Page 87 of Operation: Silent Angel
Ops still had to be staffed, but they scheduled shorter shifts that would switch staff in the middle of dinner so everyone would have the opportunity to eat and socialize with the team. Extra televisions were brought into the rec room just outside of Cooper’s office, where it would take place, so they could watch the football games.
Seven large turkeys were made and brought in by different people. Others brought in side dishes and desserts. Angel purchased paper plates and used disposable silverware to make it easy. That afternoon, about an hour before everyone was due, those who’d planned the dinner plus Cooper and Mother and Annaka were in the office setting up the folding tables and chairs.
“Pretty soon, we’re not all going to fit in this room,” Cooper said.
“It’ll be tight,” Angel agreed. “There’s a vacant office on three that is pretty good sized. If Shepherd doesn’t rent it by Christmas, we should consider having our dinner and celebration there.”
“Or there is that vacant space on nine,” Cooper said. “It’s inside the Shepherd Security protected side at least. We could clean it up, finish it some, and use it for a multipurpose room. I’ll talk to Shepherd about that. We do prefer our gatherings to be on the protected side.”
The lower floors had commercial renters, but any floor above five was for Shepherd Security use only and had the added protection of the security enabled. Those floors could not even be accessed by the general public. A palmprint scan and code had to be entered to use the elevator or enter the stairwell.
“I agree; a finished multipurpose space would be a nice addition to the secure side of the building,” Angel said.
They’d just finished setting up when Jackson arrived with their children, and Doc arrived with his and Elizabeth’s daughter, Olivia, and Hahna. Not far behind them were Wilson and Rae and their daughter Lilly, who ran to catch up with Hahna. The two girls had become inseparable friends.
Yvette and Mac entered next. It would be his first holiday with the Shepherd Security team. Yvette warned him ahead of the event how chaotic the holidays were. Normally, she’d have volunteered for a shift in Ops during the get-together as she was single and she wanted those with families or significant others to be able to stay for the entire event. Today she didn’t. Today would be her first holiday with Mac.
Mac took in the many tables and chairs set up and did an estimated count, shocked by the number he arrived at. It would be a larger gathering than he had thought. Yvette made a side dish, which he placed on the buffet table. He greeted those already there, meeting Rae and Elizabeth for the first time.
Everyone else trickled in. The room soon became noisy and full of Shepherd Security personnel and their families, including Michael Cooper and a nine months pregnant Dahlia Jarboe. Mac greeted Michael and was introduced to Dahlia.
“Wasn’t your due date this past Monday?” Yvette asked her.
“Yes,” Dahlia moaned. “If I don’t go into labor over the weekend, the doctor is inducing on Monday.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t induce you yesterday, so his holiday isn’t disturbed if you go into labor today,” Dahlia’s sister, Special Projects Manager and Digital Team member Brielle said.
“I saw him yesterday, and he said I didn’t appear ready yet,” Dahlia said. “Which is fine. I really prefer that we get married before I deliver.”
Mac noticed she was wearing a white dress. Not a fancy wedding gown, just a white dress, which seemed odd to him. “Are you getting married today?”
Michael grinned. “We are right after dinner.”
“Congratulations,” Mac said.
“Lambchop is also baptizing Sloan and Kaylee’s twins today. It’s hard to get everyone together for events like these, and we all think it’s important that we’re together to celebrate these important milestones,” Yvette said.
“I’m really surprised Mother and Annaka aren’t getting married today too,” Michael said. “They were considering it when I talked to him a few weeks ago.”
“Annaka wants them to wait until his family can be there,” Dahlia said. “It’s important to Mother. Besides, they’re fine and don’t need a piece of paper to legitimize their relationship, which is what I always said until I found out I was pregnant. That changed it for me.”
Yvette understood why she felt that way. “I still can’t believe you didn’t even show until you were six months along. It was like one day you had a flat stomach; the next, the baby bump was suddenly there. But even now, you’re all baby. From the back, you don’t even look pregnant.”
“Thanks, yeah, I’ve only gained twenty pounds, and it’s all out front,” Dahlia said, patting her stomach. “This has been crazy and hasn’t given us much time to get ready for the baby, mentally as well as getting the house ready. I’m so thankful everyone on the team has given us their no longer needed baby items, plus the baby shower Brielle threw for me provided everything else we needed.”
“We literally had just bought and moved into a new place a week before we found out about the baby,” Michael told Mac. “If so many of our friends hadn’t helped us, we’d still have boxes to unpack from the move.”
“But everyone has been so generous with their time,” Dahlia added.
They’d bought a townhouse in the same development that Brielle and Sherman lived in as well as the other members of Delta Team except for Lambchop. All of Delta Team and Echo Team and their significant others had helped them move, unpack, and get settled in. Dahlia and Michael were both grateful for the Shepherd Security family.
A horn sounded loudly from the direction of the food tables. All talking quieted, and everyone looked over to where Shepherd, Diana, Lambchop and Angel stood.
“I knew that would get everyone’s attention,” Shepherd said. “Everyone is here, so we’re going to start the line at the dinner buffet after Lambchop has said a prayer blessing the food. Diana and I wanted first to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. I appreciate the work all of you do and the support the families give, which makes it possible for our mission to be achieved. We continue to grow in numbers each year with new team members added and significant others, and children being brought into our family. That’s what this is, a family. On Monday, I will send the schedule for the Christmas and New Year's holidays once I finalize a few things. I can tell you that Shepherd Security will show as unavailable to the DoD and our other partners on December twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth. All team members will be required to be in the area on those two days. Leave cycles will be before and after, unlike in prior years where many of you were off and out of the area on Christmas Day. But for today, we give thanks for the team, for everyone gathered here today, and for the abundant lives we live.” Shepherd’s gaze went to Lambchop.
“A very Happy Thanksgiving to all!” Lambchop began. “Today is indeed a wonderful day. Not only do we celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday all together, but we will also celebrate the wedding of Dahlia and Michael and the baptism of Kaylee and Sloan’s twins, Melody and Jade. God is indeed good! Please pray with me.” He clasped his hands in front of himself and bowed his head. “Father God, we thank you for the rich lives we lead, the happiness you have brought us, and the family and friends that make life good. And we thank you for the time together we have this day, this Thanksgiving Day. It is only appropriate that we should all dine together and have this time of fellowship since we work together day in and day out. We truly are a family, and we thank you for each person who has joined our family since thelast Thanksgiving meal we’ve shared. Heavenly Father, bless and keep our family gathered here and our blood families afar, safe. May we continue to grow in our faith. Amen.”
“Amen,” the many echoed.
