Two Little Elves by K.A Hobbs

“Two Little Elves”

 

a Kindred Series Extra

 

KA Hobbs

 

 

 

 

Carter

 

 

“I know it’s exciting, but we still have to sleep.” I chuckle at Mia.

“Carter,” Carm sighs. “You might have better success at putting her to bed if you take off the flashing santa hat.”

“But she likes it.” I grin, as Mia’s eyes go wide.

“Exactly, which is why she won’t go to sleep.”

“Does she really need to sleep?”

“Do you really need to sleep?” she arches her eyebrow at me.

“Yes I do, we have a busy day tomorrow.”

“Then there’s your answer.” she says, leaving the nursery.

I reach up and tug off the hat and throw it out of the nursery. Trying to look as stern as I can, I face my daughter and prepare for the screams.

“It’s bedtime now, Mia.” I tell her.

She looks at me, her eyes going wide, like she’s trying to work out what to do next.

Then she surprises me completely by laying down and hugging her bear to her.

“Good girl,” I croon. “You’re the best little girl in the world and Daddy loves you so much.”

She yawns, rubs her eyes and lets out a snuffly little, gasp like breath. I stand and watch as her eyelids flutter closed and she slowly falls asleep.

“You have magic powers.” Carmen whispers from the doorway.

“Well, it worked this time. Likely hood is, it won’t ever again.” I walk out of the babies room and pull the door to. “She’s tired out from all the fun with everyone today.”

“Then she’ll be exhausted tomorrow.” Carmen laughs softly.

We head downstairs and into the kitchen where dinner is sitting waiting to be devoured before a night of wrapping presents and watching Harry Potter.

I pour Carmen a glass of wine and grab a beer for myself, and join her at the table.

“Can you believe it’s Christmas? And not just Christmas, but our first Christmas with the babies?” she grins as she chinks her glass with my bottle.

“It doesn’t feel possible, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t. But it is, and I really can’t wait. I think your Mom is the most excited out of everyone though.”

“Mom is so excited, Jack text before I put the babies down, she was making more gingerbread men and cookies.”

“But she made loads today already.”

“I know, but she said we can’t possibly run out.”

“Are we mad having everyone over here for Christmas lunch? Should we just have gone out like Mum suggested?”

“No, here is better. The house is big enough, there e’s space for everyone and you can’t beat being at home for Christmas.”

“And you don’t think it will be too much? All the cooking and entertaining?”

“Carm, everyone will help with the cooking, you know Mom and your Mom will. And as for entertaining, we’ve got Harry, Josie and the babies, they will entertain us all.”

“You’re right. I just… I want it to be perfect.”

“And it will be.”

 

We finish dinner, clear away and head into the lounge with a hot chocolate and some of Mom’s cookies.

“The first one?”

“Of course the first one,” I roll my eyes. “I want to see Christmas in the Great Hall.”

While Carmen puts the movie on, I get the wrapping paper and remaining presents and lay them out by the coffee table.

“It’s fun, right?” she smiles, nodding to the pile of presents we need to wrap.

“Well, it’s a lot more fun when you have babies to buy for. Mom said they’ll be more excited by the wrapping paper than what’s inside.”

“Then please remind me why you keep adding to their pile?”

“Because I can… and don’t play innocent with me Mrs. Manning, you added three yesterday.”

“They were clothes though, they don’t count. They need those.”

“Whatever,” I roll my eyes. “Press play.”

“You’re getting a little demanding there, Manning. Wanna pipe down?”

“Sorry,” I grin. “Just excited. And tired. And excited.”

“You’re worse than a child.”

“I know, but it’s the night before Christmas Eve, Carm.”

“Ssssssh! It’s starting.”

I lean closer to her and sing the opening music in her ear. My warm breath on her neck makes her shiver and she moves away a little more.

I keep watching then lean right back in right before Dumbledore speaks.

“I should’ve know you’d be here… Professor McGonagall.”

I burst out laughing seconds before she does.

“You’re such a dork.” she chuckles, turning to face me.

“But I’m your dork, so it’s okay.”

She smiles, leans forward and places her hands either side of my face before leaning in to kiss me. “It really is.”

 

 

The next morning during breakfast, the door bell chimes, filling the house with the sound of The Ronettes Sleigh Ride.

