Chapter 1
"Uncle Gabriel," Meghan called from the doorway. "You gotta get up. It's Christmas!"
Gabriel rolled to the side of the bed. "We're coming, Meghan."
Renee sat up and pulled on her robe. "I'll get the kids and meet you down there."
She walked into the girls' room and woke Allanah. Amie's bed was empty. "Must already be down there," she muttered. Allanah ran to the stairs, and Gabriel picked her up and carried her downstairs. Renee went into the other room. Aidan sat up in his crib.
"Momma."
"Want to open presents, baby?"
"Pesnts."
"I'll take that as a yes," she said, picking him up out of the crib. Setting him on the floor, she walked to the other crib in the room and looked down at their seven-week-old son. Parker Gabriel had been born just over one month earlier than expected. He was tiny, but growing at a normal pace, according to the doctor.
Renee lifted him out of the crib and carried him downstairs while Aidan ran in front of her. Seth stepped out of his room and smiled at them. "Guess Meghan didn't want you to forget."
Renee laughed. "We definitely didn't."
The whole family gathered in the living room, and the two older kids ripped into their stockings. Once the twins saw what they were doing, they followed. Meghan unwrapped a book, Amie tore open a small stuffed cat, Aidan got a stuffed horse, and Amie got a stuffed dog. Renee opened Parker's stuffed cow for him.
After opening the rest of the stocking stuffers, the kids gathered around the tree. Amie sat on her father's lap, and Aidan climbed onto Renee's.
"I need to get the presents," Gabriel told his daughter.
She scooted off of his lap and sat on the arm of the chair. Gabriel handed a present to all of the kids. Him and Renee planned to open their own once the kids were done. Meghan unwrapped a game of chutes and ladders. Amie opened a doll. The twins each received a pair of footy pajamas. Aidan's were blue, and Allanah's were green. Renee opened a stuffed horse for their infant son.
A half hour later they had opened all of the kids' gifts, except for five. Meghan had several books, a pajama outfit, a fleece top, and an adventure kit that contained a camera and binoculars. Amie's gifts included a stuffed blue pegasus pony, tricycle, a home and stable set, and a fleece outfit. Allanah received a push and ride doll walker and a doll to go with it, building blocks, and a stuffed pink unicorn.
Aidan had a stuffed white pony, blocks, a push and ride racer, and a Little tikes workshop. Renee opened a light and sounds baby gym, a blue blanket, and two sleepers, one striped and the other plaid for her youngest son.
"Uncle Gabriel, what are the rest of the presents for?" Meghan asked.
"Those are from your Grandma Parker," he told her.
Renee smiled. Her mom definitely did try to spoil the kids. Gabriel rolled a large sheet-covered gift out for Meghan. The eight-year-old pulled the sheet off, revealing a chalkboard. She grinned, then asked, "But how can we put it in my room?"
"We'll talk about that," Gabriel said.
Amie ran to the large present with her name and ripped the paper from it. "A horsie!" She squealed when she saw the spring riding horse. Renee's mom bought a play table for Allanah and a play slide for her twin brother. Parker received a teddy bear from his grandmother. The kids ran off to play with their new toys, and Renee and Gabriel sat close together in front of the tree.
Renee slid three boxes, all about the same size, over to him. He piled three boxes in front of her as well, one long and thin, another smaller and compact, and the third even smaller. He opened the first of his and pulled out a pair of blue jeans. "Trying to tell me something?" He grinned as she laughed. "Open the top one."
She did and smiled when she opened a pair of earrings with her birthstone. "Thank you, Gabriel."
He unwrapped a navy blue sweater and a pair of dress pants. Renee tore the paper from a laptop and looked up at him when she saw it.
"You said you wished you could write even when you have the kids outside. Well, now you can."
She smiled to keep the tears of gratitude hidden. She couldn't even speak. Instead, she opened her other gift. She pulled out a leather jacket and gasped in surprise. "Gabriel, you didn't have to get me this."
