Zane hands me his phone. It’s already powered up. “Figured you might want to.”
“Thanks!” I take a bunch of shots of the tree and the pile of gifts and my notebook. Then Calvin, with his long arms, takes ashot of us all with the tree and Penny. Because she, of course, appears out of nowhere.
“All right, Sassy. Sam might have the?—”
“I want to go next. Well, partially next,” Calvin says.
“Okay?” I shrug.
He jogs down the trail, Penny at his heels. He’s back in a few minutes with two chairs. They’re made of driftwood and what looks like part of the derelict. Zane rolls two stumps away, and Calvin sets them in place. “I’ve only made two so far. I kind of want feedback.”
“Damn, Viking. When did you make these?”
“I don’t sleep,” Calvin says.
“Right but... Never mind. May I?” Dante asks.
“Sure. As long as Chiefie tries this one out. I made it more to her size.”
I sit tenderly at first. I don’t know why. Calvin would never make something that’s not quality. “It’s really comfortable.”
“It is. And unlike Haley, I have no problems hurting the Viking’s feelings,” Dante says.
“Dante!”
“What? It’s true, Sassy. Well done, Calvin.”
“Thanks,” Calvin says standing in front of me.
I place my notebook on my chair and give Calvin a long kiss. When I pull back, he’s smiling from ear to ear, and that in itself is a Christmas miracle.
“Okay, my turn.” Dante gathers a plastic box from the kitchen. “I have two things for you. One was too bulky to wrap, and then this one. Not Legos, but don’t shake it. Open it first.”
It’s a small bottle of oil. With caution, I open the lid, and I can smell it already.
“We only have so much shampoo left, but I think I’ve come up with a good recipe.”
“It smells lovely,” I say.
“And I made you this. It’s a flower press. I thought you might like to press specimens of the plants you’ve been collecting, and write about them in your new notebook,” Dante says.
I’m oohing and aahing, and there’s another round of kisses.
“This one’s from the two of us.” Easton hands me a small, wrapped package and nods his head at Calvin.
Inside is a bracelet of pearls. And hanging from the strand are six little wooden circle charms carved with the first initial of each of the guys and me.
“It’s so pretty. Easton when did you find the time to do so much diving without me seeing?”
“I’m stealthy.”
“Will you put it on for me?”
“I’m still working on a clasp.”
“Tie it on. I’m never taking it off,” I say. I kiss Easton, then Calvin again.
Zane’s standing in front of me, his cheeks rouged. “Okay, now, mine isn’t as dramatic as the rest. It’s also two parts.”
