CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Mama Irene and Claudette gathered all the wives who weren't working to start planning the Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and celebrations. If the men thought they had a strong team, they hadn't seen anything yet. The women were out in numbers, strong, ready, and more than prepared for their assignments.

"Wow, there are so many of you," said Nell. "I mean, I've met people a little at a time over the last few weeks, but not everyone all at once."

"We are a force," smiled Camille. "But we stick together, Nell. In everything we do, we're always there for one another. No questions asked. Ashley and I almost got into some real trouble because we stuck together."

"Wouldn't change it for the world," grinned Ashley. She hugged Camille, happy that they'd become such great friends.

"I always wanted sisters. I guess this is my wish come true." The women all laughed, nodding as they took their seats in the Sugar Lodge.

Claudette, Mama Irene, Ruby, and Erin were busy ordering the men to place buckets of materials around the room, supplies on the tables, and turn the fireplaces on. It was getting cold outside, and rain was starting to fall.

"Alright, everyone! Listen up!" said Irene on the microphone pinned to her jacket.

"Good lord, who gave that woman a microphone," muttered Hawk.

"I heard that, young man," she said, glaring at him. "I might be old, but my hearing is perfect. We got a lot to do, and this holiday season is gonna be more than magical. It's going to be perfect."

"Mama, you always say that," said Marie with a little giggle.

"I know, and I always mean it. But this will be even more."

"More? Mama, what do you mean by ‘more'?" asked Suzette.

"I mean more. More is more. What's wrong with y'all? Alright, we need to start by preppin' for the menu. We're gonna need a lot of food, and we've got all the freezers ready downstairs. Sara, Casey, George, Ruby, and me will be in charge of the menus. Once we got that done, we'll be assignin' y'all to the dishes you're gonna need to make."

"Trees will be bought and placed on your porches just like every year, with your family tree inside," said Erin. "This year, we'll be giving prizes for the porch tree that best represents you and your family."

The entire room applauded, laughing and already talking about ideas. They technically had a contest every year, but it always turned into a three-hundred-person tie. Mama Irene couldn't pick a favorite.

"We're going to be asking a crew to go to the teen shelter downtown and really do it up right. Make it as magical as you can for all those kids. We'll take care of the gifts for them as well," said Lauren. "Alexandra and I will be running that project, but we can use all the help you want to give."

Ten women raised their hands to help. Alexandra started writing down names.

"Oh, Avery! I'm so glad you volunteered for this one. I'm sure the girls at the shelter would love some of your products as gifts again this year."

"Not a problem," she smiled. "We launched our pre-teen and teen line last month, and we're selling out fast. We set aside some products for gift baskets, so it's all good."

"Mama? Will we be doing Santa again this year for the kids in the district?" asked Adele. The district was the low-income area of their part of the parish. Every year, Matthew and the boys made sure the kids had toys and there were food baskets on the porches.

"I'm lettin' your daddy take care of that. He knows what to do, and he'll do it. Alright now, let's start sortin' the lights, test them, then move the decorations to areas by color. You can see we got big color boards along the walls. If it's red, put it under red. If it's blue, you know what to do," she laughed.

"Mama is happy right now," whispered Rachelle to her twin. Adele nodded, smiling at her. "She's in her element."

"She's always in her element when she has all of us around her," smiled Adele.

"That's true, but for some reason, she seems particularly excited this year. How does she do that? How does she maintain her excitement, her love, her energy? I mean, we know it's the pond and probably Pops, but there must be something else."

"I don't know, Rach. I don't know that I want to know. I wake up every day and text her. Then I pray that she texts me back," said Adele. "And every day, she texts me back the same thing. I'm still here." The girls laughed, and Irene looked at her twins, smiling.

"Adele, Rachelle, we need y'all to help with mendin' the tree skirts. Looks like the moths got to some of them. Repair the ones you can, and the others we'll use for scraps."

"We could repair them and give them to the school for the Christmas pageant," said Adele. "The kids could use them as capes."

"Now, that's an idea," smiled Irene. "Alright. Repair them all. We'll buy new ones."

"Mama?" said Rach with a grin.

"Yes, baby?"

"We love you."

"I know y'all do," she smiled, nodding at them. She touched a hand to the cheek of each one. "You still look identical to everyone except me. I see the individuals you are. I see your separate beauty and intelligence, your kindness. You're good women. Good sisters, wives, aunts, and mothers. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of every woman here."

Irene realized that the room had quieted, listening to her speaking on her microphone still clipped to her jacket. She turned and smiled at the entire room of beautiful women.

"I'm proud of all of you. Women are amazing, resilient, magnificent creatures. We, only we, can bring life into this world. Sometimes, it's not a life that comes from us. Sometimes, we are handed a life to nurture, and we do it without question. They are still ours. Like all of you are mine.

"Those men out there. Those handsome, strong, virile, brave men. They go off and save the world and sometimes us. They don't complain. They come home to all of you, love you, care for you as you do for them.

"We have been given gifts that no one can explain. We cherish those gifts. We are grateful for them. We do not abuse those gifts. You all are my gifts." She stared at each woman in the room. Dozens and dozens of women, and she stopped at each face to memorize this moment.

"You all are the greatest gifts ever bestowed upon me. My children, blood and adopted. My dearest friends in the whole world," she said, smiling at Ruby, Mary, and Johanna. "I have the wonderous gift of history thanks to Martha, Franklin, Nathan, Yori, and all our new ghostly friends. Our story, this family's story, will live on forever."

She sat down in one of the chairs, letting out a slow breath. Gray moved toward her, reaching for her wrist, but Irene waved her off.

"I'm alright, child," she smiled. "I'm just an old woman getting a bit nostalgic. Allow me that."

"Are you sure?" asked Gray with a concerned expression.

"I'm sure, my love. I'm sure." She stood, looking more youthful than ever, and smiled at the room. "Alright, let's get movin'. We got a lot to do. George and the team will be bringing lunch over in a while. Let's do it bigger, brighter, and better this year!"

"You heard her," smiled Camille. "Let's go!"