Chapter 14: Christmas Surprise
Quick A/N: This chapter is a longer one, enjoy!
(The McGuire House-First Day of Christmas Break)
"Oh Lizzie, do you remember where I put the star for the top of the tree?" Jo McGuire yelled out to her daughter.
"I think you put it in the box with the fake tree Mom," Lizzie shouted back.
It was exactly 5 days before Christmas and the McGuire family was getting ready to put up their decorations. Jo and Lizzie handled the tree while Sam and Matt decorated the outside of the house and the yard. They had a plastic Christmas tree that was older than Lizzie, but still looked pretty good. It had tiny bits of tinsel stuck in the fake needles, but was otherwise naked.
"I found it!" Jo called out.
"Okay," Lizzie yelled back.
"Ready to start?" Jo asked as she returned to the living room where Lizzie was fluffing up the branches.
"Yep. The tree's all ready to go," Lizzie bent the last branch into place.
"All right, I'll start by string the lights around the tree and then you can follow behind me with the garland," Jo instructed.
Lizzie looked around for the white garland that her mother was fond of. She finally spotted it under the wreath that they traditionally placed on the front door. There was a small box next to it marked "Lizzie's first ornament". Curiousity got the best of Lizzie and she opened the box to find newspaper. She carefully unwrapped the ornament to find a porcelain rocking horse with a baby picture of herself in the center.
"Oh how cute," she said under her breath. She didn't remember seeing it on the tree in years past and figured it had been lost for a while.
"Um Lizzie?" Jo sounded sheepish," could you help me out."
Lizzie placed the ornament carefully back into the box," Okay Mom."
She stood up and couldn't see her mother for a few seconds. Then she discovered that Jo was behind the tree. She had started to string the lights around the upper branches, but her hair was all tangled in another branch. She was on her tippy toes, lights dangled all over her and her hair was stuck to the tree. Lizzie couldn't help but laugh at her mother.
"Don't laugh at me Elizabeth McGuire!" Jo scolded.
"I can't help it Mom, how did you manage this one?" Lizzie giggled at her mother's predicament.
"I don't know," Jo started to laugh too.
Lizzie got to work trying free her mother's hair from the tree," Geez Mom, you really got yourself tangled up here."
"I know Liz, could you just free me, this is awkward and it hurts because you're pulling my hair," Jo was still laughing a little bit.
"Sorry Mom, it's the only way to get your hair out," Lizzie finally pulled the last of her hair off the fake tree.
Jo had tears in her eyes from her hair being pulled so much," Boy that hurt."
"Aw Mom, you're crying," Lizzie said.
"I couldn't help it, when some of hair was being pulled it made me tear up, could you go get me a tissue?" Jo asked her daughter.
"Sure thing Mom," Lizzie said and walked to the bathroom to find a tissue for her mother.
(Outside-same time)
"Matt, how did these lights get so tangled up?" Sam asked his son.
"I don't know Dad, I thought you rolled them up," Matt said accusingly.
"Oh right," Sam remembered.
"Well you keep working on those, I'll go find the ladder in the back shed," Matt walked off.
"I'm not rolling up the lights this year," Sam muttered as he pulled another loop out of the lights.
Sam continued working the knots out of the set of lights, trying not to break any of the bulbs. He finally had them all straightened out and set them across the yard so they wouldn't tangle again. Then he reached into the box of outdoor decorations to discover the other set of lights was just as tangled. He sighed and began to work the knots out of the second set too. He began to wonder what happened to Matt when he reappeared as if he'd read his father's mind.
"Hey son, what took you so long?" Sam asked.
"This thing was buried in the back of the shed," Matt explained," I had a bit of digging to do to get it out."
"Okay, well, will you work on untangling these lights so I can get started on the roof?" Sam told Matt more than asked him.
"Sure thing dad," Matt worked on the lightset, untangling it quickly.
"How did you do that?" Sam was amazed at how fast Matt finished his job.
"It's easy Dad," Matt grinned up at his father who was on the roof.
