Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,103

grabbed my suitcase again and followed Jared to the front door.

The door had barely opened, when the sound of Jingle Bells being sung very loud and very off key, reached our ears.

“You’ve had to listen to this, all day?” I looked at Jared in disbelief.

He nodded and dropped my suitcase by the stairs.

Karlie came running down the steps, still singing, dressed in Christmas PJs. The bottoms she wore had little elves on them and her top was a long-sleeved red waffle knit shirt with Santa Claus on it. A leopard print Santa hat sat on top of her head.

“Katy!” she hugged me, before pulling away and twirling around the room.

She danced over to the green tree that actually looked silver with the amount of tinsel tossed on it and fingered a shiny red ornament.

“’Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh! Jingle bells, Jingle bells! Jingle all the way!’” she sang.

I winced from the shrill sound of her voice, but Karlie was oblivious to our pain.

She finally finished the song and said, “Hot chocolate? Anyone want any?” she danced into the kitchen.

Jared chuckled. “I’d like some, and I’m sure Katy would to, but you’ve had enough,” he said, striding across the room and taking the instant hot chocolate can from her.

When Jared turned, Karlie jumped on his back, reaching for the hot chocolate. “Give it to me, Jare!” she shrieked. “I need it!”

“Get off of me,” he wiggled around, trying to dislodge his sister. “What are you? A fucking monkey?”

“Give me! Give me the hot chocolate, Jared!”

“No, Karlie, get off of me,” he dropped the hot chocolate can onto the counter and reached for her arms, undoing them from around his neck.

Karlie dropped to the floor. “A third cup wouldn’t kill me,” she pouted.

“It just might,” he sighed, running his hands through his hair. “I have an idea, you can open one,” he held up a finger, “present, if you promise to leave the hot chocolate alone.”

“I always get to open one present on Christmas Eve. I hardly think that’s fair compensation,” she crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing her big brother.

“Fine, two! But that’s it,” Jared said, adamantly.

“Yes!” she clapped her hands together before running towards the Christmas tree and sliding to the floor. She picked up a box, shaking it, and setting it aside, before going to the next one.

“I have a present that I have to give you, tonight,” Jared said, cupping my waist and kissing me quickly. “Karlie, hold up. I have to go grab Katy’s present.”

“Okay,” she grumbled, setting two presents aside from the others and hopping into the chair.

“Close your eyes, kitten,” Jared said, kissing my eyelids. “Keep them closed until I come back and tell you to open them.”

“I will,” I assured him.

He bound up the steps, his boots smacking loudly against the hardwood floors.

I heard his bedroom door squeak open and a few minutes later he was clunking down the steps.

His arm brushed against me and his breath gusted against my face.

“Okay, open your eyes.”

My eyes immediately popped open. “Oh my God!” I reached out for the squirming dark gray kitten in his arms. A red bow was tied around its neck. “You got me a kitten?!”

“A kitten for my kitten,” he grinned.

“Wow,” I breathed, emotion clogging my throat. “I can’t believe you remembered,” I murmured, remembering back to that long ago day where I’d mentioned always wanting a fluffy gray kitten. “Is it a boy or girl?” I asked.

“Girl,” he said. “I figured, I’m already surrounded by two beautiful women, why not add a third,” he reached out and scratched the gray fluff ball on top of her head.

She immediately started purring and leaned into his touch. I giggled. I guessed I wasn’t the only one affected by Jared’s magical touch.

I kissed her on her dark gray nose and then scratched under her chin, where there was a patch of white.

“She’s perfect,” I told him. “Absolutely perfect.” I kissed each of her white paws. “I’m going to name her Mable,” I said, holding her against my neck. She immediately started playing with my hair. I giggled at her touch. “Thank you so much, no one has ever given me a more perfect gift. What I got you seems really boring and predictable now,” I blushed.

“You gave me you, Katy, and that’s all the gift, I’ll ever need,” he kissed my nose.

“Eww, did you forget, I’m sitting right here?” Karlie said. “I do not like watching