Title: New Year Wishes
Author: Cathy (www.cathyswestwing.com)
Timeline: Our Choice Universe, Tori is an infant
“Whoa, whoa, Victoria Helen, it’s okay.” Josh gingerly picked up his baby girl and rocked her
in his arms. “It’s just some fireworks. They’ll be over in a few minutes.” He soothed her. Of all
their children Tori seemed the most sensitive to noises. She continued to wail her protest
over the loud noises outside her window while her older brother and sister slept through it
without a twitch.
“Want me to take her?” Donna asked blearily from the doorway that was currently holding her
upright. As the provider of Tori’s meals, she hadn’t had a full night’s sleep in a few months.
Josh kissed his wife’s forehead.
“I’ve got her. Got back to bed.” Josh suggested and Donna needed no further urging.
“Okay, Princess, let’s see what we can do to calm you down.” Josh turned on Tori’s CD player
and turned up the volume of the music to try to drown out the explosions outside. Tori turned
her head to the music immediately. “You know your songs, don’t you? You are such a smart
little girl.” Josh walked her around the nursery in the age old dance of parents and infants.
“Work with me here, Tori, I’m doing my best.”
Tori continued to whimper and whine until the last of the explosions ceased. “See? All done
now…until next year…or the fourth of July I guess.” Josh moaned at that thought. “Everyone’s
just excited to start a new year. This last year has been pretty tough; the economy, the war.
People want to start over and celebrate the possibilities. Just like you; you’re all sorts of
possibilities. You’ve got unlimited potential, baby girl. You’ve got your whole life ahead of
you.” Josh held her away from his shoulder so he could look into her eyes.
“Just twenty more days and Uncle Sam moves into the White House. He’s going to get things
on the right track so you and your brother and sister grow up in a better place. Part of me
wishes I was with him…but I don’t want to miss any more days with all of you. It’s important to
serve your country, Tori, but it’s just as important to take care of your family. I never dreamed
I would be so lucky to have your mom and three beautiful children to call a family. I’m not
missing another day of it.” Josh chuckled to himself and the sound quieted his daughter.
“That’s called a resolution, Victoria Helen. People make them on New Year’s Eve so they can
start over personally too.” Josh explained and his voice kept his daughter’s full attention. “I
resolve, that in the New Year, I will spend more time with my family and less time on work. Any
seconds?” Tori obligingly responded with a noise and a fist wave. “Seeing as there’s only one
vote for and none against, the resolution carries.” Josh decreed and sat in the rocking chair
in the nursery. He took Tori’s hands in his and waved them above her head. “Yeah…..the
crowd goes wild.”
“I mean it, Tori. New house, new job, new rules. It’s going to be a great year.” Josh promised.
“Do I get any vote in this or is it just you and Tori?” Donna asked as she came to sit by his
feet and watch him play with their new daughter.
“I thought you went back to sleep.”
“Couldn’t sleep. I may be too tired to sleep.” Donna yawned. “And you two sounded like you
were having too much fun in here.” Donna motioned to the baby monitor sitting in the corner.
“We sucked her into our fun, Tori. Nobody can resist us, right?” Josh kissed his daughters’
cheek. She mewled and turned her head away.
“Hey! Don’t be blowing off your dad’s kisses!” Josh protested and tickled her at the same
time. Tori squirmed and giggled a bit.
“I’ll take one.” Donna pouted.
“You can have all you want.” Josh promised huskily and put his words into action. Tori’s fist
finally broke them apart.
“She doesn’t like sharing your affections.” Donna muttered and ran her finger down her
daughter’s face.
“She’s fickle like the rest of her sex.” Josh complained.
“Let’s hope she only has eyes for her daddy for the next 20 or 30 years.” Donna offered.
“Hear, hear.” Josh agreed.
“Sam will be fine without you, you know.”
“I know.”
“And you’re a phone call away anytime he wants to run something by you or talk to his friend.”
“I know.”
“Are you regretting your decision?”
“No.” Josh replied quickly. “I’m not!”
“It’s not irreversible.” Donna said quietly and Josh used his fingers to lift her chin to meet his
eyes.
“No, it’s not, but I’m not regretting it and I don’t want to go back to that rat race either.” Josh
assured her. “It’s just going to take a little time to adjust, that’s all.”
Donna laughed quietly. “I think a week or two as the stay at home parent ought to do the
trick.”
“Undoubtedly.” Josh drawled. “Tori and I can handle the other two just fine, can’t we baby?”
Tori neither confirmed nor denied the statement.
“Thanks a lot, kid. Just leave me hanging out to dry all alone.” Josh teased and nuzzled her
cheek.
“She’s so beautiful.” Donna remarked.
“Just like her mother.” Josh replied and kissed Donna again only to have Tori interrupt, again,
sending both of her parents into giggles.
“Mommy, Daddy?” Five year old Ben called from the hallway.
“We’re in Tori’s room, honey.” Donna called as she walked out to meet him. “What’s wrong?
Did the fireworks wake you up?”
“Something did.” Ben replied rubbing his eyes. “Watcha doing with baby Tori?”
