The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (58 page)

  
              I woke up with a jolt.

  
              I looked around the empty room and then, I started to cry. I cried myself to sleep. 

All week when I slept, I waited in hopes of dreaming of him, but he never appeared. It wasn’t until the night before Christmas when I found him again. I was lying on my side, on a blue checkered blanket. I was wearing a long, white, spaghetti strapped dress.

             
Okay seriously, what is with all the white?

  
              I sat up to discover I was on a hill top. I gazed down at the bright lights of the city beneath me. The view was breath taking, but not as beautiful as what lied next to me. I turned to my left where Tristan was lying casually on his palms. He had on black slacks and a dark blue, button down shirt that brought out the color of his eyes. I instantly threw my arms around him. “Whoa, hey,” he said, trying to catch his balance.

  
              “I thought I’d never see you again,” I said, holding on tightly.

  
              “I told you I wasn’t going anywhere.”

  
              “It’s been over two weeks since I’ve seen you last,” I said panicked, still holding on.

  
              “Is that all?” he chuckled.

  
              I untangled my arms to look at him. “It’s too long.”

  
              He cupped the sides of my face. “You’re right. Any amount of time spent away from you is too long,” he said, gently pressing his lips to mine.  I sighed and lay back on the blanket. Tristan leaned on his elbow, gazing lovingly at me while I stared up at the bright, starry sky.

  
              He surprised me with a bouquet of forget-me-nots. “They’re beautiful,” I smiled.

  
              “You’re beautiful,” he said, brushing my hair off my shoulder. He pulled one of the flowers from the bouquet and started to softly caress my skin with it. Tristan dragged the flower across my hand, working his way up my arm, over my shoulder, and across my chest. I bit my lip, blushing. The feel of the soft, silky petals against my skin were giving me chills. He continued by sweeping the flower down my nose, cheek and breasts. He then replaced the flower with his lips, giving me goose bumps.

  
              Tristan carefully pushed down the strap of my dress, kissing the exposed skin. Sliding his other hand behind my neck, he guided me down gently onto the blanket beneath us. Then he climbed on top of me and found his way to my lips. One hand was tangled in my hair while the other glided up my thigh, pushing up my dress. My heart was racing and my skin was getting hotter with every touch. I slipped my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to me. He kissed me passionately, pressing his body against mine. I moaned at the pressure of his weight on top of me. My entire flesh was covered in goose bumps. I brushed a hand across the bare skin of his lower back. He let out a moan himself at the gesture.

  
              I had to pull away to catch my breath. “Tristan I –”

  
              “Yes,” he breathed.

  
              “I…” was back in my room.

  
              “Son of a bitch!”

  
              “I wouldn’t go that far, but mom does have her moments.”

  
              “Dean?” I sat up, rubbing my eyes. He was leaning in the doorway. “What do you want?” I grumbled.

  
              “Ho, Ho, Ho,” he said, holding out a small wrapped box.

  
              “This couldn’t wait?” I asked, annoyed and pissed that I woke up from my dream right when things were getting good, but of course, isn’t that what always happens?

  
              Dean, taking it upon himself to enter without my permission, came over and sat down on my bed. “Open it,” he said, handing me the present.

  
              “What is it?” I asked a little frightened.

  
              “Just open it,” he said rolling his eyes.

  
              I tore into the present and opened up the box. Inside was a men’s silver watch. The face of the watch was encrusted with diamonds and had a purple heart dangling from the band. I looked at Dean confused. Why in the world would he give me something like this? Before I could open my mouth he said, “Turn it over.” On the underside were the initials T.W.M. “The watch was Tristan’s and the heart charm –”

  
              “Josie’s,” I finished for him. I recognized it almost right away. When we were little Josie and I got charm bracelets and we picked out a charm for each other. I picked out the heart for Josie and she got me a shamrock.  “How’d you?” I asked, wondering how he got these things. I remember losing my bracelet years ago and thought Josie had lost hers too.

  
              “A little finessing and my natural charm,” he smiled proud.

  
              “You didn’t steal these did you?” I asked cautiously. Dean was many things, but I never pictured him to be a thief. With Dean though, you could never be too sure.

  
              “Come on, give me some credit here,” he said insulted. “I thought maybe you would like to have something of theirs to keep with you so I asked Tristan’s and Josie’s parents if there was something of theirs to give you.” He pointed to the watch. “This is what Tristan’s mom gave me and Jade told me I could look around Josie’s room and pick what I wanted. I remember when you guys got these bracelets and how upset you were when you lost yours. So I knew this would be the perfect thing of hers for you to have. I couldn’t find the bracelet itself, but this was lying on top of her jewelry box.”

  
              “Thank you Dean. It’s perfect,” I said, embracing him in a hug.

  
              “You wanna go downstairs and sneak a peek at our presents?” he asked with a sly grin.

  
              “Dean, I’m not five. I don’t need to peek at my presents.”

  
              “What if I told you there was a really big present downstairs with your name on it?” he said, trying to entice me. I contemplated for less than a second before I was off my bed, grabbing my slippers and sweater, and heading downstairs with him.

  
              We tiptoed down the steps careful not to wake anyone. I stopped by the kitchen first to help myself to the left over cookies and a large glass of milk. Then I joined Dean in the living room where he was already shaking gifts to see if he could guess what was inside. “What are you two up to?” I jumped, almost spilling my milk.

