidays and everything… It would be great.”
“I have to talk to my boss and think about a few things,” she said. “But I’d really like that.”
“Tore!” Gracie’s indignant voice made me look down at the game board. “You’re not paying attention.”
My mother snorted on the line. “Oh, she’s a pistol.”
“You have no idea,” I murmured, moving my game piece.
“What if I came for Christmas?” she asked. “Are you around?”
“I’ll be home from around the twenty-third until the twenty-ninth, when we leave for Limaj.”
“Limaj?”
I told her about the New Year’s Day game.
“That sounds incredible. Maybe I’ll come too.”
“If you want to go, you and Margot and I can sort out the flight details. I don’t know if the flight she’s on is full but we’ll get you there.”
“All right. I’ll make a reservation to fly out to Vegas on the twenty-second or twenty-third, depending on availability.”
“You can stay with us if you like,” I suggested. “Gracie can sleep with Margot and me, and you can sleep in her room.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I’ll stay nearby at a hotel. Just let me know what’s close to you so I can be there first thing Christmas morning.”
I chuckled. “I’ll email you the closest hotels.”
“I love you, son.”
“I love you too.” I was just hanging up as Margot came in.
“Your mom?” she asked, putting two big shopping bags down.
I smiled. “I’ve almost talked her into moving here, but she’s coming for Christmas!” I paused. “Is that okay?”
She frowned. “Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know. It’s our first Christmas as a couple and I invited her without even talking to you.”
“It’s your mom. You don’t have to talk to me about family. Should we move Gracie to our room so she can stay with us?”
If I’d had any lingering doubts about our relationship, they were gone now. “She said no, so I’m going to send her a few hotel options that are nearby.”
She bit her lip. “Should we, um, you know, pick up the tab? It’s Christmas…”
“I’ll offer, but she travels something like two hundred days a year, so she has a zillion points to use for personal travel.”
“Oh, okay.”
“So, what’d you buy?” I asked, peering into the bags.
“Ingredients to make sugar cookies and new holiday-themed cookie cutters because the ones I’ve always used are Everly’s and I think we can afford to splurge on cookie cutters.”
“Uh, yeah.” I paused, still looking in the bags since there was more than sugar, flour and cookie cutters in them. “Anything good for dinner?”
“You’re grilling steaks,” she said, laughing. “And they’re already marinating. The rest is just snacks for Gracie, a few holiday surprises that shall not be discussed in front of little ears, and dessert for tonight.”
I groaned. “Your desserts are so good and I can’t eat too many during the season.”
“You’ll be fine,” she said, starting to put everything away. “What I’m making tonight is low-fat, low-sugar and high-protein.”
Did I mention I loved this woman?
I got out the flour and sugar and put them on the counter as she continued what she was doing.
“Do you see your OB this week?” I asked her.
“Thursday.” She grinned at me.
“I leave Thursday,” I said, “so you’ll have to call me and tell me how it goes.”
“It’s just a yearly exam and I’ll talk to her about the IUD. It should be no big deal other than cost.”
“Relax about the cost, would you?” I kissed her shoulder. “We put this in our budget. Now, we need to talk about something else budget-related.”
“Oh?” She glanced up.
I looked around to make sure Gracie wasn’t within earshot. “So, I know what I want to get Gracie for Christmas, but you’re not gonna like it.”
She gave me the same mom look she gave Gracie when she was doing something naughty. “Dude. Seriously? What?”
I opened my phone and showed her the link. As I expected, her mouth fell open and she started shaking her head.
“No way! No four-year-old needs a two-thousand-dollar dollhouse!”
“Need is a relative term,” I protested. “I mean, what else are we gonna get her? Clothes? Books she’s going to tear up? Games we’re going to have to play with her over and over and over?”
“Yes!” She met my gaze. “A two-hundred-dollar Barbie mansion or something, not this, this…” She sputtered, trying to come up with a description for the Victorian-style dollhouse on the screen of my phone.
“But this is my first Christmas as a dad,” I whispered, pulling her against me. “I want to spoil her. I can spoil her. We can afford it.”
“No, we can’t,” she said firmly.
“Oh, come on,” I cajoled. “I know I’ve been bad with money, but I make two million dollars a year. And I want to buy my new daughter a fancy dollhouse.”
“Next year,” she said. “She’ll still want dollhouses next year, and by then we should have more control of your debt.”