Carmen continues feeding the babies their breakfast while I head to answer the door.

“Morning, Mom.” I grin as I open it.

“Good morning, darling boy. How are you?”

“A little sleepy, but excited. You okay?”

She steps in and removes her hat and boots. “I’m great sweetheart, I thought I could come and help get the last few bits sorted if Carmen would like me to?”

“I’m sure she’d love it. Jack awake?”

“Yes, he’s awake with Alice. He’s letting Josie sleep in.”

We walk into the kitchen and the sound of Mom’s voice has Mia flapping her hands and trying to peer around to see her Nana.

“Morning, Hillary.” Carmen beams.

This right here is one reason I love her. How many wives would be this happy to see their mother in-law at eight am on Christmas eve? I mean, okay, no one has a Mom like mine, but still.

“Good morning sweetheart.” Mom smiles, heading over to kiss her on the head.

“You’re here early.”

“I was awake, I think the jet lag… or maybe it’s just all this excitement, huh?” she beams, tickling Rueben under the chin.

“Coffee?” I ask.

“Yes please.” she nods.

“Where’s Dad?”

“He’s just getting showered, they’re going to the airport to pick up your sister and then he’s helping Jack with the groceries for tomorrow. Josie refuses to go to the store today. Says it will be utter madness.”

“Josie’s right,” Carmen laughs. “But I still have a few bits I need to get.”

“Can I help?” Mom asks.

“We could go together? I don’t really know what I’m doing and I’d like to make sure we have everything you’re used having for Christmas lunch as we as everything we have.”

“You worry too much, darling,” Mom smiles. “I could eat bread and water and I wouldn’t care, I’m with my Grandbabies and children. That’s all that matters.”

“I can’t believe Lex and Tyler couldn’t fly over sooner, what time does their flight get in?”

“In a couple of hours. Dad’s going to pick them up with your brother.”

“Jack’s going to behave isn’t he? With Tyler I mean.”

“Your brother is just looking out for her, but I’ve told him, Tyler put in a lot of effort with us before he went back for Alexis. He deserves to be welcomed, he’s who Alexis loves and wants to be with, so therefore, we love him too.”

“Exactly.” I agree.

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Carm says. “I’ve heard so much about him.”

“This is the first Christmas in a couple years that we’re all together.” I grin.

Mia must pick up on all the excited vibes, because she bangs her hands on the tray of her highchair and startles Rueben, who looks at his sister and then shrieks in delight too.

“Are you excited, baby boy?” Carm laughs.

“Of course he is, he knows he’s going to be spoilt!” Mom laughs.

“Not too spoilt I hope…” Carmen says.

“Of course not…” Mom smiles feigning innocence. “Just enough.”

 

 

*

 

 

Carmen

 

“Don’t let me go shopping on Christmas eve ever again.” I groan, stretching my arms above my head and bending down to touch my toes until I feel the satisfying pull at the back of my thighs.

“Chaos?”

“Of course, but your Mum is like, Superwoman, Carter.”

“Did she ninja out in the queue?”

“No,” I laugh. “She just managed to calm me down and get everything we needed without a hair on her head being misplaced or the slight raise in her voice when person after person had trolly rage at her.”

“She’s great huh?”

“She is, and now, thanks to her…” I smile, pointing to all the bags we have to unpack. “We’re ready for Christmas.”

“So tonight…”

“Yeah? Can you talk and unpack?”

“Sure I can.” he smiles, heading over to help me unpack the many bags we have on the kitchen counters.

“I think, what we should do is, I’ll bathe the babies while you chill out, tomorrow is going to be crazy. Then when they’re ready for bed, we can read the Christmas book Megs gave us and then when they’re in bed….”

“I’m liking the sound of this…”

“I’ll get dinner, something easy because we have a lot of people here tomorrow, and then… you and I make use of the giant ass tub we have that we hardly use together, and then…”

I step closer to my husband, wanting to show him how much I approve of his plans.

“We get an early night.” he grins.

“If by early night, you mean, I get to show you the underwear I bought especially for tonight in mind,” I whisper in his ear, enjoying the shudder that runs down his spine. “I’m in.”

“I didn’t know there was underwear.”

“That was kind of the point… a surprise.”

