Allison and I arrived in the kitchen and began preparing the muffins. Nicole made a pot of coffee while Allison and David each prepared a bowl of batter. “What can I do?” I offered watching the three of them working in unison. “Grease the muffin tins.” Nicole suggested. “Everything is on the table I’ll get Gaia.” Nicole bounced off while I began greasing the muffin pans Gaia and Nicole entered the kitchen. We began to spoon the batter into the tins I had prepared as Gaia lit the oven. David had prepared chocolate chip muffins. While Allison had prepared a batch of blueberry. The blueberries I had been informed had been hand picked from the bushes on the property. Once the tins had all been filled we handed them off to Gaia who placed them into the oven. There were six trays in all.
I was amazed at the quantity but I was quickly informed that many people would be stopping by to extend holiday greetings. It occurred to me that this tradition of baking the muffins together probably started when the Kendell children were very little. Gaia would have been there to handle the actual baking. When the clean up of the kitchen had been completed the sweet aroma of coffee and fresh baked muffins filled the air. All of us settled around the kitchen table and peacefully drank our coffee. I learned that this part of the tradition led all three of the Kendell offspring to an early addiction to caffeine. I was surprised that the Christmas morning baking tradition had for some reason ceased as the siblings grew older and their own lives led them in different directions. This was the first time in many years that they had shared this part of their past and I felt honored that I had been included.
As the morning passed their parents awoke and joined us. Then we all gathered around the tree and exchanged gifts. There were even gifts for David that had been set aside over the years in hopes that he would return. No one in the family failed to remember me in the celebration. It was clear that I was accepted as a part of the family. Through out the day many people dropped in to wish the Kendell clan happy holidays. I was amazed by the diversity of the Kendell’s friends. They differed not only in ethnic diversity but in their social standings as well. I grew up in New Haven where almost everyone was white. I stood out because I came from the working class. I can still remember how it broke my Grandmother’s heart when she was forced to accept food stamps. Another thing that impressed me with the Kendell’s was that many of the gifts lacked materialistic value many were hand made or simply a donations to someone’s favorite charity. As people came and went David very often shied away. When old lady Kendell made her appearance he disappeared completely. I watched in amusement as the family made their wagers at what insensitive comment the old woman would utter next.
The next few days continued to be magical. The days were filled with family activities and the nights were filled with Allison. One night we went for a walk around the grounds. As we walked I played with the necklace Allison had given me on Christmas morning. It was a single black pearl on a silver chain. Just above the pearl was a single one-caret diamond. I loved it more than any other gift I had ever received. We walked in silence hand in hand and breathed in the cold night air. I was silently dreading the holidays coming to an end. The New Year would mean Allison would soon be off to California.
On New Years Eve the Kendell’s hosted a party. There were so many people and I stayed close to Nicole and David while Allison was getting ready. It was slightly formal and I was pleased with my simple black velvet dress. The only jewelry I wore was the necklace Allison had given me. I felt a shiver and turned suddenly to see Allison descending the staircase. My breathing stopped as I cast a fiery gazed over the body of my lover dressed in a red silk gown that was cut perfectly to fit her gorgeous body. Her raven hair was braided in the back, which served to highlight her chiseled features, and I thought I would begin to drool when I noticed that her broad shoulders and magnificent back were exposed.
“Breath stupid.” Nicole whispered to me as she gave me a playful nudge.
I choked as I finally allowed the air to enter my lungs. Allison approached me and bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “You look incredibly beautiful.” She purred into my ear. “Happy New Year.” She added and began to pull away. I clasped her head and drew her back down to face me and then with all of the strength I could muster I growled. “I want you now.” Nicole choked on her beverage at my bravado. I scanned the room quickly and was relieved that only my lover and her sister seemed to have heard my comment.
Allison was blushing at my comment and squeezed my hand tightly as she whispered, “Later.”. I spent the rest of the evening trying to capture her under the mistletoe. Some of the guest were disappointed that no alcohol would be served during the evening but the majority did not seem to care. I was thankful for two years in college I tended bar for extra money. New Years Eve is known in the business as amateur night. For the first time in my life I watched midnight approach without witnessing a single drunken occurrence. Allison and I shared a kiss at midnight, which soon proved to be over powering. Quickly we disappeared without saying our goodnights to anyone. Once safely locked in our room we began our own celebration.
The following day we stayed in bed longer than we should have. After finally dragging ourselves out of each other’s embrace and out of bed we quickly showered and packed the car. We returned to the house and said goodbye to the family. Gaia stopped us on our way out. I adored Gaia but she was beginning to creep me out. She handed Allison a present. “It is for both of you.” Gaia explained. “And it is for neither of you.”
“Gaia someday you are just going to say what you mean.” Allison laughed as she opened the package. I looked on to see what the gift was. Inside the box lay two beautiful circles adorned with beads and feathers.
“What are they?” I asked.
“Dream catchers.” Allison said mystified. The family seemed stunned as they asked to see them. Then they just stared at Allison and myself with a wide-eyed expression. Their reaction was odd to say the least.
“Gaia you made these?” Allison questioned the elderly woman. Gaia just nodded her head. “How do you think that this is going to happen?” Allison asked her in confusion.
“Window shopping.” Was all Gaia offered as an explanation.
“Uh huh.” Allison just stared at her then shook her head in amusement. “Thank you they are beautiful.”
When we returned home I unpacked as Allison put on a pot of coffee and then went across the street to check on Mrs. Giavanni. I started the laundry once everything with exception of Gaia’s gift had been put away. I simply left that on the coffee table wondering what they were. Allison returned and I asked after Mrs. Giavanni. Allison informed me that she was well and sent her regards.
“What should we do with this?” I asked as I motioned towards Gaia’s gift. “They are very beautiful. What exactly is a dream catcher? I know I have seen them at the mall but I never quite understood what they were.”
“The mall.” Allison sneered. “Yes those were probably made in Taiwan.” Allison scoffed. “A dream catcher is Native American Tradition. It is hung above your bed and it catches your dreams, allowing only the good ones to pass through and keeping the bad ones.”
“How sweet.” I said with a smile and I began to wonder why the family had reacted so oddly to them. “If there is two of them does Gaia think we sleep apart?” I question hoping that would explain her odd reaction.
“I doubt it.” Allison chuckled lightly. “That woman knew that David was coming home on Christmas Eve. I’m positive she knows that we are sleeping together. These are not for us.”
I stared at her blankly as she ran her fingers over the delicate weavings. “Gaia made my Mother’s and mine as well ones for David and Nicole. It is a tradition … Gaia’s way of announcing a new arrival to the family. Sometimes before the parents even know that a little one is on the way. My Mother still has my dream catcher hanging in her office. “From what I understand when she gave my parents my dream catcher it was a little upsetting. They had only recently become engaged, I was a little early.”