“He’s here, he’s here!” Charlie shouted looking
out the window and seeing his Dad drive up.
I glanced over my shoulder at Charlie and smiled. “Okay get ready, Charlie.
Okay Michael, this is this last ornament.”
He looked at me with sad eyes. “What about the angel?”
“We’re leaving that for Daddy,” said Charlie with a big
smile.
Michael turned to his brother then to me. I smiled and handed him the last
ornament for the tree and he found the perfect place and hung the ornament
from his finger.
“Okay, get ready!” I said excitedly. Charlie and Michael hurried
to find their place and I ran to turn off the lights and then found my place.
A moment of silence settled in the room, except for a few giggles coming from
Michael who was hiding behind the tree with Charlie.
The front door then opened and then closed. Justin’s voice was heard
talking to someone as he hung up his jacket. “Don’t worry about
it man.”
“You don’t think Sam and the kids will mind?”
“You’re family man, they won’t mind. Speaking of MY wife
and children, where are they?”
A giggle was heard from the living room and Justin smiled recognizing that
laugh. He walked into the living room. “Michael,” he said in a
teasing tone.
Suddenly the lights of the tree came on lighting up the dark room, and Charlie,
Michael and I jumped out from our hiding spots. “SURPRISE!” we
shouted.
“Wow,” was all Justin could say. The tree was beautifully decorated
with white lights and bright ornaments.
“Do you like it?!” Michael asked jumping up and down.
Justin smiled, picking up his son. “I LOVE IT. It’s beautiful.”
“You get to put the angel on the top of the tree. Mommy said so.”
“Oh she did, didn’t she?” Justin looked at me with a smile.
I chuckled softly. “Yeah well, I couldn’t do it. It’s a
6 foot tree for crying out loud.” He laughed.
“JC!” Charlie shouted excitedly and ran full force into him to
give him a hug. “Do you like the tree?”
JC chuckled softly. “Yes I do, it’s beautiful. You guys did a
great job decorating it.”
“Sam, JC is going to be staying with us for the weekend,” said
Justin. “He can’t get a flight out of New York due to the storm.”
“Just for the weekend?” I said with a smirk. “Yeah, I guess
it would be alright if he stayed. He is my COUSIN after all. I can’t
turn away my own flesh and blood.”I got a mischievous look on my face.
“Or can I?”
JC shook his head at me with a smile. “Don’t make me call Aunt
Vicky.”I laughed.
Charlie handed his Dad the angel. “You have to put the angel on top
of the tree.”
“I might need a little help.” Justin glanced over his shoulder
at JC. “Do you think you can give me a boost?”
He laughed. “In your dreams man.”
Justin laughed and walked up to the tree. “Michael, do you think you
can help me?” He nodded excitedly. Justin smiled and passed him the
angel and then lifted him up on his shoulders. With ease Michael place the
angel on top of the tree and everyone clapped.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard someone knocking on my car window.
“MA’AM, you need to TURN AROUND,” said the Police Officer
as he held his coat together by the collar.
“I’m sorry,” I said rolling down my window.
“I’m sorry, but you need to turn around. No one is getting in
or out of this airport. The storm came earlier than predicted. The roads are
all blocked.”
“You got to me kidding me.”
He shook his head. “You need to turn around and head back into the airport.
It’s much safer in there than out here. You can make a U turn over the
median.”
I sighed heavily, looking ahead towards the median. I then nodded and turned
back to the Officer. “Thank you, Officer.” I rolled up my window
and drove away, making a U turn on the median and driving back into the airport.