A Little Christmas Cheer

by Roberts, Laylah

  “You take great care of me, Daddy,” she argued. “It’s not like I’m really sick.”

  “No?”

  “I’m just tired all the time. It’s weird. I’ve even been taking naps. Voluntarily.” That never happened.

  “You’re seeing Doc. We’ll have him run some tests on you. And you are going to do exactly as he says.” He gave her a firm look.

  She pouted as he set her on the couch and stood, walking over to the counter to grab his phone. He tapped out a message.

  “This really sucks.”

  “What sucks is knowing that the woman you love more than anything, who you’d be lost without, has been keeping things about her health from you. I know I’ve been busy, Abby. But I am never too busy for you. You are always my priority, understand?” He crouched down in front of her.

  “I know. I’m sorry.”

  His phone buzzed and he glanced down at it. “Come on, Doc said to come over now. Let’s get you bundled up and into the truck.”

  * * *

  Kent kept glancing over at her worriedly as he drove them to Doc’s clinic. Sure, they could have walked but he didn’t want her slipping in the snow. Or getting a chill. How had he not noticed how bad she was feeling? She was quieter than usual, but he thought she was just catching up on rest after the wedding. But this fatigue had gone on too long now.

  He should have damn well insisted that she get a check-up.

  Pulling up outside Doc, Archer, and Caley’s cabin, he looked over at the strange truck sitting next to his.

  “Oh no, they’ve got visitors maybe we should come back later,” Abby said with a hopeful look.

  He shot her a look. “Nice try, Abby. Wait there.”

  He climbed out and walked around to open her door. Then he took her out of the special booster seat that he’d had made for her. Lifting her down, he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close as they made their way to the door that led to Doc’s clinic. They’d built an extension to his cabin so that Doc, his brother Archer and their girlfriend Caley, could all have room to work.

  Kent opened the door and ushered Abby in.

  “I’m in here,” Doc called out from his exam room.

  Kent drew off Abby’s coat, scarf, and gloves, leaving them on a chair in the small waiting room. The door that led to the house was open and they could hear voices drifting through along with the sound of laughter.

  Taking Abby’s hand, he led her into Doc’s examination room shutting the door behind him.

  “Sorry to interrupt your afternoon, Doc,” Abby said. “We didn’t mean to pull you away from your visitors.”

  “Not my visitors. They’re Archer’s,” Doc replied gruffly.

  “Still, we can do this another time,” Abby said.

  Doc, who was sitting at his desk, looked up and gave her a firm look. “Trying to put this off, Abby?”

  Abby bit her lip. “Just don’t want to pull you away from anything important.”

  “You’re not. Sit.” Doc pointed at the chairs in front of them.

  Kent rolled his eyes at the other man’s bossiness. But he led Abby over, sitting and pulling her onto his lap. She tensed slightly but Doc didn’t even blink. Instead, he got started asking Abby a number of questions.

  What if she was really ill?

  What would he do?

  6

  Clint and Charlie

  8th December

  “Okay, watch your step. That’s it. Here you are. Good, good, that’s right. Walk this way and stop.”

  Excitement filled Charlie. They’d gotten home a few hours ago and Clint had just woken her up from a nap, bundled her up in some cold weather clothes then placed a blindfold over her face before leading her outside. He had to direct her as she walked down the steps of the porch. She heard a horse nicker.

  “Did you buy me a horsie?” she asked. Her Little side was fully out. Whoops. She wondered if there was anyone else around.

  “Nope. I didn’t buy you a horse.”

  Hmm. What could it be then? She bounced up and down on her feet. This was killing her.

  “Right. I’m going to take off your blindfold on the count of three. One. Two. Three!”

  The blindfold was lifted and she blinked in shock. Then a squeal erupted out of her and she clapped her hands. “A sleigh! Oh my gosh! This is amazing, Daddy!”

  Clint grinned, looking satisfied with himself. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. “How did you even manage this? Where did you get it from?”

