The Specialist and I

35

I know, I know. This chapter is REALLY late. It's based off of a holiday that happened like 3 months ago......so yeah....I'm really behind schedule......

I looked up as someone knocked on the front door. Finally. They've arrived!

"I'll get it!", I yelled, "No one answer the door!"

I got off my bed, almost tripping in the process, and left my room. I ran down the stairs toward the front door.

"You expecting someone?", dad asked, "A boyfriend you're not telling me about?"

Ron and I made eye contact for a split second. Well, shit. If only he knew.

"No.", I answered.

I opened the door and immediately spotted the company logo.

"Uh, packages for Miss Lori Lennox.", the female said.

"That's me.", I said and signed for all of the 10 boxes and the woman left, "Thank you. Ron, can you help me bring these upstairs?"

I grabbed some boxes as Ron set the water bottle down on the dining room table. He stood up and grabbed a couple bigger boxes as I made my way upstairs with 4 good-sized boxes. Thankfully, I left the door open. I laughed as Bullet's tail stuck out from under the bed.

"Where do you want these?", Ron asked.

"We can just set them here. I have to go through them and make sure everything is still in working order.", I said, "Bullet, are you stuck?"

I laughed as his tail wagged. I dropped down so I could see under the bed. There he laid, stuck, panting, and wagging his tail.

"Is he stuck again?", Ron asked.

"Yeah. We might have to lift the bed this time.", I said.

I grabbed a nearby piece of cardboard and set it between Bullet's side and the bed so he wouldn't get hurt when we moved it.

"Ready?", Ron asked.

"Yeah.", I responded.

Ron pulled the bed away from the wall carefully and lifted it up. Bullet stood up and ran out from underneath the bed. He ran over to me and licked my face as Ron put the bed back.

"Bullet! Gross!", I yelled when his tongue went into my mouth, "I don't need a french kiss from you!"

"Glad it wasn't me.", Ron smirked.

I smirked and walked over to him. When he hid under the blankets, Bullet decided to pull them off of him. I laid on him so he couldn't move and kissed him.

"Ha!", I grinned.

"Lori! That even tasted like dog slobber!", Ron groaned and I laughed.

I got off him and went down the stairs to get the remaining boxes.

"So....what's in the boxes, Lori?", mom asked.

"I'm not telling you. Knowing you and dad, you'll open every box just to see what I ordered.", I said, "Not even Ron can know what's inside."

"Okay.", Dad said, "I'll find a way to get to them."

I picked the boxes up and brought them upstairs. Just in time too. Ron was going to open one of the boxes.

"I caught you Red-handed!", I said.

"I figured I'd help.", Ron said.

"Nope, nope, nope. No one, aside from me, can see what's in these boxes.", I said, "If you look, it'll ruin my surprise for you. Why don't you take Bullet out to the park? I should be done by the time you get back."

"Alright.", Ron said, "Come on, Bullet. Let's go for a ride."

Bullet launched himself off the bed and took off down the stairs. He nearly knocked Ron over in the process. Ron grabbed Bullet's leash and closed the door when he left. We take Bullet to a park that is a few miles away. He loves to play fetch and play with the other dogs.

I start opening the boxes right away after Ron leaves. An hour later, they were all wrapped. If you haven't guessed it already, it's December 23rd. Everyone went Christmas shopping, even Ron, two weeks ago. Last week, I did my shopping online.

I grabbed one of the 4 boxes I've narrowed the gifts down to. I brought it downstairs and set it under the tree. I did the same with the other three.

"Wow. Those are pretty big gifts.", Mom said.

"Don't get any ideas.", I laughed.

~~~

Christmas finally came around. Ron, mom, dad, Annabel, Bullet, and I sat in front of the tree.

"Okay, Bullet, go grab a gift for someone.", I said.

Bullet stood up and grabbed a gift from under the tree. He brought it to me so I could read the name.

"Smart dog.", mom said, I smiled.

"Okay, this one is for dad. Which one is dad?", I said and giggled when he gave the gift to Ron.

"That's not for me.", Ron said and Bullet brought it to dad.

Dad opened his gift. Of course, I wasn't allowed to see because apparently it wasn't "kid friendly". Bullet continued to bring gifts to either me or Ron to read the names and he'd give it to the rightful owner. Now, it was the bigger gifts.

"Okay, Bullet, go get Anna's present.", I said and Bullet pushed the big-ish box to Annabel, "Mom, Dad, I'm not sorry for this. Go ahead, Annabel."

Annabel ripped open her gift. She giggled as she pulled out toy after toy after toy.

"Go get mom's.", I said and he brought mom hers.

Mom opened her gift and pulled out a couple Christmas shirts, a new coffee mug, a new blanket, matching pillow case, a new phone case, and a picture frame with a picture of the whole family.

"Go get Dad's.", I said.

Instead of getting my father's, he got Ron's. Okay, so he thinks Ron is his dad. Good to know. Ron opened his gift as Annabel continued to pull out toys. Ron pulled out a black leather jacket with Edih written on the back, a metal water bottle with Ron Edih on it, a big picture frame with a bunch of pictures in it, a picture of Ron, me, and Bullet together, a picture of the symbol that he and his comrades stand behind, and a picture frame that says 'All because two people fell in love'.

"That's for you to put pictures in. I know, it's a lot of pictures but I honestly couldn't think of anything else to give you.", I said, "Last one."

Bullet brought the gift to dad. Dad opened the gift after thanking Bullet. He pulled out a new watch, a new coffee mug, a picture of him and mom, a picture of me and Annabel when she was born, a picture of me when I was born, and a picture of the team.

"Wow, thanks, Lori.", Dad said.

"Oh! This is from Morshower. He stopped by this morning.", I said, "Congratulations."

Dad looked at me, confused. I walked over to him and looked at Ron nervously. He nodded and smiled slightly to boost my confidence.

"Lieutenant Colonel William Lennox, I have been asked to award this to you today.", Dad stood up and looked at Ron for a second before looking back at me as I recalled what Morshower told me to say to him, "For your outstanding role in helping our friends adjust to being here, for being the first to volunteer for your current military status, and for your bravery in the battlefield, I hereby declare you Major William Lennox."

I handed him his new hat and the position patch that goes with it. Dad hugged me and Mom as well as Annabel. Today was a good Christmas.