Chapter 86: Princess Party
*It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters but who’s around it. – Charlie Brown*
Thirty minutes after Monster invaded, Reese’s princesses were still laughing at JD as they gathered around the pool. The sun sails stayed up year-round protecting the pool and sitting area. The heat in the pool was turned up slightly causing it to give off a little steam in the cool air. The outdoor fireplace was roaring, and the portable heaters kept the whole area cozy.
Reese walked out with his arms loaded with presents, he was followed by his princess’ husbands and boyfriends who were also carrying presents. Starting with the younger girls, he handed them out. Once the gifts were all distributed, the men went inside the big house and played pool and darts upstairs.
Each gift, or more accurately, each stack of gifts, was picked for each princess. Even the wrapping paper matched their personality. Disney characters were abundant. As were snowflakes, reindeer and snowmen.
Dean received a new car because she needed it. And new paints, sketch pads and pencils.
Bunny received a letter stating that her remaining student debt had been paid. Between that and her hormones, she sat and cried for quite a while.
Helen went to comfort her and cried with her, instead.
She cried even more when Reese handed over her first present. A trip to Hawaii with her kids when Jolene was better. He wanted them all to have good memories of where Jolene got married.
As Helen looked around at what all the princesses received, she realized that although some were lavish, they were picked for each princess. And they were thoughtful and useful. Most importantly, they all had meaning.
Looking over at Cheryl, she saw that the young woman kept looking at her phone and was getting more and more irritated. Sitting next to the younger woman, Helen gently took her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t been able to get in touch with my boyfriend for nearly three days and it scares me. If something happens, then the forest service will notify his mom and she doesn’t like me. She wouldn’t tell me if anything happens.” As she spoke, the tears and fears that she had been fighting won. One streaked down her cheeks while the other filled her mind and voice.
Dean squealed as she looked at her phone. Although both Helen and Cheryl looked over at her, neither paid her much attention.
“Have you tried doing the track my phone thing or something?” Helen suggested.
“It keeps showing up as unavailable. So, it’s either turned off, disabled or,” she sighed, “he’s in a dead spot.” She gave an involuntary shudder. “I hate that term.”
“Cheryl?” Dean said with a mischievous grin. “Your dad would like you to close your eyes so he can bring your present out.”
“Dean, I don’t think this is the time.” Helen suggested.
“You can argue with your dad.” Dean told her cousin. “But you and I both know that he’s going to win.”
Cheryl sighed and swiped at her eyes with the hand that Helen wasn’t holding. Then she closed her eyes and sat there waiting. Dean quickly ran into the house and a few minutes later all the men came out. The only thing that any of the women were told was to be quiet.
Reese walked out, looked at Gina and motioned for her to zip her lips. Her son-in-law placed a hand over her mouth and received a giant grin and thumbs up. Gina could hold secrets about her work better than Fort Knox. But family matters were open for transmission, telegraph, telephone, megaphone, and, in one case, a full page ad in the Morgan Tribune.
Reese turned back to the house and motioned for someone to come out.
There were several soft gasps and squeals as a man in a formal fire fighters uniform walked out of the house. Helen had never met Waylon but could put two and two together. She smiled at the man as he got down on one knee in front of Cheryl. He smiled nervously as he reached for the hand that Helen held.
The dark olive-green single-breasted jacket was waist length and hugged his broad shoulders. The light olive-green oxford shirt was buttoned up and the tie was expertly tied with a Windsor knot. His blonde hair was cut short and tanned face was clean shaven. His bright smile reached all the way to his light brown eyes, small wrinkles and crinkles around his eyes showed how much time he spent outside in the sun.
Helen placed Cheryl’s hand in his before kissing her cheek and standing up to go over to Reese.
“Okay, princess,” Reese said as he wrapped his arm around Helen. “Open your eyes.”
She blinked her eyes open and then focused on her boyfriend. He smiled at her and nervously ran a hand through his short hair.
“Remember a few months ago when I had to go out of town for training?” he asked, and she nodded. “I came to have a man to man talk with your dad.”
Her eyes flicked up to her grinning father and then back to Waylon. She covered her mouth with her right hand as she realized what was happening.
“He had conditions for me to put a ring on your finger. If you say yes, then I can pull this ring out of my pocket and put it on your finger.”
“What conditions?” she asked quietly.
“I had to talk to your mom and brothers. I had to let my mom know her place in our marriage, which is *not* in it. And I had to promise to accept your answer either way it went.”
“Yes.” Cheryl whispered.
“You forgot one.” Reese reminded him.
“You just told me that one like maybe five minutes ago.” Waylon growled back. “And if you decide to move back home and take that position, your career is more important than mine.”
“But…”
“I can be a fire fighter anywhere. I can transfer or I can move to a new department completely.”
“Are you sure?” Cheryl asked as she brushed a single tear away from the corner of his eye.
He turned his head and kissed her palm before turning back to face her. “I’m sure that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t care if it’s in Colorado or here or on the damned moon.”
“Yes. I love you too.”
Waylon pulled a silver ring out of his pocket with a heart shaped reddish orange Mexican fire stone. He slid it on her ring finger as he looked at her. “I love you.”
“I’m not moving to the moon.” Cheryl whispered just before kissing him.
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