  The sleigh wasn’t huge. Just big enough for two people to sit comfortably. It was white with a red garland painted along the side. Two of the ranch’s horses were already set up to lead it.

  “I ordered it about six months ago. They custom-made it for us and delivered it to us while we were away. That was the other reason that I took you away for the night. So it could be delivered without you seeing it.”

  “You’re so sneaky, Daddy,” she said with admiration.

  Clint just grinned. “So, want to go for a ride?”

  “Ooh yes. This is so exciting.”

  A couple of blankets lay on the seat of the sleigh. He picked them up then helped her sit, tucking them around her like she was something precious. He always treated her that way. Like she could break. Like she was so special that she needed tender care.

  He sat next to her and then they were off. She let out a cry of happiness as they seemed to fly along the snow, the horses pulling the sleigh easily. Clint led them out to an open area. She waved at a few hands that called out greetings.

  “Oh everyone is going to be so excited when they find out we have an actual sleigh,” she told him as they glided along.

  “So you like your surprise?” he asked as he brought them to a stop. She looked around in wonder. This place was so magical. Even though she’d lived here for a while now, she never got over how beautiful it was. Especially now, with snow everywhere.

  “I love it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for my gift, Daddy.”

  “You’re welcome, little darling.”

  He took them home, and made her sit on a hay bale with a rug around her while he put the horses back in their stalls. The sleigh had already been pushed back into another section of the barn. When he was finished, he came back and got her. She stood, looking at him strangely as he turned and crouched.

  “What’re you doing?”

  “Offering a piggy-back ride, what’s it look like?”

  She giggled. A piggy-back ride? She hadn’t had one of those in years. But she climbed onto his back, leaving the blanket behind as he hoisted her high.

  “I’m getting all sorts of rides tonight,” she stated as he carried her out of the barn.

  “Got one more ride to go. If you know what I mean.”

  She rolled her eyes, hard to miss that innuendo. She sighed as she leaned into his back. Resting her face against the cool surface of his coat.

  Clint climbed the stairs to the porch then opened the door and walked them into the mudroom. He set her down carefully on the bench. After he’d divested them both of their outerwear and boots, he picked her back up, this time she was pressed to his front.

  Her nipples hardened as they brushed against his chest. “Thank you, Daddy. That was stupendous.”

  “Stupendous, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, stick with me, little darling. Because the fun has just begun. I’ve got something even more stupendous up my sleeve.”

  “Up your sleeve? Or down your pants?” He wasn’t the only one who could pull out those lines.

  He paused at the top of the stairs and laughed. “Stupendous, huh? I’m glad you think so. Although that wasn’t what I was talking about.”

  He carried her through their bedroom and into the bathroom. She gasped at the sight of the bath. There were rose petals in the steaming water. A bottle of champagne was chilling in an ice bucket. And next to it on a small table was a box of expensive ch
ocolates.

  “How did you do all this?”

  “I had a bit of help.” He set her down on her feet and started undressing her.

  “Who? Ellie?” she guessed.

  “Yep,” he replied.

  She grinned. “I can’t believe you did all of this. It’s not our honeymoon anymore.”

  He had them both naked by now. The man didn’t waste any time.

  “Every day I’m with you is my honeymoon, Mrs. Jensen,” he told her.

  Tears welled in her eyes. “Ditto, Mr. Jensen.”

  7

  Abby and Kent

  8th December

  Abby stared down at the test in a state of shock.

  Were two stripes positive? That couldn’t be right, could it? She felt numb. As though she was standing out of her body, looking on. A knock on the door shocked her out of her stupor.

  “Abby? You okay, baby?” Kent asked through the door.

  What would he say? Would he be happy? They’d talked about kids, but in the future. She wasn’t sure how this happened. Had she missed a pill? Screwed up? Would he blame her?

  Big breaths, Abby. Of course he won’t blame you. This is Kent.

  “Abby?” Doc called out. “Do you need us to come in?”

