Page 118 of Have a Bear-y Little Christmas
I hadn’t gotten to spend as much time with my parents and in-laws as I would have liked over the holidays. Unlike a lot of the younger people, they didn’t stay all the way through past New Year’s, which was understandable. Even though they weren’tthatold by shifter standards, I understood that the call to be back home in their den was too much to ignore. I was starting to feel that way myself. Sure, I liked vacationing, and I still wanted to celebrate holidays on our family’s land, but there was something abouthomeand the routine we were all building up together that made any sort of disruption rather exhausting.
“I heard that there were some very good boys and girls here!” another voice boomed as the community doors opened again, revealing my parents. My father was still my father, and always would be, but he was more relaxed and louder when interacting with the kids. Especially Max, who appreciated someone not handling him with kid gloves. Although Jeannie and I did our best, sometimes it was hard not to mother-hen him.
“That’s us! That’s us!” Max said, skedaddling over to the older man. “Wait, what’s that bag? Did you actually bring presents?”
“It wouldn’t be much of a Christmas without gifts, right?”
“But we don’t have anything for you,” Eva objected.
“Oh, that’s all right. I’m just doing this favor for Santa since he’s off in the Bahamas. If you’re that worried about it, you can get me something real nice for my birthday.”
“Uh… whenisyour birthday, Grandpa?”
He winked at her. “That’s for me to know, and you to find out.”
Probably not the best challenge to issue the three kids who had enough determination to fill the body of someone three times their size, but luckily they were distracted as more and more people revealed themselves. Ana and her children, my mother, some of the kids from the snowball wars who lived close enough, and several others, including Symphony from Addy and Eva’s school. Although they were still academic rivals, the girls had struck up a friendship. We filled the entire area, and everyone spread food, drinks, and gifts over the tables.
I had requested stuff for the kids only, and to make sure there was enough for every child to have something. Even the decorations were absolutely perfect. Fake snow hung from things, red-and-white ribbons tied in bows, wreaths, you name it.
Naturally, with so much hubbub and excitement, we drew the attention of the other attendees, especially the kids. So, after checking in with their parents, we shared our candy with them and invited the adults for grown-up conversation. Yes, we would have to watch ourselves with not too much bear activity or secrets getting out, but that was part and parcel of throwing a celebration in the city.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” Jeannie said once things started to get into a rhythm. Max, Eva, and Addy were running around in their bathing suits, using pool noodles to fight for the right to be true king of the wading pool. Valencia was right there with them, as well as a couple of human kids. I had no doubt each and every one of them would be sleeping well tonight.
“I’m glad you like it,” I said, polishing off the glass bottle of root beer I’d been working on. “It’s a little cheesy, but I wanted to do something special for you and Max.”
“It’s not cheesy at all,” she countered, settling herself on my lap. “No one has ever thrown me a party just because. Well, I know it’s notjustfor me, it’s for all of us, but still...” She trailed off, her gaze going to the middle-distance, but I let her have her time. I knew she was likely thinking of things, or perhaps even processing things, and I didn’t want to interrupt that.
She took my face in her hands and kissed me softly. It was the barest hint of a caress, but my body responded instantly.
Whoa, buddy,I chided myself. We’re in public.
“Thank you for doing this, sweetie. I’m not gonna forget it.”
I reached up and took her hand from my cheek, pressing a tender kiss to her palm. God, I loved her so much. Ever since we’d said it the first time, I made sure to announce it whenever it was appropriate.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” Another little kiss, and I was tempted to deepen it, but then there was a crackle of a Bluetooth speaker and suddenly a Beach Boys version of “Deck the Halls” came on. Jeannie’s eyes flashed, and she stood, pulling me up with her.
“Shall we dance?” she asked, nodding her head toward my in-laws who had taken off their shoes and were cutting a rug at the very edge of the wading pool.
“Let’s,” I said, grinning from ear to ear.
All in all, it was the perfect day. Everyone was laughing, everyone was smiling, and all the kids were having a blast. It was indeed Christmas all over again, minus the snow and cold.
I hadn’t been sure that the whole thing would go over well, because Christmas in July wasn’t an official holiday, but clearly everyone was loving it. That made me feel better about the plan I was putting together for when I put a ring on it.
I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jeannie. And while I felt no need to rush into it, I also wanted to be ready when the time was right.
“Miss Jeannie, Daddy! Come see!”
I tore my eyes away from Jeannie to look at Eva, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Can it wait, sweetie?” I asked.
“No! Come now! Hurry, hurry!”
I shared a look with Jeannie, and she let out a soft sigh. “It looks like we’ve been summoned.”
