Page 100 of Santa Daddies

Three heads whipped up to see Dawn had returned with a large carafe, a bowl of individual, flavored creamers, and a trio of glasses full of orange juice.

“Important meetings also require a healthy dose of Vitamin C. It will help strengthen your immune systems so that this club can be built quicker. God knows, a lot of people have been searching for that hidden gem among a whole lot of dirt and scum. And don’t worry, the juice is on me. Consider it my contribution to the future of your club.” With that soliloquy, she transferred the items from her tray to the table and asked me and Tilda if we planned on eating anything.

“I’ll just need an extra plate,” Tilda said.

Leo chuckled having made the right call, while I ordered chicken and waffles with a side of hashbrowns.

“I’ll bring it right out,” Dawn assured us as she turned to walk away.

I grinned as I watched Tilda’s eyes follow the young woman’s hips as they swayed beneath the skirt of her uniform. When Dawn was out of sight, Tilda gave a soft sigh and I chuckled. “If that’s not a sign this is the direction we need to go, I don’t know what is.” I lifted my glass of juice. “A toast.”

My friends lifted theirs and I smiled. “To Dawn.” I ignored the way both their foreheads furrowed and continued, “For not only vouching for the need of a different type of club, but for naming it as well.” The two exchanged looks of confusion and my smile grew. “The search she spoke about will be over the moment we open the door and welcome people to Gem.”

Confusion changed to understanding and then to huge smiles and nods, agreeing on the name.

“To Gem,” Leo said, tapping his glass against mine.

“To Gem and the best two partners a woman could ever ask for,” Tilda said, tapping her glass to mine and then turning to look at Leo. “And before you ruin the moment by making some stupid, juvenile joke, I don’t mean partners in that way so pull your tongue back into your mouth.”

Leo shook his head. “Never crossed my mind,” he assured her. “But I’m not opposed to a little side bet on who I believe will be your next partner.”

Tilda’s head swiveled to look across the restaurant and then turned back, her cheeks a bit flushed. “Even if I was a betting woman, I wouldn’t make that bet.”

“I didn’t think so,” Leo said, tapping his glass against hers.

“To all-new beginnings,” I said, earning a smile from Tilda and a knowing grin from my best friend.

That was really the night our dream started to become our reality.

The scrape of a chair brought me back to the present. Every year, including this one, we gathered at the same IHOP to celebrate Gem’s beginning. Only this time, Dawn wasn’t serving, she was sitting beside her Mommy, Tilda. Marci, Jenna, Chloe, Emma and Henry were seated between their Big and their honorary Aunt or one of their Uncles. Instead of a booth, we were gathered around several tables pushed together, taking up the majority of the back corner of the restaurant. We might have started this journey as three but were now a family of twelve and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since we opened Gem,” Tilda said.

“The best six years of my life!” Dawn proclaimed leaning over to kiss Tilda’s cheek.

Marcie laughed and looked around the table. “That’s right. You were the first of us to join the original group before Gem was even completed. I’ll never get tired of hearing the story about how you made sure that Littles weren’t forgotten when planning Gem.”

“I just made the suggestion. Mommy, Uncle Leo and Uncle Austin were the ones who made it come true,” Dawn said softly.

“Regardless, it’s so romantic,” Emma said.

No one disagreed and our annual toast to a happy anniversary was loud and garnered attention of the diners around us, some who good-naturedly lifted coffee mugs and water glasses to toast as well. It took far longer to order, and that timeline lengthened as Littles made a choice then changed their mind when something else their friend ordered soundedmore appealing. I felt for the waiter who already looked a bit befuddled as he scratched out an item and begin to scribble the change on his pad. Marcie smiled up at him.

“Sorry, Greg, I’m afraid we can be a bit much,” she said.

Tilda shot her an approving glance. She really did have a thing about addressing anyone who served in any capacity by their name, and it had rubbed off on everyone in our group.

“That’s okay, at least you’re not running around screaming,” Greg said.

“Well, no promises,” Jenna teased, causing Marcie to laugh and Greg to look a bit concerned.

“She’s kidding,” Leo assured him. “The first one to jump up and start running around screaming can be assured they’ll be given a very good reason for doing so. Right?”

A chorus of six voices parroted, “Right!”

If Greg managed to get through this meal, he’d definitely deserve the tip I planned on leaving. Once he had taken everyone’s order, he hurried to turn it in.

“Okay, I know this night is about celebrating the birth of Gem, but with time getting short, it can also be a chance to finalize the party plans,” Tilda said, taking charge. “Who wants to go first?”