~*~ Chapter 8 ~*~
REDDING, CA – Monday – Dec. 24th, 2001
Christmas Eve came along.
From the day Dawn Addams informed Kirstin that the Angels were coming for Christmas until that day, everything was pretty much the same. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
When Kirstin told Tom her mother had invited Ashley’s family to celebrate Christmas with them, he got so angry Kirstin didn’t know what to do to calm him down. Eventually, he let it go. What could he do? He wouldn’t fight with his mother-in-law just because she had invited the Angels. He understood their families were close. So he saw there was nothing he could do to change it.
Ashley, on the other hand, was happy when he first heard the news. But then he thought better and realized it wasn’t going to be that good. He would have to see Kirstin with Tom. It would be difficult for him to face that. Too difficult.
Now Kirstin was in the master bedroom, sitting on the bed with Tom. Her sister, Kelly, was sitting in a loveseat that was also there in the bedroom.
“What did you get mom and dad for Christmas?” her sister asked. Kelly was a beautiful girl as well. Different from Kirstin, she had her mothers look. She had long hair that went all the way to her waist. Her hair was dyed black, making her very bright blue eyes stand out. She was 5'7'' and had an all-athletic body. She was an UCLA student, majoring in Arts.
“We bought them a new grill. I had no idea what to get. So I figured they could use a new one. What about you?”
“Really? That’s a great present. I bought just lame stuff.” Kelly rolled her eyes on the thought of her presents “I bought dad a new robe and a tie and I got mom new slippers and an apron.”
“Great, Kel! Nothing says I love you more than an apron and a robe!”
“Oh, shut up.” Kelly threw her slipper at Kirstin, hitting her leg.
“Oh, relax! Don’t be mad. I’m sure they’ll understand. You don’t work, you do nothing. You are just a lazy girl.”
“You know I’m looking for a job. It’s just difficult to find one, that’s all.”
“Yeah, especially when you just sit around the house all day expecting a great opportunity to just fall into your lap.” Kirstin smirked.
“Kirstin!” Kelly was just like that. She didn’t care about anything, a really laidback girl. She threw the other slipper at her sister, but this time, it hit Tom. All the 3 of them laughed “Oh, I’m so sorry Tom. You know I was aiming for Kirstin.”
“Yeah, yeah. No problem.” he took the slipper and threw it lightly to Kelly.
“So, who’s coming tomorrow?”
“Kel, I think I told you 6 times already!” Kelly didn’t pay too much attention to details either.
“Well, you know what they say, 7th time is a charm.”
“Oh, God. Who’s coming? Well, us, of course. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers. Carol Allen, that mom knows from God knows where. Mr. and Mrs. Lee and their sons Matthew and Brad, they are our new neighbors. Mr. Johnson’s family, you know? That guy that works with dad, the one with the beard?” Kelly nodded “And Mr. and Mrs. Angel, Emily, Ashley and Hailey.” Kelly knew all about Ashley already. Kirstin didn’t talk too much with her sister, but she told everything to her when they met there at Redding. Well, not everything, but she was aware Kirstin went out with Ashley for a while and dumped him for Tom.
“Hm, yeah. Ashley and his whore.”
“Kel!” Kirstin exclaimed, giggling.
“Well, it’s true, you know? Oh, you know what I’ve heard a while after we moved, but I didn’t feel like telling it to you back then?”
“What?” Kirstin frowned.
“That Hailey dated Jess for like, an year.”
“Really?” Kirstin looked down. Tom noticed the sadness on Kirstin’s expression.
“Who’s Jess?” he asked Kelly. She just looked at Kirstin surprised she hadn’t told her fiancée about Jess.
“Oh, just no one. He was my first boyfriend.” Kirstin looked at her sister then smiled weakly at him.
“Right.” he just nodded.
“And Tom, Kirstin told me you almost broke Ashley’s face twice.” Kelly got all excited. She didn’t know why, but she and Ashley never actually got along.
“Yeah, well, he was asking for it both times.”
“You should have hit him. He’s an ass.”
“He’s not!” Kirstin defended Ashley. Tom didn’t like that.
“Well, to me, he is.” Kelly said.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Tom continued.
“You don’t know him how I do, so you two just shut up. He’s a great guy, but neither of you ever gave him an opportunity to show you that.”
“If you say so.” Kelly shrugged “I’m gonna see if mom needs my help in the kitchen. Do you believe she is preparing some of the food for tomorrow already?”
“You know mom. She loves Christmas and loves to get people over to the house.”
“Yeah, well. I’ll see if she needs help.” she said, heading to the door.
“Bye, Kel.”
When Kelly shut the door behind her, Kirstin turned to face Tom. She smiled at him. He had a serious look on.
“What time is it?”
“It’s 11:30 p.m.”
“It’s late already. I thought it was around 10. What’s wrong baby?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“Come on! I know there’s something wrong. Just tell me.”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, come on. Tell me.” she pocked his side “It’s about Ashley, isn’t it?” Tom didn’t say a thing, he just laid on the bed “Oh, Tom. When are you gonna stop it?”
“I don’t know Kirstin. When are you gonna stop it?”
“Stop what?”
“Defending him.”
“Tom, please! Is this all because I said he was not an ass?” he nodded “But he is not! I’m not going to diss him just because I’m not with him anymore! He was always great to me. Never did anything to hurt me.”
“He did too!”
“No, Tom, he didn’t! I hurt myself! I allowed myself to fall for him when I shouldn’t have. When I knew he’d never be around.” Tom just sighed “Oh, I’m not gonna have this conversation again. I’m sick and tired of it.” Kirstin got up from the bed and heated to the door.
“No, Kirstin, wait.” Tom got up too and grabbed her by the arm. She didn’t turn around to face him.
“What?” she said, standing on her back to him. He put both his hands on her shoulders.
“Kirstin, you know I love you too much. I don’t wanna loose you to that loser. I don’t like him, he doesn’t like me, and that’s how it’ll always be. I know I shouldn’t be mad at you just because you were defending the guy. I’m sorry. I know you shouldn’t stop liking him just because I don’t. I understand. I’m just afraid to loose you, that’s all. And every time I hear you talk about Ashley… I don’t know… it’s like… I fear that once you start talking about him, you’ll realize he’s some great guy that you shouldn’t have let go. I fear that you’ll just ran away and leave me to be with him. I fear that you’ll think you’ve made the wrong decision. That you should have chosen Ashley, not me.”
Kirstin turned around to look at Tom. He had his eyes all watery. She never saw him like that.
“Tom…” she said rubbing her thumb on his cheek “I know I’ve made the right decision. I chose you. And I would do it all over again.” Kirstin pulled him to her and kissed him passionately. When they pulled away, she said “Now, let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow is not gonna be a picnic.”
* Thanx Stacie and Taryn for reviewing and correcting the grammar errors *
~*~ Chapter 7 ~*~
~*~ Chapter 9 ~*~
Feedback: [email protected]