Mary had always been stubborn, but particularly about her favorite holiday of all. She half wished the boys were still young enough that they believed Santa really did bring their presents, so that all of the magic of the day would be preserved when the presents magically appeared under the tree. She certainly wanted that for her daughter, when she arrived. That was why she was struggling so to wrap all of the presents they had bought herself, so that she wouldn't accidentally have someone wrap their own present, or divulge what was being given in a moment of weakness, or, worse, ruin the surprise.
That was why she was trying to maneuver her large stomach to get the box into position. The perfect corners she could normally put on a wrapped present in her sleep likely wouldn't be there, but at least it would be done. When she saw John and Sam come into the room, she only barely resisted the urge to throw herself over the present. She was so startled that she actually let John take the wrapping paper before she realized what he had done.
Careful. Play it cool. They can smell fear.
"You said I should do it every day, because it's not too much and I'm pregnant, not an invalid." She looked up at each of them in turn with a look that was challenging and stern as she extended her hand like a teacher requesting a contraband item from a naughty student. "Any other questions?"