LIFE GOES ON Pt. 7

 

AUTHOR:  Bobbie S. 

 

Email: luvleopard2@yahoo.com

 

RATED:  R. Adult Language and Situations

 

AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Life Goes on is about relationships, old and new, and
tying up loose ends.  This story begins the evening that “Antarctica”
ended. Too many loose ends were left undone; the old relationships
involving Nick, Lulu, and Burton.  How did the arrival of Baby Anne
affect each of their lives?  Whatever happened to Jake and Kate?  In the
effort to tie up some of those dangling loose ends, I borrowed some
familiar characters and situations from episodes from all three seasons
of TG.  All other characters are fictional, as well as a geographic
location or two.

 

--+--

 

Christmas Eve, 2004

 

From the time Nick and Mona arrived at noon, the weekend food fest
began.  Helen prepared a special lunch for them and announced that the
two of them were going to build a gingerbread house for the kids while
she finished cooking.   After lunch, Mona took Nick into the dining room
spread out all the fixings for the house.  He tried to act embarrassed,
making excuses that he was too old and his awkward hands would ruin it. 
Deep down, though, he was delighted. Number one, he remembered building
a gingerbread house from a kit with his mother when he was about eight
years old and he thought it was a lot of fun.  Number two, he remembered
telling Mona that story so he knew she had asked Helen to bake the
gingerbread pieces and make the icing glue especially for them.  Number
three, he knew Helen was happy to do it.   The whole time Nick and Mona
worked on the gingerbread house, Helen came in bringing a dish of this
or a spoonful of that, making Nick sample the goodies she was preparing
for their Christmas Eve  and Christmas dinner.

 

When they finally got the cookie pieces assembled, Mona suggested they
take a ride on David and Sondra’s motor bikes, her brother David had
dropped off at the house earlier, per Mona’s request.  Along with the
helmets, he left his leather jacket for Nick.  Mona never forgot
anything Nick told her.  He shared with her that he’d owned a
motorcycle, against his father’s wishes, when he was in college.  He had
a minor accident and never told his father until about a year ago.  He
sold the bike immediately after the accident, but he had ridden many
times since.

 

If Nicholas Fallin thought he was in for a long boring weekend in Bliss,
Pennsylvania, he was very much mistaken.  He was shocked at how
skillfully Mona could ride, the idiot even popped a few wheelies nearly
scaring him to death. When they finally returned to Helen’s house, Nick
took her by the shoulders and held her at arm’s length.  “Who are you,
woman?  What the hell was that, Miss Mona Kenevil?  Where the hell did
you learn how to ride like that.”

 

“I keep telling you, Nick, I have five brothers. You can’t grow up with
that many boys and be content to play tea party and brush baby dolls’
hair.  Most of my cousins are also boys, so I can do almost anything
they can do.”

 

“Well who taught you how to kiss?  Surely not David and your cousins.”

 

“Like this?”  Mona pulled his neck down and planted a passionate kiss on
his lips.

 

“Yes, but only a little more like this.”  Nick returned the favor with a
little more passion.

 

“Git in here before I turn the hose on the two of you!  Giving my
neighbors a sideshow!”  Helen shouted from the doorway.

 

“We’re engaged Mama, remember!”

 

“Oh, yeah, carryon then.”

 

Nick and Mona spent the rest of the afternoon listening to Christmas
jazz as they finished decorating the gingerbread house and chatted with
Helen as they sampled her food.

 

Helen was overjoyed when Mona told her she and Nick was going to
accompany her and her best friend, Martha to the Christmas Eve church
service.  She told Mona to take her camera because little Debbie,
David’s daughter, was in a skit. Helen was so proud to show off Nick and
Mona, introducing them as an engaged couple and making Mona show off her
ring.  She noticed Mona had artificial nails professionally applied,
which enhanced he beauty of the ring and her small hands.  She and Nick
were dressed so well. Mona wore a red dress with simple lines that
accented her petite figure.  She didn’t wear a lot of jewelry because
she didn’t need any, the fresh Christmas corsage Nick gave her was
enough, pinned to her shoulder. The hem stopped just above her knees to
show off her curvy legs in her black velvet sling-backs.  Nick wore a
black suit and tie, with a red shirt and red dress hanky in his jacket
pocket.  His outfit complimented Mona’s perfectly.  Helen suspected that
the shirt was Mona’s idea.  She doubted if Nick would have chosen it
without female influence.  Helen prayed that Mona’s ex-mother-in law
would be out so she could see Nick and Mona together.  Her prayer came
true.  Mona tried to ignore her, but Helen would not have it.  She
practically drug the old lady over to where Mona and Nick was so she
could introduce Nick and show her Mona’s engagement ring.  She never
forgot to mention the beautiful fresh corsage that she herself was
wearing, was given to her by her future son-in-law, an attorney.

