We stopped off at a diner for lunch. While we were waiting to be seated Renee took my hand. That was not lost on Sammi who had this huge smile.
As we were being seated, Sammi sat next to me. “Mr. Petey, do you like my mommy?”
“Sammi!” Renee whispered.
Sammi smiled and looked at me, “Well, do you?”
I almost laughed out loud before I answered, “I really like your mommy. I really do. And I like you also.”
Made Sammi clap her hands and smile. Renee was blushing all the while.
After lunch we made a quick pit stop before we climbed back in my car and headed home.
Renee and Sammi went back to their house so that she could work on the stuffing. I checked on the bird in the oven and the smell of that turkey roasting in my oven filled the house. It had another hour or so before it was done. I took a couple of potatoes wrapped them in foil and stuck them in the oven next to the turkey. Peeled a couple carrots and zapped them in the microwave for a minute to partially cook them. Sliced a zucchini and mixed them with the carrots and prepared them to be more fully cooked just before dinner.
Then I retrieved Sammi’s presents and placed them around the Christmas tree. The tags on them said that they were from Santa. That would not fool Renee but I hoped that it would at least make Sammi wonder about whether Santa was real for at least another year or more.
I cued up a couple of Christmas music albums on my MP3 player and had them playing while I set the dinner table and put the finishing touches on the rest of our dinner. Renee and Sammi came over just as I was taking the turkey out of the oven.
Dinner was fantastic. The food was great but the company was even better.
We were relaxing in the great room downstairs when Sammi noticed the presents around the Christmas Tree.
“Mr. Petey! Mr. Petey! You have presents under your Christmas Tree.”
“I do?” I asked innocently.
“You do! Look at all the presents!”
“Well take a look and see who they are for.”
Renee was sitting next to me and it looked as if she was going to cry.
I smiled at her, kissed my finger and laid it gently across her lips and whispered, “Santa came early.”
“Mommy! Mommy! This present says it’s for me and that it’s from Santa!”
“Well if it has your name on it, then it might be a good idea to open it.” Renee said as she hugged my arm.
Gift wrap went flying as Sammi tore into her presents. Sammi’s happiness made Renee smile. And Renee’s smile made me happy.
After the hoopla was over we were all sitting on a sofa watching a Christmas movie on the TV when Sammi asked; “Mr. Petey, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. Ask away.”
“Will you be my daddy?”
I heard Renee gasp as I looked at Sammi, then picked her up and placed her in my lap while I searched for an answer that might make sense to a four year old and wouldn’t upset her mom.
“Well Sammi, it would make me a very happy guy to be your daddy. But it’s not as simple as that.”
“Why?”
“Because to be you daddy, I would need to marry your mom.”
“So? Mom likes you a lot and you already told me that you like her a lot and you like me also.”
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