Page 159 of Angels and Skulls
“That’s what she said,” Elijah jokes from somewhere on the other side of the tree.
“You said you wanted a tall tree,” Jackson says, and I can see how proud he is that he found a good one.
A few days ago, I overheard him telling Raffe that he’s going all out on Christmas this year for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve spent the holiday with people I love. I appreciate him more than he’ll ever know.
Once everything is set up, the families slowly begin to trickle in. I’m excited because we are decorating the tree with all natural items that everyone has gathered. Pinecones, dried oranges, popcorn strings, and so many other things. The little kids are going to make homemade ornaments with their handprints.
I love every minute of it. I’m pulling the cookies out of the oven when Brody walks into the kitchen. Out the corner of my eye, I see him set something in the windowsill and then walk away, but not before reaching around me to grab a cookie.
“They’re hot,” I scold, shooing him away with a dishtowel.
After he leaves the room, I walk over to see what he added to my collection of trinkets. It’s a tiny silver branch with adragonfly perched on top. It’s beautiful. I smile happily, loving it.
Over the next several days, I continue to find dragonflies around the warehouse. I thought they were all from Brody because I saw him leave the first one. But today when I got home from helping Lily with the baby, I find Petey hanging the most beautiful glass light above the table. It has an iridescent dragonfly on each side.
“What is this?”
He shrugs. “Just time for an upgrade. Do you like it?”
I stare up at it. “It’s stunning. Did you make it?”
Petey puffs his chest up proudly. “Sure did.” He climbs off the ladder and then turns the light on.
My hand goes to my heart. “Wow. I love it.”
I mean, it could be a coincidence, but this is getting a little crazy. I’m literally finding them everywhere.
When I’m tying my boots in the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning, I find a little dragonfly bead woven into my laces. Okay, this is getting ridiculous. But I don’t have time to think about it right now because Ray and Dan dropped my surprise off last night after everyone went to bed.
It’s still dark when I get outside, and it’s snowing! But it’s also cold, so I hurry over to the garage. I slide the door open a quarter of the way and duck inside. I do a happy little dance, stomping the snow off my boots.
I pull the big red bow out from under my jacket and carefully tie it to the handlebars. After that’s done, I hurry back inside and rush upstairs to hopefully sneak back to bed before Raffe gets up.
As I’m opening our door, I notice a little fairy house painted on the baseboard outside our room. I drop to the ground to study it. It’s just like the paintings Jesse has done up at the cabin. Ilove it. My finger gently brushes over the tiniest of dragonflies buzzing around.
Jesse and Dirk must have made it home last night!
I do another happy little dance and then step inside our room, quietly sliding over to the bed and under the covers.
Raffe pulls me close and rubs his nose against mine like he loves to do. His eyes fly open. “Why are you so cold?” He sits up in bed, pressing his hand to my forehead.
It makes me feel terrible because I know I’ve triggered him. It happens to both of us from time to time.
I sit up and place my hands on his face. He grabs them. “Your hands are cold too. Are you sick?”
“No, I’m fine. I woke up and it was snowing outside. It’s the first snow of the season. I had to go out and look.”
He hops from the bed like a ninja and opens the curtains. His shoulders fall in relief when he sees I’m telling the truth.
I step behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Isn’t it just beautiful?”
“It is. I hope Dirk and Jesse made it in last night.” He reaches for his phone, but I stop him.
“They did.”
“Oh, did you see them? Are they up already?”
I drag him out of the room and point to the little house painted by our door. He smiles wide.
