Kate woke up to a knock at the door. She half-expected it to be her cleaning lady, Esmeralda, but when she opened her eyes and didn't see her Tiffany blue colored walls, she realized where she was.
"Kate?" Lindsay called from outside the door. "Come on out with us."
Kate groaned and tried to bury her head in the pillow. It was 6 a.m. Didn't these people sleep? Oh. Right. It was Christmas.
Kate acknowledged Lindsay, telling her she'd be out in a second, and slowly got up. She threw on her silk robe, took a couple Aspirin, and fixed up her hair in the mirror. Then she took a deep breath, ready for the onslaught, and walked outside. She heard three chipper voices greet her, and greeted them back, before heading quickly into the kitchen for some much needed coffee. Danny was already in there holding a cup out to her.
"How you doin'?" he asked.
She accepted the cup, and took a long sip, sighing thankfully. "Better now. Merry Christmas, dumbass," she couldn't help but say.
Danny smiled, gave her a one armed hug, kissed her head, and said, "Merry Christmas to you, cagna." 'Cagna' was Danny's pet name for Kate, meaning 'bitch' in Italian.
Kate smiled back, and downed her cup of coffee. She refilled it, and headed to the living room, where Chris, Lilly, and Charlie all sat, waiting to open presents. She sat down on the couch, by herself, since Danny took up his chair, and Lindsay sat on the floor with the kids.
"Auntie Kate! Look what Santa brought me!" yelled the kids. She nodded, and oohed and ahhed as the kids opened each of their presents.
Half an hour later, the living room was full of wrapping paper, bows, and kids playing with their toys. Chris got a new baseball bat, and a Yankees jersey, among other things; Lilly got the Holiday Barbie (she collected them, which is something she got from Kate) and some new clothes, among other things; and Charlie got a jersey like his older brother and a football, among other things.
When she was certain the kids were distracted, and she helped clean up the living room, Kate made her way back into her bedroom, faking a headache so she could go back to sleep. She told Lindsay to woke her up at 9 a.m. so that she had time to get ready before people came over.
It was exactly 9 a.m. when there was another knock at the door. Kate woke up easier this time, acknowledging she was awake, and went to take a shower. Indeed, an hour and a half later, Kate was touching up her makeup when the doorbell rang. It was the Taylor family, who informed them that the Flacks weren't far behind. Kate checked herself in the mirror one more time. Same heels from the night before, Seven jeans, black, Chanel blouse, diamond, Tiffany's pendant Alex had given her for her last birthday, and the earrings and oversized watch that went with them. She greeted the Taylors, asking Cammie what she got from Santa, and then went to the kitchen to make herself a Mimosa.
She just finished making it when the doorbell rang again. It was the Flack family. Being closest to the door, Kate answered it, wishing Ava and Jess a Merry Christmas and hugging them. Don leaned in to kiss Kate's cheek, saying, "Drinking already? Didn't even wait for me," he shook his head. "I woulda made you one."
Kate smiled. "Couldn't wait. Go in and say hi to everyone. I'll make you something. What would you like? Mimosa?" she asked, going over to the little breakfast nook that she had turned into her own personal bar.
"Yeah, sounds good. Thanks," Don said, following his wife and daughter into the living room to greet everyone else.
Kate stood at the bar making Don's mimosa, and a few more knowing that other people would want some too, and listened to all the family happiness going on in the living room. She thought of Alex again, wondering when he was going to have a chance to call her today. Last night's minute long phone call didn't satisfy her as much as she originally thought, and she was really starting to miss him.
Don broke her out of her trance by reappearing in the kitchen for his drink. "You doin' OK? You look a little sad." He tested his drink, finding it satisfying, and looked at her for an answer.
"I'm great. It's Christmas. How was Ava this morning?" she asked, feigning interest and forgetting he could always see right through her. It was that damn connection they had, and even though they weren't together romantically, they had this connection that she didn't have with a lot of people. He could read her like a book, and she was one of the only three people that could break him out of one of his bad moods, the others, of course, being Jess and Ava.
"She was happy," he said, knowing better than to rub his happiness in her face. "Santa was good to her."
Kate smiled. "Good."
Don cleared his throat, and leaned in closer. "Wanna take a walk?" he asked.
She looked at him, eyes wide, and hesitated before shaking her head. "No," she said, giving a small laugh, "Why would I? It's Christmas, Donnie, it's my favorite holiday. You know that."
"Yes, but I also know that you miss your boyfriend, and the sight of all these families is making you want to shove that cocktail fork in your eye."
