Walkers (Book 1): The Beginning (20 page)
I ran to the bathroom and tried to close the door but he beat me to it. We smiled at each other, kissed then softly whispered "Merry Christmas" before climbing into the shower, together. Warm water and soap being handled by a loved one makes for a very nice Christmas present.
I had a friend that used to wrap all the gifts he gave with the Sunday funny pages. I thought it was a great way to recycle and after viewing all the wrapping paper strewn about the lodge, I had to agree. Of course, the funny paper has gone the way of most humans and wrapping gifts with the funnies probaby would never have caught on anyway.
Coffee was calling my name. I guess no one could open presents until everyone was present. I could have had a lot of fun with that it but didn't want to deprive Mandy, so I saundered into the great room and found a chair.
Duke was the offical gift presenter, in green tights, boots, shirt and pointed hat. I didn't know we needed one or I would've suggested Mason for the job.
Very funny, Brat, I'll remember that come Valentines Day.
Stay out of my head, Meathead, there's still Easter.
The way he looked at me then reminded me of the shower and I blushed, making him laugh.
I allowed Duke to pile my gifts on the floor in front of me while I quietly sipped my coffee and relaxed. When he kept piling them up I started to get concerned. Where did all these come from for Pete's sake. I started looking around the room and saw everyone was waiting for me to start opening them up. Sighing I put down my coffee and started working on them.
The gifts indicated that they had all went out of their way just for me. A beautiful western shirt made by Sarah, and a matching beaded necklace made by Lacy was followed by a gorgeous handmade jewelery box by Flynne. Randy had painted a beautiful portrait of Lacy and another of Mason dressed the way he was when we met. There was even a pet store in the background. Howard had fashioned a antique, brass, belt buckle from a 1960's, Ford Galaxie 500 XL Emblem. Where he got it is a mystery. I was in tears by the time I got the thing out of the beautiful wooden box he had 'wrapped' it in. The picture I'd admired of Mandy's was in a barnwood frame and wrapped by a child. I oood and ahhhed appropriately and hugged the stuffing out of her. Sissy presented me with a piece of barnwood she had burned "Knock before entering". It was for my bedroom door. Duke made a clock out of a computer motherboard which was so outrageous it was beautiful. I didn't know Joe made dreamcatchers, and everyone recieved one with various different feathers and beads. Melody made a group of pictures of each member which was priceless and Sam had made me a rag rug for the floor next to my bed.
It was a wonderful day. Dinner was outstanding with a giant ham gracing the table surrounded with vegetables, breads, pies, cakes and candy. Melody managed a light dinner while we tried to stay away from Davy, our Christmas baby. She slept, mostly but that didn't stop us from staring at her. Lacy took a million pictures and everyone played with the baby. It ws too good and I loved Christmas for the first time in years.
Lying next to Mason that night, I thought of all the wonderful people I had somehow managed to surround myself with. Mason opened the blinds so we could see the stars and when he returned to bed he put something on my stomach. I sat up and gently opened the tissue wrapped package. There nestled in the white tissue (I discovered the next morning in the light of day that the tissue was really toilet tissue) was a crossbow of silver, with a silver arrow on a silver necklace. It was the most beautiful piece of jewlery I'd ever seen.
"Tomorrow, I have a real surprise for you but it's not really for Christmas, just something I wanted to get you." He kissed me on the nose, then turned off the light so we could actually watch the stars. He held my hand as I slipped off to sleep and before I was lost to the night I heard, "I love you, JD."
Didn't I?
To be continued...