The living room was bright and airy, a few boxes stacked in a corner and a bookshelf half-assembled next to a box of overflowing books. “Right, welcome to our humble abode, I’m almost done with this room, your sun and stars, but you knew that,” she said brightly, gesturing wildly with her hands. She smelled nervous and hopeful, and there was something else that Mike couldn’t pinpoint yet. “Oh, and here’s Jaden.”
The boy giggled, walking up to Mike. “Hi. Are you marrying my mom?”
Sadie turned bright red. “Jaden, we talked about this—”
“There should be lollipops at the wedding,” Michaela announced suddenly.
“I like the green apple ones with caramel,” Jaden said, and then started rattling off a list of flavors while Michaela nodded in agreement.
“The kids seem to have it all figured out,” Mike said. “I think we should leave it all to them?”
“I always do.”
“Mom! Do we have any candy?!” Jaden asked, pulling on Sadie’ pant leg.
“Great, now they’re on a candy idea spiral,” Sadie said, throwing her hands up in the air.
Mike could definitely sympathize, Michaela on a sugar high– or getting stuck on wanting a type of sugar– could be relentless. Her favorite was currently lollipops, but who knew what she would get stuck on next. It looked like she and Jaden were going to get along fine, they’re already bonding over favorite candies.
“Lollipops!” they both say together, and then turn towards Mike and Sadie, wearing identical pleading expressions.
Oh no. Mike would like to say he was immune to his daughter’s cute, wide-eyed face she used to persuade him to do things, but now there was two of them, and Jaden somehow was matching the expression perfectly.
“We could get some when we get some groceries later,” Sadie said firmly. “If you two are good and help unpack your things.”
The kids squealed in delight, and then Jaden wanted to show Michaela the bedrooms, and they raced off, giggling and laughing together.
“Really.”
Sadie’ voice jolted Mike out of his thoughts. He had been watching Michaela with Jaden, thinking about all the times Michaela talked about her friends having brothers and sisters to play with. It was nice to see her having fun with a kid her age.
“What?” Mike said, turning towards Sadie.
“You’re really gonna make me the no-fun parent,” Sadie said, crossing her arms. “I mean, you gotta back me up here when we lay down the rules for our kids.”
Oh. The candy thing. It hadn’t even occurred to Mike to say anything after Sadie had made her statement to the kids, it sounded perfectly reasonable. Mike’s pretty sure he would have caved in and taken them out to go get a treat or something, but Sadie had the right idea. She needed to stand her ground, though. Mike was starting to get jittery. He really hoped they weren’t rushing things. Right.
“Look, Sadie,” Mike said, stumbling over the odd name. He stiffened his posture, wanting this to be clear. “I know that communication is key to getting us where we want to be. But you also have to remember to be patient. Patient with me and the kids…If we want this to last we have to be ready for obstacles, troubles and problems in addition to…everything else.”
Sadie looked unwaveringly back at him. “I know that Mike. I’ve been married before remember? But you’re right, we should have proper communication channels; maybe even set up specific times to check in with each other. I’m game if you are.”
“That sounds great,” Mike said gruffly. He was thinking about Michaela and how easily attached she got. It was one of the reasons he hadn’t dated anyone really; he couldn’t bear to introduce Michaela to someone, having her think they might be part of the family and it not working out on Mike’s part or something, and she’d never see them again. Michaela had bawled her eyes out when Audrina had explained that “Uncle Richard” wasn’t going to come around anymore after Audrina and he had broken up.
Sadie smiled brightly. “Right before we make any concrete plans, we should probably get some food in everyone. Nobody needs to be making decisions on an empty stomach. Plus you’ll need all your energy for unpacking.”
Mike blinked, surprised. “So uh, I take it you’re not having second thoughts?” he asked, hoping that her answer was no. The more he got to know her, the more he understood how lucky he was that she even gave him the time of day. The adoring and no-nonsense way in which she handled her son was just one more way in which she demonstrated what a competent woman she was; Mike didn’t even mind the challenging tone of voice Sadie took up when talking to him. It wasn’t difficult to imagine Sadie using that tone of voice somewhere else, smirking at him while she drew Mike into a kiss–
Mike coughed, shaking his head. It wouldn’t do to think about these things at all at this time.
“Hey, too late for second thoughts man. We’ve already made the leap. Now we just have to hope that the parachute opens.”
“Magnificent analogy,” Mike said dryly.
*****
Six-year-old Jaden Alexander wanted only three things for Christmas.
Santa’s fat belly jiggled as he huffed when Jaden pulled himself onto his lap, chubby legs flailing in the air precariously as he attempted to balance.
“Wow, you’re even fatter than Uncle Ben!” Jaden said, beaming with happiness. His Mama made a little tsking noise off to the side–like she did when he ate too many gingerbread cookies and got a belly ache–but Jaden was too excited to finally be close enough to tell Santa his three wishes.
Santa chuckled good naturedly and leaned forward enough for Jaden to tug on his beard. It wasn’t Jaden’s fault that his fingers were just itching to see if the long white hair was soft or not.
It wasn’t, but Jaden didn’t tell Santa that. He figured it would make Santa sad and Santa had a big job ahead of him and needed all his happy thoughts.
“What’s your name, little one?” Santa asked.
“Jaden Benjamin Alexander.”
Santa chuckled again. “That’s certainly a mouthful.”
Jaden was a little confused by that, but shrugged and launched right into his pitch.
“Santa, sir, I want you to know that I’ve been a good boy this year. My teacher Ms. Harris said I’m a rascal but she’s just being silly so don’t believe her! I always clean my room and put away my toys—okay except for that one time and I’m sorry that Lara stepped on Tommy my T-Rex but I said I was sorry and kissed her on her ear like Mama said to do and she stopped crying right away, promise!”
Jaden paused, realizing he was getting a little off track, but took a great heaving breath and continued on.
“But like I said, I’m a good boy and I help Mama make cookies and put the frosting on the gingerbread and Nana said that I’m a better helper then Papa was when he was my age, so I know that should mean something, right Santa? So that’s why I think I should get all three of my wishes.”
Santa’s cheeks were pink then and he was laughing a little bit, which Jaden thought was a good sign, so he kept on going.