La Patron's Christmas (8 page)

Chapter 12

Jasmine and the kids stepped into the courtyard and stopped. “What happened?” Adam, dressed in a navy blue long jacket, with matching boots, gloves and hat, asked looking around. “Where’d the rides go?” He and the other three looked up at her.

Jasmine stared at her girls. Both so different. Renee looked spit polished, with a pink and yellow coat with white piping, matching pink boots, gloves and hat. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail but looked chic. Jackie wore the same outfit, with a similar ponytail. But the coat tilted to the side and didn’t lay on her shoulders correctly. The hat covered most of her forehead and strands of hair escaped the band holding her hair in place. David wore a black coat, same style as Adam. Maybe it was the color, but he looked older than the others.

“We put them away for now to do something different, something important. Come on, let’s take a seat over there.” She pointed to the bleachers where quite a few people sat, looking around.

“But I wanted to ride the big wheel again,” Adam whined, moving slowly across the courtyard but picked up speed when one of the kids he had played ball with yesterday waved at him.

“What’s this, Mama?” Jackie asked as she took a seat next to Jasmine. “Who’s playing with animals?” She pointed to the makeshift stage with two sheep, a horse and a cow in a loosely made corral Jasmine had housekeeping erect early this morning.

“Wait and see.” She patted Jackie’s leg and half listened to Adam talk to his friends.

“I heard she got caught running in the snow and fell down. Did she die?” one small voice asked.

Jasmine had forgotten to tell the children not to repeat what she’d told them about Sarita and cursed at the oversight. Jasmine strained to hear the answer when Jackie stiffened and looked over her shoulder in Adam’s direction.

“No, she’s not dead. Just hurt,” Adam said turning in his seat to face the stage.

“But what happened? How’d she get hurt?” the voice pressed.

“Did she get in a fight and someone leave her out there?”

“Probably, she’s so mean.”

Jackie turned. Jasmine grabbed her hand to keep her from responding. David and Renee sat in the row in front of her, and she gave them each a stern look, warning them not to get involved. Adam had to learn how to interact with others on his own.

“She’s not mean. Not really. You just have to know her,” Adam said softly. Jasmine released a pent up breath.

“I don’t want to know her,” one kid said.

Adam shrugged and continued to look ahead.

“Here comes daddy,” Jackie said pointing at Silas. The moment he entered the courtyard, everyone stopped talking and moving about.

Jasmine’s chest lifted in pride at the man she’d grown to love with every fiber of her being. Earlier, when she voiced her concerns, he listened and worked with her to make things right. They worked as a team to do this for their den and pack.

“Tomorrow is Christmas,” Silas said into the quiet. “A lot of you have been good all year waiting for this special day.”

Someone snorted.

Silas laughed. “Yeah, not in my den either. I’m remembering a picture of a clown…” Jackie leaned into Jasmine’s side as people looked at them, smiling.

“The year has been tough. We’ve overcome a lot of challenges to the pack and are stronger than ever. The Goddess smiles upon us.”

The crowd applauded until Silas took control again.

“My mate asks that we take a moment to remember the reason for the celebration of the past few days. We play games, have parties and try to find the perfect gifts for those we love. But I ask my pups, why do we do this? I am the best gift the Goddess could give to my mate, and she is my perfect gift. I celebrate my love for her every day. So, why Christmas?”

Jasmine’s heart expanded as tears filled her eyes. “
I love you so much
,” she said through their link.

He winked at her and looked over his shoulder. Jacques and Victoria stepped in behind him with a pedestal in one hand and a book in the other.

“My mate is human. Christmas for the most part is a human tradition, but…” he paused and looked at the crowd. “I believe there are lessons to be learned from everything. And tonight we will sit, listen and learn.” He turned to Jacques and Victoria, who stood quietly dressed in black from head to toe.

“And now, I leave it to you, Jacques.” Silas walked across the courtyard, picked up Renee from the seat he stepped on and sat next to Jasmine. With one arm he hugged his mate and brushed a kiss against her lips.

“
I still expect a gift tonight
,” she said.

“
Sweet Bitch, I give you a gift every night.”

She smiled and moved aside as David climbed on the seat and sat next to Jackie. A few moments later, Adam sat next to Renee, just as Jacques spoke.

“
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about...” Jacque’s deep melodic voice touched her heart and she smiled as Rone and Rose walked slowly into view.

“That’s Rone,” Adam said. “And Rose.”

“Shhh,” Jasmine said and pointed to the unfolding action as Jacques continued telling the Christmas story. When he got to the part where Cameron, the innkeeper, turned Rose and Rone away, Jackie tugged at her blouse.

“Why they do that, mama? She got a baby in her stomach.”

“Because the hotel is full, and they don’t have any rooms left,” Jasmine whispered, knowing everyone heard.

“I’ll find them a room,” Adam said in a loud whisper. Silas placed his hand on Adam’s shoulder and gave him a look.

Jacques and Victoria looked at them with suppressed smiles. At least the kids were listening. By the time the three wise men, Rese, Hank and Danielle, entered with bright colored gift boxes and placed them at Rose’s feet, every child in the stands leaned forward with eager eyes.

“I got a bigger box than that under our tree,” one kid whispered.

“I got lots more presents than that,” another kid said, not bothering to whisper but settled down when Rese stood and stared at him.