“I was just explaining New Year’s Resolutions to her.” Josh explained and rubbed his hand
over his son’s head, making room for his son on his lap. He and Ben had had the New Year’s
resolution discussion earlier that day.
“Baby Tori’s too little for res’lutions.” Ben told his father.
“You’re never too little for resolutions.” Josh argued. “Tori here was just telling me her
resolution is to sleep through the night so her parents can get some more sleep.”
“She did not!” Ben giggled. “She can’t even talk yet.”
“She did too.” Josh insisted. “She also said she’s going to be walking before the year is over.”
“Daddy!” Ben laughed in delight.
“Shhhh…you two. Let’s not wake up Ally too.” Donna admonished them.
“Why not?” Josh teased. “We can have our own New Year’s Eve party.”
“Yeah!” Ben agreed although he wasn’t sure what a New Year’s Eve party was. He was,
however, familiar with parties in general. They’d had a big one on Election Day when Uncle
Sam got elected President. He was all in favor of having another.
“Tomorrow.” Donna insisted, giving her husband a meaningful glare. “We’ll have a New Year’s
Day party tomorrow; after everyone has gotten some sleep.”
“Come on, tiger, I’ll tuck you back in.” Josh handed the baby to Donna and placed Ben on his
shoulders. These were the moments he lived for; his son holding on to what was left of his
hair, squealing in delight at being ridden through their new house on his father’s shoulders.
Josh deposited him unceremoniously on his bed which was shaped like a race car.
“Let’s get you all tucked in.” Josh told him and straightened all the blankets.
“Did you pick your res’lution yet, dad?”
“I did. How about you?”
“I’m not gonna hit Peter Wilkins anymore when he says mean things about Uncle Sam.” Ben
reported solemnly.
Josh nodded sagely and tried to keep a straight face. “It’s never a good idea to hit.”
“That’s what Mom said.”
“She’s a smart woman.” Josh agreed.
“She’s the smartest one in the family.” Ben repeated.
“Excuse me?” Josh choked.
“What?”
“Don’t you think maybe your dad is the smartest one in the family?”
Ben appeared to think about that for a minute. “If you’re smarter, how come you’re always
asking mom for help?”
“Well…because…sometimes I like to make your mom feel needed.” Josh tried.
Ben’s little face screwed up in concentration and gave his dad a skeptical look. “Maybe.”
“Maybe.” Josh scoffed. “Here’s a New Year’s resolution for you, tiger, how about showing your
dad a little respect in the New Year?”
“Why?” Ben asked honestly.
“I’ll show you why.” Josh declared and tickled his son mercilessly.
“Stop! Wait!” Ben begged.
“Who’s the smartest one in the family?” Josh asked, still tickling.
“You are!” Ben cried.
“What am I going to get in the New Year?”
“Recept!” Ben garbled it.
“Close enough.” Josh decided and ceased the tickling.
“Honestly, Joshua.” Donna whispered from the doorway. “You’re supposed to be putting him
to sleep not waking him up.”
“Oops.” Josh shared a chuckle with Ben. “Go to sleep now like your mother, the smartest one
in the family, told you to.” Josh said with a wink, in his best authoritative voice.
“You’re funny, daddy.” Ben declared and rewarded him with a hug and kiss.
“I love you, tiger. Happy New Year.”
“Love you, too. Happy New Year.” Ben leaned over to see Donna. “Happy New Year, Mommy.”
“Happy New Year Benjamin.” Donna kissed his forehead. “Go to sleep.” She whispered.
Josh took Donna’s hand and they walked quietly back to their bed after pausing briefly to
peek in on their oldest daughter. Assured that everyone was in their beds, Josh and Donna
slipped under their bedspread and tried to go back to sleep.
“It’s too quiet out here.” Josh complained.
“You’re just used to the city.” Donna patted his arm. “Your body will get used to it in no time.”
“I guess.” Josh groused.
“I heard you tell Tori your New Year’s resolution.” Donna admitted. “Don’t you want to know
mine?”
“Sure.” Josh shrugged and pulled his wife closer to him so he could run his fingers through
her hair. “What is it?”
“My new Year’s Resolution is show you every day how much I appreciate all these changes
you’ve made in your life for us.” Donna whispered. “It means the world to me.”
“I’d do anything for you.” Josh admitted. “But…if you wanted to show a little appreciation
now…” He leered.
“It’s after midnight!” Donna objected.
“I know, but I can’t sleep now.” Josh began trailing kissing from her ear to her throat. “They
say whatever you’re doing at midnight on New Year’s Eve, you’ll be doing throughout the New
Year…”
“Yeah, only it’s quarter after twelve now, Romeo.” Donna pointed out.
“Really?” Josh asked in surprise. He jumped out of bed and quickly changed their digital clock
to read 11:55.
“Okay, why 11:55?” Donna asked when Josh joined her in bed and resumed the kissing.
“I need a couple minutes to warm up here, Donna!” He stated in an affronted tone.
“Of course. I should appreciate the warm up act.” She laughed, but she sobered when she
saw the expression on her husband’s face.
“I love you, Donnatella. Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, Joshua.” Looking into his eyes she knew all their New Year’s wishes would
come true.
The End.