218 Moving day

Moll and Inola's house is finished and they are ready to move in. Maureen and Onacona moves in when Steve was having difficulty so they were already settled with William. The dirt road between Aisling's house and theirs has been replaced with a cobblestone driveway. With small cedars lining both sides like a hedge. Aisling and HeJin has arranged for all of the aunties and cousins to arrive with everything both families will need for the house. Remi and Debra are in charge of food,and Marshal is in charge of drinks.  Eva has Moll and Maureen at Audis's house picking out a few items that will go perfect with the furniture that their husbands have made. While Eva keeps the ladies occupied it's Yona and Astila's job to keep the men busy. Aisling is determined to give them a surprise house warming and get them moved in with out them doing it on their own. Everyone is awe struck at how beautiful the houses are, the etchings and craftsmanship is something they have never seen before. Every piece of furniture was hand crafted by the men of the house , each piece unique with accents celtic knots and seven point stars to show both heritages. The question that everyone wants to ask is are there hidden rooms like at Aisling's house. When all of the flower pots and house plants in place and gifts arranged Aisling texts Eva and Astila. The food and drinks arrives right on time . Randy has his band set up at the lake pavilion so after dinner and gifts they can have a night of dancing . 

When Audis arrives in his truck with the items the two ladies picked from his house unbeknown to the ladies that the back field was filled with cars and their houses overflowing with family and friends. Astila arrives with the uncles right behind Audis. The men grab the items from the back of the truck and head inside. They go inside the houses through the breezeway between the two. Upon opening the door both sides of the breezeway erupted into yells of surprise. The ladies are stunned that everyone was there. Astila opens the door to the back garden do that they can see the tables on the side yard out of sight. After a few minutes of hugs and congratulations on their new home everyone has filed out and into the back yard. Moll and Maureen see Aisling and pull her to the side. 

"You did this didn't you, how did you manage to keep it a secret?" Moll asks her. 

When they were getting ready to open gifts, an odd truck pulled up to the front of the houses. Out of the truck steps Dude , Aisling's brother he calls out as he comes through the breezeway door. 

"Yo sis where is everyone?" He is still in his uniform from being deployed. Most everyone remembers the mess he made last time he was home so the party gets quiet waiting to see how he acts. He walks out carrying several gifts. He walks over to Maureen and gives her two gifts telling her. 

" Momo this is for William and I brought this back from Germany for you for the house.  I hope you like them." 

Maureen opens the one for William , it's a baby carrier that's wraps around her so she can carry him hands free. Then she opens the next one it's a brilliant crystal sculpture of an owl. 

"thank you Dude it was very kind of you to bring me a gift . Why did you not let us know you were coming?" Maureen asks him. 

he looks at her kind of sheepishly and explains 

" Well after being sent to Germany I had lots of time to think and to remember. One night I was nearly killed by an accident on base. It reminded me of a time before. I was just a little guy in second grade and our bus slid on the ice. It wound up in the ditch with gas leak, as they were getting us out the gas caught fire. I was to scared to jump out. I remember crying and refusing to jump. Then I turned to go back towards the front and couldn't move. I thought I was going to die that day. I remember seeing an angel she told me she would jump with me and hold my hand. That was you wasn't it? I'm sorry I was such a mean selfish person last time I was home . I got the owl special made for you I hope you like it?" 

Maureen's eyes fill with tears because she remembers that day. 

"What happened that you would remember something so scary from then?" Maureen asks him. 

" There was a fire on base and I was in the vehicle that had caught fire. One of the Sargent's had passed out behind the wheel and slammed into a tree. The vehicle ignited and I was trapped. It was then I saw your face and remembered. It was a few weeks before I heard that William was born. That was why no one could get in touch with me . I was still unconscious at that time. I'm sorry I could call you back then and tell you. I only have Uncle Steve as my emergency contact but no one could get in touch with him he was on a mission or something." He holds Maureen's hand and she sees the burn marks on it. Bringing it to her lips she kisses his hand and tells him. 

"I'm so sorry I was not able to shield you from being hurt this time." He grins at her and tells her. 

"It's ok , I could hear you in my dreams telling me to be strong and to hold on that you would be waiting for me to come home . So here I am." Hugging her tightly he hears her whisper welcome home.  When Maureen finally lets him go he looks at Moll and hands her her two gifts. 

"Now MoRee, don't be mad but you got basically the same gift. I knew you were going to need something to carry the baby and still be able to have your hands free. These baby carriers are similar to the ones that the Cherokee used they are just large soft pieces of cloth that wrap around mommy and baby. I thought that you three would appreciate at least the thought. I had them made from Soft cotton. " Moll smacks him and tells him. 

" Don't be cheeky, you know that the best gift is that you are home and healthy, make sure to let Astila and I check you out tomorrow. Now that I know you were injured I want to see for myself you are ok. " she opens her gift it is a crystal sculpture of a fox. She looks at him and asks. 

"So you gave me a fox and her an owl did you have a reason for it?" Dude looks at her and shrugs. He tells her about the shop he went to when he first got to Germany. 

"I went to a shop where this man carved crystal he had pictures around his shop and I saw one of a snow owl that I just couldn't take my eyes off . I asked him if he make one in crystal? He said that he could no problem it would just take some time. Then the first weekend I was off I had just found out you were expecting and some buddies were going to a chalet. So I went with them and while we were there we saw a black fox I snapped a picture and when I went to pick up Momo's owl I showed him the fox picture and had that one made for you. Is there something wrong do you not like them?" Inola puts his arm around Dude and tells him why Moll asked. 

"She asked because Onacona means white owl and Inola means black fox. " Dudes eyes widen in surprise that he without knowing got them something that meant something not just that it was pretty. They all laugh at his expression. Maureen takes his hand and walks him to get something to eat .