Chapter 88

I had arrived early to help Charm finish some cleaning and decorating.

I loved Christmas! It truly was the most wonderful time of the year.

Since I had a much broader selection of Christmas music, Charm asked if I could prepare a playlist. I happily agreed.

I put all of my Pentatonix on it, all of my Barenaked Ladies Christmas songs, save a few that were a little touchy. My Sarah McLachlan and my Dolly Parton, it was my mother's stuff but I loved it. Some Kenny Rogers, also my mom's. Twenty-one Pilot's one Christmas single. And the best O come, O come Emmanuel in the world.

It was a violin instrumental with a bit of piano, it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever heard. One Christmas I had looked up "Instrumental O come, O come Emanuel" after scrolling for awhile I found it.

I danced to it slowly then quickly as the music sped up while hanging garlands and stringing lights.

Charm was in the kitchen cooking.

I was in the ballroom, yes they had a ballroom, dancing to my heart's content.

~~~~~~~

I stood in the centre of the room with my hands on my hips, proud of my work.

The whole room was decorated with holly garlands, inlaid with poinsettias and white Christmas lights. There were a few candles here and there giving off a warm vanilla scent. In the far corner of the room there was a tall Christmas tree that had been decorated beautifully by Charm, and maybe Thresh.

I walked out and began smelling whiffs of ginger coming from the kitchen.

The main entryway was outside of the ballroom and it too had been decorated marvellously. It had a pine garland studded with silver styrofoam berries, wrapping the door frames and ceiling. There was a gift table for the gift exchange and mints in a glass bowl.

Two small Christmas trees stood by the front door, both decorated sharply with blue and silver colours.

I walked through the door that led to the dining room. The table had been removed and the chairs were moved to line the walls. Red and gold ribbons were strung strategically over the ceiling with bows at each dip.

There were three tables, a treat table, a snack table and a beverage table. There was no alcohol because children would be present.

The kitchen door had been left open with red ribbons hanging from the frame to form a curtain.

I walked in and saw Charm hard at work mixing a batch of dough.

"Need any help?" I asked, waving my hand.

She looked up, "Oh, are you done?"

I nodded.

"That's great." She looked around the kitchen, pausing in her mixing, "If you can, would you please prepare the crackers and chips?"

I smiled and nodded.

"Excellent! They're in those grocery bags on the counter."

I emptied the grocery bags and asked where I could find bowls. Once I had those I began filling them.

Out of habit I checked the bags and boxes for ingredients, then moved the ones with gluten to the right and the ones without to the left. Once I was satisfied with that I went back to the kitchen.

"Anything else?" I asked.

Charm was now rolling the cookie dough into balls and placing them on a cookie sheet.

She looked up with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry, but I am feeling kind of swamped. Could you please help with making the dip while I prep the drinks?"

"Of course, of course." I walked to the fridge.

When everything was ready and the house was still Charm asked if I was wearing my current clothes to the party.

I looked down and saw my blue jeans and T-shirt that had a Star Wars picture on it, I laughed, "No, I have a dress but forgot to bring it, I'll head back and go change."

I went for the door.

"No, no. Bring it, but you can change here. That way I can do your makeup."

My hand instinctively rose to touch my face. Charm immediately apologized, "Not that you need it. But it is nice to have, if you do not want it you do not have to wear it."

"I've never really worn any, except for a little lip gloss on special occasions."

"You can go get your dress and then you can decide." She said.

I nodded and headed out the door.

~~~~~~~~~

I didn't wear dresses.

I had never felt comfortable with the feeling of having my legs bare. But, I thought that since I would be having my wedding soon I should get used to the feeling.

I had chosen a red tartan dress with a low neckline. I was a little uncomfortable with showing that much skin so I had also gotten a red lace shrug to wear over top of it. I'd gotten red, low heel, shoes to go with the ensemble.

Once I was dressed Charm sat me down, after I'd said that she could put a little bit of makeup on, she put on some eyeliner and mascara, some toner a little bit of blush and some glittery lip gloss. Just for fun she added some fine gold glitter to my round cheekbones.

I looked in the mirror stunned at how, well, at how beautiful I looked. I had never really been able to look in a mirror and say that I was beautiful.

Charm clapped her hands, "Oh, you look gorgeous! Can I do your hair?"

I laughed, "Go ahead."

As she braided three small strands of hair back she talked, "I used to have hair like yours, back when me and Thresh first met it reached my ankles." She said with a distant smile.

"Hmm." I hummed.

The party started at seven thirty and people began to trickle in.

I welcomed people at the door with Charm, but after a few Lycans glared at me and some even growled, Charm said I should go see if anything needed refills.

I nodded, my eyes glancing warily at the man who'd just bumped my shoulder forcefully as he walked past me.

After I'd checked on the dining room I went to one of the smaller living rooms that had been prepared for the children.

Jordan approached me, her two year old grasping at her dress.

"Hey, how you doing?" I asked.

"Oh, I'm exhausted. Barely got any sleep last night and Josh keeps asking me to pick him up." She said massaging her temples.

I pressed my lips together and nodded in understanding.

I'd been around so many mothers in my line of work, and seen this scenario too many times to count.

I picked him up and rested him on my hip, swaying back and forth and bouncing him a bit.

Me and Jordan got to chatting, she and her mate, Charlie, would be moving into the city after Christmas. I would miss her, she was one of the few mothers at the daycare that liked me.

"…Packing all week, and Josh keeps opening boxes and unpacking," She gave an exasperated laugh, "Don't you baby, yes you do." She gave Josh a little tickle on his side and he giggled. I loved baby's laughter, and Josh still had that cute giggle.

We kept chatting and soon I sensed a very familiar presence. But I couldn't see him. I kept glancing out of the corner of my eye trying to see if he was coming this way.

Then I saw him.

My heart stopped.