I ignore Clay’s mother and father in the interim and lean up on my toes to position a kiss on Clay’s cheek. I’ve to say this earlier than I again out. “You, Caleb, and Chris must take the credit score for the best way I’m feeling in the present day. I don’t know the place I might be with out you all. It has been a protracted highway. A highway that I doubt we’ll ever come to the tip of, however collectively, life can be higher. Mother and Spencer, you retain coming again regardless that I’ve been insufferable to be round. Angela, you have got been a Godsend. The way you’ve put up with me and Caleb, I don’t know. This time final 12 months, I believed it was my final Christmas. Being right here with you all in the present day…” I wipe a tear away from my face. Caleb wraps his arms round my waist and leans his chin on my shoulder. “I really feel honored and blessed. I may not present it so much, however I do admire every thing you do for me.”

Angela holds her hand over Caleb’s resting on my tummy. “You’re value it, my expensive. Now, it’s Christmas. We’re going to have to start out doing issues in another way, as a result of subsequent 12 months we’ll have a child right here, they usually received’t wish to wait all day to open items. Let’s begin the day as we imply to go on.” She factors over her shoulder into the lounge and everybody other than Caleb and me transfer. I’m completely happy being in his arms.

“I’ve one thing for you, however I wish to give it to you now. Away from all of the eyes.”

I flip in his arms and he reaches over onto the worktop and lifts a present bag. He fingers it over to me. “Merry Christmas, babe.”

I take out the black field and open it fastidiously. I’m nervous, and I don’t know why.

“It’s lovely.” I finger the Pandora bracelet and all of the totally different charms that encompass it. “Thanks, Caleb.”

“I believed we might add to it yearly, however every allure means one thing to you or us. The child’s boots, the guardian angel, the dove, the love coronary heart… and the household tree.”

I lean up on my toes and throw my arms round his neck. I sob into him and he rubs my again soothingly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t imply to make you cry.”

“They’re h-happy tears,” I sob.

“I can promise you that I’ll spend each minute making you content.”

“You already do.”

Caleb takes my hand and helps me to lock the bracelet on my wrist. I maintain it near my coronary heart and switch to see the remainder of our households are watching us. My mother and Angela have tears operating down their faces.

“Come on, guys. That is Christmas. Can we cease with the tears?” says my brother teasingly.

Caleb and I be a part of our households within the household room handy out items. I watch everybody laughing and joking and this second is priceless. It’s one of the best Christmas current ever.

Caleb fingers me one other present bag and I take it from him. I open it up and see the cardboard that claims – To our bump. I really feel the tears choke me, however I don’t wish to be emotional all day.Contained in the bag is probably the most lovely mint inexperienced multi functional sleep swimsuit and booties. I maintain it over my tummy and smile.

“I find it irresistible. It’s formally the child’s first outfit.”

And I’m completely happy that it was Caleb who purchased the primary merchandise. It means every thing to me.

I put the outfit again within the bag and place it down on the bottom. I take Caleb’s hand and stroll us out of the room away from everybody.

“Babe, are you okay?”

I don’t say something. I simply lead him to my room. I deliberate on giving him his current earlier than everybody arrived, however I used to be somewhat too gradual on the uptake.

“I’ve one thing for you.”

“You didn’t must get me something. Having you right here is one of the best current ever.”

“Ditto, however I wished to do that. It isn’t a lot, however I’ve seen you want your artwork and images on the wall. I believed this may make a superb addition.”

I pull out a big wrapped body from my closet and sit down on the mattress. My again is starting to ache from the load of the child.

Caleb seems to be at me earlier than he opens his present. His smile is contagious, and out of the blue, I’m questioning if I’ve executed the proper factor.

“When… How?”

I take my purse off my mattress and pull out an image of Caleb and me from once we have been sixteen years previous. We have been sitting on the financial institution at his mother and father’ cabin, laughing at one thing.

“Clay took that picture and gave it to me earlier than I left for Africa that summer time. I by no means let it out of my sight as soon as. After I got here again right here, particularly once you have been staying with Clay, I checked out each print in your partitions. It was calming. Clay walked in in the future after I was crying over shedding this picture after I was taken. In fact he remembered it, and the following day he introduced me a duplicate. I informed him that I wished it painted. He mentioned he knew somebody… and right here we’re.”

“It’s lovely. And I keep in mind that day, however I can’t bear in mind what we have been laughing about at that second, are you able to?”

Supply: www.seynovel.com