Parents…
The next day:
Anastasia woke up around noon dreading when Christmas break would be over and she would have to return to 5 year olds and college classes. Her mother would be coming over today with Ray for an exchange of Christmas gifts and “bonding” which would consist of awkward silence and Ray talking about his high school days and the swim team. She shuddered thinking of it but proceeded to get dressed in a respectable outfit she hoped her mother would approve of and gave the apartment a quick wipe down.
A few hours later they sat around coffee in hand, Anastasia trying to think of away to get them out without seeming rude.
“Well, you two have a long drive tomorrow I wouldn’t want to keep you up…”
Her mother seemed to ignore her and mumbled something about going to put her mug away, which meant she would be snooping. Anastasia jumped up to follow her, Ray got up and followed in suit.
“Nick’s number?” her mother fingered with the tab on the refrigerator, “What about Adam?” They absolutely adored Adam; in their eyes he could do no wrong.
“Nick’s just a friend you remember him…Nick Carter?”
Her mother snorted and Ray took her side, “Aww…Does Annie have a crush?” Ray pried “Why I remember back in high school I was absolutely in love with this girl named Melissa…”
“NO!” she tried to keep her cool, “no…he’s just a friend.”
“Well good, let’s keep it that way, Annie. Adam’s a wonderful man, who will make you very happy. Don’t do anything to mess up.” Translation he had money. “Well we better be off.” She said in a sugary sweet tone that made Anastasia sick, “Bye dear.” She gave Anastasia a kiss on the cheek, “Say hello to Adam for me.”
“Merry Christmas, Annie.”
After her mother and Ray left she let out a long sigh “Boy am I glad that’s over…”
It was around 7 and she decided to call Adam after all he had been trying to track her down all weekend but the phone rang first.
“Hello?”
“Oink.”
“Uhh…hello?”
“Oink oink.”
“What?” the realization hit her, “Nick!” she laughed
“Give the girl a prize!” He was laughing hysterically
“Nick, are you drunk?”
“Who me…naw I’m just happy to be going home! Get to see my family…Mandy.”
“Oh the girl you’re sort of going out with?”
“Yeah that’s her, anyways I would have called you sooner but I was packing, how did you like the show last night?”
“Yeah it was great…”
4 hours later
“No way!” she laughed still on the phone with Nick
“Yeah…” he laughed back, “Oh my god.”
“What?”
“Do you know what time it is?”
“8:00?” she guessed
“Almost 11.”
“Jeez, seriously?”
“Yeah I better get going I have to catch a flight tomorrow.”
“Alright, then I guess…”
“I call you,” he interrupted, “And after Christmas we can get together.”
“What about your tour?”
“We have a month off before it starts again in February.”
“Cool, so I’ll see you around.”
“Alright bye.”
The next morning after a few quick exchange of words with a very pissed off Adam she locked up, put Jinx in the car and started her drive down to Florida.
After a very long drive she ended up at Jessee’s house on Christmas Eve with Jinx in her arms she knocked on the door a little girl answered it “Auntie Annie!!” the little girl squealed undoubtedly one of the triplets and ran into the house.
“Sis, come in.” Jessee hugged her as Jinx leapt out of her arms and preceded to be chased but the two little girls.
“MOM!!!! Mint hit me!!!”
“Did not!! It was AJ!”
“Hey I didn’t do anything…get away from me!!”
The 4 children ran around as a very pregnant Caitlin emerged form the kitchen, “Shut up all of you!!!! Anne! Get Mint away from the cat!!!” She turned to Anastasia, “Don’t mind all this chaos, I’m so glad you could come!” Caitlin smiled and gave Anastasia a hug.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“Children” she sang out with no response, “CHILDREN!!” with that the kids ran to their mother, “Say hello to your aunt.”
“Hi!” A chorus of voices echoed
“They’re so adorable standing there,” another voice spoke up, “with the mother’s red hair and the fathers blue eyes…but then they start to move.”
Anastasia looked up, “Nice to see you too, Joe.”
They smiled and hugged and a breathless Anne walked in, “Caitlin, where’s the cinnamon?”
“Don’t touch the cinnamon, Anne! Leave the cooking up to me!” With that Caitlin disappeared into the kitchen
“That girl is so stubborn, hi I’m Anne, we met before at the wedding.” She stuck out her hand, “here let me help you with your bags.”
The rest of the night went something like that, Joe hiding in the den with a newspaper while 4 kids chased each other around occasionally followed by a screaming Caitlin or Anne. Once the children were in bed and the presents laid out the grown-ups got time to talk.
“When’s the baby due?” someone asked
Caitlin patted her stomach, “Not for another week or so, it’s a girl I just know it.”
“No, it’s a boy, fathers know these things.”
“I gave you two boys already I don’t think I can take anymore!” Caitlin said in mock frustration
“Well, in any case they’ll be beautiful just like their mom…” Jessee smiled
“Uhh!!” Joe and Anne said at the same time
“Let’s get to bed, we’ll be up at the crack of dawn with those guys upstairs.” Caitlin pointed to the ceiling