  There was some quiet talking on the other side of the door and she knew she had to get out there quickly before they broke in. She opened the door and shoved the pregnancy test at Doc, not daring to look at Kent.

  “It’s got two stripes. What does two stripes mean?” she asked.

  Doc’s smile widened into a grin. Something you didn’t often see from the grouchy physician.

  “It means, congratulations, you’re about to become a mommy.”

  Yep. Just as she’d thought. She tensed, waited for Kent to say something. But there was silence and when she turned, she saw him standing there, staring down at the test.

  “Congrats, man, you’re gonna be a dad.” Doc stared at Kent intently.

  She did the same. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Maybe he wasn’t happy.

  “Kent? Are you okay? I don’t even know how this happened. I don’t remember missing any of my pills. There were a few days around the wedding where I forgot to take it in the morning, but I took it that night. That can’t do it, right?” she asked Doc.

  Doc was still frowning at Kent. But he quickly turned to her. “It can make it less effective, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh no. Kent, I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t get upset, Abby,” Doc told her soothingly. “Nobody is blaming you. Kent, snap out of it, man.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she turned her face away from Kent. He was upset. He blamed her. What was she going to do to make this right?

  A loud thumping noise made her jump and she turned back to find him on the floor.

  “Fuck!” Doc swore. He crouched down and placed his fingers over Kent’s pulse.

  “Is he okay? What happened?” She crouched beside him, taking his hand in hers, her breath coming in fast pants. Fear flooded her. Was he okay? Was he breathing? “Doc?”

  Had he concussed himself? But what would have caused him to faint in the first place?

  “Doc? Is he all right?” she asked frantically.

  “Oh yeah, he’s fine.” To her shock, Doc grinned. Then he let out a laugh. “Damn, wait until I tell everyone about this. He’s never gonna live it down.”

  “Doc!” she said, shocked by attitude. “He’s unconscious. Shouldn’t you be checking him over? Do we need an ambulance? What’s wrong with him?”

  “He fainted.”

  Kent let out a small moan, almost as though in agreement.

  “He fainted? What do you mean, he fainted? Why would he faint? Is he ill?” she asked.

  “Nope. I don’t believe so. I think what we have here is a case of NDO.”

  “NDO? What’s that?” She hoped it wasn’t contagious. She guessed it wasn’t anything too bad if Doc was acting like this.

  “New Daddy Overload.”

  Kent groaned again and opened his eyes, looking up at him. “What’s going on? Abby? You okay? You look pale, baby.” He turned his head to Doc then frowned. “Okay, this is gonna sound weird but what is Doc doing in our bed?”

  “Sorry, man, I just ain’t got those feelings towards your ugly mug,” Doc said gleefully. “And you’re not in bed, you’re on the floor of my clinic.”

  She sent Doc a chiding look. He could at least pretend to feel some concern.

  “The floor of your clinic. What the hell . . .” Kent trailed off as something seemed to occur to him. “Abby? Are you well?”

  He sat up and reached for his head. “Shit. You need to put carpet or a rug in here. That floor is hard. Abby? You okay? Baby, you’re shaking.”

  He gathered her against his chest as Doc turned a concerned look to her.

  “Shit.” Doc reached out and took her wrist in his hand, taking her pulse. “Her pulse is a bit fast. Abby, he’s okay. There’s no need to get upset. He’s fine. He just fainted.”

  “Faint? I fainted. Why would I faint?” Kent demanded.

  Doc didn’t answer and Abby didn’t know if it was a good idea to remind him about the news they’d just had. What was to say he wouldn’t faint again?

  “Abby, do you feel light-headed?” Doc asked.

  “No. I’m fine. It’s Kent we should worry about. He’s the one who fainted.”

  “I seriously fainted?” Kent asked.

  Doc patted his back. “Don’t feel too bad, I’m sure lots of men in your situation faint.” His eyes twinkled as he looked over at Abby. Standing, he moved towards the door. “Gonna give the two of you five minutes. We need to talk about a few things before you leave.”

