Jolie walked through the door full of anticipation. The air was redolent with the scent of fresh brewed coffee and cinnamon. Warren's Uncle Hal came forward took one of their totes and insisted he and Warren would take care of getting the gifts under the tree while she went to greet everyone.
Sue came forward and took her hands. "I'm so glad you came!" Sue and Beau's oldest daughter Katie wrapped her arms around Jolie's leg and stared shyly up at her.
"Hello Miss Katie. Merry Christmas!" The little girl colored and hid her face in the skirt of Jolie's dress but didn't let go.
"Katie honey, Jolie has to walk so you have to let go. We are going to see Gran in the kitchen baby." Katie released her hold and the trio walked through the house to the kitchen greeting and meeting family along the way. There were more faces but everyone seemed to have heard about her and was pleased to meet her.
"Oh we're a good bunch for the most part. I'm biased but it's really true." Sue chattered as they pushed through the kitchen door.
"Barb? Jolie and Warren are here!"
The older woman appeared at the door of the pantry. She looked very festive in a bright green Christmas sweater and jeans.
"Merry Christmas darling!!! I was just getting a bottle of Bailey's to doctor up my coffee. Care to join me?"
Jolie chuckled but nodded and set down the tray she was carrying.
"Oh what do you have there?" Barb poured Jolie a cup of coffee adding cream and a dollop of liqueur to it.
"Just a plate of goodies; some cookies, fudge and candy." She took the mug and inhaled the sweet aroma gratefully.
"Oh fudge huh? Did Warren see that you made fudge?" She gave an amused look over the edge of her mug. Sue was busy making herself a mug of cocoa and rubbing her stomach soothingly but paused when she heard fudge.
"He asked for it actually. It was what he wanted for Christmas. He has his own batch at home that he dug into this morning. That man loves his fudge. Cracked me up!" She got a case of the giggles just remembering his reaction to the confection. She stopped when she noticed both of them staring at her with thoughtful looks.
"What?" Worry tickled her insides.
"It's nothing," Barb broke out in a smile again. "You are right. Warren does love his fudge; it's just that he's kind of skirted around it the last few years. I think it reminded him of his mother. I'm glad he's finally gotten through that." She reached out and took a cube from the tray and popped it into her mouth. "Well if anything was going to do it this would be it."
Sue laughed and snatched a block for her and Katie to share. "Better grab ours now Katie Bear before daddy finds out!"
The girl nodded solemnly and accepted her piece. "Daddy likes candy and eats it ALL!" She announced around the brown mass rolling on her tongue.
Jolie toyed with the handle of her mug anxiously for a moment. She really felt like she should say something to the two women she now regarded as friends about Warren and herself but she didn't know how to start.
"There is something...." she began and faded. Both women paused their actions and turned to give her their full attention. Jolie took a breath and plowed on. She decided the most direct route would be best. "Warren kissed me during a snow ball fight and then we talked and admitted we had feelingS for each other and we are going to see where it goes."
Both women blinked in silence as they contemplated the knowledge she'd just shared.
"Well, I figured it would come to a head sooner rather than later. I'm happy for you both. You are both wonderful people who deserve to be happy. Just be gentle with each other, that is my only caution." Barb reached out and squeezed her arm gently. Jolie just nodded in acknowledgement and agreement.
"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.