Taking Chances (15 page)

As Christmas approached they decided a nice quiet Christmas at home would be great after the craziness of the last few weeks and the fact that his parents decided to that with Veronica being pregnant his mom wanted to stay close and have a hand in the things that needed to be done
. The couple got a nice full five foot tree and decorated it together.
They sent out presents to his family in London with a note not to open until the holiday.

Tyler was busy with work due to the holiday season being such a busy time for hotels and vacation resorts and also because he was down to 4 months left to the opening of the new resort in the Bahamas. Jenna was keeping herself busy with getting things ready for her next art showing. Her new show was going to be mostly cityscapes including work she had done from the
view from the penthouse and in Atlantic City and a lot from their time in London.

~~~~~~

The day before Christmas the couple went out to dinner and then shopping for the
things they needed to prepare a nice Christmas breakfast and dinner. Once they were
back at home they took a nice walk arm in arm with Oscar then watched the stereotypical Christmas movies while enjoying some popcorn and cider.

On Christmas morning Tyler was woke up and found he was alone in bed. Getting up he looked around for his wife and dog but found nothing. Finally when he entered the living room there was a note on a tray with coffee and some Danish. Smiling he grabbed the note and laughed:

I know your freaking cause you can’t find me but c
ool your jets Ty. Sit down and have some coffee. Oscar and I will be right back we had to go get your Christmas preset.

-Jenna

Tyler sat on the couch looking out the window to the city while he sipped his coffee. About half an hour later he heard the elevator open into the foyer, the front door opened just a bit and Oscar came in wearing his little jacket and a pair of reindeer antlers. He also heard his wife shout into the room.

“Close your eyes and keep the closed!”
He complied and heard her come in and walk up to him.

Tyler felt something being put on his lap and the coffee cup being taken
from his hand. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so childlike on Christmas morning.

“Ok
open your eyes.” He could hear the joy in her voice when she gave her instruction.

Tyler found himself face to face with a set of ice blue eyes and a pink nose. There was a husky puppy in a basket on his lap. The note on the
puppies collar said:

TO Daddy

Meet my little sister.

Love Oscar

“Well
thank you Oscar I love this little girl.” Tyler pet Oscar on the head and pulled his new little puppy from the basket.

Jenna sat next to him and scratched the puppies head while Tyler held her close. The puppy was wiggling and reaching to get down and explore her new home.

“
I thought you needed a dog who could keep up with you better when you go on your runs. I know you like to try and take Oscar but he really isn’t a dog to take jogging. When she is grown she will give you a run for your money. Do you like her?”
He could tell his wife was in love with the puppy already but nervous about how he felt.

“She’s a perfect addition to the family.” Leaning over he kissed his wife.

“So what are you going to name her?”
Jenna asked her husband while she got up and set up a small pen with some training pads and toys to put the puppy in.

Tyler got up and put the puppy in her pen and watched her jump and run around in circles while tossing her toys around. Oscar responded to the puppies little yips with barks of his own as he ran around the outside of the pen.
He sat back down and pondered what to name the new girl in his life. Sipping his coffee he turned to his wife.

“Lacy.” He smiled at her triumphantly as he said the name.
Tyler looked at the puppy and smiled at her seeing the lace bow around her neck.

“I like it.” Kissing her husband she grabbed his hand and brought him to sit with her net to the tree.

The couple gave the dogs a pile of new toys and laughed as they tried to play with everything at once. There was also a big crate that would be
Lacy’s
until she was housebroken. After the dogs where blissfully
occupied with their toys Tyler reached for some boxes from under the tree and put them in front of his wife. Jenna placed a few in front of him as well and the couple smiled and tore into the presents with unabashed glee.

Jenna had given Tyler a photo album with all the workout equipment she got for him so he could workout at home once they move much the way he wanted. She also got him a gorgeous silver frame for his office with their wedding picture in it. She got him a few new ties something different for him to try rather than his solid color ties. Lastly she got a gift certificate for him and Dean to go snowboarding upstate.

Tyler gave Jenna
a new bag for her to carry her sketch pad in for when she is out and about. Also he had set up a scholarship in her
aunt’s name for the top culinary school in New York. His final gift for her was a leather bound sketch book.

“That sketch book has one purpose. During our life together I plan on showing you everything you ever wanted to see in the world. As you feel up to it we will go places. Our next trip will be the Bahamas when the new resort opens. It will be great. Wait until you see the white sands and beautiful ocean.” He smiled when he saw her face lite up.

“I can’t believe this. These are the best presents I ever got. I can’t wait to see the world with you and I can’t believe you set up a scholarship in Emma’s name.” A tear slid down her cheek and she climbed into her husband’s lap hugging him tight.

