“It’s work, and you have to make sure the tree has water. They can be dangerous otherwise.” I followed him into the kitchen for a kiss. “Gram might change her mind this year.” We decided to surprise her with a pet for Christmas. She kept talking about her friend that had two cats that always sat on her lap, fighting for space.
We planned to get her an older cat from the local shelter. We’d been a couple of times, and there was a sweet, calm female white cat that the staff promised would be perfect for Gram. She’d come from a similar home when the owner tragically passed away with no local family or friends around to take her.
“I doubt that. She’s dead set on real trees. She’ll just call if it needs to be put back up.” He chuckled as I paused, realizing how right he was.
“Fuck me. You’re right. I’m asking Jackson to move out here again,” I groaned as Hayden smiled.
“The girls talk to Amy a lot. It wouldn’t surprise me if she convinced him to do just that. They could get the fourth apartment in the building.”
“Wouldn’t that be something?” I asked as he pulled me close. The girls talked to Amy more than they did to Vivian these days. Everything that happened soured that relationship, and while a baby was involved and missing out on good people, the responsibility fell on Vivian.
“A family building. Jackson can work here, right?” Hayden asked, and I considered my answer.
“He owns a company there, and I think Amy works at a lawyer’s office as a paralegal. I guess he could see or have someone manage it. He makes a fucking fortune and could live a relaxed life here. Not like that’s his style, though. Jackson would still be involved with the company.” I laughed, and Hayden nodded in agreement. “They’re coming for a week at Christmas. Maybe we can chat with him about it.”
We compromised on the trees, getting three at the two-week mark. I thought they might be good through the new year, or at least I hoped so. We got three all at once, including one for the girls. I spent more time setting up Gram’s tree since she needed the most help. Once hers was finished and covered with years of family ornaments, the girls and Hayden decided on decorating nights for the other two trees.
They both worked nights, so I set the trees up with water for the time being. We planned to make dinner and to decorate in one night they had free if possible, so it gave everyone a chance to buy some ornaments. They didn’t have the past that I did, making me realize that they were all starting a new tradition.
I shopped a lot for Hayden and Gram, but I bought gifts for the girls as well. They were a big part of my life now, and I felt like I had two sisters. I’d been close to girls before, but with Hayden, it felt like a family forming before my eyes.
I complained about the demands, but we all knew they were done out of love.
Gram came to the dinner and decorating festivities, giving us each an ornament to place on our tree. They were all personal to us and celebrated our first holidays together. I hugged her, telling her that I loved her and kissing her cheek. The others did the same, only with tears. She also baked an apple pie for dessert.
We all worked hard to make sure we could enjoy the holiday. I got all of my jobs done, thankful that many podcasts took the holidays off. Hayden chose to perform in the play as well as his normal shift, but he took a small part in it. He wanted to help with the set as well as be a part of the play. The theater was closed for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, as well as Mari’s gallery. She and Becca were planning a lot of fun activities for Amy when they arrived two days before Christmas. Jackson and Amy wanted to see the play on its last night with Gram.
I sat in the audience, realizing that it wasn’t that long ago that I saw Hayden here for the first time. I knew that he was something special the moment our eyes met, making me smile when he came on the stage in a group. He was a backup dancer and singer that also had a few lines of his own. I loved this man more than I ever loved anyone.
We went to the diner to eat when the play was over, and Hayden met some fans. He beamed when everyone told him that he was a natural up there, as well as how much they loved the play. We enjoyed our late meal, getting Gram home to bed as soon as we finished. Jackson and Amy joined us in my apartment for some beers, sitting on the couch with Becca and Mari. We caught up, laughing as they told us stories from Florida about their jobs.
Amy gushed over our tree as she had with Gram’s tree. I could tell that she loved the holidays from both times I met her, knowing that it was perfect for Jackson. We were raised by Gram to value them and the family time that came with it.
She stayed with the girls, with Jackson deciding to join them. They changed into pajamas and set the alarm to be up for Gram, but they wanted to continue to hangout while we went to bed. Hayden was starting to come down from his adrenaline of the play, needing his sleep once we made love. We all had the following day off since it was Christmas Eve, but Gram cooked an early dinner for family and friends. It was more casual than her Christmas meal but still very important to her. We spent the day baking cookies with her for the evening, and Gram made her famous eggnog to go with the dessert. Several of her active friends stopped by with gifts for her and more desserts, filling the apartment with laughter and love.
Hayden and Becca took it in with awe in their eyes. Mari had family in California that she was relatively close to, and this wasn’t her first holiday. She just needed to be with Becca in her element this year.
It was late when everyone left. Gram had a huge smile on her face as we cleaned up for her, grinning across the kitchen at each other. When we finished, Jackson pulled Amy to the tree for a gift he wanted her to open. Gram still celebrated Christmas morning the same as she had when we were kids with our help, but we opened some gifts the night before.
“What is it?” Amy asked with a curious look in our direction. He reached behind the tree, pulling something off before dropping to his knee on the hardwood floor. Amy gasped, and we all stared as Jackson presented one of the best proposals I’d ever seen. He told her how much she meant to him, asking her to be his forever before she dropped into his arms, sobbing her yes. He slipped the ring that he hung on the tree upon their arrival, and we hugged them as Amy kept crying.
It gave me ideas that I held in as we made our way home.
The following day started with breakfast and gifts. We brought our gifts over from the night before, as well as Becca and Mari. Gifts surrounded the colorful tree, and several photos were taken of it. I was all too aware that Gram was getting older, and this wasn’t always going to be part of the holiday.
We opened presents as a group. There were thoughtful gifts for everyone, including Kindles for the girls from me. I bought a new laptop for Hayden. I bought Gram a beautiful electric kettle for her tea as well as framing some photos taken on Thanksgiving of all of us. She cried as she looked at them since the frames included one of my grandfather, and her with Jackson and me in a picture from a few years ago.
We all pitched in to make breakfast together, joined by some friends that brought their contributions to the meal. It was crowded but fun with chatter and laughter filling the room. Amy showed them all the platinum band set with small diamonds and a good-sized solitaire that was perfect for her small frame.
After breakfast, we started dinner and welcomed the people that dropped by. That meal consisted of turkey and prime rib along with several sides and desserts. Everyone gathered together, opening more gifts, and going between apartments for conversation and tours.