The previous night had been a long one and as the clock struck noon Tommy and Kristin were finally alone.
“Tommy?” Kristin said weakly as she let her head rest against his arm.
“Yeh?” Tommy answered as he adjusted the arm cradling his baby daughter.
“I’m tired.” Kristin replied.
“Go to sleep,” Tommy told her.
“What about the baby?” Kristin asked.
“You just fed her, she’ll be fine,” he told her. “The rocking chair is right next to the bassinet so I can put her in it and sleep in the chair for a couple hours.”
“Are you sure?” Kristin asked.
“She’ll be fine,” Tommy consoled her. “I’m sure you’ll hear her if she cries.”
“I am tired,” Kristin said as Tommy stood up.
“Go to sleep,” Tommy said as he kissed her forehead and used one hand to adjust her pillows so she could lie down. “I love you,”
“I love you too,” Kristin said as she closed her eyes and instantly fell asleep.
As Tommy sat down in the rocking chair a few feet away he had no intention of putting little Jenilea into her bassinet.
“How’s daddy’s little girl?” Tommy asked his sleeping daughter. “You and I need to have a man to man talk before mommy wakes up.”
Tommy glanced over at Kristin to make sure she was still asleep and turned his attention back to his daughter.
“You don’t know this but I’ve always wanted a son to take fishing and watch baseball games with,” he explained to her. “Even though you’re a girl there will be none of this girly business. Your mother is going to try to take you shopping and do your hair and paint your nails but together we can fight against her.”
Jenilea moved her little head to a different position and Tommy knew she had to be agreeing with him.
“That being said,” he continued. “You are not going to date until you’re 40. When you do go out with a boy he is going to have to come though me and my shotgun. If he wants to give you flowers and chocolate he had better bring enough to give some to me as well; we’ll call it a peace offering.”
“A little rough, don’t you think man?” Tyrique said as he came into the room with Santa by his side.
“Shhhhh,” Tommy hushed him as he pointing to a sleeping Kristin. “Don’t wake her up.”
“Sorry,” Tyrique said quietly as Santa rushed over to see the baby.
“Oh look at her,” Santa commented, her attitude completely uncharacteristic. “She’s so tiny!”
“Do you want to hold her?” Tommy asked as he stood up.
“Could I?” Santa asked him.
Tommy gently placed Jenilea into Santa’s arms and smiled at the look on her face.
“Careful,” Tyrique told his wife. “Don’t break her.”
“I’m not going to break a baby!” Santa snapped at Tyrique.
“Sorry,” he apologized to his wife. “My bad, my bad.”
“What’s up with you two?” Tommy asked with a confused look on his face.
“You know women and hormones,” Tyrique told him. “Never a good thing.”
“Oh,” Tommy replied.
“Don’t say that you’re going to make him thinking I’m insane,” Santa replied.
“Well you are!” Tyrique told her.
“Shut up,” Santa replied with a hurt look on her face as she looked back down at Jenilea.
“Well if you don’t want him to think you’re insane,” Tyrique began. “Why don’t you just tell him the real reason?”
“I want to tell Kristin first,” Santa replied.
“Tell Kristin what first?” Tommy asked.
“Nothing,” Santa told him. “Girl stuff.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Tommy replied as he sat back down in the chair.
“What’s her name?” Santa asked.
“Jenilea Kate,” Tommy told her with a smile.
“That’s so adorable!” Santa said as she adjusted the blanket framing Jenilea’s face.
“You look tired,” Tyrique said as he looked down at Tommy.
“I’ve been up all night,” Tommy told him.
“Go to sleep for an hour,” Tyrique told him. “We can take care of the kid.”
“Are you sure?” Tommy asked with a worried look on his face.
“Santa can take care of the kid,” Tyrique replied.
“And you?” Tommy asked.
“I will be her lovely assistant!” Tyrique announced.
“Well alright,” Tommy replied. “Promise you’ll wake me up if anything happens.”
“Nothing is going to happen,” Santa told him. “Close your eyes.”
Tommy willingly followed her orders as he shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
