Chapter Twenty

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Susanna's POV

        Christmas is almost here ... and in just a few days, I'll be heading home, catching a ride with Joey and his brother, Donald. I have been working on embroidery with some fabric pieces as a surprise. Everyone is going to get a piece of fabric with their name and a Bible verse on it, and then it'll be in a frame. I just now finished up the last one, I also went ahead and made one for each of Joey's family back home too, as well as my own family and friends back home. Let's just say, I have been very busy. The catch is no one can open it, until Christmas morning. Hey, I have to have a little teasing fun.

        We are doing our gift exchange today, so I finish all my wrapping and Madison and I hop in Max's car and we all head down to the bookstore which is closed today and that'll be where we open our presents and fellowship together and all that holly jolly goodness.

        We unload all the gifts and by that time everyone else has arrived, except Joey. Everyone is happy and cheery as they sip hot cocoa and talk. I'm playing in the children's room of the store with Avery and Presley when I hear a knocking at the front door. Alan comes to me a few minutes later. "I can watch my little princesses. Your Prince just arrived though." He grins as he teases me, and I just blush and walk away. Joey is laden down with gifts so much so that he is stumbling, I rush to help him and together we get all the presents inside.

        "Do we get to open our presents now?" Avery is tugging on her Daddy's pant leg, looking especially adorable today.

        "Why not?" He glances at Max, who nods, "Okay. Let's have a word of prayer before we get started with the presents. "Dear Father God, we just want to thank You for all the wonderful things that You have given us. We each have loving families. A special someone. Mine & Brycie's babies." His voice is choked with emotion. "Even when we don't deserve it, You give us all so much, Lord. Thank You for friendship. Thank You for Your guiding hand directing us where to go. Help us to each appreciate You and love You more each day. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!"

        It's no small statement that every one in the room was teary eyed. Alan, Chad, Caleb, and Joey all circled arms and hugged each other. I found myself smiling. These guys could be the silliest people ever... or they could be the most God honoring and kind men you have ever witnessed in your life. Sometimes even at the same time.

       We all gathered in a circle and the packages were passed around amongst us. We let the girls open their presents first and they had a blast playing with everything they got... even the wrapping paper and boxes.

      Joey made a grand gesture of giving Chad a gift, Chad looked down at the tag then back at Joey,"Aww, thanks bro." Joey winked at me, and as Chad opened the box, I realized why. The Christmas sweater with the cat on it stared up at him. Me and Fallon were giggling, and Joey was snickering behind Alan. Alan managed to calm them down, before they could... Well start destroying the bookstore and each other... again.

      The gifts kept passing around and everyone really enjoyed their presents. I loved especially seeing the reactions from those gifts I had bought for the others. Joey opened his gift and smiled at me and what with the look in his eyes .... sigh ... I won't lie.... I melted right then and there.

Joey's POV

      My heart warmed at the gift from Susanna, I walked over to her. "Okay, I got you a gift." I handed her the box with the necklace in it. "And the band has a gift for you too. Which do you want first."

      She squirmed in her chair like a little kid, "Oh Joey... don't make me choose!"

       Footsteps sounded from around the shelves and a female voice said, "Let me make the choice then."

       Susanna had her mouth covered with both hands and she looked like she could scream at any minute. I walked over and moved her hands, "Jam...Jamie... Grace!!!" She could only whisper-scream. I smiled at her. "You guys got Jamie Grace to come?"

      "Y'all want me to tell her why I'm here?" Jamie said in her lyrical voice. Nods were the answer from the band all the way around. "I'm going to be touring in the spring. With Anthem Lights. And Caleb+Kelsey.... And you, Susanna Stephens." She shot us all her classic smile.

      Susanna just sat in her chair, still and with eyes as big as dinner plates. Tears started coming down her smiling face. "You guys... are Amazing!" Everyone piled in for a massive group hug.

      Jamie hugged her too, and said, while glancing at me and my bandmates. "Don't worry you and Kels can ride my bus with me."

      A laughing chorus of "Hey" came from the four of us. Jamie stayed a little longer, then left. I came up beside Susanna, and whispered. "You've not opened my present, Sus." She gave me a small smile, and glanced at where everyone was taking turns under the mistletoe for a mini photo shoot.

      Her eyes drifted to the box, she gently slipped the ribbon off and opened it up. "You got me the necklace." She traced her fingers over the word "Prince Charming". She smiled at me, then and opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by several of the others pushing us under the mistletoe. We both blushed, kind of at a loss of what to do. She leaned up and kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "Thank you, Joey. For everything."

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RANDOM Author's Note: I sadly, unlike Susanna, can not do embroidery, but my Granny has promised to teach me, so maybe I won't be able to say that much longer. And for this chapter's picture I choose the awesome (my role model) Jamie Grace.

That's What I'm Looking For (Anthem Lights Fan Fiction) Book 1 in the "Light For You" Series (COMPLETED!)Where stories live. Discover now