“What wish would that be?”
“A smile on your face and you in my arms.”Corny, but effective.
Thankfully, her dad isn’t here yet, but I’m ready. I would crush the man in sight if it wasn't for the fact that Finn still has an attachment with him.
“Lottie, come on. Presents!” Finn shouts from the living room. She gawks at me, tilting her head as the curiosity grows.
“You thought I’d come empty handed?”
“You didn’t have to,” she whispers.
“Yeah, I know.” I give her a gentle push down the hallway.
It's not much but it’s something. Finn sits by the tree, waiting on us, the giddiness in his smile and the small bounce he does, the kid is excited. Charlotte is very warily, not completely taking down her guard. But I can see the crack in her barrier.
“Can we open them now, please?” Finn’s eyes soften with a tiny pout on his lips.
Charlotte rolls her eyes, but nods her head. Finn passes out the gifts, one for Lilly, himself, and her.
Lilly isn’t shy, she tears into the wrapped gift, but the silenced look in awe brings a little joy.
“Oh, Keola you didn't have to,” she gasps. She takes out a bottle of Buffalo Trace, vintage bourbon. This one was special because of the experimentation of the french oak barrel. She’s overjoyed, but unlikely to share with anyone.
Charlotte gasps at me, curious to know how I knew it was her aunt’s favorite whiskey, I have my sources. I give her a knowing look.
“Thank you,cher,” she stands to give me a hug, wrapping tight around my neck.
Finn interjects and asks his aunt if he can open his, she shrugs, not knowing that I couldn’t come empty handed.
He tears open his gift and wonders what is inside the box. He’s not a typical kid, he’s smart, curious, conniving, generous, and so much more. He’s ten going thirty. He rips open the box, and brings out a vintage, wrapped in the original green cloth, the first edition ofPeter and Wendywith the original printing of the illustrations. He’s in awe as he carefully thumbs through the pages.
“How did you?” He tries to form words, but soon renders speechless again.
“Have to know where to look,” I wink at him.
Charlotte stills, possibly in disbelief, then whispers, “Keola, that’s a pretty penny.”
I raise her chin with my finger towards me, “And it’s worth it all.”
The kid and I may have our banter, but he’s an amazing kid. A lot of credit to his upbringing.
“And I believe auntie has a gift, too,” I say softly.
I extend out my palm behind her, as Finn graciously places it there. “Merry Christmas, angel.” Before she can speak, I place a soft, tender kiss on her lips. She breathes in and releases a soft moan only I can hear. “Open it.”
She hesitates, but quickly opens it, it’s not to others, but it’ll mean something to the both of us.
Wrapped in tissue papers lay two things. one, a stencil of the vine and thorns to get redone on her side. I was able to get a snapshot of her side piece and show it to Memphis, and he said it wouldn’t be a problem, we just needed the wound to heal properly and it would be good to go.
But the second stencil, that was a collaborative piece.
“Honey, you got me two tattoos,” she giggles, not fully seeing the second one.
“Look again,” I tell her.
She studies it, then slowly realizes what it was.
The grim wolf's skull outlined with feathered out angel wings, with my name at the bottom. Tessa has hers with her bear print attached to it, it was slowly becoming a thing where old ladies get our emblem but their added touch, making it their own while still invoking our traditions.
