Page 12 of Birthday Kisses
“Do you like it?” she asks, gesturing toward the watch.
“I love it.” I pull it out of the box, strapping it to my wrist. I hold my arm out, turning it this way and that as I examine it. “It looks good.”
“I was nervous,” she admits. “It’s not something you asked for, so I didn’t know if you’d like it.”
“I love anything that you give me. And I didn’t really ask for anything. I have everything I already need. You.” I watch as Willow takes the stuffed Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Wren must’ve bought her and shoves the red nose into her mouth. “Our daughter.”
“Our life is pretty great, isn’t it,” Wren whispers, her eyes full of love.
“It is. Though I don’t want our girl to choke on Rudy here.” I reach over and yank the stuffed animal out of Willow’s mouth. She cries out in protest, reaching for him again.
“Oh no!” Wren turns Willow around so she’s facing her and lifts her up, their gazes meeting. “You can’t eat Rudolph, sweetie. But you can cuddle him.”
“She’s ruthless,” I tease, pride running through me as usual when I talk about Willow. Everything she does is like a little miracle. She’s the best baby on this planet, if you ask me.
Though I’m sure most parents feel that way about their children, especially their first born.
“I’ll say.” Wren kisses Willow’s cheeks. “Ooh I love this baby so much. I could eat her up.”
“Now you’re the ruthless one, wanting to eat our baby.” I rise to my feet and go to the Christmas tree, remembering I left a present behind it, against the wall.
“What are you looking for?” Wren asks when I dip behind the tree and snag the present I bought for my wife for Christmas.
“This is for you.” I hold the box out to her.
She blinks at it for a moment before lifting her gaze to mine. “Another gift?”
“It’s your birthday and Christmas, Wren. You deserve two.”
“You spoil me,” she chastises as she starts to take the gift from me and I lift it up higher at the last second. “Hey.”
“I forgot how heavy it is. Give me Willow and we’ll trade.”
She does as I request, handing over the baby before I give her the gift. I settle on the couch right behind where she’s sitting on the floor, Willow in my arms so we can both watch Mommy open her Christmas present.
Wren tugs the purple ribbon off the box, then carefully undoes the wrapping paper. It comes undone without a single tear and the box that’s revealed is covered in kissy lips.
Just like her favorite art piece.
“Oh, this is so cute!” Wren glances at me from over her shoulder, the surprise on her face obvious. “I love it!”
“That’s not even the gift,” I tell her with a smile. “Open the box, Wren.”
She pops the lid off, a gasp leaving her when she sees what’s inside. “Oh my God, I love this so much!”
It’s a perfume from Bond No. 9. The scent is Nolita and the bottle is white, with the same kissy lips all over the front like the box. Only this bottle is a special edition.
The lips in the center are covered with over one hundred red Swarovski sparkling gems.
“This is amazing.” She pulls the lid off and immediately gives her wrist a spritz before bringing it up to her nose so she can sniff, her eyes falling closed for a brief moment. “It smells like heaven.”
“You like it? When I saw the bottle, I immediately thought of you.”
She gets up and joins us on the couch, snuggling close, her face in mine as she leans in for a long, sweet kiss. “I love it. It smells so good! And I love that every time you see lipstick kisses, you think of me.”
“I can’t help it.” I keep my hold on Willow tight as I reach for my wife, touching her cheek, skimming her jaw with my fingertips. “Think you’d want to mark me up later tonight?”
Her eyes sparkling, she nods. “You don’t think we’ll be too tired after going to Grant’s?”