Going out and getting the tree was so fun we searched for hours, and we went over at least a thousand trees if not more before we picked the perfect one. Well I should say three one for moms house, one for mine, and one for the lodge. The whole thing was a great adventure and a lot of fun. We covered a lot of ground, and we also had a couple of snow ball fights during our hunt. I think I felt and acted more like a kid during those hours than I had in a very long time. the kids and I got cold but we all curled into one of the guys and used them as our personal furnace, to warm us up. Once we found all three trees the boys cut them down and carried them all home with no problems. We got them all set in the stands and took a nap before we decorated the trees witch took another half a day. I laughed watching Paul and the kids putting up the tinsel and ornaments and bickering over where everything should go.
"Freeze," I screamed, and they all froze where the currently where which sent me into another fit of laughter. I been doing that a lot in the last two days, and I loved the feeling of being free and happy. Once I settled I continued "Pam, Seth, Jamie," I motioned them to my left "Jake, Nate, Ness" I motioned to stand on my right "Maury, Nick, and Paul" stood in front of me and they were all waiting impatiently. "Jamie your group will be decorating mom's tree, Ness your team will be decorating my tree, and Paul your team will do the lodges' tree and me and my mom will Judge. Whoever wins will get a prize." I announced and a couple asked "what" but since I did not know yet, I said "you will find out if you win." I smiled at all of them "now the rules are simple you have two hours to decorate the tree you are assigned you have to find the ornaments or whatever your using in the place the tree is." Some of the younger kids looked confused so I went on "the ornaments that are here have to be used for this tree and whatever is in moms house gets used for that and the same for the lodge." They all nodded and I told them it would begging on go "ready, set, and …go" and they took off to go work on their projects.
Once they were all busy I took the phone and went out on the swing. Once in my swing I dialed a number I have not dialed in a long time. After three rings a groggy voice came on "hello" then she yawned "sissy is that you." I smiled "yes" I paused "Jen I been thinking and I am so sorry" she stopped me and I sighed. "I know honey I am too and I have missed you so much how are you and the munchkins doing." I laughed "we are all good two of us found our mates" I heard her gasp "they are both from that reservation we moved to."
Jen was a cousin who was always more like my big sister even though she is six month younger than I. Our relationship fell apart about a year ago when we got into a fight over her mate and she left and I have not talked to her since. "Honey, who you talking to" I heard said mate Charley in the back ground and before she responded I asked "can I talk to him?" I could tell through the phone she had her eyebrow risen in question "I promise I will be nice I want to apologize" I assured and she sighed. After a couple deep breaths she answered "well in that case, yes but just remember that promise." I nodded but then remembered she could not see me "I will and I love you but now hand the phone over woman."
She chuckled "still the same" as she handed the phone over and I heard "Hello," in a questioning voice. I sighed then said "Hi Charley," he groaned and I continued, "please listen I am so sorry for what went on the last time we seen each other. I love her so much and at the time did not believe any man was good. I know I hurt you both, and I am truly sorry and I want to prove it." He sighed, and I heard him slide out of bed and walk to another room "I am glad that you are willing to try but I will have to see it before I can forgive you. You have no clue how bad it hurt her to leave you. I spent countless nights holding her while she sobbed her eyes out or how many fights we have been in. There are times and days I really don't know how we made it through." I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I knew how hard I took it but I still had four kids and a pride to run so I did not get too much time to dwell on it. "I am sorry," I choked out as I wiped my cheeks dry. "I did not mean to make you cry and," his voice dropped into a whisper "we are coming home for New year's eve and I hope you will be there because," he paused "this next part has to be a kept secret." I took a deep breath, "I will be here and your secret is safe" I said and waited for him to continue. He sighed and continued in a whisper "I am going to porpoise to her." I told him I was happy for both of them and assured him that I will prove to him I am sorry and that I could not wait to see both of them to apologize in person. I talked to both for a while more before telling them "can't wait to see you both and love you both, bye guys."
When I got off the phone I sat there and cried for a little more before I felt two very strong warm arms wrap around me. "Shush, baby its ok whatever it is we can work through it," my loving mate said while pulling me into his lap. I curled into a ball and just cried more feeling so guilty for all the pain I caused my cousin and her mate. When I calmed some I sat up and wrapped my arms around Paul's neck and buried my head in his neck and just breathed him in for a couple of beats. When I pulled back I gently kissed him and thanked him and then told him the whole story. When I finished he smiled "you will make it up to them in no time and you will be as close as ever if not closer." I sighed, "I hope so I know Charley will not forgive me any time soon." He smiled, "maybe not, but if she does he will too specially if he realizes you had a reason" he reasoned. I nodded "Yeah, well I can hope" I said before I remembered something "what happened to the tree trimming."
"I could just tell something was wrong so I told the rest of the crew to keep working while I came and checked on you," he said shrugging. I smiled and kissed him a couple of times before declaring we better get back to the competition. I could not wait to see what the best tree would be. I also figured out what the prize would be. I would have to tell them and take them to get it after words. I would give the winning team a hundred dollars.