Page 194 of Maple Mountain
It was an outline of the earth.My name was on one continent.Lenni’s was on the other.
“You and Wyn are my entire world,” Archer said through a strained throat.“As you get more brothers and sisters, I’ll add their names too.”
“Fuck a duck,” I blubbered.
“Wyn!”Lenni admonished through her own tears.
“Is it time for Wyn’s medley of Norwegian cookies?”Archer asked as he began buttoning his shirt.“I say we get a plateful and then watchA League of Their Own.”
“You don’t want to watchMiracle on 34thStreetorIt’s a Wonderful life?” I asked.
“Nah.”He smiled.“What fun is it to watch Christmas movies on Christmas?We have to start our own traditions, don’t you think?”
“Does that mean noDie Hard?”I asked.
“Woman, you wound me.”
We got a plate of cookies and all four of us piled onto the couch.Lenni fell asleep halfway through the movie.Archer picked her up and carried her to bed while I turned off the TV and put the cookies away.Mildred was outside when Archer came back downstairs.I let Mildred inside and then Archer took her upstairs to sleep with Lenni.
“This is the best Christmas Eve I’ve ever had,” he said.
“It’s about to get better,” I said, my voice tantalizing.
We fell into bed, but this time we went slow.Teasing and toying with each other.Him sliding into me and our eyes meeting.
I felt him everywhere, even deep down in my soul.
We came together in breathless pants and earnest, tacit promises.
“Okay, now it was perfect,” he said, sliding out of me and kissing his way down my body until he pressed a kiss to my belly.“I can’t wait to see you change, Wyn.I can’t wait to see what we’ve made together.”
I smiled and traced the curve of his jaw, the apple of his cheek.“I love you, Archer.”
“Love you too, Wynelope.”
We got up and I shoved a T-shirt between my legs and waddled my way to the bathroom, causing Archer to laugh.
“Not gonna lie though.I love seeing me drip out of you.”
I shivered.“God, if I wasn’t already pregnant ...”
He grinned.
We brushed our teeth, and he took out his contacts.I crawled back into bed, languid and sleepy.
“Oh damn, hang on a second,” I said.“I hid something in the sock drawer.”
“Hid what?”
“Your stocking stuffer gift,” I said with a grin.
“Why didn’t you put it in the stocking?”
“Because it would’ve made Lenni ask questions and I didn’t want to lie to her.”I opened the sock drawer, moved some pairs of socks around and pulled out what I’d hidden.
I climbed back into bed and gave it to him.
It was a handmade chart, with squares just big enough for the gold star stickers I’d bought.
