The time finally arrived to go to the lodge. Charles, Robert and the kids rode with Mack and Peg. Jackie and Heidi were to ride with Bill and Mary. Neither Jackie or Heidi were very happy about the arrangement.
“It’s just a formality, you know, like not being able to see the bride before the wedding,” Peg explained before they left the house. “It will give the guys a few minutes to talk to the elders and make sure everything is ready.” Finally, the girls agreed. The family left and it seemed like forever before Bill and Mary arrived to pick them up. When they arrived at the lodge, they found the parking lot full of cars and snowmobiles.
“Wow, apparently someone else is having a party besides us.” Bill joked to Mary and the girls.
“Apparently,” Mary remarked.
“I’ll have to drop you off and then find a place to park.” Bill drove up to the entrance of the lodge to let everyone out. There was a reserved parking space for them almost in front of the door. “Well, lookie there, someone was thoughtful.” Before he had the vehicle turned off, Charles and Robert opened the doors to help Jackie and Heidi from Bill’s truck. Bill came around the truck and helped Mary. The three men escorted their ladies inside.
An usher greeted them. “Which one of you is Robert McCormick?”
“That would be me.” Robert indicated himself.
“Would you and your fiancé follow me, please.” Robert looked at Bill and Charles. They both shrugged. Mack was waiting for everyone at the door to one of the conference rooms.
“Are you ready?” Mack asked. Robert gave him a nod. “If the rest of you would continue to the next conference room, we will join you shortly.” Mack opened the door. Robert and Heidi walked into the conference room. The lights were dimmed and Heidi was overcome with the smells of home; cherry blossoms and jasmine. Heidi had no idea what was happening. Robert walked her to a mini pagoda that had been set in the center of the room, it was lit with dozens of candles. A hooded Buddhist monk sat on the floor with his head down. When they approached, he raised his head, but Heidi couldn’t see the man’s face.
Robert bowed to the man. “I have done all that you have asked. My last task was to bring you Heidi Chow, the woman I love and wish to marry.” Robert bowed again and stepped back. Heidi looked to him with panic on her face. He gave her a slight nod and a tiny bit of a smile, he gave his head a nod in the direction of the monk. When Heidi turned back, the monk was standing near the center of the pagoda with two women dressed in robes.
The monk asked Heidi to step forward. “Xiang qian yibu.” She had tears in her eyes, it had been a very long time since she heard someone speak the language of her village in China. The two women started to remove her clothing. Heidi didn’t know exactly what was going on, but she knew she could not object. It wasn’t long before Heidi stood naked in front of the monk.
The two women folded her clothes and handed them to Robert, who stood watching the whole procedure. He had been coached on what was going to happen and what he was to do. He wasn’t very happy about Heidi standing naked in front of the monk, but it was part of the ceremony. The women left and returned with two urns of sacred water. The monk stepped back and the women proceeded to pour the water over Heidi’s body. The whole time, the monk chanted in an ancient Chinese language that Heidi could only understand bits and pieces. Words like “jinghua” purify and “jiejing” cleanse.
When the water was gone, the women dried Heidi from head to toe and then dressed her in a beautiful red and gold kimono. As she was being dressed, several people filed into the room and stood just beyond the candle light. When the women were finished, the monk started speaking again, this time he spoke in English for Robert’s benefit, then again in Mandarin.
“Our lost child has been returned to us. May you be happy. May you be peaceful. May you be free from suffering. Your wounds have been healed and your soul purified.” Slowly, one by one, the people in the shadows came forward. The first was her grandmother; she embraced her and welcomed her home. Second was her aunt, followed by her grandfather, uncle and two of her closest cousins. By welcoming her home in their hearts, her past was forgotten. Finally, Robert was brought forward and introduced to her family.
Heidi couldn’t believe what had just happened. She looked at Robert.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” he hugged her and kissed her forehead.
“How did you do this?” Tears of joy ran down her cheeks.
“I did nothing. My brother Mack, and Bill Robertson did it all.”
“How did you know about the “san shu liu li”, the three letters and six etiquettes? I assume they were the tasks you spoke of.”
“Your family told Mack what was required when he first contacted them. He told me what I had to do. Now, I think it’s time to join the others. We have another ceremony and they have been patiently waiting for us.
The monk and the two assistants started out of the room. Robert took Heidi by the hand and followed the monk. The rest of the family fell in behind and followed them to the next conference room. After entering the room, the monk joined the elders and Heidi’s family were seated in the front row.
A beautiful arbor covered in pine boughs stood at the front of the room. Charles and Jackie, Robert and Heidi, stood under the arbor and waited for the elders to begin. Before the bonding ceremony began, the monk blessed the room, then bowed to the elders.
