CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
As everyone sat around the dining table finishing up a delicious Christmas dinner, Sully laughed with the others at Cloud Dancing's imitation of a tourist at the reservation running in fear from what they thought was a charging skunk. In truth it was actually the de-scented pet of the child of a tribesman. The children giggled in glee as the Indian returned to his seat after his demonstration. Snowbird playfully swatted at him. "Cloud Dancing, shame on you, making fun of that poor frightened woman." Waiting a beat, she added, "but it was pretty hilarious at that." This produced a whole round of more giggles.
As Sully chuckled, Michaela glanced at her fiancé in sheer happiness. Without a doubt, this was the happiest, most carefree Christmas she had ever spent. For a moment, she thought back to just one year ago and how she had cried herself to sleep on Christmas Eve, feeling so overwhelmingly lonely and miserable that she didn't think she'd ever be happy again. She certainly never thought that in twelve short months she would be in love and engaged to be married to the most wonderful man alive.
Sully caught her glance and smiled, sending her a sexy wink as he reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He loved the soft smooth feel of her hand in his and looking down at it, he felt pleasure and pride well up within him at the sight of his ring on her finger. He closed his eyes, reveling in the pure joy he felt at that moment. He didn't think life could get much better than this...except for when he would finally bring Michaela home to stay, as his wife.
Gazing at her, he let his mind wander over the past few hours, beginning when she and the children arrived, lugging gifts inside. He had opened the door at her knock and ushered them all quickly inside out of the cold as they had walked the 100 yards down the drive, each carrying several wrapped gifts.
As he helped her off with her coat, his breath actually caught in his throat at her beauty; from her clothes to her hair to her makeup and jewelry, she was simply gorgeous. He had stood stock still with his hands still holding her coat until Hannah giggled and got his attention, pointing up above their heads. As they both looked up, Michaela blushed slightly at the sight of a large clump of mistletoe hanging there. Snowbird looked over and observed the action, remarking dryly, "Come on, Sully, what are you waiting for?"
Handing her coat to Matthew to hang on the peg by the door, amid chuckles and good natured ribbing, Sully reached out and took her in his arms. "Merry Christmas, mé'oo'o," he had whispered before leaning in and pressing his lips softly to hers with the intention of a chaste Christmas kiss. Both instantly feeling the familiar sparks, however, caused a deepening of the kiss as they each immediately forgot they had a very interested audience. After a few moments, Cloud Dancing saved the day with a well-timed clearing of his throat and the two besotted lovers broke apart with embarrassed chuckles.
Later as each person around the table expressed their thanks to God in prayer for what they were most thankful for over the course of the year, the two lovers squeezed each other's hands, each finding it hard to wait for the prayer to be over so they could wipe tears of joy from their eyes.
"Daddy, can we open the presents, now? Please?" Hannah begged, the other children chiming in as Sully came quickly out of his reverie, took a deep breath and grinned at his daughter, nodding his approval. The children squealed and got up from the table, hurrying into the main room and the large gaily decorated Christmas tree in the corner.
The women made short work of clearing the table and putting away the leftovers as the others gathered in Sully's living room to open the gifts. Hannah and Colleen made everyone sit down while they retrieved and distributed the gifts from under the tree. After a few minutes, Michaela and Snowbird joined them, seating themselves comfortably next to their sweethearts.
Once the gifts were distributed, with Sully receiving the largest one, he made the announcement that they would be opened one at a time starting with the youngest member. Everyone looking to Brian, he grinned happily and picked up the largest of his gifts, eagerly ripping off the paper as his mother reminded, "Brian, look at the tag to see whom it's from." He did, announcing (with a little help from Colleen) that it was from Cloud Dancing and Snowbird, as he pried the box open and held up an authentic, handmade bow and arrow set (albeit with blunt tips). The little boy was thrilled and quickly made his way to the couple to give hugs of thanks as Cloud Dancing promised he would show him how to use them, Sully chiming in with his own promise.
Hannah was next, opening a gift from Michaela and the children, a lovely red velvet Christmas dress and accessories. Oooing and awwing, she quickly got up and hugged Michaela tight, whispering in her ear, "Thank you, mama." When she pulled back and ran back to her seat, Michaela found herself wiping a tear from the corner of her eye as Sully looked on with a pleased and understanding smile.
