Kristin put her hand up to block the sunlight streaming in through the window as she opened her eyes.

“Tommy?” she called out.

“Morning sleepy head,” Santa said as she jumped into bed beside Kristin.

“Hey,” Kristin said with a smile as she rolled over and gave her friend a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Tommy told me you had a rough night,” Santa informed her. “And I decided that you needed a day to relax.”

“That’ll really work out,” Kristin replied.

“I didn’t say a day out to relax,” Santa told her. “I said a day off to relax.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Kristin asked.

“I asked someone to stop by the house in about an hour,” Santa told her.

“Who?” Kristin asked.

“An old friend,” Santa said with a wink. “You’ll see.”

“While you’re plotting your evil scheme,” Kristin said as she propped herself up against her pillows and reached down to pick up Jenilea from her bassinet beside the bed. “There’s something I need to take care of before it gets ugly in here.”

“You want me to get out of here?” Santa asked with a laugh.

“No,” Kristin told her. “Stay.”

“Ok,” Santa said with a shrug as she pulled her knees up to her chin.

“You haven’t been around here too much,” Kristin said as she began to feed her daughter.

“I know,” Santa told her. “I’m a horrible friend. It’s just been so busy at work lately.”

“I’m just kidding,” Kristin told her with a smile. “I know you’re pulling double duty while I’m off.”

“I don’t mind,” Santa told her. “You belong at home with your baby.”

“Thanks,” Kristin replied. “I really do appreciate it.”

“Really?” Santa asked. “I didn’t really get that message from the seventeen flower arrangements and gift baskets you’ve had sent to my house.”

“Over the top?” Kristin asked.

“You think?” Santa laughed.

Kristin was glad for the adult company. She did love being at home with her daughter, and it would never get boring, however she missed having people around to talk to during the day.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Santa asked as she looked down at Jenilea.

”A little,” Kristin replied. “It’s getting easier. It was hell for the first week.”

“Why?” Santa asked. “Did Tommy get jealous and want in on the action?”

Kristin laughed as she remembered Tommy’s numerous attempts to ‘get in on the action.’

“It just seems like it would be really uncomfortable,” Santa replied as she reached over to brush her finger against Jenilea’s cheek.

“You get used to it,” Kristin told her.

“I have to admit,” Santa replied. “I’m not really looking forward to that part of being a mom.”

“I actually love spending time with her like this,” Kristin said as she looked up at her friend. “How are you feeling, anyway?”

“Good,” Santa replied. “Although I swear Tyrique is going insane!”

“I know that feeling,” Kristin laughed.

“Yesterday,” Santa told her. “I got an hour long lecture because I made the bed while he was in the shower.”

“Oh that’s nothing!” Kristin exclaimed. “Wait until you’re actually showing. Tommy yelled at me for half an hour because I flipped a grilled cheese sandwich while he was busy cutting vegetables.”

“I guess I have a lot to look forward to, don’t I?” Santa said before they both dissolved into laughter.

Kristin couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a good time with her friend. They sat talking for more than half an hour before Kristin handed Jenilea to Santa so she could go and take a shower before the mystery guest showed up.

As Kristin let the warm water wash away the stiffness in her body she contemplated who Santa could possibly have asked to come up to the apartment today. It couldn’t be someone from the office because Santa would have just told her about that.

“Hey Santa!” Kristin called out to her. “Who’s coming over? This is driving me nuts!”

“Shut up and wash yourself!” Santa called back to her. “You’ll find out soon enough!”

Kristin laughed to herself as she rinsed the shampoo out of her hair and turned off the shower before wrapping herself in a towel and going back into the bedroom to find something to wear.

“What should I wear to relax?” Kristin asked with her hands on her hips.

“Just throw on a bathrobe,” Santa told her as she set Jenilea in her bassinet and stood up. “And find one for me too.”

“What on earth do you have planned for today?” Kristin asked as she went back into the bathroom.

“I already told you,” Santa replied. “It’s a surprise.”

“There’s another one hanging up in there,” Kristin told Santa as she came out of the bathroom wearing her bathrobe. “And I hope whatever you have planned doesn’t involve this thing coming off because that would not be a pretty sight.”

“Come on,” Santa said with a sly grin as she pulled the tie loose on Kristin’s robe as she walked by. “You look hot!”

“I’ll kill you one of these days,” Kristin said as she tied her robe closed again. “I really will.”

“You love me!” Santa called out from the bathroom. “You know you do!”

Kristin smiled to herself and flopped onto the bed on her back. Her moment of rest, however, was quickly interrupted as Jenilea started to cry.

“What’s wrong baby girl?” Kristin said as she sat up and looked at her daughter. “Is nobody paying any attention to you?”

Jenilea immediately stopped crying when Kristin picked her up and cradled her in her arms.

“Suck up,” Kristin said with a smile as she rubbed her nose against her daughter’s.

Just as Kristin was about to annoy Santa with more questions about the mystery guest, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Santa said as she came out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe and sprinted for the door before Kristin could get up.

“No fair!” Kristin hollered at her. “You cheated!”

“You’re such a baby,” Santa called out to her before opening the door.

Kristin got up and walked into the living room but stopped immediately when she saw who Santa’s mystery guest was.

“Hello beautiful ladies,” the tall man said as he shut the door behind him.

“Hey Thor,” Santa said as she shot Kristin a mischievous grin. “Come on in.”

“Santa,” Kristin said as she began walking toward the bedroom. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure,” Santa replied before looking back at Thor. “Have a seat. We’ll be right back.”

Santa stole one last glance at Thor before going into the bedroom to find out what Kristin wanted.

“What’s up?” she asked.

Kristin put her hand on Santa’s forehead and examined her face closely.

“What are you doing?” Santa asked her.

“Just checking something,” Kristin replied. “Usually when people go insane, they have symptoms.”

“Oh shut up,” Santa laughed as she pushed Kristin’s hand away.

“What on earth were you thinking?” Kristin asked her.

“I was thinking it would be hilarious to see your face when he walked through that door.” Santa told her. “And I was right.”

“Oh come on,” Kristin replied as she tilted her head to look out into the living room.

“Don’t worry,” Santa told her. “You’re married now.”

”What does that have to do with anything?” Kristin asked.

“I don’t ask him to surprise married women,” Santa replied.

“For some reason,” Kristin began. “I don’t completely trust you.”

“I promise,” Santa told her. “Completely innocent massage.”

“You owe me 24 hours of free babysitting if you’re lying,” Kristin warned her friend.

“No problem,” Santa told her as she started walking into the living room again. “I’d love to babysit!”

“Santa!” Kristin hissed. “Santa!”

Sometimes Kristin felt like killing her friend, or at least severely injuring the woman. She grabbed Jenilea’s pink blanket from the end of the bed and headed for the living room.

“Hello again,” Thor said as Kristin joined Santa in the living room.

”Hi there,” Kristin replied with a smile.

“Who will be first?” Thor asked, his massage table was already set up by one of the windows.

“Kristin would love to go first,” Santa told him.

“Sure,” Kristin said as she reluctantly handed her daughter to Santa. “Why not?”

“Have fun,” Santa said with a wink as she sat down on the couch.

“You’d better hope I don’t have too much fun,” Kristin said in quite a theatrical voice as she leaned down to look Santa in the eye. “If you value your life.”