  
              When I turned around I was surprised to see Xander standing behind me. I thought for sure it was our dad by the sound of his voice. Xander laughed when he saw my face. He was the only one who could imitate our Dad’s voice. “That wasn’t funny,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him as he stole a cookie from my plate.

  
              “Here to guess your presents too?” Dean asked Xander.

  
              “Grow up you guys,” he said rolling his eyes.

  
              Dean looked around the pile of presents for one with Xander’s name on it. “Hmm, I wonder what this is,” he said, lightly shaking the box. “Could it be that new IPad you were hoping for?”

  
              “Give me that,” Xander said, taking the gift. Dean and I laughed knowing Xander couldn’t resist.

  
              Our little guessing game didn’t last long. Mom busted us. “What are you kids doing?” she asked with her hands on her hips.

  
              “It was Ella’s idea,” Dean and Xander said in unison.

  
              “Hey!” I scoffed at them.

  
              Mom just laughed and took a seat next to me. “Boys, I know better,” she said, stealing a cookie. “You’re supposed to be a good influence on your sister,” she chastised. I stuck out my tongue at them when she bent over to take a sip of my milk. “I saw that Ella.”

  
              “Saw what?” I acted all innocent.

  
              She just shook her head. “I guess since it is tradition, you each can open one present now, but I get to pick which one,” mom said, getting up and searching through the presents. Every year on Christmas Eve our parents would let us open one present, but we were never allowed to pick which one.

  
              Mom handed Xander and Dean their presents then handed me mine before sitting back down. Inside the small box she gifted me was a heart shaped locket. “It’s a family heirloom,” my mom said. It opened up like an accordion showing three pictures on each side. My mom leaned in close. “This picture here,” she pointed to the one in the middle. “Is your great, great grandparents.” The picture next to it was one of my dad and mom holding me as a baby and the other one was of Xander, Dean, and me when I was two. I flipped it over and in the middle of the other side was a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding day, one of my grandma Bea and me and one of Josie and I. “I added this one,” she said, pointing to the picture of Josie and me.

  
              “It’s beautiful. Thank you mom.” My mom helped me clasp the locket around my neck. It fell low on my chest so that when I looked down I could see it.

  
              My mom pointed to the locket. “Now you’ll always have us with you. Always close to your heart,” she smiled. I gave her a warming hug, sat back, and lay my head on her shoulder while I watched Xander and Dean open their presents. They also received family heirlooms. Xander got our great grandfather’s cufflinks and Dean got his watch.

  
              Afterwards, we all settled into the couch, and had a fight over which Christmas movie we were going to watch. Xander and Dean wanted to watch a Christmas story, but mom and I wanted to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas vacation, which was a classic if I do say so myself. Of course mom and I won. I cuddled up to my mom as we watched our favorite Christmas movie.

My dad woke me up early the next morning. “Good morning,” he said softly, careful not to wake everyone else up. He cautiously stepped over Dean who had made his way to the floor during the night. I pulled up my feet giving my dad room to have a seat on the couch.

  
              “Morning dad,” I said, just now realizing my mom was up as well when my dad handed her a cup of coffee.

  
              “Merry Christmas,” he said, handing me a mug of hot chocolate. Clearly he still thought of me as his little girl.

  
              “Merry Christmas Dad,” I said, leaning my head on his shoulder. He flinched slightly before he relaxed and threw an arm over me. My dad and I hadn’t been very affectionate lately so I wasn’t surprised by his reaction, but no matter what happened he was still my dad and I still loved him.

  
              When the boys woke up, my mom made us breakfast, and then afterwards we opened up all our presents. When we finished, I went upstairs to shower and get ready for an early dinner. The McNaughton’s had finally returned home and were going to join us for dinner along with Danni and Hadley.

  
              For dinner I decided to wear the new sweater dress my mom had gotten me. It was cream colored with short sleeves and a cowl neck. I paired it with my new tan, knee high boots and locket. I tried taming my hair the best I could by pulling it half up. When I was finished battling with my hair, I went downstairs to find the McNaughton’s had already arrived. Jake took off on a running start and jumped into my arms. I picked him up and hugged him tight not realizing how much I missed him.  “Merry Christmas Jake.”

  
              “Merry Christmas Ella. I missed you,” he said, causing a small tug at my heart strings.

  
              “I missed you too,” I replied, squeezing him one more time before I put him down. Jake pulled me over to his parents and I greeted each of them with a hug.

  
              “You look beautiful, as usual,” Mrs. McNaughton said. I thanked her before Josie’s dad asked how I was.

  
              “Better,” I smiled weakly. Seeing them here without Josie was weird to me. I reminded myself to stay strong and not lose it in front of them.

  
              “I just wanted to let you know I talked to Josie and she’s happy where she is,” Josie’s mom, Jade, smiled.

  
              “You talked to her?” I asked, wondering if Jade already had a few before she got here.

  
              “Yes. My psychic Jacinda –”

  
              “Jade.” Mr. McNaughton interrupted. There was an undertone to his voice that warned his wife not to continue with this conversation, but she ignored him by waving him off and pulling me aside. Jade went into this whole story about her and her psychic having a breakthrough and breaking the barriers between the worlds.