"Yes, I did. You wanted it."
She looked over and smiled at him. "You're the best man I could have ever met."
Gabriel leaned over and kissed her. Parker's crying interrupted them. "I'd better feed him," Renee said, pulling away. "We're supposed to be at Ian's in an hour."
"Are the sticky rolls done?"
"Yeah. Made them while Santa was here," she laughed. "That's what my mom always did. Let the kids have one and some hot chocolate. We need to save the rest for later."
Forty-five minutes later everyone was ready to go to Ian's for the rest of their Christmas morning. Gabriel dressed in his new sweater and pants. Meghan wore her new fleece top, and Amie had on her fleece outfit. "Me and Medan look alike," she claimed.
"Yes, you do," Gabriel told her as he lifted her in his arms.
"Put down, Daddy. Me walk."
In fifteen minutes, they arrived at the mansion. Ian greeted them at the door. "Everyone's in the living room. Come in."
They walked into the room and saw everyone sitting around the tree. "Kids get to open presents first," Dakota said as she lifted herself into a chair. She smiled briefly. "If only she,"
she said, running her hand over her stomach, "would come early."
"Don't say that, Dakota," Renee told her. "Christmas babies are trouble." A grin crossed her face when Amie glanced up at her with a pout. "I have one, and she came early."
Dakota laughed. "So, how do we want to do this?"
"We always went oldest kid to youngest."
"That sounds fair," Sara agreed. "Here, Meghan." She handed a wrapped gift to the young girl. "This is from me and Conchobar."
She opened a long-sleeve shirt, then a sweater from the Nottinghams and McBrides, and a pogo stick from Danny and Caitlyn. Renee groaned when she saw that present. "You just had to give her that, didn't you?"
The rest of the adults laughed. Darvi handed a box to Amie. The three-year-old tore the paper from it and revealed two shirts, a blue one and a red one. She received a two piece footy pajama set from Sara and a playhouse tent from Danny and Caitlyn.
Allanah sat in her father's lap and Aidan in Renee's while they opened their gifts. Allanah opened a pair of pink overalls from Danny and Caitlyn, and Aidan got a pair of blue coveralls from them. Sara gave her a stuffed cat, while Aidan got a dump truck. Dakota handed the twins the last of their presents. Allanah ripped the paper from a stuffed husky. Aidan opened a small red cowboy hat.
Carina received a plush night light horse, only hers was an Appaloosa. Her aunt and uncle gave her a rocking horse. She got a pair of red lacer boots from Renee and Gabriel and a pair of footy pajamas from Sara. Her cousin, J.J. got a third plush night light horse. His was a palomino. His aunt and uncle gave him a pair of long johns. On the back, they said, "I'm behind the chute." Renee and Gabriel bought him a pair of boots like his cousin's, only they were brown. Sara gave him a pair of pajamas like his cousin's.
Parker received two sleepers and a two-piece overall outfit. Darvi's six-week-old son, Ian Yannick, received a stuffed pinto horse that also served as a night light from Danny and Caitlyn, a black sleeper from his aunt and uncle, a two-piece overall outfit from Sara, and a stuffed dragon from Renee and Gabriel.
The adults sent the kids to play while they opened their gifts from each of the couples. Gabriel opened a set of two computer cameras from Ian, Darvi, Jason, and Dakota, and a digital video camera from Danny and Caitlyn. He smiled. "We can just send video of the kids over the internet to their grandma now." He opened a pair of gloves from Sara and Conchobar. "Always worried about me being too cold," he muttered with a smile.
Renee opened a pair of jeans from Sara, a blue fleece shirt from Caitlyn, and a blue fleece blanket from the others. "Guess this year's color is blue," she joked.
"Your favorite," Dakota teased.
Ian and Dakota received horse-themed gifts. Danny and Caitlyn gave them a horse-decorated throw blanket, Sara bought them a horseshoe door knocker, and Renee and Gabriel handed them a horse head hitching post. Jason and Dakota received some things they still needed for the baby: a mobile from Sara and Conchobar, a blanket for the crib from Danny and Caitlyn, and a rocking chair from Renee and Gabriel. Renee also bought her friend a horse windchime.