 

Nick grinned to himself because he knew exactly what Helen was up to. 
He couldn’t blame her.  Mona was so beautiful.  She wore all that long,
lovely hair brushed to the side and over her shoulder.  Her little gold
Christmas bell earrings teased her lobes whenever she moved her head. 
That hair was so beautiful.  He made a mental note to buy her some
beautiful decorative combs and barrettes.

 

When they returned to the house, music was blaring and the buffet and
dining room table held a huge birthday cake, a crock of fruit punch, a
basket of biscuits and bowls of potato salad and coleslaw.  Nick looked
puzzled at this strange menu.  Helen read his mind.   “I know you are
probably thinking, what the hell?  Well this is one of our traditions
and I'll tell you about it later.  Nick just grinned and shrugged his
shoulder.  Just then Mona's brothers Tommy and Carl came in from outside
carrying trays of barbequed chicken, and deer meat.  When Helen told the
boys where to place the meat, she went on to explain Where most folks
just have fruit cake and eggnog on Christmas Eve night, we barbeque.  We
have to throw something on the grill, even if it is one of our
new-born.  Okay Mona, you say the prayer, Debbie you lead us in Jesus'
birthday song and then we can all dig in."

 

After dinner, they all sang Christmas songs, and told stories about
Christmas's past.  They also had a silly game they played where the
loser of each round had to get up and do something like a song, dance,
or skit.  Nick nervously fidgeted in his seat the whole time.  When he
lost the round, Mona volunteered to sing Silent Night with him.  Helen
beamed with pride, their voices harmonized so well together.  Helen then
passed out the gifts for the little ones and the adults Christmas
stockings, another family tradition, in lieu of exchanging regular gifts
or drawing names.  Nick was reluctant to participate in the stocking
stuffer exchange when Mona told him he needed to purchase 16, $2.00
gifts.  Mona told him he would insult her mother if he did not
participate, besides, Helen had already made his stocking.  Nick knew
that meant that he had been accepted as a member of the family.  But, he
thought it was bad enough at LSP when he was expected to find something
nice for $20.00 for their gift exchange, but $2.00.  If he had trouble
finding something for a mere $20.00, what on earth would he find for
$2.00?  He had never heard such a thing.  Except for the year Nick drew
Alvin's name and knew exactly what Alvin wanted since he wrote it
beneath his name, Nick had just bought a $25.00 mall gift card and
called it a day.  He felt better when Mona told him that she would take
care of it for him, and not to worry.  Nick betted her $20.00 she could
not find anything nice without going to that cheap dollar store in her
neighborhood and she betted him she could and everyone would love the
gifts she chose.

 

"When the stockings were passed out, Nick whispered to her. "So what did
I put in everyone's stocking that they would be so pleased to receive?"

 

Before she could answer, her brother Steve shouted, "Way to go Nick, I
just won 50 bucks!"

 

"As I was about to say Mr. Fallin, you gave everyone 2 lottery tickets
apiece and you owe me $20.00."  He reached in his wallet and reluctantly
gave her a crisp $20.00 bill, which she stuffed into her bra.  Several
others won smaller amounts of money from Nick's lottery tickets. 

