SHELTER

Chapter 15

"Well I'm beyond happy. Not only will Warren be happy but I can now tease the crap out of Tommy!" Sue squealed excitedly.

Jolie frowned slightly in confusion but brushed it off as she focused her attention on a haystack cookie.

The three women and child stayed in the kitchen a while longer sharing the goodies Jolie had brought and small talk before gathering the remains of the platter as well as an apple cinnamon bread pudding Barb had made and heading out to share their bounty.

The men descended upon the goodies with gusto.  Warren emerged from the mass with a plate full of fudge. His dark hair looked slightly messy but not in a bad way. He'd shaved and she found herself missing his usual five o'clock shadow. The charcoal Henley and jeans combo hugged him in the most flattering way possible.

"You have a couple of pounds of that at home that you don't have to share with anyone you know?" He did is best to give her an innocent looks as he approached. He had no idea just how attractive he was or that that look made her want to find a secluded place to tear his clothes off.

"If I don't hoard some away now I won't get any until we get home. You don't know these men. They'll have that platter gone long before dinner." She watched as he scooted the small paper plate behind a large picture frame on the mantle. "It's my spot but I'll share with you." He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his nose in her hair.

"I love the way you smell. Have I told you that?" She shook her head softly and stared dreamily up at his soft smile.

"Is it time for presents daddy?" Katie whined loudly drawing everyone's attention.

"Not until Uncle Caleb gets here baby. Go take the dolly Santa gave you and show your sister Nina on the couch." Beau looked around sheepishly but most everyone smiled affectionately as the little girl pulled a red haired soft doll from a bag by the door and headed to her little sister perched in a safety seat by Warren's grandparents.

"Has anyone heard from Caleb?" Barb questioned.

"Night before last we talked. He said he planned on leaving around six o'clock to beat the early morning traffic. He should be here any time now, even if he stopped for coffee and gas." Tommy attended to a large glass of milk and several of the chocolate chip cookies Jolie had brought as he shared his knowledge.

"Well alright. I won't worry yet." Barb settled back on the couch into the crook of Hal's arm and sipped her coffee.

An hour later everyone had begun to take turns peeking beyond the curtains out to the roadway in anticipation of the youngest cousin's arrival. An air of eminent concern permeated the mood of the room.

Everyone breathed a sigh when Hal's sister Aunt Bea announced he'd pulled into the drive.

Caleb entered with a look of apology etched in his face. "Sorry to worry everyone. I got a later start than I had planned but I'm here now and we can get down to business."

"Presents!!!" Katie launched herself off of the couch and planted herself anxiously in front of the tree.

Jolie didn't miss the silent exchange between Warren and Caleb. The look Caleb gave was one of avoidance. There was something going on he didn't want to talk about it, especially not there.

Everyone gathered in the large living room as Hal played Santa passing out gifts.

Jolie was surprised to find herself sitting behind a pretty impressive pile of gifts after they had all been parsed out. Warren simply grinned at her from his spot by her side and leaned in for a light kiss.

"Ok everyone gift number 1 at the count of three," Hal announced. Each person sat with their first package in their hands waiting for the word go. Warren had explained this was their family's tradition for as long as he could remember. The gifts were sorted and then everyone ripped into each gift together announcing what they'd gotten and from whom as they went around the room. Jolie surveyed the group of shining faces around her with anticipation.

"One, two, GO!" The sound of ripping paper filled the air followed by ooohhs and awwws of appreciation. "Okay, we'll go clockwise this year."

They started to the right of the tree with Warren's grandmother who had chosen to open Jolie's gift to her and her husband first. She was giddy with excitement about watching her favorite big band moments recreated on television and thanked her profusely. Jolie just grinned with happiness that it had been such a success.

Each person took their turn showing and gushing over their gifts. Jolie had been pleased to reveal the gift of a cast iron cooking recipe book from Aunt Barb. She was flattered that Barb had remembered her offhand comment that she'd always wanted to learn more about that particular art.

 They tore into more gifts and Jolie was pleased to see Warren ripping into hers. She waited with anticipation.

"A new IPod! No way! How? There isn't anywhere around her that sells them? I had to order it online when I bought my last one." He grabbed her and kissed her hard.

"I didn't have time to order it online. It wouldn't have gotten here on time so I had to take a road trip." She blushed at the look of adoration he was showering her with. "I preloaded some music onto it for you too."

He pulled the IPod from its case and started scanning through the music. "Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, The Killers, Foo Fighters. Oh thanks babe!" He smirked playfully pushed her over and she giggled uncontrollably.

"What's so funny?" Tommy asked from across the room.

"Jolie replaced my broken IPod and loaded it with some of my absolute favorite chick music." He announced with a laugh. "She knows how much I love Katy Perry and the Foo Fighters because I've expressed my joy to her when she plays them at decibel 10 in the house and I hide in the garage."

Everyone joined Jolie in her fit of laughter. Warren put his arm around her and pulled her in close for a kiss on the head. "Thanks babe. I really do love it."

A few minutes later Jolie was down to her last gift which happened to be from Warren. She tore into the packaging and ripped open the box to find a new riding jacket.

"It's good quality strong leather like your last one but this one has Kevlar inserts to protect you better if you decide to lay your bike down again in the future." He fingered the elbows to show her the protective sheets.

She pulled the jacket from the box and found gloves to go with it. Tears welled up in her eyes. He really was the sweetest guy. He understood that she was going to leave and still put her first, worried about her safety above it all.

"Thank you." She choked out around her emotion and kissed him.

"Ahhhh..... How sweet!" Tommy mocked them with a roll of his eyes. "I feel that it is time to put my awesome custom beer stein to good use and fill it with beer! Who's with me?"

Caleb raised his and touched it to Tommy's mug with an audible clink.

"It's noon!" Barb admonished. "At least wait until dinner at 2 o'clock you heathens."

"Sure. Like you did with the Baileys?" Barb tried to look affronted but couldn't keep the smile off her face.

"Fine. We're all drunken heathens!" She reached for her coffee mug on the table beside her. "Katie honey, don't listen to anything your Uncle Tommy says."

The room broke out into a roar of laughter. Jolie looked around and felt her heart swell at the faces buried in mounds of wrapping paper and packaging. This is what she'd always imagined Christmas to be like with a large family and it was wonderful.

She felt Warren's arm tighten around her and her stomach fluttered. This, these people, this man, this felt like home.