Page 27 of Santas' Elf
“That’s right,” Benny replied. “Eartha.”
“Fantastic. I’ve got all her measurements, so I’ll get this submitted.” With that, she strode from the room.
“Ok,” I declared a minute later. “My turn.”
Pete walked over and deposited Eartha in my arms.
She stared up at me with her dark blue eyes, and for a moment I wondered if they’d stay blue or change to something else. Part of me hoped she’d have either green or brown eyes to suit her name.
The decision of what to name our daughter had been unanimous the instant Benny made a joke about her being a ‘Santa baby.’ There had been a moment when we’d wondered about it, given the song lyrics, but we’d all laughed too hard at the initial joke to care.
Eartha reached up with her tiny fists and managed to grab a handful of my beard—which I was already letting grow out in advance of the holiday season.
I laughed and disentangled her. Then I handed her to Benny as she started smacking her lips in a way that made me think she was hungry. I watched as she latched onto one of his nipples for her first feeding.
Pete walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Hmm?” I asked. “For what?”
“For suggesting we become Santas. For suggesting we court Benny, even when I felt guilty about being attracted to him.”
I leaned into his embrace. “Some things are just right. Like this. This is how it’s supposed to be.”
He kissed my neck. “Maybe, but a little Christmas magic sure did help.”
“Is that what we’re calling my heats now?” Benny asked. “Christmas magic?”
Pete and I burst into laughter.
“Is that your way of telling me you want me to turn on Christmas songs to get you in the mood for your next heat?” I asked.
Benny paled. “Oh no. Definitely no. I think I could go the rest of my life without hearing another odd rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas, and be completely happy.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to be our photographer again this year?” Pete asked.
Benny looked down at Eartha, who was greedily eating. “I think that’ll depend on if I’m ready to go back to work or not.”
“I think you’ll still take some fabulous photos this season, whether you’re an elf again, or staying at home being a papa,” I replied.
Benny grinned. “So many baby photos.”
“It’s a good thing she’s adorable,” Pete said. “Just like her papa.”
Benny blushed, then looked at Pete and I. “I love you two.”
I stepped out of Pete’s embrace, walked over to Benny’s bed, and leaned over to give him a kiss.
Pete rounded the bed to kiss Benny’s other cheek, and I couldn’t help myself.
I pulled my phone out, turned it to the selfie camera, and snapped our first photo as a family with Eartha.
It was the first, but there would be plenty more to come.