Next was Colleen's turn, opening a present from Sully and Hannah, a complete Hannah Montana outfit, producing a squeal and a round of hugs for her "sister" and "daddy." When she hugged Sully and he hugged her back tightly, she whispered, "Thank you, Sully...Daddy." Sully's eyes met Michaela's over Colleen's shoulder and he whispered back, "You're welcome, sweet girl."
Matthew followed, opening a gift from Cloud Dancing of a hand tooled leather utility belt, made to hold a tomahawk and a knife. Matthew smiled gratefully and reached over, shaking Cloud Dancing's hand, but before he could say anything, Sully spoke up, "Um, Matthew, that gift kinda goes hand in hand with the one from me," and pointed out his gift. "Go on...open it," he softly encouraged. Matthew did so, unwrapping a brand new custom-made tomahawk with his name engraved in the handle. Matthew, his eyes huge, looked from his mother to Sully, a little bit in shock.
"You learned so quickly about using the tomahawk, Matthew. I noticed how you paid attention to every instruction Sully gave you," Michaela explained to her son, "and I have no doubt that you are old enough now to handle such a...weapon...with care. Sully has every confidence in you," she added softly. Matthew felt his heart would burst with joy at this, and standing, he wrapped the new belt around his waist, Cloud Dancing showing him how to adjust the fit. Then picking up the tomahawk, handling it with care and precision, he slid it into its holder. Everyone complimented him on his new manly look and Sully stood to join in. Face to face, Matthew looked up into Sully's eyes and whispered, "Thank you, Sully," both knowing the words held more meaning than just the gift. Sully reached out and drew Matthew into his embrace for a short but warm hug, whispering in return, "You're most welcome...son."
Michaela went next, with Sully handing her his gift. Carefully tearing open the wrapping, she opened the small box to reveal a small, velvet wrapped object. Opening that, her eyes grew large as she stared down in awe at the gift, a Carnelian shell Cameo necklace in a setting of fourteen carat gold with lovely embellishment details. The relief was of a beautiful young woman with her long hair fashionably up. Looking up at him with tears forming in her eyes, she breathed, "Oh Sully...it's beautiful."
He smiled with pleasure at her response, taking it from her hand and gazing down at the piece. "It was my mother's," he explained softly. "My father gave it to her on their first Christmas together...it's a family heirloom, passed down through I don't know how many generations." Undoing the clasp, he leaned over and fastened it around Michaela's neck as everyone commented on its loveliness.
"She reminds me of you...not as pretty, though," Sully said softly, smiling into her eyes. Michaela swallowed hard over the lump in her throat and whispered, "Thank you, sweetheart. I'll treasure it, always," leaning in for a soft lingering kiss.
Sully opened a gift next, Michaela insisting it be the large one, from her, as she couldn't wait a moment longer to see his reaction. Grinning with curiosity as he wondered what on earth could be in such a big box, he ripped open the paper with childlike enthusiasm, opening the large garment box and moving the tissue paper aside. His mouth dropped open and he gasped in pleased shock. Glancing at Michaela's hopeful expression, he reached in and lifted out the magnificent buckskin jacket. Running a hand over the detailed beadwork as the children oooed and Cloud Dancing complimented and praised the workmanship, Sully's eyes met Michaela's. "I've never seen anything so...I can't find the words...it's magnificent, sweetheart."
Michaela couldn't have been more pleased with his response and quickly stood to her feet, taking the jacket from his hands and holding it open for him to try on. He did, and it was a perfect fit, accentuating the color of his hair, the width of his shoulders and his broad chest. He ran his hands over the soft smooth leather, breathing in the delicious scent, appearing every bit the part of a Mountain Man. Reaching out and folding her in his arms, he whispered, "Thank you, Michaela. I...I've wanted one of these for as long as I can remember. How did you know?" She whispered back, "Sully always wore one...I just felt that MY Sully should, too."
Cloud Dancing and Snowbird went next, opening with awe and pleasure their gifts from Michaela of a new hunting knife for Cloud Dancing with a highly polished blade and a beautiful azure blue mammoth tooth handle; and a lovely topaz drop earring and bracelet set for Snowbird. After this, the rest of the gifts were opened and received with pleasure by everyone.