Kate sighed. He knew her way too well, and being a trained detective, she knew he could tell when she was lying. "Fine. Let's walk. But if Lindsay yells, it's on your head." Flack agreed, and told her to finish her drink, going to get her coat and gloves and telling everyone they'd be right back. Kate could hear Ava and some of the other kids say they wanted to go too, but Don politely told them to stay at the house. She leaned over the counter, saw him kiss Jess and squeeze her hand before getting Kate's stuff from the hall closet and walking back into the kitchen. Kate finished her drink, and wasn't surprised to turn around and see Don holding her coat out for her. He was such a gentleman, though he wouldn't admit it. Even after all these years, a wife, and a daughter, he still thought of himself as the "tough guy." Kate could tell him differently. She was there when Ava was born, saw the tears in his eyes. He wasn't so tough.
Leaving the house, Don asked if she needed a smoke. She declined, saying she was going to try and quit for good, and he smiled at her, saying how proud he was.
They made their way down the driveway and started off down the road. They were silent for a little bit before Kate made the first move to talk. "You're so good with Jess," she said. "And Ava is just the cutest thing. You're really lucky, Don. I'm happy for you."
Don smiled. "Thanks, Kate," he said, and it was a genuine thanks. "It means a lot."
Kate nodded. Silence, again, before finally Don broke it. "All right, I want you tell me the truth here. No lies, ok?" He stopped on the side, making her stop too, and held her arms, looking straight into her eyes. She could only nod. "Are you OK?"
Kate hesitated again. "What would make you think I wasn't?"
"Maybe the fact that my buddy Ted over at that little bar you hang out at called last night to tell me you were there by yourself, drinking, and playing pool with some sketchy lookin' scumbags," Don said. "Tell me I'm wrong though."
"Fine, I was there. And then I was here. See, I can do both. I can do the bar thing and the family thing. Is it a crime to go to a bar before family functions?"
"Hell no. Otherwise you wouldn't be the only one in trouble for that. But I know these families that sprouted up weren't easy for you, especially after what your mother put you through."
Kate froze. She tried to forget all the crap her mother said to her over the years. When Kate was little, she was told that she was beautiful, but not very bright. In high school, she was still being told that, but now she also found out that her mother, Sharon, had been calling Kate a slut behind her back as well. After becoming a model, her mother would only ever say, "Stay away from the drugs." After getting the job at Charm, Kate was told she would need to find a real job at some point. After Chris was born, and then Lilly, and Charlie, Kate was told each time to look in wonder at the babies, since it would never happen to her. Lindsay's wedding was a mess for Kate, who was reminded constantly that Lindsay may be the only Monroe daughter to get married. Even when Stella and Mac got married and had their daughter, or Don and Jess, Kate got calls from her mother. "Smarten up, honey," Sharon would say. "You may be beautiful now, but looks don't last forever. Pretty soon no one will want you, and you'll be all alone until you die."
Now, though, in front of Don, Kate put on a brave face. "I try to forget those things," she said. "That's why I go to therapy, and why I drink."
Realizing he wasn't getting through, and not to push it, Don let the issue drop. He apologized, and asked if she wanted to head back. She agreed, and followed him back to the house.
Once inside, Don took her coat to put away, and she went to get another drink, listening to Lindsay scold Don for leaving. Kate had to laugh. Her sister could be so uptight, just like their mother. Kate, on the other hand, seemed to take their dad's more laid back personality – as well as his drinking habits.
While mixing her second drink of the day – and snacking on some stuff the others must have put out while Kate was walking – Jess and Stella came into the kitchen next to her.
"Hey, Kate. How are you holding up?" Stella asked, giving the younger woman a one-armed hug. Kate was really beginning to hate being asked that. Alex didn't die, for Christ's sake, he just left for a while.
So Kate decided to have some fun. "Actually, I'm seriously considering downing this bottle of vodka, smoking a pack of cigs, and heading out to a bar to see what kind of STD I can get," she said with a straight face. Stella and Jess both glared at her, mouths slightly open, until Lindsay came in to ruin the fun.
"She's kidding," Lindsay said. "She gets sarcastic when she's upset."
"Don't make excuses for me!" Kate yelled, pointing a finger at her sister from across the room. "My therapist says it's a way of coping with stress. It's either sarcasm or painkillers, babe, take your pick. But remember, your kids sleep over a lot and there's a lot of them, I can't be accounted for what they do or what they put in their mouths." Kate stared Lindsay down, knowing her older sister would cave. Lindsay did. She rolled her eyes, and walked away. Stella and Jess stifled laughs.
"Anyway," Kate continued talking with Stella and Jess, "How are you two? You're the ones with the kids. I get 10 hours of sleep a night."
Stella and Jess sighed, remembering what it was like to sleep. Kate loved to rub how much sleep she got in other people's faces. The only person it didn't get was Mac, who was a notorious insomniac. "Cammie was up at five this morning and would not go back to sleep," Stella said. "But I was able to snag a few more hours, Mac got up to keep her busy."
At that very moment, the man himself walked in, kissing his wife and grabbing himself something to eat. "I don't see Cam as much as I'd like," he explained. "So if I have to get up at 5 a.m. to do it, I will." He kissed Stella again, and left.
"Aww," Kate said, honestly meaning it. "How about Ava? Don said Santa was good to her."
