*Thank-you so much for all the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much. =)
Over the next couple months Charlie and Mason had moved in together. They were currently living at Charlie's house and they absolutely loved it. Charlie loved Mason being the last thing she saw before she went to sleep at night and the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning and for Mason vice versa. Mason made breakfast for Charlie and Laney every morning and he also took Laney to school before he went to work. He was falling into the father and husband category pretty quickly. It was like he was practicing for the real thing. Laney was enjoying Mason living there too even though Charlie had to explain why Mason was living there when they weren't married. That bothered Laney a little bit thanks to the lessons given to her by her Mammaw. Her Mammaw told her only married people lived together and had babies. That's one thing about Charlie's mom she loved Charlie to death but she didn't agree with some of her decisions because they went against everything she believed. Once Laney got used to the idea and accepted it she started to feel like a real family.
Over those months Charlie continued to get phone calls from Dan but she never accepted them. She always ignored him but he was pretty persistent as he continued to call and call. He really wanted to be in Laney's life but Charlie wasn't allowing that by any means. Dan even went as far as to send Laney letters but they never made it to her. Charlie tossed them in the trash like it was nothing. Laney was happy with the way things were and so was Charlie. She couldn't have Dan coming in to ruin the good times after he was the reason she was going through the bad times. Dan had no place in their lives it was all about Mason now.
It was finally Christmas time in Mississippi and Mason was spending it with Charlie's mom and dad, Charlie and Laney. It was the first time he spent Christmas with them and he was looking forward to it. Charlie and Mason were both really into decorating for Christmas. There was not a bare spot on their Christmas tree in their living room. It was covered with red and green ornaments and ornaments Laney had made in school along with Laney's first Christmas ornament. They were complimented with white lights and white garland with an angel topping the tree. There was a red and green piece of fabric surrounding the bottom of the tree along with presents for Charlie's parents, Charlie's present to Mason, Laney's Christmas Eve present and the one present that caught Charlie's eye and she couldn't wait to get it for Christmas. It was small and it looked like a jewelry box, a ring box. She was looking forward to getting it for Christmas. They had also made tons of Christmas cookies together and the outside of their house looked like Santa's workshop with all the decorations. It was safe to say they were both die hard Christmas fanatics and the two of them together could make their house the best decorated house on the block.
On the morning of Christmas Eve a package arrived at Charlie's house. She signed for it and then took it into the house. It wasn't too big but it wasn't small either. She took it into the living room. "What's that?" asked Mason as he was arranging the characters in the nativity scene back to the way they were supposed to be after Laney switched them around.
"I don't know," she said as she cut the packaging tape and opened the box. She looked in the box and said, "It looks like a present." She pulled one present out wrapped in red paper and saw two more in the box. "Maybe 3 presents."
"Who are they for?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said pulling out the gifts. "There's a note," she said taking it out. "They're for Laney."
"Who are they from?" asked Mason.
Charlie took the paper out of the envelope and read, "Dear Laney, I know I haven't been there for you but I would really like to be there for you. I would really like to get to know you and I'm sorry for everything I have put you through. You never deserved what I did to you and neither did your Mama. I'm sorry but I just want to make things right. I love you so much, Laney and it's killing me that I can't see you. I know buying you Christmas presents isn't going to make things right but I want to give you a Christmas present to let you know I care and I'm still thinking about you. I wasn't sure what you were into but I hope you like it. Love your Daddy." She crumbled up the letter and threw it back in the box.
"From Dan?" he asked.
"Yeah and he can't even spell Laney's name correctly. He spelled it Lanie.. I think spelling her name correctly would be a great start. Should I give her this stuff?"
"That's up to you," he said. "Do whatever you want, Charlie."
"I'm tossing it. She's not getting anything from him. She's not getting a guilt gift. She's going to get tons of gifts from us. She doesn't need anything from him."
"Good idea," he said getting up from the couch to help put the presents back in the box.
"Thanks," she said. "Now let me go throw this away out back so that she doesn't find it."
"Good idea," he said as they walked the box out to the trashcan in the backyard. "I got our plane tickets yesterday."
"Nice," she said. "I'm so excited. I can't wait to meet your family."
"And they can't wait to meet you either. I know they're going to be as crazy about you as I am," he said as he softly kissed her lips. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," she said in return as he took her hand and they headed into the house. They still had some things to get ready for the night and for the next day. They needed to wrap up Laney's presents while she was out with her Mammaw. They had a lot of wrapping to do because they never really got the time to wrap her gifts and they had gone overboard on her Christmas presents. They were in for a long day.
They managed to get the gifts wrapped and hidden again just in time for Laney to return home to get ready for church. They had just put the last gift away when Laney burst through the door yelling, "Mama! I'm home!"
"Hey, Baby Girl," said Charlie greeting her with a hug. "Did you have fun with Mammaw?"
"Lots of fun, Mama. We made a card for Santa," she said handing Charlie the card. "Mammaw told me it would be polite to make him a thank-you card for bringing me presents."
"It is a good idea," said Charlie with a smile as she looked at the card, "very pretty. How about you go upstairs and put your dress on. It's laying on your bed. I want to talk to Mammaw about something."
"Okay, Mama," she said before skipping up the stairs.
Once she was out of sight Charlie said, "Mama, he sent her presents."
"Who sent who presents?"
"Dan, he sent Laney presents."
"Why doesn't he just go away. He left for 6 ½ years. Why doesn't he just go away?"
"I don't know, Mama, but I wish he would. I threw the presents away. She doesn't need anything from him especially a guilt gift."
