Donna would admit it was a little overwhelming, the sheer number of people who were in the room, people she didn’t know. Initially, she’d been worried about her kids at what she assumed would be an adult gathering. She was surprised by the number of children there, especially the number of babies. And everyone was welcoming to her and her mom as Rich introduced them.
“Everyone, please take your seats,” a deep voice boomed through the room. Donna turned to see a mountain of a man, who looked as if he were made of solid muscle. His dark skin was a stark contrast to the white clergy stole around his neck and trailing down the front of his dark blue dress shirt, just as the smile on his face was in contrast with his harsh features.
“A-ten-hut!” another voice yelled over the voices when the room had not instantly quieted. This got everyone’s attention.
Donna’s children froze and stared at the man, having never heard the call to attention before.
“Merry Christmas to all,” he said with a big, genuine smile. “I see a few new faces in the room. I am the team's pastor. I go by Lambchop. Since our catering order is running a little late, we’re going to do things a little out of order,” Lambchop announced. “First, I have the honor of baptizing a new life, Dahlia and Michael’s son.”
Thunderous applause filled the room.
“That’s our boss, Shepherd, and his wife, Doctor Diana,” Burke said into Donna’s ear as he pointed at the two people who had just entered the room.
Everyone took their seats, and silence returned to the room. Somehow, Donna’s children knew it was time to stop playing and come take a seat.
Donna watched as a couple approached, the man cradling a newborn in his arms. Lambchop took the child and held him in his two large hands. He placed a kiss on the baby’s forehead. His smile was wide and loving. The parents of the baby looked on, smiling as well.
“What name is given to this child?” Lambchop asked, even though he and nearly everyone else knew.
“Mateo Thomas Cooper,” Michael announced proudly.
“Mato, for short, to include his Coushatta heritage, which means Hawk,” Dahlia added.
“Will the godparents come forward?” Lambchop called, his gaze fixed on Brielle and Sherman. Sherman passed their son, Bastian, to Mother, and they joined them. “Will all four of you lay hands on this child,” he said, more as a command than a question. “Welcoming a new life into the family of God is one of the best sacraments I get to perform. Mateo Thomas’ parents profess their faith and their desire that he shall be raised in the Christian faith so that he will know God. As all of you as witnesses, and by your professed faith, everyone assembledhere today declares that this child will grow up with this family supporting him in his Christian journey.”
Lambchop lifted a vial of water from the table beside him. He removed the fancy lid. He slanted the baby so that his head was lower than the rest of his body. “I baptize you, Mateo Thomas, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” he said as he dribbled the water over his forehead. Then he made the sign of the cross on his tiny forehead. “Lord, we ask for your goodness and blessings to be poured out on this faithful servant. We pray that you will work deeply within his heart and soul to renew and refresh them each day.”
Then he used the blanket the baby was wrapped in to dry his head. He held him upright. “Family, I present Mateo Thomas, baptized this day into the family of Christ. Amen.”
“Amen,” resounded through the room.
Shepherd stood. “Welcome and Merry Christmas to all. Diana and I welcome you. I appreciate the job you do and the sacrifices you make, team members and their family members alike. Our group grows every year, the children being the most precious among us. Having a baptism today drives that point home. I have the honor today to announce another birth will expand our numbers later this year.” He paused and smiled. “When Caleb Smith and Hollyn welcome their child.”
Applause and congratulations broke out in the room.
“Thank you, everyone,” Smith said. “And a wedding sometime before that. We’ll have to coordinate when Hollyn’s family can be there too, otherwise we would have just had Lambchop marry us today, while we’re all together.”
“This job we do is important,” Shepherd continued. “But I understand it can be difficult for the families of our team members. That’s why nights like tonight are important, that we all come together to celebrate the holidays. Part of the team has just wrapped up its holiday leave time; the rest of you are about to take it. And then on January second, we resume our normal operations. As Lambchop said, the meal is delayed; the caterer promises it will be here shortly. As there are so many little ones, we’re going to keep the evening moving. I know we said no gifts this year, but,” he said as Diana rolled a large box from beneath one of the buffet tables. “But Diana and I wanted to do a little something to show our appreciation of the job you do, and you do so well.”
“First the children,” Doctor Diana said, coming to his side. She had an armful of beautifully wrapped presents. She handed them to Shepherd and then went back to the bin and pulled out several more. Her gaze locked with Shepherd’s, and she smiled. “Are we going to?”
Burke had never seen Shepherd appear undecided or uncomfortable. He did at that moment.
Shepherd returned his wife’s smile. “You sure?”
She nodded. “It’s going to be apparent soon enough.”
Burke and everyone else in the room had a feeling it was something important, whatever it was they were discussing.
“One more announcement,” Shepherd said. “Diana and I will be welcoming our twin babies in July.”
You could have heard a pin drop in the room for several beats. And then the room erupted with loud claps and wishes of congratulations as the shock wore off and everyone reacted.
At the table where they were seated directly behind where they stood was Alpha Team. They handed presents to Sammy, Johanna, Hahna, Olivia, and Little T. They all tore the packages open and thanked them. Their parents congratulated Shepherd and Diana with hugs.
Then they went to the table where Delta Team sat and handed gifts to Bastian, Sloan, and Kaylee for their tiny twins, and to Lambchop and Michaela’s six-month-old daughter. More hugs and more congratulations followed. Diana grabbed four more wrapped gifts from the bin and approached the table Burke and Donna sat at.
“Merry Christmas, Lilly,” Diana said, handing a gift to her.
