Chapter 30
When Gary and Kaitlyn awoke on Christmas morning, it was to the girls jumping on the bed.
"Mommy, Daddy, get up Santa was here." Jessica screamed. "Grandpa Bernie and Grandma Lois are already downstairs and Uncle Chuck is here.
Gary opened one eye and rolled over to look at the clock. It was 6:45. "All right, we're coming." Gary said as the girls ran back downstairs.
"What is Chuck doing here so early?" Kaitlyn asked as she rolled over into his arms.
"He's delivering a present." Gary said.
"What present?" Kaitlyn asked.
"You'll see. Just promise me you're not going to be mad." He said as he kissed the top of her head.
"I don't know if I like the sound of that." She said as she watched Gary crawl out of bed and put on his robe.
"It's something that we talked about." Gary said. He picked up Kaitlyn's robe and helped her put it on.
"Did you get a dog?" Kaitlyn asked. When he didn't answer her she said, "Gary?"
"Sort of." Gary swallowed hard then headed for the door.
When they got downstairs the girls had already started to tear into their packages. Chuck stood in the doorway to the living room and laughed as Bernie encouraged the girls' antics. When Gary walked up beside Chuck, Chuck slapped his chest with the paper.
"I believe that belongs to you." He said.
"You didn't look at it did you?" Gary asked.
"Why would I want to look at that thing?" Chuck asked innocently.
"Chuck!" Gary said.
"No. I didn't look at it." He said then turned and saw Kaitlyn. "Merry Christmas Mrs. Hobson. I thought maybe you would get lucky and Santa's elves would carry him away." He joked as he looked at Gary, who shot him an annoyed look.
"Chuck, why don't you head home to your wife." Gary said as he started to look through the paper.
"Gary!" Kaitlyn said in a reprimanding tone. "Merry Christmas, Chuck." She said as she kissed his cheek. "Where is Mom?" She asked.
"She's in the kitchen fixing coffee." Bernie said as he continued to watch the girls.
"Chuck you want to stay for breakfast?" Kaitlyn asked.
"No. I better get home before Jade wakes up." He smiled and turned to Gary whispering in his ear. "Delivery is downstairs."
"Thanks, Chuck." Gary said as he nodded.
"Don't blame me, it was all his idea." Chuck said to Kaitlyn. "Merry Christmas everybody!" He yelled as he headed out the door.
When Gary looked up from the paper, he saw Kaitlyn staring at him with her arms crossed. He smiled.
"Looks like Santa gave me a Christmas present. I got the day off." Gary said as he closed the paper. Kaitlyn just looked at him and walked into the living room.
After the girls were finished opening their gifts. Gary got up and said, "You two have one more gift." He started to head out of the room.
"Need some help son?" Bernie asked.
"No, I got it." Gary said.
While the cat lay curled up in Kaitlyn's lap, Lois looked at her and shrugged her shoulders. He returned a few minutes later carrying a basket, which he was trying to keep two golden retriever puppies from jumping out of.
"Puppies!" Jessica and Casey screamed as they ran towards Gary. Gary smiled and set the basket on the floor. Each of the girls reached in and picked up a puppy.
"Mommy look!" Casey screamed. "Two puppies."
Gary walked over and sat down next to Kaitlyn. The cat hissed at him. Gary gave him an annoyed look.
"You couldn't just get one, you had to go for two." Kaitlyn whispered to him.
"Well, I couldn't decide between the male and the female, and they were the only two left. I didn't want to separate them, so I got them both." He said cautiously. "How long am I going to be in the doghouse for this?" Gary asked.
"Oh, you're in the doghouse all right. Literally." Kaitlyn said. Gary gave her a remorseful look. "I hate it that I can't be mad at you for more than five minutes." She said. Then smiled and reached over and kissed him.
"So, what are we going to name these puppies?" Bernie asked. "Casey, you're holding the boy, what do you want to name him?"
"Buster." Casey said as she looked at him.
"Good name." Bernie said.
"What about you Jess?" He asked.
"How, about Daisy." She said.
"Well, I think we got names." Bernie said. "Buster and Daisy."
"Thanks Daddy." Jessica said as she came over and hugged Gary.
"Yeah, Daddy, thanks." Casey said as she followed her sisters' example and hugged him.
"Merry Christmas, girls." Gary said. He turned to Kaitlyn, and leaned in and kissed her. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." She smiled.