 

~~~~~

It was nearly 1:00 am when Nick and Mona kissed goodnight and retired to
their separate sleeping quarters at Helen's house.  Nick had not
experienced a more enjoyable Christmas since he was a child.  Mona’s
family actually practiced the traditions that one read about or saw in
movies.  Nick crawled into the twin bed and sat up with the covers
around his waist, observing his surroundings.  When he first arrived and
was putting his things away, he noticed the 2-ft Christmas tree on the
dresser and a fresh set of soft, fluffy towels on the foot of his bed. 
He smiled at the small tin of brownies that was placed on his pillow.
 He was used to getting a mint at the fancy hotels he had stayed at in
the past.  Now he noticed the little bowl of potpourri on the dresser
and the fresh poinsettia on his night stand.  At some point, either
Helen or Mona had come in and turned on the Christmas tree and turned
the radio to the station that was now playing carols in soft jazz.  For
the first time, he noticed on the night stand, the silver-plated carafe
filled with ice water and the picture beside it of Mona when she was
about 8 or 9 years old.  She was a pretty little freckled-face girl with
long dark pigtails.  The blue printed dress she was wearing looked
somewhat familiar.  It then occurred to him that the blue hearts in the
quilt that covered his body were from that dress Mona wore so many years
ago.

 

It was evident that this guest room also served as Helen's sewing room. 
Perhaps this was Mona's bedroom at one time.  He appreciated the effort
that Helen put forth to make him feel comfortable as a guest in her
home.  The flames from the gas heater in the corner made him feel warm,
loved, and secure.  He never got that from an expensive hotel.  Just as
he was about to turn off the lamp and call it a day, he remembered his
huge Christmas stocking.  He retrieved it from the foot of the bed and
emptied it out like an eager little kid after a night of trick or
treating.  Although, all he expected was a bunch of cheap dollar store
junk, he was amazed at what he found.

 

There were edible goodies from some of the females such as baggies of
snicker-doodles, peanut brittle, and homemade fudge.  He got guy treats
from the men such as wine coolers, pork skins, party mix and a
pepperoni. He found a pina colada lip balm, a deck of playing cards, and
a jar of Martha's homemade port-wine jelly.  Mark, Mona's 15-year old
nephew gave him a navy bandana scarf to wear on his head.  Nick noticed
that he had seen all of Mona's brothers wear them at one time or
another. Now he really felt like one of the guys. David handcrafted Nick
a set of  wooded bookends from scrap lumber in the initial "F" and
Tommy's girlfriend made '"leather" tissue box covers.  There were
several candles and Mona's famous "caramel apple for adults" completed
his stash.  Nick was with Mona when she made the apples.  She fashioned
them after the ones she saw on the Shopping Channels on TV.  She added
Rum to her thick layer of  caramel and pecans.  When added orange liquor
to her white chocolate and then dipped them into dark chocolate and
chopped pecans.  Nick nearly got high, sampling her ingredients. There
was one more item in the toe of his stocking.  Nick pulled out a large
lump of coal.  Mona's treat had come true, although he had been of good
behavior.  At least the best he could be.  After all he was still Nick
Fallin from Pittsburgh.  He smiled as he took a long swig of one of the
wine coolers, turned off the lamp and pulled the covers up over his
shoulders. 

 

Christmas Morning, 2004

 

Helen greeted Nick as he stood in the kitchen door.  "Morning,
Sunshine.  My, don't you look handsome.  I hope you don't mind me
serving you breakfast in this scruffy old house dress.  She had pinned
her corsage on the should of her dress."  Nick had slept later than he
had intended, but he thought it would be best to make himself
presentable before he greeted anyone.  That was something Burton taught
him.  'When you are a guest at someone's home, always shower and dress
before you make an appearance at their table.'  Of course that rule did
not apply at when he stayed over at Mona's house.

 

"You look lovely, Helen.  Is Mona up yet?"

 

"She's been up hours ago.  I sent her out with Tommy to deliver some hot
breakfast to a few elderly folks I feed on the holidays.  They should be