“Tell me about it, I’ll act surprised.” he groans, turning his head to capture my lips.

We’re halfway through a kiss that I can feel everywhere, I’m seconds from telling him, in explicit detail what it looks like and what I hope we’ll get up to later, when the unmistakable sound of Mia crying from the lounge where her and her brother are playing in their travel cot we set up in there.

We sag against each other, both a little breathless, our heads together and I smile.

“That’s the reality of being married with two children… shall I get them, or will you?”

“You unpack, I’ll get the munchkins.”

“Deal.” I smile, kissing him one last time.

He turns to leave the kitchen then stops, looking back. “Oh, and later?”

“Yes?”

“We’ll pick up right where we left off.”

We all have lunch together, then while the babies have their nap and Carter helps Jack, I decide to help calm the buzz of excitement in my stomach and get rid of some of my nerves at hosting Christmas for everyone by doing the one thing I know will calm me.

I dance.

I change into yoga pants and a t-shirt and close all the doors leading to upstairs. I find my iPod and scroll through until I find my warm up playlist that hasn’t been used for so long.

I stretch, over and over until I feel my limbs warm up, then I find the song I found a couple of days ago and put it on repeat.

It’s a Bruno Mars song, but an acoustic version.

I close my eyes and let my legs and arms take over, I don’t think, I just feel.

I can feel the song take root inside me, and as the song grows, so does the feeling of calm only being absolutely lost to the music brings.

I keep dancing, over and over until a routine is formed, and I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve listened to it.

When I’m desperate for a drink, I realise it’s got dark outside and the twins should be awake.

Suddenly starting to panic, I turn the music off and turn around, and I find the three of them, Carter, Mia and Rueben, sitting on the floor in the doorway watching me.

“Beautiful.” Carter smiles.

“How long have to been there?” I ask a little embarrassed.

“About fifteen minutes, they only just woke up, I’ve been back about half an hour, I wanted you to dance. You haven’t lately and I know it helps.”

“Are you still sleepy?” I ask the twins, taking in their flushed cheeks and hooded eyes.

“They were wide awake, I think watching Mommy soothes them.”

“I just felt like…”

“Like you needed it. It’s okay, Carm. You need to dance. Like I need to run.”

I lean over and kiss all three of them. “This is why I married you, you understand me.”

“And I married you because you can bend into some fantastic positions.” he teases.

“Daddy, behave yourself.” I growl.

“I will… if you promise to show me some of your… moves… later?”

 

 

* * *

 

I wake up first thing on Christmas morning to the calm and silence of a still fast asleep house.

It’s still dark and Carter is breathing peacefully next to me.

I turn and look at the clock, 5.25.

I know I should go back to sleep, that today is going to be a long and chaotic one, but the feeling in my stomach and my suddenly racing pulse tells me, I’m awake now, so I might as well make use of the time.

I climb out of bed, leaving Carter warm and welcoming, and creep into the hallway. I peer into the nursery and smile at my two sleeping miracles before heading downstairs.

I switch on the Christmas tree lights, and the lights that run along the fireplace. Next, I switch on the Christmas village light and head into the kitchen to switch on the lights on the tree we have in there.

Closing the door to keep from waking anyone up, I make myself a mug of coffee, take it over to the padded bench and sit, with the fairy lights twinkling at me, the rain splattering against the big patio doors and my coffee.

I tuck my feet up under me and reach for my phone, which is where I left it charging when I went to bed last night.

Last night.

A shiver runs up my spine remembering…

Carter’s kisses and his hands that fit like they were made just for my body.

My phone lights up in front of me with a message from Megs.

 

Megan: Happy Christmas beautiful. I hope today is everything you want it to be. Your first as a Mummy will forever be scored on your heart and will hold some of your most treasured memories. Take time to absorb it all, don’t stress if lunch is late, because no one will actually care. Remember we all love you so much, that we’re so proud of you. We’ll see you later tonight.

 

I smile at her message.

Of course she’s awake with two little ones, and of course she would think to send me a message.

 

Me: Thank you. Everyone is still asleep, I’m sitting in the kitchen trying to remind myself this isn’t a dream. That it’s real and it’s my life. I don’t know what I did you get so lucky. Can’t wait to see you later, Enjoy Christmas lunch… and the deliciousness that is your brother in-law