Then, the children looked at each other simultaneously and Hannah got down on her knees and reached behind the tree to bring out a hidden present. All four children stood and came together in front of their parents, proud grins on each of their faces.
Matthew spoke for all of them, "Mom...Sully, you guys probably know we've been doin' odd jobs to make some money to buy you all something for Christmas that was really from us. At first we didn't have a clue what to get...but Mr. Bray suggested this and we thought it was a good idea, so...Merry Christmas." With that, they handed the wrapped box to Sully and Michaela, who exchanged puzzled but pleased glances, Sully acquiescing to Michaela for her to open it. The children held on to each other in suspense as Cloud Dancing and Snowbird exchanged amused glances, anxious to see what it was themselves.
Michaela carefully opened the slightly crooked wrapping as she bit her lip in suspense, Sully helping to steady the box. Finally opening the top, they gasped together at the gift inside. It was an exquisitely designed, large metal "Family Tree" sculpture with beautifully detailed branches and leaves, standing proudly on a metal base. It stood twenty inches tall and twenty-two inches wide. Pictures of each of the children as well as Michaela and Sully had already been inserted in metal frames that hung from the branches. A brass plaque on the base could be engraved with the family name and year established. Nearly speechless at the thoughtfulness and ingenuity of their children, Sully and Michaela glanced at each other with tears threatening, put the box aside, and welcomed all four children into their combined embrace. "It's beautiful," Michaela whispered. "Perfect," Sully added, as they shared their first moment as an emotionally combined family.
Matthew pulled back first to add, "Mr. Bray said we shouldn't have the plaque engraved yet...until the wedding. He said it would be bad luck to do it ahead of time."
"And there's plenty of room to add more pictures when you guys start having kids!" Hannah blurted.
The adults chuckled and agreed, the parents wiping tears and giving each child a kiss, exchanging pleased looks with their Indian friends. This was just another example, in Cloud Dancing's eyes, of the perfection of this union.
Sully, glancing at Michaela and seeing in her eyes his own idea, got up and carried the "Family Tree" over to the fireplace mantel, setting it squarely in the middle where it fit perfectly, as if it were handmade for the spot.
After the mess of discarded wrapping paper was cleaned up, the rest of the day went by with joy and laughter. Everyone had a fantastic day just being together. Several people dropped by to say hello and Merry Christmas, including Loren and Dorothy, Grace and Robert E. and their children, and the Reverend. Much later, the ladies got out the leftovers from lunch and fixed everyone an evening snack, ending with pie and coffee for the adults.
Approaching seven o'clock, Sully announced that his favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," was about to start and everyone eagerly found places in front of the television to watch the touching film, Michaela and Sully snuggling near the roaring fire. Everyone enjoyed the entertaining classic, laughing at the antics of the young George Bailey and by the end, most of them wiping tears as the little girl tells how an angel gets his wings.
When Sully walked Michaela and the children home that night and the kids went inside, he stopped her outside the kitchen door. Opening his new jacket and enveloping her inside to protect her from the cold December breeze, he snuggled with her warmly. Michaela thought her heart would surely burst with happiness as she stood wrapped in the arms of the man she loved, feeling the depth of his devotion even in this simple act.
"Sometimes it feels like May is still years away," he whispered, pressing his lips to her temple as he rocked her gently back and forth. "Yes, I know," she agreed, relishing his warmth and the heavenly scent of the new leather jacket mixed with his cologne. She would have been content to just stand there in his arms the whole night rather than break from his embrace and go inside without him. Neither knew how long they stood thus, until Colleen came to the door to tell her mother of something Brian was doing.
Reluctantly backing away from Sully, but kissing his lips as she parted from him, she whispered, "See you in the morning, hmm?" He moved his head in a quick nod, giving her lips another quick kiss before he let her slip from his arms and into the house. Immediately feeling the absence of her warmth, he wrapped his jacket tighter around himself as he turned to make the trek back to the house alone.
Inside, Michaela shook herself out of her lovesick haze and began the nightly routine of overseeing baths and trying to settle down some very wound up children, although Matthew was more of a help to her than a hindrance.
Just then the phone rang and Michaela picked it up without looking at the caller I.D. "Hello handsome," she answered, very much surprised when her mother's voice replied, "Well, I've been called a lot of things in my day, but handsome was never one of them."
