Aidan simply chuckled.
Presents had been exchanged between the family that night and a couple of gifts were exchanged between spouses and significant others. James gave Elora a diamond necklace, Henry gave Anne a large diamond bracelet, Jason had given Maggie a sapphire ring and Liam presented Viola with a set of keys to a brand new Aston Martin Vanquish.
Viola had squealed in delight and jumped into his arms. We all joked that we should probably leave them alone, which we ended up doing anyway once we noticed how late it was getting.
Aidan and I tucked the twins in and then went to get the gifts we had gotten for our in house family. We collected them all and headed toward their personal quarters, sneaking in and laying the presents out under each of their trees. Aidan insisted on wearing a white beard and a Santa hat, which I kept trying not to laugh at. Once back downstairs, I sat down to wrap a few last things. I heard Aidan enter the room behind me.
"Can you hand me the bows that I have over on the oak table, please?" I asked without looking up.
"Sure." He replied. I heard a loud thud and turned around quickly.
"What is all of that?" I sat up straighter.
"What?" He asked innocently.
"That." I pointed to the large boxes on the floor.
He shrugged. "Nothing".
"Uh huh...." I raised an eyebrow.
"There for the twins." He mumbled.
I got up and walked around looking at the boxes.
"Aidan, they’re only four months old!" I exclaimed and fought the hysterical laughter that was bubbling up.
"But look how cool they are!" He sounded like a little kid in a toy store. I was waiting for him to stomp his foot.
"What are four month olds going to do with motorized cars?" I couldn't help it any longer, I burst into laughter.
"They’ll grow into them." He pouted and sat on the floor, opening the boxes.
"You're going to put these together yourself?" I had to fight back more laughter.
"Why is that so funny?"
"Do you want me to call Celia?" I giggled.
He hopped to his knees and grabbed my waist, pulling me down to the floor and lying on top of me.
"Are you saying that I can't put these together?"
I nodded and laughed. "Let me call Celia."
"Oh, that's it!" He started to assault my sides with his fingers and I was in a hysterical fit of laughter.
"Oh...god...stop....please, stop!" I screamed as he continued to tickle me. He finally let up and I gasped to catch my breath.
"You are so beautiful." My eyes met his. His face was so serious, so lost.
I ran my hand through his hair and then cupped his cheek. He grabbed my hand, keeping it on his cheek, and closed his eyes.
"What...?"
"Shhh..." I didn't say a word.
We stayed that way for a few more minutes before he leaned in and kissed me. Then he sat me up and placed me between his legs as we worked on the motorized 'Power Wheel' vehicles. They were both Corvettes, one red and one purple. We both laughed as we attempted to build these things.
New Years was approaching quickly and as Viola and I prepared for the New Year's charity ball, Abby went into labor. Maggie got her to the hospital where Viola and I arrived soon after.
Sixteen hours later, Abby had given birth to a little boy that she named Ryan. He was adorably chunky and bald. After spending two days in the hospital, Abby and Ryan headed home. Viola was so worried about Abby that I made her stay home while I finished the plans for the charity event.
It was at this point that Loreley became much more prominent in my life. While at lunch one day, I had gotten a phone call that one of our auction items was now being pulled out. It being one of the larger pieces, I had to explain to Loreley why I needed to leave lunch. She had calmed me down and made a few phone calls. Before I knew it, we had an even better item for the auction. I couldn't believe she had done that for me, and so quickly.
When New Year's Eve arrived, everything was going flawlessly with the ball. Viola was proud of me, which meant the world to me. Aidan was also impressed, along with some others. However, when Loreley appeared next to me at the party, quite a few irritated faces appeared around my table.
"Perhaps, I should go. I'll speak with you later." She smiled and stood.
"No. Loreley, please sit." I motioned for her to sit back down. "You are welcome to join me at this table."
"Lilli." Aidan hissed.
"You know what? Perhaps you should recognize that this item right here." I slammed my finger down on to the particular auction item that most people were talking about, "was obtained because of Loreley. Without any request for a favor in return."
"I'm sure she will want something of you eventually." He mumbled.
"I think that I—"