  Then he was gone, leaving her sitting on Kent’s lap on the floor.

  “Baby, what’s going on? Last thing I remember is waiting for you outside the bathroom door. You were taking a pregnancy test and . . . oh shit.”

  His eyes widened as he stared down at her. She grew tense, worried.

  “We’re pregnant.”

  She nodded.

  “We’re having a baby.”

  She nodded again.

  “And I fainted? Shit. Doc’s gonna enjoy spreading that around.”

  “He won’t tell people that we’re having a baby, will he?” she asked.

  “No, of course not. That’s our job. Look at me.”

  She kept her gaze on her hands, which were clenched together.

  “Abby, look at me.” His voice grew firm and she raised her eyes to his. “Hey, what’s wrong, sweet girl?” He ran a finger down her cheek. “Are you not happy about this?”

  “I’m so sorry,” she blurted out. “I missed taking the pill for a few days just before the wedding. I mean, I forgot and then took it later in the day and thought that was okay, but Doc said that can stop it from working as effectively but I didn’t realize that so it’s my fault.”

  “Whoa, whoa, take a breath. It’s all right. Calm down. Nice deep slow breaths. In. Out. In. Out. That’s it. Now, let’s get off this floor and talk for a moment. Okay? You shouldn’t be sitting on the floor. Well, on my lap on the floor anyway.”

  He helped her stand before he stood. She hovered, ready to catch him if he fainted again. “Are you sure you’re all right, Kent?”

  What would she do if anything happened to him? She had no idea. He was her everything.

  He cupped her face between his hands. “I’m fine. A bit embarrassed that I damn well fainted. And I’m worried about you. But I’m fine.”

  “You don’t need to worry about me. I didn’t faint.”

  “No, but you seem to be stressing that I’m going to blame you for being pregnant.” He led her over to the chair then sat and drew her onto his lap once more. “What’s going on? I know we’ve talked about having a family before. Are you not ready?”

  “I . . . I don’t know. I guess it was so unexpected that I didn’t know how to react. And then when you didn’t say anything and
you fainted, I guess I started to worry that you didn’t want the baby and that you might blame me.”

  “Oh, baby. Never. Contraception isn’t just your responsibility. It’s mine too. And you were stressed and busy. So even if I didn’t want this baby now, I would never blame you. But Abby, I do want this baby.”

  “You do?” she whispered.

  “Yes. So much. Sure, it’s earlier than we expected and wasn’t exactly planned. But this baby is a part of you.” He placed his hand gently on her tummy and tears filled her eyes. “And I cannot wait to meet him or her.” He frowned. “Shit, what if it’s a girl? That’s gonna be a problem. A girl who looks like you? Shit.”

  She let out a watery giggle. “You really are happy?”

  “So happy. I’m sorry I reacted by fainting.” Redness filled his cheeks. “Guess I was a bit taken by surprise. But never think that I’m not happy about this.”

  He kissed her gently then she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

  “I have to ask Doc about what your care. What you can and can’t do. See what changes we have to make.”

  Oh great. She could see some new rules coming her way. He was probably going to be even more overbearing.

  “We have to create a nursery. I need to call Clint and Eden, let them know first. Damn, I can’t believe I’m gonna be a Daddy.”

  Ice filled her at those words. They were innocent words. He was excited.

  And still, she couldn’t help but feel sad, worried, unsure.

  Because he was already a Daddy. But what if he didn’t want that anymore with an actual baby around?

  Would there be any room for her Little?

  8

  Millie and Spike

  8th December

  “You have to stay for the party,” Caley told her. She was practically bouncing around the kitchen in excitement.

  Millie bit her lip. The party to celebrate Kent and Abby’s pregnancy sounded awesome. Caley had been abuzz ever since Kent and Abby had made their announcement an hour ago, before they’d left after a round of excited hugs from Archer and Caley.