"Well, bring those on up here with you," Sam instructed.
Matt climbed up the ladder and brought the staple gun, knowing his dad forgot it. He almost slipped and shot a staple into his foot at the top, but managed to pull his foot away at the last second. He hated how clumsiness ran in his family.
"Oh Matt, could you go down and get the staple gun?" Sam asked as soon as Matt was on the roof.
"One step ahead of you," Matt handed the gun to his dad.
"Good work son," Sam took the staple gun and started stapling the lights into place.
"I wonder how Mom and Lizzie are doing?" Matt wondered aloud.
"They're fine. Why? Would you rather be inside? Matt, are you afraid of heights?" Sam narrowly missed stapling his finger, but didn't realize.
"Okay Dad, first, watch your fingers there," Matt instructed," and second, I am not afraid of heights. I just wondered how they were doing."
"Watch my what?" Sam asked as he shot 3 staples into his hand," OUCH!"
"Oh my goodness. Dad, are you okay?" Matt shouted.
"Son of a-" Sam started.
Matt's jaw dropped as he'd never heard his father cuss before," Should I go get Mom?"
"Yes please," Sam sucked air in through his teeth. His hand really hurt and as he inspected the bloody circles forming around the staples, he knew this would be a trip to the emergency room.
"Sam McGuire! What did you do?" Jo shouted as she ran out of the house.
"I stapled my hand honey," Sam yelled back embarassed," three times."
"Three times! Good grief Sam! Can you climb down here with one hand? I'll steady the ladder," Jo offered.
"I think I can do it," Sam lowered himself down the ladder and showed his hand to his waiting wife.
"Oh my, those things are in there deep, those are the big staples too, aren't they?" Jo inquired.
"Yes honey," Sam lowered his head.
"Let's get you to the hospital," Jo barked out orders," Matt go ahead and put all this stuff back in the shed, you and Lizzie finish inside and we'll worry about this later. You do NOT go on the roof while we're out, okay?"
"Yes Mom," Matt picked up the lights and replaced them into the box.
Jo and Sam sped off to the hospital while Lizzie helped Matt gather up the decorations. They filled the box and Lizzie carried it to the back while Matt carried the ladder. Then they went back inside to finish decorating the Christmas tree. A few minutes after they got started the doorbell rang.
"Must be Miranda," Lizzie said and answered the door.
"Hey Liz," Miranda greeted her," what are you doing?"
"Matt and I are decorating the Christmas tree," Lizzie told her.
"I thought that was for you and your Mom. Where are your parents?" Miranda noticed they weren't around.
"Dad and I were on the roof and he shot 3 staples into his hand with a staple gun," Matt explained.
"Wow, I hope he's okay," Miranda stifled a laugh.
"I'm sure he's fine, but he has to have the staples removed," Lizzie said.
"Well, do you guys need help?" Miranda asked.
"Sure, we're just finishing up with the tree," Lizzie gestured to the half decorated tree in the living room.
"Oh, I brought Christmas presents for you guys," Miranda pulled four wrapped packages out of her bag.
"Aw, thanks Miranda," Lizzie took the gifts and put them under the tree.
The three had the tree finished in a half hour and then they started to put the rest of the decorations up. Lizzie hung their wreath on the front door while Matt and Miranda placed the silver bells over the kitchen doorway. Then all three of them found the candy canes and each ate one while they put them on the tree.
(McGuire House-Christmas Day)
"How's your hand feeling, Dad?" Matt asked.
"It's better," Sam said examining the bandages on his hands.
"Okay, those were the best sticky buns," Lizzie complimented her mother.
"Thanks Lizzie, that recipe will be yours one day," Jo said," I got it from my mother who got it from her mother."
"Cool, a family recipe," Lizzie said.
"Well, who's ready to open presents?" Sam McGuire asked.
"I am!" Matt exclaimed.
"Man, you are still like a little kid on Christmas Day," Lizzie laughed at her brother.
"You can't tell me you're not at all excited," Matt gave Lizzie a look.
