Hey Mandie Fan Fam!:) I can't believe it's just over a month until Christmas! Who else is super excited?!

Review responses:

Booklover: Yay! You made an account right? You're writing Mandie and the Pirates Secret, right? It's soooo good, your writing style is amazing!

Bookworm: Don't worry, I will eventually finish this story:)

IamMandieShaw: Yes I will write more! I actually have the rest of the story written, I'm currently trying to finish editing it.

Erin Elizabeth: Coincidence? I think not :D

Guest: Don't worry about nagging me to update, I sometimes need a reminder. Thanks for reviewing3

CantDecideOnUsername: You are my favourite reviewer ever! You're so into the story and your reviews make my day! I really hope you write more Mandie stories, I reaaallllyyy loved your Mandie meets Joe story. Love you:)

Ok, now onto chapter 11! Please enjoy:)

"Thank y'all for waiting for me. I hope you didn't mind." Mandie said as she walked over to where Dimar, Sallie, and Joe were standing at the porch. Joe looked distant and slightly hurt.

"Oh we didn't mind at all Mandie." Sallie told her.

"Let's go and get the Christmas tree now." Dimar said.

They all walked towards the woods.

"Girls find tree, boys cut." Uncle Ned said to them. Mandie grabbed Sallie's hand and walked into the tree's.

"What happened back there with you and Joe? Are you alright Mandie?" Sallie whispered once they were out of sight of the others.

"I thought Joe had changed but it was really me who had changed. I now have to pay the price for my stubbornness." Mandie whispered sadly.

"Oh Mandie I'm sure Joe still loves you. He would never be able to love anyone else."

"I just don't know what to think or do anymore."

"Did you girls find a tree yet?" They heard Dimar say loudly through the tree's.

"Not yet but I'm sure we'll find one soon." Sallie called back. "We'd better find a tree."

The girls continued to look around for a tree. "Oh Sallie look at this tree!" Mandie said as she spotted the most beautiful tree she'd ever seen.

"Dimar I think we found a tree." Mandie called. The girls heard rustling in the trees when Dimar, Joe, and Uncle Ned appeared.

"This looks like a good tree." Dimar said as he began to chop at the trunk. It broke Mandie's heart to see Joe just standing off to the side looking hurt and not saying anything. Especially since Joe rarely ever showed when he was hurt or upset. When the tree was chopped down Joe and Dimar heaved it onto their shoulders as they walked toward the house. When they entered the parlor Mandie gasped it looked so beautiful all decorated with holly, ribbons, and she could even see mistletoe in the doorway that led to the dining room.

"Y'all did a such great job of decorating!" Mandie told Tommy, Polly, Mary Lou, and George.

"Your Uncle John is even going to get a Yule Log." Polly said excitedly. At that moment Jonathan, Alice, Robert, and Celia walked in.

"It looks wonderful in here!" Celia exclaimed as she walked into the room.

"I think it looks better in here than it looks outside." Alice said smiling.

"I don't know we did a pretty good job decorating outside." Jonathan smirked. Alice rolled her eyes at him.

"Let's set the tree up." Mandie said excitedly.

"How about the boys set the tree up and some of us girls go and get ornaments Mandie." Celia said.

"That's a good idea Celia. I'll ask Liza if she'll come with the two of us to get the ornaments. Maybe anyone who isn't helping with the tree or ornaments can help decorate the halls." Mandie suggested. Mandie and Celia went to the kitchen to find Liza.

"Whu you be doin' in here?" Liza asked suspiciously as the two girls walked into the kitchen. "If you be looking fo' chocolate cake then you has to wait til' the dance tomorrow."

"We're not looking for cake Liza we need help bringing the christmas ornaments down so we can decorate the tree." Mandie told her.

"You means I has to go up in du attic?"

"Yes Liza."

"But 'dat place has the spooks." Liza exclaimed.

"Me and Celia are going too."

"Fine. I'll goes but if anything moves I be comin' righ back down." the house maid told them.

"Well then let's hurry up if supper's served before we come back down Jonathan will eat it all." Celia smiled. The girls walked up to the attic and looked among the dusty old boxes for christmas ornaments. The three girls found a few shoe boxes of ornaments and were walking down a flight of stairs and stopped when they heard a male voice around the corner quietly say "I love you Polly." and Polly's voice said "I love you too but we have to keep it a secret for a little longer. Let's tell everyone tomorrow at the ball." Polly's voice said. A door opened and closed and the girls didn't hear anything else.

"I wonduh who dat' was?" Liza said in a whisper.

Celia said "I don't know." she looked over at Mandie whose eyes were staring towards the hall in thought, her face looked sad.

"That must have been Joe." Mandie said sadly.

"No I'm sure that wasn't Joe." Celia said soothingly. "Let's go and bring these to the sitting room."

When the girls arrived in the sitting room they were surprised to see no one was in it.

"It must be dinnuh' time. I has to go help Aunt Lou." Liza told them. Mandie and Celia set down their boxes and went to the dining room, everyone was already seated.

While they were finishing supper Uncle John said. "You young people can finish decorating the tree and then you must all get to bed. The ball tomorrow will begin at seven and we don't want any tired dancers do we?"

When everyone had finished dinner Jonathan asked Liza. "Is there any chocolate cake? We haven't had any yet."

"Get outta here." Liza said shooing him out of the dining room. "There'll be some at the ball tomorrow. So you'll have to wait."

"Well then I can't wait until tomorrow evening." Jonathan said playfully. Alice rolled her eyes at him.

The young people decorated the tree. When they had finished Jonathan whisked Alice away beneath the mistletoe. Mandie smiled as she saw the two kissing. Couples were all standing around the tree except for Joe, Polly, and Tommy. Polly and Tommy were talking quietly in one corner and Joe was on the settee. She thought of Joe and decided she should apologize for acting like a child earlier. Mandie walked over to Joe who was sitting by himself lost in thought.

"Joe." Mandie said as she sat down beside him. He shook his head after being lost in thought and looked at her. Joe went to open his mouth to speak when Mandie blurted out. "Joe, I'm so sorry about getting upset earlier I was acting like a child. Could you please forgive me?"

"Oh of course Mandie." Joe smiled quickly. "I didn't talk to you anymore this evening because I thought you might still be upset. I was planning to talk to you tomorrow."

"Oh thank you Joe. But what were you going to talk to me about?"

"I wanted to ask you if you would save a dance for me tomorrow at the ball." Joe said smiling down at Mandie.

"Of course Joe." Mandie said blushing.

"Alrigh' everyone go on to bed." Liza said coming into the room. "De adults have already gone up to bed. Git a move on."

"Goodnight Joe." Mandie said to Joe as they stood up.

Joe reached out and squeezed Mandie's hand. "Goodnight Mandie. Don't forget you promised me a dance tomorrow." He said looking straight into her eyes.

In bed Mandie was trying to think everything out in her head. Everything had become confusing. First the card Polly had that Mandie found that she thought came from Joe, then Celia's note, and then to top everything off she had heard Polly and someone in the hall.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Quick question: Do you think Joe's personality is right? Is he too mature/immature? I feel like there might be something a little bit off with his character, let me know what you all think.

God Bless

~MandieFan