getting back anytime."  She placed a glass of juice in front of Nick. 
"I made hot cocoa for the old folks, you want some?"

"Sure. It's been ages since I've had cocoa."

 

"Then you're in for a treat.  This is the real thing." 

 

At that time, Martha from next door barged through the back door without
knocking, wearing the ugliest bathrobe and slippers Nick had ever seen. 
"What does a person have to do to get some breakfast on this beautiful
Christmas morning?"

 

"Go home and make your own."  Helen said as she poured Martha a cup of
coffee and set it before her.

 

"You see how she treats her best friend.  She just want to hog up "His
Handsomeness" all to herself.  Well, Attorney Fallin, what do you think
about your hillbilly holiday in this crazy house?  Mona must have lost
her mind bringing you her and exposing you to these lunatics."

 

"It is the best holiday I've had since I was a kid."  Nick replied.

 

"Say what?"  Martha asked peering over her glasses.  Where were you
raised Nick?  What did you do on Christmas from the time you were a kid
up until your visit here to "Hooterville?"

 

"I don't remember, I was usually high."  Helen and Martha both laughed
until they realized, Nick was not joking.

 

Just as Helen finished putting the steaming breakfast platters on the
table, Mona and Tommy came in, both with rosy cheeks.  Mona rubbed her
ice cold cheek against Nick's then kissed him on the nose and sat down
beside him.  Martha said the blessing and Tommy asked Helen.  "Mama, did
you ever finish telling Nick about our Christmas Eve traditions?  Why we
do the weird things that we do."

 

"Oh, I forgot, now is just as good a time as any."

    

Helen chuckled.  “You see, back when Mona was about seven years old, my
husband, Raymond lost his job.  We didn’t have two nickels to rub
together, and nobody volunteered to help us.

 

"That was before I moved her." Martha interrupted.

 

"We lost our electricity three days before Christmas.  All we had was
potatoes, flour and a freezer full of half thawed deer and squirrel
meat.  Raymond was stubborn just like Mona.  He pulled out the grill and
charcoal and we barbequed everything that was in the freezer, it was
going to go bad anyway.  I borrowed sugar here and eggs there and baked
a cake and a few cookies and biscuits.  We fried, mashed, and roasted
every potato we had in the house and then sat down and had our dinner by
candlelight.  The kids didn’t know it was because that was the best we
could do.  They thought we were doing something really special and they
had a blast.  I wrapped up the leftovers and stored them on the back
porch.  It was so cold, nothing out there would spoil."

 

"What about Santa Clause, did the kids get any toys?"

 

 “A few things.  Raymond would have robbed a bank if he had to, but I
shopped all year round whenever I saw things on sale.  The kids were
small then, so they weren't picky like kids are now.  They appreciated
whatever we gave them. But I didn't have enough presents, especially for
Mona and David since they were older.  So Raymond still hadn't found any
work, not even something part time.  In the middle of the night, he got
out of bed and went into the garage where he stored his tools and scrap
wood.  The next thing I knew, he was sawing and hammering like a crazy
man.  What he was doing was building Mona a doll house big enough for
her Barbies and a go-cart for David.  Then he started on a tree house
for all the kids with the wood he had left.  He knew he would not finish
the tree house before Christmas, but he was able to build all the sides,
and in the spring, he and David could assemble it in that  tree out back."

 

Nick peered through the kitchen window."

 

"That's the one.  It's been there since David was eight or nine years
old."  A couple hours after I finished stitching up doll clothes and
curtains and bedspreads for Mona's doll house, they came and turned off
our electricity.  So now we still barbeque and eat by candlelight to
commemorate how much the Lord has blessed us throughout the years.  That
cake we had last night was to remember Jesus' birthday and the red fruit
punch is to represent the blood he shed for us, so we can be saved and
see our loved ones in heaven someday.  Mona's daddy, Raymond, your mama,
Nick, and all those who we loved and held dear to our hearts."

 

"What about Carl, your second husband, Helen?  Martha was playing the
devil's advocate this morning."

 