*****
Elder Elijah addressed Jackie. “Do you, Jackie Todd, take this man, Charles McCormick and his bear as your mate, from this day forward, for the rest of your life? Never to betray the bond that binds your souls?”
Jackie answered. “I do.”
Elder Brant addressed Heidi. “Do you Heidi Chow, take this man Robert McCormick and his bear as your mate, from this day forward, for the rest of your life? Never to betray the bond that binds your souls?”
Heidi answered. “I do.”
Elder Elijah addressed Charles. Do you, Charles McCormick, take this woman, Jackie Todd and her cat as your mate, from this day forward, for the rest of your life? Never to betray the bond that binds your souls?
Charles answered. “I do.”
Elder Brant addressed Robert. Do you, Robert McCormick, take this woman, Heidi Chow and her bear as your mate, from this day forward, for the rest of your life? Never to betray the bond that binds your souls?
Robert answered. “I do.”
Elder Brant continued. “I will now ask the couples to partially shift to acknowledge their vows.
Two giant grizzly men embraced their mates, a panda and a bobcat.
Elder Elijah stepped forward and placed one hand on Charles shoulder and his other hand on Jackie’s shoulder. “I have witnessed that this bear and this cat have acknowledged their vows in accordance to our shifter law and are now bound. Charles McCormick and Jackie Todd, you may shift back to your human forms and kiss your mates.
Elder Brent stepped forward and placed one hand on Robert’s shoulder and his other hand on Heidi’s shoulder. “I have witnessed that these two bears have acknowledged their vows in accordance to our shifter law and are now bound. Robert McCormick and Heidi Chow, you may shift back to your human forms and kiss your mates.
The two couples turned and faced their friends and families and everyone cheered.
Charles had a smile from ear to ear. In his booming voice, he announced it was time to eat and celebrate.
Robert and Heidi joined Heidi’s family. She couldn’t believe her grandparents and family had come all the way from China.
“How were you able to get permission to bring them here?” She asked Robert.
“You will have to ask Mack and Bill, they made all the arrangements. I told you my brother had connections all over the world.”
“Yes, you did. You have made me so happy, I can’t tell you in words.”
“Save that thought,” he smiled, “until we are alone.” He kissed her in front of her family. “I hope that is permitted, kissing my fiancé in front of the family.”
Heidi’s grandmother chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. “It is okay.” That made both Robert and Heidi laugh.
“This is the best day of my life, thank you.” She looked at Robert with a never ending love.
“Mine, too.” Robert hugged her. “I wasn’t sure it could be done in time for Christmas, but Mack called in some favors and made me promise to grovel often,” that made Heidi laugh, “can we tell them about the babies?”
“They already know,” she whispered and hugged him back.
“So, is everything okay now?”
“Yes, the monk removed the shadows from my soul and purified my body. My village will welcome me if we ever go to visit. My family is very happy, they are indebted to you. They missed me very much and were very sad.”
“They won’t miss you anymore?”
“They will, but now they can write to me and call me on the phone. They are happy now.”
“Good, I knew you were sad and I had to make it better.”
The rest of the evening was for celebrating. When things began to wind down, Bill, Mack, Robert and Charles all relaxed at a table and talked.
“Bill, Mack, thank you.” Robert told them. “The only thing missing is a Moon Watch.” He looked at Bill and started to laugh. “You realize, we get to do this all over again tomorrow.”
Bill groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’d better go and say good night to my sweet Mary. She’s staying with the girls tonight. Charles and Mack are staying with me. Where are you and Heidi going to stay tonight?”
“We’re staying here so we can spend some time with Heidi’s family. We’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding. They have plenty of rooms available, why don’t you all stay here. They can still sequester Mary so you can’t see her.” It had started to snow sometime during the evening. “It might be safer to stay here. What time is the wedding?”
“Noon. You know what, that sounds like a good idea. We were planning to dress here, so our clothes are already here. We wanted everyone to be able to be home with their families on Christmas eve.”
“You go tell the girls,” Mack told Bill, “and I’ll go make arrangements for the rooms.”
Elyse and the twins had spent most of the evening with Heidi’s grand parents. They loved looking after the children, especially Colin. They recognized his gift almost immediately. By the end of the evening, Colin knew how to say a dozen phrases in Mandarin. Peg collected the children and said good night.
Heidi said good night to her family. They had been staying at the hotel for several days and they retired to their rooms. They would be staying for four more days. They had been invited to Bill’s wedding, and to Mack’s for Christmas.