"Good. She doesn't need anything from him. She is happy. Tell your father. Get something drawn up because this is ridiculous."
"I don't want to hound him with this on Christmas Eve, Mama. I'll talk to him about it another day."
"Do what you need to do because if you don't he's not going to go away."
"What am I supposed to do? He is her father. He does have the right to see her. I can get in trouble for denying him."
"No you can't, Charlie," said Mason.
"He's right, Charlie. He hasn't been there for 6 years. You've done everything for her and he's done nothing. That's got to stand up in court."
"I know but what can dad do about this?"
"I don't know. That's why you need to talk to him about it. Dan shouldn't be allowed contact with her and he shouldn't be harassing you for contact with her."
"I know," said Charlie. "But it's all out of guilt because he has a little girl now.. Why can't he just be a dad to her and leave my daughter alone. I might have to leave for a while."
"And go where?"
"Mason and me are going to Wales for 3 weeks in January," she said. That was the first time she had told her mom of her plans to go to Wales with Mason.
"And what about Delaney?"
"She is coming with us."
"For 3 weeks? What about school?"
"She's only in 1st grade. How much is she going to miss? Plus the school is encouraging it."
"All right," she said, "you are coming back right?"
"Of course," said Charlie. "I'm not going to move over there. And Mason has no interest in moving back right, Babe?"
"Right," he said. "I just need to visit my family every once in a while. And I want my parents to meet Charlie and Laney. They are pretty much my life."
"That's a good idea," she said with a smile. "I hope you three enjoy your trip."
"Thanks," said Charlie with a smile as Laney came downstairs in her dress. "You look beautiful, Honey."
"Thanks, Mama. Where's your dress?"
"I have to go change and then we'll be ready to go to church."
"Okay, Mama," she said with smile. "Mason, are you going with us?"
"I'm fixing to," he said with a smile. "I have to get ready."
"Okay," she said with a smile as Mason and Charlie went upstairs to get ready for church. It didn't take them long to get ready and as soon as they were they left and headed off to their church service.
After church was over Charlie's parents came back to the house with them to open up some gifts. Charlie gave her parents their gifts and then gave Mason his. Mason gave Laney her Christmas Eve present which was an American Girl Doll that looked just like her. "Thank-you, Mama!" she said as she hugged her. "I love it."
"Thank Mason too," she said with a smile, "he helped."
"Thank-you, Mason!" she said with a smile before hugging him. "This is the best gift ever! Her name is Addy."
"Very pretty," said Charlie with a smile. She was happy to see Laney so happy. Laney had seemed like a happier kid lately.
"And Charlie," said Mason, "I got you a little something," he said grabbing the small present."
"Thank-you," she said with a smile as she opened the present to expose a ring box. Her heart starting pounding because this could be the moment she had been waiting for. The one she wanted to happen the most. She was hoping to see a diamond ring as she opened the box followed by a proposal but when she opened the box she didn't see a diamond ring but a sapphire ring. It was still beautiful and breathtaking even if it wasn't an engagement ring. "It's beautiful," she said with a smile.
"I think it reminds me of your eyes. The blue and the blue go so well together. I'm glad you like it."
"I do," she said.
"Expecting something else?" he asked with a smile.
She looked at him and said, "maybe."
"It's not time for that yet," he said with a smile. "But it's coming. Trust me it's coming."
"Okay, Baby," she said putting on the ring. "This is really beautiful thank-you."
"You're welcome and Merry Christmas," he said before kissing her lips.
"Merry Christmas," she said with a smile before they cleaned up the wrapping paper.
"I will take that out back," said Charles.
"I'll help you," said Mason.
"I'm sure I can manage, Mason."
"I wanted to talk to you about something," he said.
"All right," he said, "we can talk outside."
"Thanks," said Mason walking with him.
When they were out by the trashcans Charles said, "So what's going on, Son?"
"I just wanted to ask you something," he said pulling a ring box out of his pocket.
"Go ahead and ask me, Son," he said resting his arm on the trashcan lid.
"I wanted to get your permission for your daughter's hand in marriage. I want to propose to her sometime soon but I wanted to get an okay from you first," he said with a smile.
"You're asking me for my daughter's hand in marriage?"
"Yes, Sir, I am."
Charles hugged Mason and said, "absolutely. You're a good man, Son. You have made Charlie want to live again. You are the first man to truly make her happy. And if you want to marry my daughter you have my permission."
"Thank-you, Sir," he said with a smile. "And this is the ring I chose. Do you think it's okay?"
"You got that on a mechanic's salary?" he asked looking at the diamond ring in front of him.
"And maybe some help from my family.. We are actually a very wealthy family. I just never talk about it. I wanted her to get a special ring so I dipped into my savings. She deserves the best."
"Yes she does, Son, yes she does. So when are you going to pop the question?"
"I'd rather not say at this time but trust me it's going to be special."
"I bet," he said with a smile before they walked into the house.
That night Charlie's parents stayed over to watch Laney open presents in the morning and so they could have a good family breakfast. Laney tore through her presents in no time. She got Barbie dolls, a new bike, arts and crafts, a couple baby dolls and some things for her American Doll. She also got some clothes. She was a very grateful child and she was happy to see that Santa Claus got her thank-you note. Their entire Christmas Day went very well. Charlie and Mason both enjoyed being with her parents and it was the best Christmas Charlie had in a long time even if he hadn't proposed to her. She wished he had but she loved him so much that it didn't matter. She could wait till he was ready to do it. She just hoped it was soon because she was ready to be Mrs. Mason Ryan.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for taking the time to read. = )