Chapter 3
Next on the agenda at the wolf pack Christmas party, all the adults got numbers so they could take turns picking out presents. The kids’ gifts were decorated in cute reindeer gift wrap so they wouldn’t be mixed up with the adults’ gifts.
Because there were only three kids, two boys and one girl, each was given a gift that were just for them and their own name tag on it. Nick got a science kit with tons of experiments. Corey loved his walkie-talkies. Angie got a rock-painting kit because she loved to paint, but all the kids wanted to share their gifts with their siblings, which Slade thought was admirable.
Sheri ended up with the number one and picked out her present from all the rest. She chose a large box, though she knew great gifts could come in small packages. But the trouble with getting the first number was someone could take it away from her and every subsequent package she picked out!
Inside the box was an aqua mini waffle maker. “I can use that. As a single she-wolf, I only need to make a waffle for myself.” Slade smiled at her and she was thinking she might just want a bigger one if they tied the knot like she hoped they would soon.
Then Elizabeth eyed Sheri’s waffle maker. Elizabeth was number two in line. Sheri playfully narrowed her eyes at her. “Don’t even think of it.”
“It’s a good thing we’re best friends. You know how much I love aqua kitchen items.” But Elizabeth picked out another gift and got a new set of knives. “Oh, these are just great.”
***
When Slade got his present, he opened it and found a rechargeable hand warmer. “Perfect for our camping trip on Saturday, Hans.” He was really glad about it.
“Yeah, I sure could use it.” Hans smiled at him. He had been giving Sheri a hard time about going with Slade on the cabin retreat instead of with her. But Slade had asked Hans to go with him before he’d even begun dating Sheri, so he felt he was obligated to follow through.
Sheri poked her finger at her brother’s shoulder in a lighthearted way. “Don’t be mean. Let Slade keep it.”
“Yeah, but I’m going to be hiking with him in the snowy cold too.” Hans eyed the gift with interest. “Okay, sorry, buddy, but I’m going to take that one.”
Slade gave Hans the hand warmer and warned, “Watch out for karma, friend.” Then he picked out another gift. When he opened the next gift, it was a GPS drone. “Hot, um, cool. This is great.”
Hans immediately said, “Aww, if I hadn’t taken your glove warmer, I would have gotten that one.”
Slade laughed. Thankfully, by the end of the gift exchange, he’d managed to keep his drone, though the other guys good-naturedly hassled him enough about wanting it. Sheri also got to keep her waffle maker and she seemed glad.
Then Faith said, “Okay, it’s time for the Christmas movie trivia game. Everyone had the assignment to watch the Christmas movies we’ll refer to in the game. So if you guess the most answers correctly first for that particular movie, you will win the prize under the tree. Then we’ll do the same thing for the other Christmas movies. We’ll be paired up for the game and begin. The triplets can play too.”
Everyone already had mates except for Hans, Slade, and Sheri, and one of the triplets needed a partner. Sheri was going to pair up with Angie, but Slade said, “Sheri’s with me.” He thought it was important to show he wanted ties with her and not to just date her forever.
Sheri smiled at him.
Hans said, “Angie’s with me.” Then he frowned at her. “Did you do your movie assignment?”
“I know them by heart,” Angie said, putting her hands over her heart.
“Good, then we’ll win,” Hans said.
Then Faith began asking the trivia questions. “In A Christmas Story , what does Ralphie want for Christmas?” Faith asked.
“A Red Ryder BB gun!” Sheri shouted. Slade laughed. “Sorry. That one I always remember.”
“What item does Ralphie’s father win in a contest?” Faith asked.
“A leg lamp! And his mother broke it to get rid of it,” Sheri said.
“Man, am I glad I picked you for my partner,” Slade said.
“It’s my favorite Christmas movie and I watch it every year.”
“Lucky for me,” Slade said.
“What happened to the Parkers’ turkey on Christmas Day?” Faith asked.
“The Bumpuses’ hounds ran inside and ate it,” Sheri said.
“Who gifts Ralphie a pink bunny onesie for Christmas?” Faith asked, looking at Sheri.