“Seriously?” I couldn’t help but scowl at her.
“You asked me to keep you on track,” she said softly. “You can’t have it both ways, where I help you get your finances in order but then you hold it a
gainst me when I stop you from doing the very things that got you into trouble in the first place.”
Shit. She was right, but I didn’t want to fight about money and I was going to buy Gracie that dollhouse. Somehow, I’d find a way to talk her into it. If I had to, I’d give up my whole “allowance” in January, because my new kid was going to get spoiled this Christmas.
“Fine,” I said, sliding one hand under her shirt and squeezing her breast. “And frankly, I’d rather fuck than talk about money and budgets.”
“You’re crazy,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“About you.”
“Keep it up,” she chuckled. “I like where this is going.”
“You’re going to like it a lot more when I bend you over the bed and fuck you into the middle of next week.”
She sighed happily. “Yes, I do believe you’re right.”
I felt a little guilty, but I ordered the dollhouse a few days later, shipping it to Ian’s house since we had nowhere to hide something that size, whether Margot knew about it or not. On Christmas Eve, I was going to have to put it together over there and then use Ian’s SUV to bring it here, after Gracie went to bed. And after I begged Margot to forgive me for essentially lying to her. I was so excited about it, though, and Margot would be too once she warmed up to the idea. I hoped so, anyway. The good news was that I could return the unopened box if she really had a fit.
“I’m going to buy her some clothes,” Margot told me when the subject of Christmas shopping came up again. “She’s a total girlie-girl so she likes clothes, even if you think they’re boring.”
“Let’s find a game she’ll want to play that isn’t Candy Land,” I said dryly. “I’m tempted to hide it and play dumb about where it is.”
She laughed. “She’ll whine and complain until either you buy her another or you cry uncle and get it out.”
“Damn kid.”
“What about you?” she asked. “What does one buy for a professional athlete who pretty much has it all?”
I was thoughtful. “Honestly, there isn’t anything I need. I have a great place to live, an awesome girlfriend, a new kid, and the car of my dreams. There isn’t a single thing I need. And I’d be happy to have no presents if I can buy Gracie that dollhouse.”
“Not happening, but even if we did buy it, you have to have something to open under the tree. I’ve always believed that children should see the joy on their parents’ faces too, to not just spread the cheer and magic of the holidays into adulthood, but to show that the universe doesn’t revolve around them. They’re certainly the priority, but not the only thing that matters. I hope it helps create a joy of giving in her, so she wants to spread the joy as well as receive it.”
I smiled. “Have I ever told you how amazing I think you are? You’re beautiful and sexy and smart, but also kind, compassionate, and a fantastic mom.”
She flushed a little. “Thank you. That might be the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“And I meant every word of it.” I wanted to say more, to tell her exactly how I felt, but she was already on my lap, kissing me within an inch of my life, and my dick automatically overrode my brain. I probably wouldn’t have any more rational thoughts for a couple of hours.
29
Margot
Tore left early Thursday morning and I got Gracie to school before heading to Renee’s. I was going to work until one and then head over to my OB-GYN appointment. Everly was picking up Gracie for me, so I’d have a few hours to myself, and then we were having dinner together at her house since the guys were gone. We were going to bake cookies tonight since it was something we’d done every year since college, and Gracie enjoyed it too.
“Do you have any idea what I could get Tore for Christmas?” I asked Renee as I sorted out receipts from her last book-signing event. “He said he doesn’t want anything, and we were talking about a weekend away during the All-Star break, but that’s him spending his money. I’d like to buy him something with my money. Meaningful but not expensive since I can’t afford it anyway.”
She was thoughtful. “You know, it’s hard with these guys. With the money they make, you can’t just find some item that’s going to make them happy. Tore is a video game guy, isn’t he?”
I nodded. “Yes, but he put away his Xbox. I don’t think he’s played since we moved in, and it’s not because of me. I take Gracie to Everly’s or sit up late doing edits for my two columns. He’s had opportunities, but he doesn’t seem to want to.”
“What about a guest pass to Club Inferno since you two are into that but membership isn’t part of your budget plans right now?”
I was thoughtful. That made me a little nervous, but also excited. I didn’t want to have another threesome now that we were in a committed relationship, but we could explore the dungeon together, right?
“And Jamie would probably give it to you for free, so it wouldn’t cost you anything but the underlying thoughtfulness of the gift is there. Something sexy and private for the two of you. The fact that Jamie is your friend and gives you the pass has nothing to do with the idea.”
