36. Hung

Lil's Christmas Eve started before sunrise. She checked the weather forecast on her phone while sipping the first of many cups of coffee. Trenton could expect temps as low as 28, with a chilly high of 43. Oh boy. This was most definitely not the weather Lil was accustomed to during the holidays. It was a good thing she had ordered cold weather clothes for the both of them. In between fixing Tilde breakfast and making another pot of coffee, Lil worked non-stop on the dinner prep for tonight. She and Ella had divided up the tasks, Ella was taking Christmas Eve lunch, Lil had dinner. Tomorrow, Ella was manning breakfast, Lil lunch, and both women would work together on dinner. The plan was to use the conference room on one, just like Thanksgiving. The control room and patrols would still be manned as usual, so some Rangemen would need more leniency with meal times. Lil was pleased to discover that Carlos and Tank were only working half the day tomorrow, 7 to 3.

Tilde had been keeping herself occupied, with intermittent questions of 'is it time yet mommy?'. Excited was an understatement, the peanut was beside herself. She had a true grasp of the holiday this year and didn't want to miss a single moment. Wearing their most comfortable jeans and festive tees, the girls headed downstairs to enjoy Ella's lunch. They arrived at the conference room to find Ranger, Cal, and Ram loading up plates. Ella was amazing. She had pulled together the nicest salad bar Lil had ever seen. In fact, calling it a salad bar almost seemed like an insult. Everything imaginable that could be put on a salad was there. The sheer number of toppings was staggering. How she found the time, Lil would never know. At the end of a small table, a Christmas elf had placed one small banana pudding… Tilde's radar took her right to it. Ranger was trying not to smile. The small group sat on the floor near the whimsical tree, enjoying their indoor picnic. They discussed the upcoming dinner, "What do you have in store for us tonight Lilly-pad?" Lil winked at her brother. Tilde raised her pudding-covered chin, "Lots-a Fishes!" Ranger chuckled as he wiped her face off. "Pescado." Tilde studied him, then repeated the word for fish in Spanish. Lil grinned fondly at their interactions. "I'm doing something different this year, kind of a take on the Italian-American feast of seven fishes. It should be tasty. Though I have to admit now, I ordered the cannoli from the bakery." The men nodded, Lil had more than enough on her plate, and they didn't even know the half of it. "What's next on your agenda Oakley? I'm free until tonight, do you need any help?" Ram was too sweet. "I think I'm good pumpkin, Tilde and I are going to head upstairs soon so she can have a nap. I'll get a little more cooking done while she's snoozing. Then we'll be back down around 1600 to start the merrymaking. "Mommy got me new dresses. She says I'm gonna look like a Christmas princess!" The men smiled fondly at her. "Did mommy get new dresses too?" Ranger was giving Lil a sideways look while asking his question. "Oh yes, mommy is gonna be beautiful!" He tugged one of her curls, "Tu mama es siempre hermosa." Tilde giggled while Lil blushed.

By three-thirty, the fifth floor was buzzing with excitement. The few men on duty were being kept company by those who were off for the day and the others who had already worked their shifts. Ella was adding water to the stately black tree. It warmed her heart to see the men spending time together, just because. Each of them had really taken to the holiday, it was a first for Rangeman. Lil and Tilde arrived on five, Lil had a small black bag hung over her good shoulder. "Happy Christmas Eve Gentlemen! We have a little something for you!" Those nearest, Lester and Zip, sprung into action. "Now hold on you two, let me get the bag open!" Tilde was giggling, Lester was like a fully grown three year old. Lil dug in the bag, finding the right item for Lester. When she produced a classic fuzzy Santa hat, with his name on the front, he whooped with laughter. Lester placed the red hat on his head with a great smile. The girls passed the rest of the hats out to the waiting men. No one seemed to care that they looked like idiots. Ella was covertly snapping pictures.

Ranger stood off to the side with his arms crossed and his eyebrow raised. His men were children. Lil approached him with a devious smile. "Dulce, I'm not wearing a hat." He was trying to appear menacing, but his mouth kept faltering into a smile. "I know that Carlos, you get a sticker." She peeled the back off a decal the size of a bumper sticker. She delicately placed in on the front of his shirt, taking time to smooth out the bubbles. Damn he was ripped. Ranger looked down, his sticker read 'Hung' in big red letters with the picture of a stocking. He flashed her a wolf grin, that was much more menacing. "Say the word and you can find out Dulce." Oh boy. Proving that he always had the perfect timing, Tank interrupted. He had quite the laugh at Ranger's sticker. Though considering he was wearing a cock-eyed Santa hat… "Hey Tank, can you do me a favor?" He wrapped his arm over Lil's shoulder, "You name it sis." She handed him a small crystal Santa figurine. "Can you hide this somewhere on the first floor. It's a game Tilde and I play every year. Don't make it too hard for her, but not obvious either." Tank gladly accepted the task. "OK Gentlemen, Tilde and I need to head back to the apartment. I'm going to get us all spruced up for the evening and make sure dinner is ready to be delivered on time. I'll see you downstairs after 1800." She gave them a saucy wink and collected her daughter.