Tyler kissed his wife and held her tight. The couple would have stayed like that for a little longer but the sound of a Lacy whining and Oscar barking.

“I think that it is time to go for a walk.” Tyler shook his head as they got to their feet.

All in all their first Christmas together was perfect. They loved the gifts and more importantly they loved each other. Tyler worked alongside Jenna in the kitchen and they prepared a beautiful
roast beef dinner. After their meal they sat on the couch sipping egg nog and just watched the city with their dogs sleeping peacefully in their beds by the Christmas tree.

Epilogue

Today was the day! Today was the day that would do Jenna in. She handed the keys of her childhood home over to the realtor for the new owners and watched the truck pull away with the last of the items in the house that she was donating to charity. Then she had to go and make sure everything was going good with the move in process for the new townhouse there were three rooms of furniture being delivered today including the furniture she purchased yesterday to put in the room they up until now hand no idea what to do with. The kitchen was getting the new countertops and stove she ordered today also. She had to do it all alone. Tyler was down in the Bahamas again checking on everything for the opening which was much to his delight, ahead of schedule.

It was a beautiful March
day and the dogs were staying at Sara’s so they wouldn’t get in the way. She took a few minutes to take one last look at the home that she shared with her aunt before climbing into the SUV to be driven to the townhouse.
Hearing her phone alert her to a text message she checked. It was from Tyler.

The meetings are over and everything going great so I am heading home. I am boarding the plane now.

See you soon

Ty <3

Smiling she sat back, tonight they would be spending their first night in their new home. It had been a great new year so far. They had gone on a quick trip upstate with Dean and his newest girlfriend to go snowboarding. Jenna got some great sketching done. Her latest show went off wonderfully and the mystique of the “mystery artist” was selling tons of her work. There was a new member of the Johnson family also. Her name was Michelle Bridget Johnson. She was 6 days old now and beautiful. Jenna and Tyler couldn’t wait to meet her.

Once inside the townhouse she was
instructing everyone what to do and what goes where. The workers moved so fast she was ecstatic. She wanted it done by the time Tyler gets home. The workout equipment was all set up in the
ground floor
room they set up for the gym and the master bedroom was now done thank god. With the kitchen done she ran out and did a quick food shopping trip, by the time she got home the room across from the master bedroom had all its furniture delivered. She was in there putting the finishing touches on it when she heard Tyler call her name.

“Jen, princess are you home?”
He was putting his things down on the floor by the table in the entryway when she came downstairs.

“Hey handsome.
How was your trip?”
She went right into his arms and hugged him close.

“It was great everything looks great and it is all set to open next month. There are even a ton of bookings already. Opening weekend is going to be filled to
at least seventy five percent capacities.” Kissing his wife he then held her at his side while he walked into the home.

“It looks great baby you got so much done here. I honestly doubted you when you said it would have it done by now.” He looked around the living room and into the kitchen.

“Where are the dogs?” They started to walk upstairs when he realized he hadn’t been mauled at the front door by their furry kids.

“I left them with Sara so they wouldn’t be all over anyone in the house today.” She led him through the finished rooms one by one. He loved what she did and made sure she knew it.

Jenna led him to the master bedroom and showed him all the new furniture. Once he had seen the room he took off his tie and kicked off his shoes. Then he jumped on the bed and laid down looking at her.

“You did great Jen. This place looks great!” He held his hand out for her to lay with him but she didn’t.

“The tour is not over yet. I figured out what to do with the room across the hall.” She pulled his hand and yanked him to his feet.

“Oh? And what would that be?” Once across the hall he opened the door stared in for a minute and then slammed it shut again.

Jenna waited for him to react to the room; she
was nervous and could feel her heart pounding. She saw him start to react finally and smiled when she saw his eyes start to twinkle.

“So this is the way our marriage is going to go? You sell out one of your shows then I open my resort early, I give my parents their dream vacation, around the Mediterranean on a private yacht for their anniversary
and you have to go and one up me once more by giving them a grandchild.” He put his hands on his hips and rolled his eyes.

Jenna smiled at her
husband’s theatrics and smacked his chest. The couple walked into the yellow nursery. There was a crib and a rocker and a giant teddy bear with an
artist’s smock and paintbrush.

“I was actually concerned you may be mad. I mean we didn’t exactly plan this.
We barely even discussed children. You have so many plans and so many things you wanted to do.
” Her confession had Tyler a little shocked. He grabbed her and looked into her eyes.

“Our life together so far has been an unplanned crazy adventure so I think it only fitting that our having our first kid is the same way.
As far as things I have wanted to do with my life, you are my life.”
He pulled her even closer and kissed her.

The couple had an amazing night making love and discussing the future as they embarked on the greatest adventure of all.