"Who said, he's in heaven?  Helen asked innocently."

 

Nick's eyes twinkled as he tried to contain his laughter.  It was
evident where Mona got her sense of  humor.

 

"Well, I still think the punch needs a little kick to it, Christ's
birthday or not.  It's dangerous drinking red koolaide straight."
 Martha stated defiantly.   At that, Nick laughed openly, he couldn't
take any more of this nonsense. It was the most ridiculous thing he'd
ever heard.  Everyone joined him for a hearty laugh.

 

"I told you they were nuts."  Tommy whispered  to Nick. 

 

"Well anyway, that is when I starting teaching the kids about the real
meaning of Christmas and Jesus, birthday.  Did I tell you that I made
cherry Koolaide that first night?"  The laughter started again.

 

"Well, that birthday cake for Jesus was also the start of my cake
decorating hobby.  Oh, and one Christmas when I was between husbands,  I
didn't have any wild game to barbeque, so I shredded and mixed up
whatever leftover meat I had on hand, threw it in some barbeque sauce,
served it up on biscuits, and told the kids it was kangaroo and not to
tell anybody."

 

A still tickled Nick asked, "They believed that?" 

 

"If they believed in Santa Clause, they'd believe anything I told them. 
Them brats didn't want no chicken or pork on Christmas Eve.  They
thought it was exciting to get to eat something wild and exotics. They
probably didn't know what a kangaroo was.  They'd never seen one.  Even
now, it doesn't matter if it's zero degrees outside.  The boys will
still bundle up and throw something on the grill.  And now  they think
it's fun to tell the same lies to their kids.  Just like you are going
to come up with some doozies when Anne starts asking you questions you
don't want to answer."

 

"I'll call you for some advice."

 

"You do that.  I could write me a book about the things parents
sometimes have to do to keep their kids happy.  But my daddy used to say
you should never forget where you came from.  It is your past that
shapes your future."  Nick smiled to himself as he thought that his
daddy, wished that he could forget his sons’s past.

 

That afternoon, Helen's house was like Grand Central Station.  She set
up a food and dessert buffet for her family and friends who came to
visit.  All of her children, in-laws and grandchildren returned to
partake of her delicious buffet and have family portraits taken,
courtesy of Mona.  At 3:00 Helen sent Nick and Tommy out to deliver
dinner and dessert to the same elderly people she served breakfast early. 

 

By 5:00 the house had cleared, as most of her children, in-laws and
grandchildren had dinner plans with their spouses parents.  As Helen lit
the candles on the dining room, she requested Mona to deliver the grace
and Tommy to carve the roast.  When they had finished, Mona stated, "I
thought we were having turkey Mama.  Where did this roast come from?"

 

"Girl, I am darned sick of turkey.  And I figure you are too aren't you,
Nick?"

 

"Well, if I have to have turkey, I prefer it on a sandwich.  I would
rather have this prime rib any day.  It's my favorite."

 

"We know."  Martha and Helen chimed together.

 

"We'll where did it come from.  You've been serving up turkey all day."

 

"I cooked it at my house along with most of what is on this table now,
so we could have something nice." Martha explained.

 

"That turkey crap was for them and this is for us." Helen added.

 

Martha continued,  "Mona Dear, until your siblings learn how to cook and
eat at their own houses or at least bring a covered dish to your
mother's house, turkey is what they are going to get.  Even Nick and
Vanessa, here, (Tommy's girlfriend) was thoughtful enough to ask what
they could bring and they are special guests.

 

Helen then interrupted, "Do you know why they get turkey and we get
prime rib?  Because turkey is cheap, just like they are.  It's easy to
prepare, and it goes a long way.  I just barely got chance to save
enough turkey breast for us to have some sandwiches because they were
packing up so many plates to take home." 

 

"But I thought they had dinner plans at their in-laws."  Vanessa
stated.  Helen and Martha looked at each other and laughed. 

 

"They have to eat tomorrow."  Martha laughed.

 

"What you like on your turkey sandwich, Nick?"

 

"Just salt pepper and lots of mayo."

 

"It will be in the fridge when you and Mona return tonight."

 