"Okay so I am excited too!" Lizzie flashed a huge grin.
"Let's get to it," Jo herded her family to the Christmas tree.
Jo took charge of the presents, trying to hand one out to everyone to open at the same time. Before long, everyone was surrounded by new clothes, DVDs, CDs and all sorts of new stuff. With one gift left for each person, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Lizzie ran to the door in her Christmas pajamas ( a white silky outfit with little Santa Claus' all over it).
"Merry Christmas McGuires," Gordo announced as he entered the house with gifts.
"Hey Gordo," Sam said.
"How are your parents?" Jo asked.
"Hey I didn't know you celebrated Christmas," Matt said, taking his present.
"I don't, really, but you guys do so I figured I could bring you presents," Gordo smiled and kissed Lizzie.
"Thanks a lot, Gordo," Sam and Jo said as he handed them gifts too.
"You are so sweet," Lizzie whispered in his ear as they hugged.
"I have known you guys for so long, I figured I should give you all gifts," Gordo explained.
"That's awesome," Matt said as he opened his gift.
Lizzie ran to her bedroom to get Gordo his present. She knew he was Jewish, but they exchanged gifts every year anyway. Besides, he got presents for Hanakkuh too. She had bought a new digital video camera for him. It was expensive, but she loved Gordo, so anything wasn't too expensive for him. She ran back down the stairs and handed the wrapped box to Gordo. He opened it and was very happy with it.
"Okay Lizzie, for you, I have a different kind of present. I can't give it to you right now, but tomorrow night, I'll come pick you up and we'll go out for dinner. You'll get your present then," Gordo smiled mysteriously.
(Hilltop Hillridge Restaurant-Night After Christmas)
Gordo took a huge breath, he was very nervous," Lizzie, what I'm about to say is going to be very important, so I want you to listen carefully."
"All right Gordo," Lizzie said suspiciously.
"Lizzie, I've known you for most of my life. I never knew how much I liked you until middle school. When we went to Rome and kissed and started dating years ago, I knew that I truly loved you. I've never been happier in my life. I wouldn't want to imagine life without you Lizzie," Gordo got up and kneeled in front of Lizzie whose eyes got huge," I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I know we are young, but I love you. So Elizabeth Brooke McGuire, will you marry me?"
Lizzie was very shocked and couldn't speak for a moment. Then she managed to squeak out a yes as Gordo slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger.
"Merry Christmas," he said and kissed her hand.
Lizzie leapt forward to embrace Gordo. She kissed him numerous times. Then she realized that they were sitting on the floor in the middle of a fancy restaurant and they got back up to sit at their table.
"Gordo, I don't know what to say," Lizzie whispered.
"Just say you love me," Gordo looked deeply into her eyes.
"I love you David Gordon!" Lizzie exclaimed," but what about our parents? We're only 18, they won't let us get married."
"Don't worry, I already talked to them. We're only engaged, we won't get married until at least after we graduate from high school. I just loved you so much, I want everyone to know you are mine," Gordo flashed his grin at his new phiancée.
"Oh Gordo, I'd never want to be with anyone else. I used to have a crush on you in third and fourth grade. Then in middle school, it came back and I was so happy when we started to date," Lizzie kissed Gordo passionately.
"I know it's unusual to be engaged at 18, but I love you so much I couldn't wait. Especially with the possibility of splitting up this next year to go to college," he explained.
"I don't care, I'm going wherever you go," Lizzie proclaimed.
"So do you like the ring?" he asked.
"Yes it's perfectly beautiful Gordo," Lizzie admired the ring on her finger.
"It used to be my grandma's. When she died, she made it clear that she wanted me to have it for whoever I decided to marry," Gordo smiled," and I knew it would be you."
"I don't think I can tell you enough times how much I love you!" Lizzie said.
"I love you too," Gordo kissed Lizzie once more," what do you want for dessert?"
A/N: It felt very awkward writing a Christmas chapter in June. I hope you like this latest chapter. Please continue reviewing, reviews always make me happy!