Jacques looked at her and continued his narration. Jasmine wondered if he rushed through to the end because before she realized it, Rone, Rose, Rese, Danielle, Cameron, Lilly, Hank and Jarcee were bowing in front of an enthusiastic audience.

Silas kissed her cheek and walked to Jacques.

“The size or the number of the gifts didn’t matter,” Silas said, drawing everyone’s attention. “When the Goddess blesses her children with a gift, nothing in this world or the next matches it, not because of the gift but because of the Giver. That’s why we cherish and protect whatever she blesses us with. Because we believe She gives us Her best.”

A loud roar of cheers and applauds accompanied his words. He waved behind him to the makeshift stage. “In this story, God gave a perfect gift to everyone. He provided a way for humans to communicate and fellowship with Him through His son, the Christ.”

Jasmine sat stunned as Silas explained her faith to his people, offering a different point of view for worship. She had no idea he understood who Christ was and what He meant to her. Heart near bursting she covered her mouth as he led everyone into the song, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

Everyone joined in, even her kids. When had they learned the song? Rone and Rese smiled at her and she knew those two had something to do with this surprise. When the song was over, Silas extended his hand to her. She wiped her eyes, moved Jackie from her lap and stood to meet him.

“My mate has started a new tradition for our nation. In honor of all the humans and half-breeds who live among us and are Christians, on Christmas Eve we open one gift together as a pack. All over the country, every pack is celebrating this holiday and opening a gift with loved ones tonight.”

Jasmine’s mouth dropped at his declaration. She couldn’t believe he’d done that, the wolf nation worshipped the Goddess, not Christ.

Silas brushed his lips against hers. “If it’s good for this Alpha, it’s good for every Alpha.”

She nodded and walked to her mom who wrapped her arms around her. “Merry Christmas honey. It was hard keeping this from you. But we surprised you, right?”

Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, Jasmine nodded.

“Now, everyone please be seated. La Patron and his mate will hand out their gifts to you,” Jacques said. “If you have other gifts to exchange with loved ones, please do that when you return to your homes. The gifts tonight are from our Alpha.”

Jasmine straightened, got her bearings and joined Silas, who had pulled the first of many large boxes closer to them.

“David, Jackie, Adam and Renee, come here,” Silas said, surprising Jasmine again. The children walked forward and stood facing them.

“When we call out a name, that person will raise their hand and you take them their gift. Make sure you tell them the gift is from our den.” Jasmine watched as the children digested their father’s words. They seemed to stand taller but she couldn’t be sure.

“Yes, Sir,” each said after a few seconds.

Silas glanced at her. “
They need to be more comfortable with the pack and not sit with us all the time. Plus, this will help them learn names and the pack will learn them as well.”

Jasmine couldn’t fault his logic and nodded. Silas handed her the first box.

“Alpha Cameron Knight.” She gave the box to Renee, who strode over to Cameron.

“This gift is from our den to your den,” Renee said.

“Thank you, Renee,” Cameron said taking the large box.

She smiled and walked back while Jasmine read the next name. Soon, all the boxes were empty and everyone had gifts except their children. Jasmine wondered when one of them would say something about their lack of presents.

“Mama?” Renee said looking around.

Jasmine smiled, thinking she should have known it would be Renee. “Yeah, baby?’

“Where’s Sarita’s gift?”

Jasmine’s mouth opened and then closed. Well, damn she’d been surprised more times this night than she could count. Just as she started to answer, Silas stopped her.

“
I want to see how this plays out.”

“But Sarita’s gift is upstairs, I was going to take it to her later when she was feeling better
,” Jasmine said.

“
But they don’t know that. Let’s see what they learned today, if anything
.”

Jasmine wasn’t sure Silas was right, but after all he had done to make this the best Christmas she’d had in years, she nodded.

“Yeah, I don’t see any more,” Jackie said looking in the empty box. “Didn’t you buy her a present?”

“She just got here,” Silas said watching the kids.

“But… it’s Christmas,” David said sounding upset. “I’ll give her my present from Aunty. It’s a big box.”

“But it’s a boy’s present, she’s a girl,” Adam said. “Mama, we need a girls present for Sarita.” He turned and looked at the kids across the courtyard holding onto their gifts.

“She can have my present,” Renee said.

“Or mine,” Jackie added. “Sarita’s downstairs in a cradle like the baby Jesus and should have three presents.”

Jasmine and the rest of the family stood in a semi-circle listening as the children planned how to cheer Sarita up with gifts.

“If I wasn’t standing here, no one could convince me, Renee would give away her art supplies, cause you know that’s what Aunty bought her,” Tyrone said before his wife elbowed him to keep quiet.

“Rone, it’s Christmas. You heard daddy. We got a perfect gift already but she missed it and don’t know bout it,” Renee said rolling her eyes at her brother before giving him her back.

Tyrese and Danielle burst out laughing.

Jasmine was close to joining the laughter but refrained when she saw the determined looks in the eyes of her children.

“I have your gifts here,” Jasmine said, taking them from where Victoria stored them. She gave them the gifts she purchased as pack leader. They could open Renee’s gifts tomorrow.

“These gifts are from our den to you. All of you did a great job tonight handing out the presents to everyone, thank you,” Jasmine said and placed a kiss on each forehead.