Chapter 185 - Christmas Stocking
*It’s not what’s under the Christmas Tree that matters … it’s who’s around it. – Charlie Brown*
Reese grunted an objection as Helen slid out of bed at an hour that was way too early for him to be awake. A year ago, he would not have thought twice about staying up all night after working at one of his clubs. There were many days that he would close a club in the early hours, go work out and run a half marathon around the park, stop at the job sites, have breakfast with a few of his princesses and check in at the office before finally heading to bed.
Now he was quite content to let someone else close his clubs. He still got in a daily workout and runs and had even done the local Jingle Bell Run before they left Morgan City for the holidays. His foremen and site managers still checked in with him daily but were glad that he no longer started the workday on site.
Most of his meals were with Helen and the triplets, Dean and Gigi joined them most mornings and evenings. And he still had two daily calls with Willow and spent at least a few hours every week in the actual office.
He turned 52 over the past year and never before had he been this old. Nor had he been this happy and content.
Opening his eyes, he watched his wife as she pulled on clothes and prepared to go start cooking for the large Christmas meal they would soon be hosting. Smiling, he inched closer to where she sat on the edge of the bed to pull on her Christmas themed pajama pants. Hers was retro *Rudolph* to go with his retro *Frosty*.
“Merry Christmas.” He murmured, pulling her closer to him.
Helen laughed as he pulled her back onto the bed and his chest. “Merry Christmas.”
“I have a present for you before everyone else starts getting up.”
“I feel it poking me in my back.”
Laughing, he rolled his hips rubbing his hardening cock against her lower back. “That’s yours whenever you want it. This is different.”
Shifting, she leaned over and gave him a light kiss. “Something that shouldn’t be opened in front of others?”
“Something that you’re going to need for today.” He admitted with a grin. Moving across the bed, he opened the drawer of the bedside table and removed the small package.
Accepting the small package, Helen was confused when it squished in her hands. Nodding at her, Reese encouraged her to open the package. Under the red and black buffalo check paper was a six pack of pocket packs of tissues.
“Ummmm… thanks?”
“Trust me, Kitten, you’re going to need these today. Just keep at least one in your pocket all day.”
“What do you know that I don’t?” Helen asked her husband.
“I promised not to tell.”
“Well,” she gave him her own knowing smile as she opened the package and handed him and individual pack, “I know that you’re going to need one of these yourself.”
He accepted the package and pulled her down for a kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She murmured against his lips. “I need to get the turkey in the ovens and check the smoker.”
“I’ll help you as long as I don’t have to do anything with the turkey.”
“Deal. I’ve heard about your lack of cooking skills where turkeys are concerned.”
Unable to help himself he laughed. “Yes, Cheryl always thought that any turkey that I tried to cook should have received a presidential pardon.”
“So, I’ve heard.”
“Mom! Are you decent?” Jolene asked from the hallway. “Santa came and we want to open presents!”
“They never grow up.” Helen laughed as she walked towards the door and Reese headed into the attached bathroom.
“Merry Christmas!” she opened the door and found Jolene holding her youngest sister.
All four of the babies had matching footie pajamas declaring that it was their first Christmas. Jaina smiled brightly at her mother and cooed as she reached for Helen.
“I’m only giving you to mom, because I know you’ll be back.” Jolene said as she kissed Jaina’s cheek and then passed the infant to their mother.
“I know, you love your big sister.” Helen kissed her youngest daughter and held her close.
A moment later, Reese stepped around the corner and into view. Jaina bounced and squealed as her shirtless father approached the door. “Shirt.” His wife reminded him, “she likes the nipple rings.”
“I remember.” He smiled as he stood behind his wife and used her body as a shield to give his youngest child an early morning kiss on the top of her head. “Merry Christmas, Jolene.”
“Merry Christmas.” She smiled back at him as Jaina tried to grab his nipple rings. “Holmes and Buckley stayed overnight and kept an eye on the turkeys in the smoker.”
“That was sweet of them.” Helen said as Reese walked away to get a shirt on. “We should go get Christmas started so that they can eat.”
“I want to eat too.” Ty said as he stepped out of the nursery with his daughter and nephew in his arms.
“Stockings and Santa presents, first.” Jaxon said walking out with his middle sister, Janelle, with her head resting on his shoulder.
They made their way down the wide staircase where Dean and JD were coming into the house through the back door. His fellow Seabees followed them in and there was a whole new round of Merry Christmas and good morning greetings.
“I’ve got coffee going.” Bunny said from the kitchen.
Neo was in the living room, distributing the stockings to everyone as they came in. Helen had even made sure that there were extra stockings for the sailors who had no family in the area, or the ability to go home. The two that had stayed overnight were shocked to find out that they had stockings and gifts under the tree.
Ty was watching him closely. Something was up with Neo, and his old friend was not sure what it was. Even more questions filled his mind when the older man would not give Jolene her stocking. It was not until everyone was paying attention to her, did he hand over the felt stocking.
Looking at Reese for some kind of clue, all that Ty found was a knowing smirk. Even Jaxon seemed to know what was going on. Ty did not like not knowing.
The first box that she pulled out was not in any wrapping paper that anyone else recognized. Holding up the silver box, she smiled at her boyfriend. “Who is this from?”
“I guess Santa. It’s in your stocking.” Neo grinned as she tore off the paper and fell silent as she looked at a black ring box.
“Neo?” Jolene asked quietly.
“Open it, Pet.” He whispered back.
Nervously, she opened the box and stared at the ring inside. On a rose gold band was a black rose with a black diamond in the center and thorned vine with bright white marquise diamonds in place of the leaves.
Taking the ring out of the box, Neo dropped down to his knee and Jolene gasped. Helen pulled out her package of tissues and dabbed at her eyes with one. When Bunny and Dean put their hands out, she placed a tissue in each of their hands.
“I love you, Jo. I’ll give you all the time that you need. I just ask that you let me know that someday you’ll let me put the other half of this ring on your finger."
“Before I start teaching next year.” Jolene said as she swiped tears away.
“Yes?” Neo asked and she nodded. After sliding the ring the rest of the way on, he stood up and kissed her.
“There’s going to be a lot of weddings next year.” Dean laughed as she leaned into JD. “O, are you two still going to have a real wedding?”
“If Helen wants to.” Reese replied.
“I want to wait until the babies can walk. We have three flower girls and a ring bearer.”
"Maybe we should do that for our commitment ceremony." Bunny said as she took the hands of both her men
“So, we still have Cheryl, Jolene and us.” JD said and watched Cheryl and Waylon look at each other. “What?”
“We’re going to do the new family tradition of a courthouse wedding.” Cheryl admitted as she handed her dad a box.
Opening the box, he found a sonogram picture that was labeled *Baby Gish* with a date in mid-July.
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