This Christmas 2

 

Rosie hadn't expected to spend Christmas Eve dinner with Chance and his family. She even met Jory and Poppy along with Chance's brother Torry. She looked around thinking this would be her family ..if she and Chance got married.

Although, it felt like a long way away, and yet it didn't. With the world so topsy turvy she wanted it to happen sooner. 

"You're just thinking that way because your dad was a no show," Chance said he hated to break it to her, but she did have family.

"I know," she hated to be a bummer, but her aunt was not her real family just by marriage. Christmas time was always a trying time for Rosie, but she hoped Chance hadn't noticed.

He gave her a necklace with a little gold star. He really was the best. She knew he tried hard and she did attempt to crochet him a scarf but ended up just buying one along with a bag of goodies of body wash and lotion for him. He'd given her something similar, along with a journal and sketchpad and art supplies. 

Yes, she'd had a good Christmas and was glad to be with him. She'd hoped her Dad would call, but at least there was no bad news so she was thankful for this.

"I'm going to find every positive quote I can to fill in this journal," she told him. He'd put his recipe for the microwave cookie and even a recipe for soft-serve ice cream. Yes, he did know all the things she liked. He was a good friend she could tell him everything too. Rosie was hopeful the new year would have plenty to look forward to.

It was good to know his family. And she knew the family she lived with loved her too. They were excited to see her when she got home and of course, they made Christmas morning full of fun and laughter.

Ivy only got to see Jay without a mask for what felt like a second or two. She wanted to talk, but the baby was coming and she was after all a Christmas baby. It was like a nightmare that turned into a dream and then she felt certain when she awoke he wouldn't be there, but he was. Although, Jay was a much quieter version than she knew. 

It made her sad, but she only hugged him that much harder, hoping he knew how much she'd missed him.

"Really, I didn't know if I would ever see you again," she didn't tell him how she'd thought about him over the summer when she was on her own adventure without him. She'd thought the worst but somehow kept going because it was the least she could do. "You know, I'll go wherever you go."

Of course, they ended up back at her mother's again, but it was the three of them in Ivy's old room. And now they had Hope, it was something they agreed on. As if she was the future they needed. Somehow, it felt different being a mother this time. There was a certain importance she hadn't been aware of back then.

Oh, she'd been a renegade. Perhaps even a princess, wanting her mother to wait on her all the time. She knew she'd asked so much of Brian back then. But now, it was like looking at a new beginning. She was thankful to be here with Jay and she could tell by the way he looked at her and the baby he was glad he'd let himself come home, too.