"Hey!" Mya laughingly exclaimed as she was bending over to see the cookie she was decorating better, Bobby bumping into her as he transported raw dough to the other side of the kitchen. "Masterpiece in progress here."
"Oh, I'm sorry, madam." He jokingly replied, slightly bowing, then continued on his way to the oven.
"Pay up." She said, waving her hand at him.
"Sorry for my blunders. Again." He said as he picked up a spoon, scooped up some dough, then handed her the spoon.
Smiling as she took the spoon, she smiled wider as she let the dough melt in her mouth. "Mmm, there's nothing like cookie dough at Christmas."
Sue smiled. "You know, you're not supposed to eat raw dough."
Pausing in her enjoyment, she glared at her. "Don't ruin my Christmas." She replied icily, then smiled back at her dough filled spoon. "Now, where was I?"
"You were eating enough dough to put you in a sugar coma." Josh replied.
"You're one to talk!" Mya exclaimed. "Don't think I don't see you munching on the cooked cookies!"
The couple chuckled at each other, staring across the kitchen counter at each other.
"Shouldn't you get back to your decorating work?" Bobby asked, breaking the stare.
"Yes, yes." She replied, looking back at her cookies. "Back to work we go!"
?-?
"And now," Jack announced a few hours later, setting down his fork after dinner, which was ham, Mya's traditional dinner. "My family's tradition." All afternoon, the group did the various traditions, but Jack's was last.
"What is it?" Mellody excitedly asked.
He smiled as everyone followed him to the common room and Christmas tree. "Every year," he started, sitting down on the couch, the kids anticipatedly sitting on the floor in front of him. "My parents would let me and my sister open one gift on Christmas Eve night."
"Just one?" Chris asked.
He chuckled in reply, then stole a glance at his wife, who was sitting next to him.
"Yes." He replied.
"But," she continued. "Since we can't have a traditional Christmas morning at home, we figured you wouldn't mind having two gifts tonight, then you can open the rest of the gifts when we get home. Sound good?"
"Yes! The two kids exclaimed, causing all the adults to laugh.
"OK!" Sue happily replied. "Gift number one!" She announced, both she and Jack picking up two small packages from each side of the couch and handing them to the kids, who happily tore through the paper.
"A new Barbie and outfit!" Mellody happily screamed, seeing what was inside. Chris was already tearing through the box to see his new mini car set, to which Jack reached down to help him open the packaging and set it up.
Once the kids calmed down from the toys, the couple got their attention for their next gifts. "Now," Sue started. "There's two more gifts, but you're going to have to share these."
"Aw, why?" Mellody complained.
She smiled at the girl. "I think you're going to like to share these." She said, picking up another small box from the side of the couch and handing it to her.
Tearing into the paper, she curiously looked at the gift, then at Sue.
"I was working on it on the flight here. It's a photo album." She explained as she watched the kids open it.
"It's Mama!" Chris exclaimed, pointing to the first photo, which was their mom holding a baby Mellody. Mellody nodded with wide eyes, slowly turning each page, seeing her and her brother's life over their short lives.
"After your mom died, the police found these photos in your apartment, and I figured I'd put them to good use." Sue explained, smiling widely.
"That's you guys!" Mellody exclaimed, looking up after she turned the page to see the first photo that they took together as a family.
"And there's blank pages." Chris added, turning more pages.
Sue nodded. "For the memories we'll make in the upcoming years."
Getting up from the floor, the girl hugged Sue. "Thank you." Letting go, she remembered that she couldn't hear, so she also signed her thanks.
"YOU WELCOME." She replied, tears in her eyes.
"And that leads to your last gift." Jack announced, bringing about a big manila envelope and handing it to Chris.
Frowning, the boy fumbled with the little metal latch, but eventually got it open and pulled out papers. "What is it?" He asked, not understanding a word.
"See that?" Jack asked, pointing to a specific area on the paper. "What is it?"
His frown lightened as he grew in understanding. "Our names."
"Very good!" Jack exclaimed. "Now Mellody, maybe you can help him here. What's this word?" He asked, pointing to another area on the paper.
Frowning, she tried to sound out the word. "Ad, adoo, ahdup, adoption!" She exclaimed in realization, anticipatedly looking from Sue to Jack to Sue again.
Jack nodded, widely smiling and maybe a tear or two in his own eyes. "These papers say that you guys are our official kids now."
"Really?" Chris asked
Sue nodded. "Really."
"Yay!" The kids happily exclaimed, jumping up to hug both of their official parents at the same time. Once everyone let go, the official family looked at each other.
"What now?" Mellody asked.
Jack shrugged. "We go on with our lives, being the best big, happy family that we can be!
"Yay!" The kids exclaimed, hugging them again.
Sue snuck glances at her husband as their kids were hugging them. "THANK YOU." She one handedly sighed. He nodded in reply.
?-? LISTEN TO: One In A Million By Tenille Townes
"Kids are in bed." Jack announced as he came back down to the common room after he set the kids up in bed. It took a while, since they were all hyped up from their gifts.
"Good." Sue replied, smiling as she patted the spot next to her on the couch.
"Did you see how suspiciously proud Bobby was when the kids were opening the adoption envelope?" She asked as he sat down.
He chuckled. "Yeah, I did." He replied, nodding.
"It makes me wonder if he had anything to do with it." She said, wrapping her arms around him. "You know, he did have that suspicious phone call to make."
Jack nodded. "You do know if he had anything to do with speeding up the process, he's never going to tell you, right?"
She nodded. "I know. I'm just grateful we were able to make their Christmas."
"ME-TOO." He signed, then the couple stayed silent, staring at the beautiful tree.
"I love Christmas lights." Sue quietly said.
"I know." He whispered, despite knowing she wasn't looking at him.
She turned towards him. "Do you think he knows?"
He nodded. "I think he knows and loves who you and your mom have become."
"Good." She replied, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Because this is the kind of Christmas I always imagined, but never thought I'd have."
"STUCK WHERE? NEBRASKA FOR CHRISTMAS?" He signed in her view.
"No, silly! Spending Christmas with a loving husband, two great kids, and best friends that are like family."
Jack nodded in reply. "That does sound good." He said to himself.
"Hmm?" She asked, lifting her head up because she felt him speak.
He shook his head. "Nothing." He replied. "Well, there is one thing."
"What?" Sue asked.
"This." He replied, then kissed his wife. Balking in surprise, she eased into the kiss under the beautiful Christmas lights. It might have been a wacky way to get here, but it had to be the best Christmas in the history of Christmases. Who knows what Christmas Day would bring, but who cares? This was all she needed, all she wanted; her one and only Christmas love.
THE END