Chapter 132: Christmas
*I can’t think of the last time I had all my kids at Christmas. Best. Christmas. Ever. – Dixie*
Tank deposited Evie in the recliner that a couple of prospects moved into the kitchen. Dixie chased the men out of the room and soon it was filled with feminine laughter and conversations.
With Dixie and her daughters and Nessie and her girls working in the kitchen, they quickly turned out enough breakfast burritos for a small army. Or a clubhouse full of bikers.
As soon as Katie took the last tray out to the dining room, they shifted gears. The pork and beef roasts were quickly shredded. Nessie wasn’t sure that they would need to smoke six of each, but Dixie had insisted.
Evie talked her mom into making her a plate of street tacos. On the second plate, Dixie told her she would just have to wait for the tamales. Grumbling, Evie ate her second helping, approaching her food coma limit.
By ten, the tamales were cooking and Evie was asleep in her recliner. Dixie laughed as Tank carried her to the front room. Shortly after lunch, he carried her out to the charger and buckled her in the backseat.
Dixie and her men followed in the other charger while the sisters and their families followed in their rental cars.
Except for Katie who rode with Absalom. When they were the last to arrive, her sisters gave her a hard time.
“We love you, Katie, none more than me.” Cassie told her twin. “We just want to know if everything still works. Without batteries.”
“I can assure you that, yes, everything still works. Without batteries.” She grinned and the sisters cheered for her.
“Well, indulge us, is it true what they say?” Evie asked and her men were afraid of what was going to follow that question.
“Ummm, yeah.” Katie replied grinning into her coffee cup. “Construction guys do know how to pound their wood.”
There was a new round of cheers.
“Okay girls, the kids have been patient enough.” Dixie warned before they could start a conversation of innuendos. “Tank, Ink, it’s your house. How are we doing presents?”
“Never thought about it.” Tank admitted from where he was leaned against the bar. “I haven’t been part of a family Christmas since before I was in the army.”
“That would have required my family to interact with each other.” Ink admitted. “Evie, pet, what do you suggest?”
“Athos?” she asked the man-child sitting at her feet. “Why don’t you play Santa?”
“Are you sure?” He asked a little nervous. “I don’t know everyone’s names.”
“Lucky for you,” Israel said, “everyone knows their own name. Just call out the name and someone will answer.”
“Don’t worry about anyone trying to get extra presents,” Law warned, “no one wants Nana Dixie upset with them.”
“True story!” One of the older grandsons called out.
“Nelson, why don’t you help him?” Cassie suggested to her son and the same preteen boy blushed slightly and gave a much quieter, “Yes, ma’am.”
Within minutes, the two boys had all the Santa presents distributed. All the kids were already tearing into their presents as they moved on to passing out the other presents.
“Ink, hon, are you okay?” Dixie asked the man as he stared at the brightly wrapped box in his hands.
Ink lifted his head to find the group staring at him. Fighting back the tears that threatened to fall he quietly answered, “I’ve never gotten a present from Santa.”
“Never?” Isaac asked looking up from his own Santa present.
“No. I remember thinking when I was little, if I was good enough, Santa would bring me a present. It never happened." He shrugged off the old feelings of inadequacy. "My parents saw Santa as a poor person belief. Christmas was always a way to help the less fortunate.” Ink said as he tore into the present.
“Miss Dixie?” Athos asked holding a collection of bags that were tied together.
“There’s one for Evie and then one for each of you boys and the twins.” She smiled at his confused look. “Welcome to the family, Athos.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He said cutting the ribbon with his pocket knife.
“Nana Dixie.” She gently corrected. He simply smiled at her as he handed Evie three of the bags.
“Oh, momma.” Evie said pulling out a twin sized quilt with various motorcycle prints in a starburst pattern.
Tank removed a matching full-sized quilt from his blanket. Ink removed his quilt which had the same materials in a log cabin pattern. The other twin blanket bore the same pattern.
Curious, Athos removed his own and found a tree pattern. His was also a full sized with the same material.
“Dads.” Evie said removing the extra large quilt from the final bag. Isaac took the quilt from his daughter. He and his two brothers unfolded the oversized California king quilt.
All of the elements were combined into a single scene. The starburst pattern in the sky, trees along both sides of a road with riders leading to a cabin.
“It should be big enough to keep you all warm.” Dixie said smiling at Athos. “And the road will always lead you home.”
“Thank you, momma.” Evie whispered as she wiped away tears.
“Mom, did all of us get remote control cars?” Law asked pulling out the gas-powered racecar.
“I don’t know what Santa brought all you boys. But it does look like you all got racers.” Dixie answered.
“Evie, my darling sister-in-law…” Cassie’s husband, Enrique, said sweetly.
“Go play. Take my boys with you.” Evie said accepting kisses from her husbands. Athos kissed her on the temple as he moved to get his still unopened Santa present.
“I need my blanket so I can take a nap and the little elves under the age of eighteen can pick up the mess.”