~~~~

Christmas Evening

 

Burton and Ruth said their goodbyes to their relatives in Mount Aire. 
They drove there early taking bags of gifts and sharing Christmas dinner
with kinfolk neither had seen for some time.  As they headed back for
Pittsburg, Burton and Ruth both agreed it had been a wonderful day and
they would keep in touch with the family more often.  After all, none of
them were spring chickens anymore.

 

Shannon sat at Lulu's kitchen table feeding Anne a bottle.  The timer on
the microwave went off, letting her know that her TV dinner was ready. 
With Anne on her hip, she pick-up up a pot holder and took the hot
turkey dinner from the oven and tossed it on the table.  She then went
to the fringe and retrieved a soda.  "Some Christmas."  she thought. "I
should have stayed at the shelter.  All I've done since I talked Lulu
into letting me stay the weekend was babysit and change diapers."  If it
wasn't for the fact that too many questions would be asked if she went
back to the shelter, she would have walked out on Lulu and Anne.  At
least Anne was a good baby and somebody had to take care of her.  All
Lulu did was bash Nick, curse Mona, pop her headache pills, and drink
wine.  Shannon wanted to call Burton, but he may be angry from the other
night.  She had to find a way to make him like her again.

 

After dinner at Helen's Tommy and Vanessa went to visit some friends and
Nick and Mona went over to Kay's home, one of Mona's old school
friends.  Kay, her boyfriend, Nick and Mona later went out to a club and
stayed until around 11:30.  After Nick took Mona's friends home, he and
Mona went to a moterlodge to spend a little quality time with each
other.  At 2:30, they tiptoed into Helen's house like two guilty
teenagers.  Giggling softly as they kissed each other good night, so as
not to awaken Helen.

Nick observed that the little artificial tree on the dresser was lit,
the silver carafe was filled with fresh ice-water, and a fresh set of
towels was placed on the foot of his bed.  The radio played soft music.

 

In Helen's bedroom down the hall, Mona changed into her flannel night
gown and crawled into bed with  her mother as she shared the intimate
details of the last couple hours, she spent alone with Nick.  If he had
known, he would have been thoroughly embarrassed, but grateful.  Little
did he know that it was his future mother-in-law who taught her daughter
how to please the man she loved.

 

"This had been the best holiday Nick remembered since he was a little
kid, and the weekend was still not over.  He an Mona promised Helen and
Martha they would attend Sunday morning church service and take them to
lunch before they left for Pittsburgh.  He loved those two ladies.  He
knew his own mother would have like them as well.  Since his own mom,
Anne could not be him, he was grateful for the attention and acceptance
that Mona's mother gave him.  She did not judge him, she just accepted
him as he was.  He loved Helen's sense of humor and the compassion in
her heart that he felt just from being in the same room with her. 
Martha was like an aunt.  He never was as close to his Aunt Liz as he
would have liked.  Perhaps it was the difference in her age and his
mothers.  It was evident that she and his mother did not love each
other, it was just that the two of them lead two separate lives.  In
school, he heard stories from his classmates about their aunts and the
attention they loved to shower on their nephews.  A true aunt must be a
cross between Martha, something who is fun to be around and Aunt Ruth,
someone who is wise and caring.  Well Anne and his and Mona's future
children will have plenty of aunts and uncles to care for them and a lot
of cousins to play with; something he did not have growing up. His
children would have wonderful Christmases, filled will the traditions
that Mona's family enjoy each year and some that he and Mona will make
up along the way.  He liked the idea of barbequing on Christmas Eve. 
Although he was no hunter and he had no intentions of barbequing lions
and tigers and bears, oh, my, he did know how to grill.  He and Mona had
plenty of time to figure out just what would be thrown on the grill and
what they would name it.  He knew he could count on Mona to come up with
an imaginative lie to humor the kids until they realized their dinner
came from the supermarket, not the backwoods of Pennsylvania or the
African jungle.

 

/Sunday Afternoon, 2:45 p.m./

 

"Stop stalling Nick, you know we have to go home.  Mona pleaded.

 

Why?  Why do we have to go home?  You don't have to work tomorrow and my
office is closed until after New Year.  Why can't we just drive and see
where we end up?"

 

"Because Burton and Aunt Ruth are expecting us back in time for dinner
this evening."

 

"Ramona Lisa Johnson, how can you possibly think about dinner after all
the shrimp you stuffed down you gut, only a short while ago?"