“You know, you’re right.” I was warming up to the idea. Why couldn’t a couple in a strong, committed relationship get wild once in a while? “I’m going to text Jamie right now, so I don’t forget.”
Renee nodded. “Good idea.”
I pulled out my phone and sent him a message.
MARGOT: Hey! For Christmas, I want to buy Tore and me a guest pass for the club, the whole experience, dungeon and everything. How much?
JAMIE: You know I’m not charging you for a one-night guest pass. But for the whole experience, you have to do the physical exams and all that again. Rules are super strict for the dungeon, and even as part owner, I can’t override them.
MARGOT: No problem. Do I need to give you a date or just let you know when we want to come?
JAMIE: I’ll email you the forms your doctors need to fill out and once they’re done, just let me know when. The ones you got for Fantasy Night have expired.
MARGOT: Perfect. Thank you! And have a safe trip.
JAMIE: Thanks, doll!
MARGOT: And it’s a surprise!
JAMIE: Got it.
I put my phone away and grinned. “We’re all set. Now to figure out how to give him said gift so he has something to unwrap under the tree without Gracie knowing what it is.”
“Put it inside a book. Who’s his favorite player or idol? Do they have a book you could buy an autographed copy of?”
“His idol is Ken Lerner… Isn’t he Karl Martensson’s biological father?”
Renee nodded. “Yes! O. M. G., that’s perfect. I’m sure Karl can have him autograph anything you pick up. So you’re all set.”
“I don’t think Ken has a book, but I’m sure I can find a jersey or a puck or something else that’s special and have it autographed.”
“Framed picture, lots of options.”
We grinned at each other. “So what are you getting for Jared?”
She rolled her eyes. “He’s a huge pain in my ass in that regard. I adore the man, truly, but when it comes to gifts? I just want to throw some coal at him and call it a day. He has everything, hates everything he doesn’t have, and mostly just wants to spoil me. And while that’s nice and all, there’s an element of fun involved in exchanging gifts, and he really doesn’t let me have any.”
I nodded. “Tore and I just talked about that, about how it’s important for kids to see adults enjoying both giving and receiving, and that it’s not all about them.”
“I agree completely. Which brings us full circle to me not knowing what the hell I’m going to get him. I might get him a gift certificate to the Harley store so he can buy stuff for his motorcycle, but that’s lame.”
“A night at a sex club?” I suggested, wiggling my eyebrows.
She met my gaze directly. “That is actually a lovely idea and one that will blow his mind. I should text Jamie
before I forget.”
We both snickered.
I got to Dr. Diaz’s office early and started the lengthy process of filling out the forms. Their system had been down the last few days, so I hadn’t been able to do it online and now I sat in the waiting room with a clipboard, answering a million questions.
Never smoked.
Don’t do drugs.
One pregnancy.
One healthy birth.
No allergies.
No medications.
No health insurance.
Yes, I’m responsible for the bill.
Sigh.
I checked box after box, writing in a few things and finally taking it up to the front desk.
“If you could go urinate in a cup, please,” the woman said, handing me a small paper cup. “And write your name on the outside. Bathroom is through those doors and to the left. Once you’ve done that, we’ll handle payment.”
“Thanks.”
I followed instructions, did my business, and then handed her the debit card Tore had given me. I hated that this was costing so much money, but we wanted to stop using condoms and I didn’t want to get pregnant. Not to mention, it had been two years since my last gynecological exam.
Dr. Diaz was probably about fifty, with bright blue eyes and salt-and-pepper hair that was back in a ponytail. She had on sensible shoes and a lab coat, but her smile was infectious as she introduced herself.
“Hello, Margot. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
We chatted for a few minutes about random things. “If Renee DeSantos recommended you, am I correct in assuming you’re now part of the Sidewinders group of WAGs?”
I chuckled. “Yes. I live with Tore Brekken.”
“I’m honored to have so many of you in my care. So, tell me what I can do for you today. Just a yearly physical, Pap smear, and the like?”
“Yes, please. Tore and I want to stop using condoms, so I’d like to discuss an IUD as well, since birth control pills have historically made me nauseated.”
She nodded. “There are tons of low-dose pills we can try if you decide you don’t like the IUD, but I think an IUD is an excellent choice as long as you’re not planning to get pregnant any time soon.”