Michaela blushed at her faux pas, managing to chuckle, "I'm sorry, mother...I thought you were Sully."
"Well, that's quite obvious. Why would you think he was calling you...didn't you spend the day with him?"
Michaela blushed again, not wishing to tell her mother private details of her relationship with her fiancé. "Sometimes he calls me to say goodnight," she explained.
"Oh." There was a long pause. "It sounds like the man is crazy about you, Michaela...I just want you to know...I'm thrilled for you that you've found a man like him. I couldn't be happier."
Michaela walked a few paces down the hall, lifting her other hand to the phone in a silent gesture of affection, she answered, "Thank you, Mom...that means more to me than I can put into words."
"Well, as I told you when Rebecca and I stayed with you this summer...I was never a fan of David's and when I found out what he put you through I could have happily throttled him. You deserve the best, Michaela. I truly like Sully. He seems like he will make you a wonderful husband." As Michaela paused, her mother went on, "Now, put the children on so their grandmother can wish them a Merry Christmas one more time."
Later after the kids were in bed and Michaela was just about to settle down for the night herself, the phone rang again. Glancing at the Caller ID this time, she saw it was her sister Rebecca.
"Hello Becca! Merry Christmas," Michaela answered.
"Merry Christmas, Michaela," her sister replied. "I hope you and the children had a wonderful day."
"Yes, we certainly did," Michaela murmured dreamily, remembering all of the wonderful moments she and Sully, as well as the children, had shared.
"Mmm, do tell," Rebecca chuckled, hearing the dreamy sound of her sister's voice.
"Oh Becca...I never thought I could be this happy. When I think back to just one year ago and how miserable and lonely I was...believing I didn't deserve happiness...it makes me shudder!"
"Sully treats you that good, huh?"
"Becca...good doesn't even begin to describe him. Sully is...the most wonderful, the most romantic, the most thoughtful, kind, sweet, honest, trustworthy, brave, handsome... sensuous man I've ever met!"
"Sensuous? Mmm, you've got to expound on that one, little sister," Rebecca teased.
"He's without a doubt the best kisser in the entire world and..." Michaela hesitated.
"And...?" Rebecca chuckled. "I have the feeling you have used my suggestion."
Michaela blushed slightly, even though she knew her sister couldn't see her. "Yes," she whispered in answer.
"And...?"
"And...and it was...fantastic!" she blurted, glad no one was around to overhear.
Rebecca laughed. "I told you it would work. Robert and I had to resort to that on more than one occasion before our wedding."
"I'm so glad you told me about that...we were both going out of our minds!" Michaela admitted in a whisper.
Rebecca laughed again, delighted. "So...what did Romeo give you for Christmas?"
"Oh Becca, Sully gave me the most beautiful cameo necklace I've ever seen. It's a family heirloom. It's breathtaking!" Michaela gushed.
"Sounds like it. Did he like the jacket?"
"Oh yes, he loved it. It fits him perfectly. And...he told me he has always wanted a jacket like that. Somehow, I just knew. Rebecca...we have such a connection between us. It's uncanny. I've never experienced anything like it. We can feel each other's emotions, even hundreds of miles apart. We can almost read each other's thoughts. And even though we haven't actually made love yet...its as though he's already a part of me...and I of him. It's almost...well...it almost frightens me – that it's so perfect. When you called him Romeo a few moments ago...it made me shudder."
"Michaela! Don't go thinking like that! I was only joking."
"I know...but...Oh Bec, I love him so much... I feel like I would die if anything happened to him. And Hannah, I love her already, every bit as much as Colleen or Brian or Matthew."
For the next few minutes, Michaela told her sister a little about the Christmas presents that were exchanged, the wonderful gift the children got for them, and she listened as her sister detailed her happy family day.
"Well, I'm going to get off here and get to bed, little sister," Rebecca murmured, stifling a yawn.
"Yes, I need to get some sleep myself."
"Michaela...I'm so happy for you, dear. And I can't wait until May and your wedding to your Prince Charming." They both giggled when they remembered how Sully had proposed.
"Neither can I, Becca. Neither can I."
"Well, goodnight sweet sister. And Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas. I love you."
"Love you, too."
With that, Michaela pressed the off button on her phone and settled down on her couch bed to dream of her Prince Charming and the wonderful life ahead of them.