“Aunt Clara.” Sheri smiled.
“What does Santa say to Ralphie when he says he wants a BB gun for Christmas?”
Nick waved his hand. “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
“How does Ralphie’s mom get Randy to eat dinner?” Faith asked.
“She asks him to show her how pigs eat.” Corey demonstrated by pretending to be a pig eating food.
Slade wondered why Angie didn’t guess at any of the questions when she had said she knew the answers by heart. But then he saw her painting one of the rocks she got for Christmas and realized Hans had lost his partner in the game. Hans smiled and shrugged. Slade suspected he hadn’t watched the Christmas movies for the game beforehand.
“When Ralphie’s dad read the words on the box with his prize inside, he told his family it said, ‘Fra-gee-lay.’ What nationality did he believe that was?” Faith asked.
“Italian!” Sheri said.
“Sheri and Slade won that round,” Faith said. “Go ahead and pick a gift.”
Sheri and Slade picked out a present, though he let her choose which one she wanted. They both unwrapped it and found it was a rechargeable hand warmer. “You can take that on your cabin trip with Hans, so you both will have hand warmers,” Sheri said to him.
She looked like she didn’t expect Slade to give her a hug, but he appreciated that she’d been on his side when he’d gotten some for a Christmas present and her brother took them. “Thanks. Anytime you need them, they’re yours.”
Then Faith started the game again but this time for Home Alone and Sheri didn’t guess at any of the answers. Slade suspected Sheri loved A Christmas Story and she wanted to let others win prizes.
Elizabeth and David ended up winning that one. They opened their gift, and they got a rechargeable hand warmer to share too. Everyone laughed.
“Cameron and I found a sale for hand warmers on Black Friday. Because of how cold it is here, we got a bunch of them for prizes for the Christmas party.” Then Faith continued the movie game with questions about the next Christmas movie, Miracle on 34th Street , and the winners were Owen and Candice. It’s a Wonderful Life was next, and Amelia and Gavin won that contest.
Everyone was thrilled with their hand warmers. In winter in Ely, Minnesota, it was worth having them.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Faith said.
“And to you too,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve had a great time, but I’m feeling bushed.”
Poor Elizabeth seemed so tired all the time. Slade hoped she’d get more energy soon.
“We’ve got to run. The babies are beginning to stir, and we need to feed them and change their diapers.” Gavin said, getting his and Amelia’s babies ready to leave.
“Yeah, we need to get these kids home too,” Cameron said about his triplets.
“We’ll help you pack, and the rest of us will take care of cleaning everything up,” Candice said.
“Are you sure?” Faith said. “I can stay and help do it. Cameron can take the kids home.”
“Nah, go home and enjoy your family time,” Sheri said. “We’ve got this.”
Then Faith, Cameron, and the kids grabbed some of the leftovers, their Christmas cookies, and their presents. Amelia’s parents got some leftovers together and picked up Amelia’s and Gavin’s gifts and left with them.
Candice, Hans, Owen, Slade, and Sheri were left to pack up the rest of the food and their own gifts. It was wonderful that everyone was so eager to help each other out. Of course, Slade had learned that when Faith and Cameron became a mated couple and had triplets, Gavin, David, and Owen had been the only other wolves in the pack and they had been a great help to the new parents, just like real wolves would be with the pack leaders’ pups.
“Why don’t we leave some of the food here for everyone working at the office?” Candice asked. “Owen and I couldn’t eat all this, but you and the others could enjoy the leftovers while you’re at work.”
“Okay, but Slade needs to take some of this with him so he and Hans can have it on their camping trip,” Sheri said.
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Slade said.
Then they finished cleaning everything up and Owen and Candice said good night. Slade said to Sheri, “I’ll walk you to your car.”
They dressed warmly and when they reached her car, he kissed her with the pent-up desire he always felt when he was with her. In a way, Slade saw this trip as his bachelor’s retreat with another bachelor wolf, and after that, he would be mated to Sheri, if she was agreeable. He sure hoped she would be.