The other two couples sat back and enjoyed the scene of opening gifts. They didn't expect anything since they hadn't known the other three couples as long as the six of them had been friends. Renee and Gabriel surprised them though. Gabriel handed an envelope to Danny. "Thought this might help since you're moving in together," he said.
Danny pulled out a gift certificate for a furniture store. "Thanks, man."
Renee handed a gift to Sara, and Gabriel handed another to Conchobar. He unwrapped a guitar while Sara unwrapped a shirt.
Once all the paper had been cleaned up, the adults moved into the kitchen.
*******
Gabe looked up from trying to figure out the wires to his new computer cameras when he heard the door to his shop opening. "Hey, Sara." He grinned at his friend.
"Hey, Gabe. How're things going?"
"Good. Seth's helping us turn the den upstairs into a room for Meghan. We figured she should get her own room."
"You know, there are other ways to have room in the house," she teased.
A blush rose in his face. "Yeah. What did you come here for?" He asked, changing the subject.
"I need to ask you about something."
"What is it?"
"Have you ever heard of the White Bulls?"
"Uh, racist cops? Alabama? George Wallace?"
"Wrong."
"Albinos in Pamplona?" He said sarcastically.
"Last chance, Gabriel."
"Why don't you just tell me?" When Sara gave him a curious glance, he apologized. "I'm sorry, Sara. It's just that Renee had to take Parker to the hospital. He's sick again."
"I'm sorry, Gabe. Maybe I should go. I'll talk to you later."
"No, Sara. Go on. I'm listening."
She sighed. "The White Bulls are dirty cops. Right here in New York. I need an overnight education."
"Sorry. That's not my department," he said, not meeting her eyes.
"Gabriel?" She knew he wasn't telling her something.
He finally looked at her. "All right. I've got this one client, a real conspiracy nut. I don't listen to half of what he says, but his checks don't bounce, you know." When she nods, he continues. "He hates cops. Collects brutality memorabilia. Ax handles, lynching nooses. That kinda thing."
"Okay, Gabriel. Fast-forward."
"Nothing! He just mentioned the name once. I thought it was his usual nutbag B.S."
"Well, what did he say?"
"He swears they have this engraved bullet that they use to kill people. I have a standing offer for fifty grand if I can deliver a real one. You okay?" He asked when he saw her face pale.
"Yeah. Maybe it's better if you leave this one alone."
"Why? What aren't you telling me?"
"Nothing."
"Yeah, now who's lying?"
"Gabriel, I just don't want to put you in danger, all right?"
"Like I'm scared."
"Like you should be. You have a family to worry about. I don't want you getting caught up in this."
"If that was true, you wouldn't have come here in the first place. What's going on, Sara?"
She took a bullet from her jeans pocket with a sigh of defeat. "This is a standard issue Smith and Wesson soft-tip. Except for one thing." She turned it so he could see the engraving.
"Holy-"
"Now, do you think you could find out who in this city could and would tattoo a bullet this way? More precisely, who did this."
"I told you I have a client who collects police memorabilia. He made me a standing offer for fifty thousand dollars for one of those."
"Gabriel, don't even think about it. I'm building a case. Connecting this to certain people might just be the key."
"You're in deep, aren't you?" He asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"What gave it away?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Look, do what you can to find the engravers, but be so careful."
"Yeah. Don't worry."
"No, all I do is worry. I wouldn't even ask you to do something like this, but I'm desperate."
"Don't worry, Sara. I won't let you down."
He slipped the bullet into his pants pocket once she left and went back to work on the cameras. When Renee returned, he hugged her close. "What was that about?" She asked.
"Just wanted to let you know I love you."
She smiled at him. "Doctor said Parker should be fine."
"That's great." Gabriel kissed her cheek. "I have to go out. Should be back within the hour."