“What the hell?” Matt asked as he and Cole both leapt up from where we were all sitting in the lounge waiting on the big surprise.
“Mom, what the hell are you doing?” Cole barked as they both ran from the doorway toward the door. I followed them, and laughed when I saw Keira trying to haul in a huge Christmas tree, wrapped in netting. Even all bunched up as it was, it must have been at least ten feet tall, and a few feet wide. Keira was straining like crazy to drag it inside, while Evie just stood beside her giggling.
“She dragged it from the garage. It was sooooo funny!” Evie laughed.
“Your father usually does this part, but he got held up at work.” Keira huffed, as she gave up and stood, arching her back and puffing breathlessly. She was a crazy woman for even trying to get that monster of a tree in, but I admired her efforts. She was not a woman who ever easily gave in, and I aspired to be like her, strong and determined.
“We’ve got it now. Go and sit down, catch your breath.” Matt said, as he passed her and squeezed past the tree to hold the top.
“So this is your exciting plan?” I laughed as Keira kicked off her shoes, and ushed Evie and I out of the way.
“Yep. It’s time to put up the tree and drag out the decorations. I’m feeling mighty festive today!” She declared.
“Mom really likes the holidays!” Evie sassed as she rolled her eyes cheekily at her Mom.
“Oh, and you don’t?” I asked, shocked.
“I like the presents and the cookies, but Mom is just Christmas crazy!”
“Well bad news Munchkin, because I love the holidays too, and I cannot wait to get that tree up! In fact, I’ll find us some holiday music to really get us all going.” I was being overly enthusiastic to tease Evie, but I did used to love the holidays, and the sight and smell of the tree had only brought back all of my childhood excitement for the occasion.
“Oh Olivia, I have been waiting for someone to appreciate this holiday as much as I do! Thank heavens for you sweet girl.” Keira cried excitedly. “Now pump up that music, and I’ll deal with the drinks and snacks.” She ran off, as excited as a little girl hopped up on candy corns, while Evie just stood watching, rolling her eyes in despair.
“Munchkin, why don't you find us a Christmas movie to watch later, while I set up the music, ok?”
“Ok!” She agreed. If there was one thing that kid loved, it was movies.
“Matt, Lift it!” Cole barked as they came into the room, trying to get the tree through the door. It was almost too wide and they had to squeeze the branches in to get it through, both cursing the whole way.
“No wonder Dad got stuck at work!” Matt uttered as he passed me, making me laugh.
Thirty minutes later the tree was up, and Cole had very methodically wrapped metres and metres of little lights around it. Keira had made us all hot chocolate, and had ginger bread and sugar cookies from the bakery laid out. I had a long playlist of Christmas music playing, and we were all placing the huge box of silver and white baubles on the huge tree, except for Evie who sat in front of the TV, watching without sound, and shoving cookies in as fast as she could. She’d put one bauble on the tree and gotten bored.
I was emotional, but happy, the music taking me back to Christmases at home with my Mom and Dad and making me miss them, but also taking me back to good times I had forgotten. Then Cole or Matt would appear behind me, brushing against me, or running a hand up my back as we worked, and I realised how peaceful and happy I was, there, with all of them. I was home, a new home, and it felt good.
I moved to the coffee table and grabbed up my hot chocolate, loving the marshmallows floating on the top as I took a warming drink. Cole and Matt were putting the last baubles around the bottom, while Keira stood a few steps up a stepladder, doing the top. Cole was covered in glitter, mainly in his hair, from Matt deciding to dump the bag filled with glitter baubles over his head earlier.
“I hope you didn’t put that star on yet!” Kade called, as the front door slammed.
“Not yet, Honey. You made it.” Keira called back. She was beaming, obviously enjoying herself. She had changed into jeans and a hideous jumper with a reindeer on the front. It had bells attached to the antlers and jingled every time she moved, making me giggle a lot.
I dumped my cup back on the coffee table and hurried toward Kade, meeting him in the hall as he strode in. He was in his usual uniform of jeans, CPD t-shirt and leather jacket, and he looked so good! I jumped at him, and was instantly in his arms, pressed against his hard front. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, then pulled him down as I pressed up onto my tiptoes. We met somewhere in the middle and shared a brief, but heat inducing kiss.
“I’m so glad you’re home.” I whispered, as I pulled back and returned to my flat feet.
“Me too. I could get used to coming home to that reception too.” He turned me, and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, ushering me into the warmer living room. Cole had lit the fire and it was toasty in there compared to the rest of the house.
We walked in and Kade instantly burst out laughing when he saw Cole, sparkling as he was.
“Jesus Cole, you spend the day at the drag bar, or strip club?”
“Ha ha!