 

At church, Helen again, was proud of the striking couple Nick and Mona
made.  She introduced them to everyone she had not already introduced
them to on Christmas Eve night.  She loved their color coordinated
outfits, which had Mona's signature written all over them. Nick wore his
black suit, charcoal shirt, and striped burgundy, black and grey tie
while Mona wore her burgundy twin sweater set and black skirt and dress
boots.  Only a man who loved his woman would agree to dress to please
her.  They also took Debbie to church and lunch.  She felt so grown-up
when Nick told her she could order anything from the menu she wanted. 
Usually on the rare occasions that she ate out, someone automatically
ordered something from the kid's menu for her.  She made it her business
to sit next to Nick.  Martha warned Mona that she had better watch
Debbie or she would steal Nick away from her. When they returned home,
Debbie waited until Mona was not around and she asked Nick to buy her an
American Girl doll for her birthday.  She always ask Santa and her mom
for it but she never gets it.  She told him she was beginning to believe
there was no Santa Clause.  Nick promised her the doll, if she made good
grades.  She kissed him, looked embarrassed, then ran.  Then she came
back, thanked him, and told him not to tell Aunt Mona that she kissed
him.  "She might not understand."  When Nick told Mona, she laughed and
told him that he was the only person who did not know that Debbie had a
crush on him as big as Pittsburgh and if he don't buy her that doll, her
little heart would be crushed.  He told Mona about Violet, one of his
former clients, a little girl whom Debbie reminded him of.

 

"Honey, let's go.  We had a great time and nothing is going to change
that.  What's wrong?"

 

That's just it.  I guess I had too great of a time.  It is just
something about Dad's house that makes me uncomfortable.  I guess that
is part of the reason why I resent Shannon.  She can feel at home there
when I can't.  I would have given anything if I was allowed to live
there full time when I was her age.  And now when I am finally beginning
to feel at ease in that house and around my father, it's, it's as if he
is kicking me out again.  First it was in favor of his firm and now it
is in favor of Shannon.  If she could just appreciate his kindness….."

 

Mona hugged Nick and held his head to her chest, running her fingers
through his hair and kissing his head.  "I understand how you feel,
honey, I really do.  But we can't deal with it until we go home.  If you
like, I'll talk to Burton and tell him how you feel and why.    But, we
have to go home, now.  Hey, we still have our presents to exchange and
we have to announce that we've set our wedding date.  Burton and Ruth
will be so excited!"

 

"Why can't we just elope.  We could drive somewhere and get married
tomorrow.  Or we could drive to the nearest airport and fly to Los
Vegas.  I could call my travel agent and she could have us booked
anywhere we want to go, by the time we drive to the airport."

 

Mona held Nick's head between the palms of her hand and looked straight
into his troubled eyes.  "Dearest Nick, we are going home and we are
going to pick up where we left off Thursday evening at your father's
house.  We are going to share a lovely dinner with your father and aunt,
exchange our Christmas gifts and watch at least one of the DVDs that we
walked out on, Thursday night.  After that we are going to either your
place or mine and I am going to allow you to have your way with me."

 

"What do you mean by "have my way with you?"  Nick's half-cocked
devilish grin spread across his face and his eyes began to twinkle."

 

"Have your way, as in "Saint Nick working his Christmas magic on Mona
Lisa."  Mona groped his crotch as she smiled seductively."

 

"Saint Nick!"  You've named my…"

 

"Hey is everything alright!  Helen called from the doorway.  Did you
kids forget something?"

 

"No, Helen.  Everything is just fine.  We are leaving now."  Nick
shouted as he started up the engine of his BMW and back out of Helen's yard.

 

"Drive safe and don't forget to call me when you get to Burtons, now!" 
After a round of waves and a horn toot, Nick and Mona were headed back
to Pittsburgh for Christmas Eve dinner, served the day after Christmas.

 

* * * * *

Once in Burton's driveway, Nick was reluctant to get out of the car. 
"Baby, get out of the car.  We have to go inside and do this.  I'll tell
you what.  You know that I will support whatever you decide for our
future.  If Burton is hell-bent on adopting Shannon and forcing her into
our lives, I will support your decision to stop coming over here for
dinner.  And if you wake up tomorrow and you still want to run away from
home, I'll elope with you.  Just promise me one thing.  Promise me that
you won't take back any more Christmas gifts."

 

"But Helen loved Shannon's cell phone." Nick grinned as he got out of
the car and went to the passenger side to open Mona' door for her.  He
bowed to her and kissed her passionately before entering his father's
door.  I promise, Your loveliness.

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED……..