Hope For Christmas

The first lights of day barely filter through the gaps in the shutters. Snuggled up against each other, the couple slowly open their eyes.

« We should get up, shouldn’t we? » Elsa says, stretching.

« No… Stay a little longer against me, » he replies, wrapping her in his arms.

He pulls her closer and kisses her passionately. That’s all it takes for her to nestle against his side. His hand glides over the smooth skin of her back while his fingers trace the curves of her body.

« Grégoire! Stop that, or we’ll never get out of here! » she scolds him playfully.

« Exactly… » he teases mischievously.

They kiss again. Then, he gently pushes her onto her back, showering her neck and shoulder with soft kisses. His lips trail down to the top of her chest. She giggles and melts under his tender touch.

« The kids can wait, » she thinks, giving in to temptation.

She lets herself be carried away, running her slender fingers along his face. They exchange a knowing look before Grégoire moves even lower. A surprised « Oh » escapes her lips when she feels him teasing her most sensitive spot. She stretches out fully, raising her arms above her head, surrendering to his control.

A few moments later, after catching their breath, they get up one after the other. Elsa slips into her Christmas pajamas.

« A real aphrodisiac! » Grégoire teases.

« It’s beautiful! » she retorts, laughing. « You’re just jealous because you want one too. »

« Mmm… »

« Even if I’d been wearing it, you still would have made love to me, » she teases.

He plants a soft kiss on her lips before heading to the master bathroom for a shower.

She finishes zipping up her pajama top and heads downstairs.

It’s eight o’clock, and the kids are already awake, keeping themselves busy while waiting for their parents. When Elsa enters the kitchen, Louise and Léa are preparing breakfast. The table is set: bowls, spoons, sugar, butter, jam, milk, everything is ready. The coffee is brewing, and the bread is toasting. Elsa sits at the counter, watching them work. Her daughters haven’t yet noticed her presence.

Grégoire comes down a moment later and, taking a deep breath, says:

« Mmm, that smells delicious! »

His voice startles the girls. Léa drops a slice of toast and groans while the other three burst into laughter.

Once the coffee is ready and a wicker basket is filled with mini-pastries and toasted bread, the children heat their bowls of milk in the microwave and sit at the table.

Elsa looks at them one by one and asks:

« Alright, what’s going on here? »

« Can’t we just do something nice for you on a Sunday morning? » Léa counters.

« With those mischievous smiles, I can tell you’re up to something. And all three of you! » Elsa exclaims, noticing Grégoire’s grin.

Her beloved husband places a small gift-wrapped envelope in front of her. It’s a simple white envelope, tied with a golden ribbon, just like a Christmas present.

Everyone watches eagerly as Elsa prepares to open it. Christmas is just around the corner, and Grégoire knows how much his wife loves this holiday. In fact, it’s December 15th, and their house already looks like Santa’s workshop, adorned with twinkling lights, garlands, and candles. As she does every year, Elsa went all out. But this time, even more so. Having inherited her mother’s outdoor decorations, since she had moved to sunny Spain for her retirement, the garden is now just as illuminated as the living room.

Grégoire had thought it was a bit over the top when they set everything up on the first weekend of December, while the girls decorated the Christmas tree.

Elsa takes a sip of coffee, finishes her mini croissant, and finally picks up the envelope. She unties the ribbon painfully slowly, much to the frustration of her daughters.

« Come on, Mom, hurry up! » Louise urges.

Léa remains silent but clearly shares the same impatience. Grégoire, meanwhile, watches Elsa intently, eager to see her reaction. She takes her time, amused by their anticipation. Finally, she breaks the seal and pulls out a card that reads:

A Wonderful Romantic Getaway

« We’re leaving tomorrow morning! » Grégoire announces proudly.

« But that’s impossible! I have work tomorrow! » Elsa objects.

« Nope, everything’s taken care of. You’re officially on vacation for the next ten days, » Grégoire declares.

« And what about these two? » she asks, nodding toward their daughters.

« Already sorted. »

« Wow! Well, I can see you’ve thought of everything. Aurélia and Justin are in on this, I bet. »

« Yes! It’s so cool! We’re staying at their place for a few days. Auntie promised to bake tons of cookies! » Louise exclaims excitedly.

« Well, if everyone’s happy, then that’s great. So… where are we going? »

« That, my love, remains a surprise until we’re on the plane! » Grégoire grins.

« I guess I’d better start packing, then. »

Léa giggles.

« No need, Mom, I already did it for you. »

Elsa stares at her daughter, then at Grégoire, incredulous.

« Okay… You’ll have to explain how my daughter managed to pack for a romantic trip, » she whispers to Grégoire.

He smiles and replies:

« She took care of the essentials based on our destination. Your daughter is a fashionista, remember? She picked out all your outfits for going out. »

He exchanges a conspiratorial wink with Léa before leaning in to whisper to Elsa:

« As for our evenings… I have a few ideas of my own. But I’ll let you choose a couple of sexy little numbers to add to your suitcase. »

The girls laugh at their mother’s flustered expression. The surprise has truly been a success.

Elsa still can’t believe it. She tries one last time to get Grégoire to spill their destination, but he won’t budge.

As the girls head upstairs to finish packing for their stay at their aunt’s house, Grégoire explains how he had been planning this for weeks, arranging everything with her boss, organizing the house and kids’ care, ensuring every detail was covered.

« So, there’s no way I’m telling you where we’re going, no matter how sweetly you ask, » he chuckles.

Elsa clears the breakfast table, occasionally glancing at him with loving eyes, hoping he might give in.

It only makes Grégoire smile even more. He pours himself another cup of coffee, watching her with deep affection.