“You know we still have presents to wrap, right?” Sonny whispered.

Nodding your head, you finished the sign of the cross and kissed your rosary. “I’m well aware, Sonny,” you answered in a hushed voice.

“Shhh!” Sonny’s Mom said and gave him an elbow to the side.

Sonny gave you a pained look and mouthed “oww!’ You just smirked back. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was a must for the Carisi family. For the most part, you, Sonny and the kids attended Mass every Sunday morning unless it was your weekend to work or Sonny got called in. When that happened you either braved it with the kids or waited until evening Mass.

“Finally,” Sonny said as your row was dismissed.

“What is your problem? Usually, you look forward to Midnight Mass as much as I do,” you remarked.

“I still have to put together the b-i-k-e,” Sonny said.

“Okay. We’re going.” You patted his face.

Sonny placed his hand at the small of your back leading you from the church. The boys leading the way, and Caroline on your hip. Saying your goodbyes to Sonny’s Mom, Dad and his sister, you made it from the church.

The ride home was quiet as all the kids fell asleep, you dozed off too, only waking when Sonny pulled into the garage. Sonny made two trips into the house with sleeping kids. You carried Caroline, Ryan was able to walk in himself thankfully. He was getting too tall for you to carry.

“I’ll get everyone tucked in, then come back down to help,” you said to Sonny.

You put Caroline to bed first and slipped her sleeper on, she hardly woke up. After helping your lethargic kids into PJ’s, then them having to potty, one more drink Mama, and we need a story now, you headed back down the steps.

Sonny had bike parts spread out in front of him. Glancing at the dining room table where the kids had left cookies and milk out prior to going to Mass, was a bottle of Sonny’s favorite IPA. “Oh, so we’re putting beer out for Santa now?” You asked with a grin.

“Ho, ho, ho,” Sonny replied. He took a sip of the beer, then grabbed a cookie from the plate, shoving it in his mouth and giving you a wink.