Chapter 94: Umm... What?

Everyone finally went home at the end of the day and Persephone and Chris were left alone to enjoy the wondrous site of their beautifully decorated Christmas tree. The delicate red round baubles and matching ribbons filled in the gaps and made it look perfect.

Naturally, as was Chris's nature, all ornaments and lighting that had already adorned the tree were removed to disperse the decorations more evenly- not that it mattered. In the end, the result made Persephone feel Christmas in her soul every time she looked at the tree.

Her man had definitely delivered.

Chris was upstairs showering as Persephone sat in the living room enjoying a glass of homemade sangria; a recipe she'd picked up online years ago and improved through holidays as they passed. She had turned all other lights off to immerse herself in the feeling of Christmas with the scent of the spectacular pine really working its holiday magic down to her bones.

She couldn't wait to see Olivia and Braden's faces Christmas morning when all the gifts sat under the tree which would include a few misdelivered packages from Santa Claus. She smiled as she looked around the holiday decorated home and admitted it was beginning to feel just a tiny bit more familiar and welcoming. Granted, Chris's family helped. Their presence made the home feel exponentially smaller; she would even go as far as saying, not big enough.

And with Lisa and Daniel's new bundle coming, next year the home would feel just a tiny bit smaller but so much more filled with love. She couldn't wait to hold the new baby, she thought with a smile as she brought the wine glass to her lips and took a sip.

With the direction her thoughts had drifted, it was only natural her mind went to the conversation Micaela brought up at the Bullseye store. Persephone had explained to Micaela she'd given the subject serious thought after her last break up, and she had made peace with the fact children were not going to be in her future; she mourned, she accepted, and life went on. She also scolded Micaela for pushing kids when they weren't the ultimate purpose of every woman.

"Darling," Micaela had said, "I am not saying all women should have kids. Clearly, several that have them never should have been allowed to procreate and many that chose not to be mothers made a great choice, but in your case, I think that would be a mistake."

As Micaela's words echoed in her head, Persephone sighed and took a longer sip of sangria. She came to that conclusion when she was single and a one-woman business.

Her circumstances since had changed all around- but did she even want kids anymore? She'd made a life around a barren existence she wouldn't even know where to begin processing the possibility of change. Her life as it was now, was simple and uncomplicated, and the one thing she knew from all those years of babysitting was that children were anything but.

In any case, Micaela may have had a point, but it was too soon to think about them right now. Chris hadn't been in her life very long and they'd already moved so fast when it came time to cohabitating. Moving in together was one thing, but they couldn't exactly undo children once they had been born.

Chris came down the stairs with wet hair a plain white T-shirt and black pajama bottoms. He took the sangria from her hands and sipped as he looked toward the tree.

"You did a great job, sweets," she said as her eyes followed his. "I can practically hear Santa's reindeer landing on the roof already."

Chris put the glass down on the coaster atop the coffee table before sitting next to Persephone. He grabbed her legs, stretching them over his lap. "We make a good team," he said as he reached for the fastening on her jeans, popping the button and unzipping them. "I've been looking forward to having some festive holiday sex ever since everyone left."

He began pulling on the jeans to remove them until she was left in her black lace boyshorts from the waist down.

"Hold on," Persephone told him as she leaned forward to grab the cell phone next to the empty sangria glass. She began swiping along the screen as Chris began nuzzling her neck. His lips made his way to hers a few times pulling her attention away from her goal. Between his lips and his hand creeping under her clothing, Persephone really had to fight to keep her focus and she was glad that she did.

She placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away gently so she could look into his eyes. "If you want sex tonight, you're going to have to suit up," she told him as she showed him her phone screen. The fertility tracker app she had downloaded suggested she was entering a fertile phase.

Chris sighed as his eyes moved to her phone screen and then up the stairs where he kept the condoms.

"Both your mom and Micaela keep asking me about how I feel about kids and if I want any." Persephone complained as she placed the phone back on the coffee table. "I'm betting you're not dealing with these types of questions," she complained.

Chris shook his head with a curious smile. "I haven't heard a single peep on the subject."

Persephone yawned. The busy day was finally catching up to her. She grabbed her discarded jeans with the intention of heading upstairs for a shower and bed. She bent over to grab her phone and the empty sangria glass. "Apparently, your mom keeps broaching the subject because she's ready for grandkids."

She stood upright, her eyes going back to Chris who was standing next to her, staring at her.

He grabbed her hand, holding it gently in his.

His next words surprised her.

"So, let's give her one."