It was a Christmas miracle, that was for sure. In less than ninety minutes, both girls were bathed and dressed, and the food was ready to go. Lil called Ram, asking him to grab a few available men and start carting dinner downstairs. She had everything waiting on six trolleys, Ella was making sure the tables were set and ready. Tilde was skipping around the apartment, singing Jingle Bells to Magnus. She was adorable in her fern green dress, brown boots, and large faux-pearls. Her shiny curls were held back with a bronze holly headband. Lil's dress was also green, a classic A-line 1950's silhouette. It was sleeveless and knee-length, pretty and proper. A thin tawny colored belt around her narrow waist matched her tawny suede heels. She pulled the top half of her hair back into a decorative but relaxed style. It was an eclectic mix of Boho meets June Cleaver. It was perfectly Lil.

The men followed the girls down with the feast, Cal was salivating by the time they made it to the conference room. Whatever Lil had made, smelled fricken delicious. With military precision, Ella helped Lil placed all the serving platters and light all the chaffing dishes. Lil gave Cal the signal to send a mass text. 'Dinner was served'. All but four of the Rangemen descended on the room like a third world invasion. They greeted Lil and Tilde as they filed in, Ranger remained to the side, more interested in devouring Lil's outfit. Lil cleared her throat in that motherly way that draws instant attention. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the Rangeman Christmas Eve Feast! For your dining pleasure we have freshly shucked raw oysters, grilled prawns, clams casino, and anchovy salad. Our hot dishes include baked cod over broccoli, calamari marinara with linguine and olives, sauteed scallops with lemon butter, and spaghetti with mussels in white wine. On the dessert table you will find three varieties of cannoli. If you are interested, and have the room, we will be sharing hot cocoa and cookies at 1945, followed by our yearly reading of The Night Before Christmas." All the men cheered. Lil was pleased to see that many were still wearing their Santa hats.

Lil made Tilde a plate and found her a seat by Tank. She then made large plates for the men upstairs that Binkie offered to deliver to Junior and Ace. Hal and Slick were on patrol, but would be back soon to eat before heading back out for a few hours. Ranger waited until Lil made up her own dish before joining the group. He pulled out a chair for her, "You look wonderful tonight Dulce." She blushed a thank you. He touched her arm to get her full attention, "I'm serious, you are gorgeous. And if I forget to say it later, thank you for doing all of this." Lil just nodded and smiled coyly, what could she really say?... Tilde was entertaining Tank and Hector nearby with a funny song about a hippoppotamus. "Lilly-pad, you outdid yourself, this is amazing." All the men in the room agreed. Lil patted her brother's arm with affection. "I know you have to work an early shift tomorrow, do you want to come to the apartment around six to watch Tilde open her presents?" Cal nodded heartily. "Who else is working in the morning Carlos?" He loved when she used his name. "Hector is patrolling with Cal and Tank and I are on monitors until 1500." "Well, then you are all invited to join Tilde and I in the morning, that way you still get Christmas breakfast!" They readily agreed.

The Rangemen were filtering in and out, making more plates or checking out dessert. Everyone was cheerful, offering sincere thanks to Lil and Ella. They each made a point of telling the girls how lovely they looked. Tilde, having finished her meal, was playing at the foot of the large Christmas tree. Magnus was laying nearby, keeping an eye on her and the remaining food. Something shiny caught her eye. "Mommy! I found him!" Her little munchkin voice rose three octaves. Lil giggled as the men looked around in confusion. Tilde was pointing to the back of the drinks table where the crystal Santa proudly sat. Lil clapped at her daughter's keen eye, "Good job Tilde, you know what this means right?" The little girl laughed and bounced, "I get a gift tonight!" Lil reached to the bottom of the last food trolley and pulled out a mickey mouse printed box. Tilde squealed. The Rangemen were grinning broadly. Matilda's happiness was infectious. Her excitement was a nice reminder of what it felt like to be a child. At Lil's nod, Tilde tore the paper from her gift and lifted the lid. Inside was a new pair of Christmas pajamas. Tilde danced around the men, showing off her new duds. "I love these mommy, thank you!" Tilde gave her big hugs and kisses. Lil laughed, "I'm glad Peanut, I have a matching pair upstairs." The men chuckled, Ranger was already picturing Lil in the reindeer printed long-johns. Damn, he was jealous of Rudolph.

As if Ranger had given a silent order, the Rangemen started to clean up the dishes and plates from dinner. It was a close call, there were no leftovers. Shit those men could eat. Cal, Ranger, Bobby, Hector, and Woody stayed for the cocoa and cookies. The rest were split between clean-up duties and work. Lil couldn't ask for better friends and coworkers, having other people to clean-up was fabulous. They ended their evening with two holiday carols and their Christmas story. It was a pleasant end to the day, quiet, intimate, touching. Tilde was falling asleep in Ranger's lap, clutching her pajamas in little fists. He graciously offered to carry her upstairs for Lil.

Once the munchkin was sound asleep in her new jammies, Lil got to work on her next tasks. She needed to make some headway on the foods for tomorrow. Shortly before heading to bed, she called Cal to come pick up a large load of presents that needed to be placed under the conference room tree for the Rangemen. She arranged Tilde's gifts under their Disney spruce and promptly fell into her bed with a tired smile.