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Christmas in Brooklyn

The tree at Levi’s was a little crooked and the lights blinked in no real pattern, but Parker swore it was the most magical one she’d ever seen. She’d helped decorate it the night before—insisting on hanging every candy cane herself—and now she sat beneath it in her new reindeer pajamas, carefully arranging presents into a very specific order only she understood.

Kylie rocked Vanessa gently in her arms, the baby warm and sleepy in a red onesie with tiny snowflakes on the feet. Gwen had just disappeared into the kitchen, humming along with the record spinning in the corner, and Levi was trying to convince Parker to let him put on a holiday movie that wasn’t the Muppet for the third time.

“I don’t know, Papa,” Parker said seriously, “I don’t think there’s anything better.”

Kylie laughed, shaking her head as she adjusted a blanket over Vanessa’s legs. “She’s going to be quoting Kermit until New Year’s.”

There was a knock at the door, three quick raps, and then Jude let himself in, a little snow still clinging to his shoulders, carrying a lopsided bag and a wrapped box that had clearly been done last minute. Parker ran at him full-speed, nearly toppling him before he scooped her up.

“I heard Santa left something at my place by mistake,” he said, winking at Kylie as he handed her the package.

Vanessa stirred, letting out a soft little sigh, and Levi came over to peek down at her with that quiet, awed look he always got. “That’s two Christmases now you’ve made better just by showing up,” he murmured to Kylie.

Later, after cookies and cocoa and Jude’s off-key caroling that always came after too much eggnog, Kylie curled up on the couch with both girls asleep beside her. The lights blinked on the crooked tree. Family, she thought.

Messy.

Perfect

Hers.