"Yeah," Jess nodded. "She got some great stuff, and she slept in until eight. Takes after her dad." Kate had to laugh and agree at that.
Then Don walked in, kissing his wife. Kate "awed" them too. "What?" Don asked, popping a grape into his mouth. Kate went over and pinched his cheek. "You're so cute," she said in a baby voice, shaking his pinched cheek, and then slapping it gently. He laughed, nodded, and lifted her up on his shoulder. "Don!" Kate started to scream. "Donald, you put me down right now!"
"Don, come on, let her go," Jess said, sighing.
Don shook his head, walking into the living room with Kate slung over his shoulder, hitting his back, and kicking her legs. "Kate, if one of your legs connects with something very valuable to me, it'll be the last thing you do," he warned.
"I'd like to see you try," she said between clenched teeth.
"Yo, Danno! Mac! What should I do, huh? Drop her in the snow?" Don called to his friends who were seated in the living room.
"No! Donnie, please! These clothes are very expensive!" Kate cried. "Jess, please stop him!"
Jess shrugged. "Sorry, honey. Nothing I can do."
"Traitor," Kate called to her. Jess just smiled, and shrugged again.
"Hey, yeah, Flack, we'll just dump her in the woods somewhere, huh? Leave her to fend for herself, find her way back," Danny suggested.
"Yeah, all we'll have to do is open a bottle of gin and she'll come running, huh?" Don said. Kate kicked very close to his special area, and he tightened his grip. "Kathryn, I warned you," he muttered.
"Dump her, Daddy!" Ava yelled. The rest of the kids agreed.
"Hey! I'll take back all the gifts I got you!" Kate was yelling. "Damn kids," she said under her breath.
"All right, princess. If you insist." Don walked over to the back door, Kate fighting like crazy, walked right over to the edge of the porch, looked at the lawn below, covered with snow, and dumped her over the side. Kate screamed. Don and the kids, along with Danny, Lindsay, Stella, and Jess, laughed. Mac shook his head, a slight smile on his face, and went down to help Kate up.
"You OK, Kate?" he asked, helping her up so she could wipe some of the snow off herself. "Yeah," Kate said. "Thanks, Mac."
Mac got booed from the porch. "Let her stay, Mac!" "Yeah, Daddy, it was funny!" "Come on, Uncle Mac!" Mac shook his head, telling the kids it wasn't nice what Uncle Don did, and walked back into the house with the rest following him. Jess took Don aside, yelling at him for being childish, and as Kate made her way back up to the porch, Don took her hand and apologized. "Hey, I'm sorry. You OK?"
Kate sighed. "Yeah. Great. Just, gotta go dry off." She walked off toward the bathroom, grabbed a towel, and wiped the snow off. It didn't ruin her outfit – thank God – and she was able to walk back out looking as good as ever.
Jess apologized, Kate said it was fine, that she wasn't upset, and Lindsay announced it was present time. Kate decided she had enough. Make this as quick as possible, and book out early. Go home, watch the 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story, drink some wine, and hopefully pass out on the couch, like people should spend the holidays.
Kate gathered all the gifts she had for people and put them in the living room, under the tree with the rest. Then she stepped back, getting a seat behind everyone else. She didn't want to be caught in the cross-fire.
Time went on, everyone opening gifts and laughing at each other. They all loved what Kate got them; well, obviously, since she got them all very nice, expensive things. Designer purses for the women, designer watches for the men, an authentic sports jersey for Chris, a video game for Charlie, another Barbie doll for Lilly, a dress for Cammie, and a special princess set for Ava. Kate got some nice stuff as well. Some perfume, wine glasses – you can never have too many -, a wine of the month club thing that Stella and Mac always got her, as well as other things.
Eventually, things were winding down, and Kate was about to get up to leave when Lindsay called to her. "There's something else here for you," she said, passing Kate a perfectly gift-wrapped box. The tag card said To: Kate From: Santa, and everyone denied that it was their gift.
Kate opened it slowly, wondering what it could possibly be. It was a jewelry box, from Cartier, and inside was a gorgeous diamond necklace. Kate smiled when she looked at it. She loved jewelry, it was her most favorite thing besides cold hard cash, and this necklace screamed Alex. She knew he had sent it. But how? It hadn't been here last night or this morning.
"There's a note," Lindsay said, pointing out a note that had slipped out of the box.
Kate put the box on the table behind her, and took the note, opening it. It simply read, Look outside. Kate got up fast, and ran outside, everyone following her, smiling. The kids were whispering with excitement, and Lindsay and Stella told them to be quiet.
Kate opened the front door to see a limo in the driveway that definitely had not been there before. Her breath caught in her throat as the driver got out, walked over to the back door, opening it, and Alex stepped out. Kate smiled the first genuine smile she had had in a while.
"Merry Christmas, baby," he said. He stood there besides the limo, the driver stepping aside. Alex was dressed in most likely expensive shoes, black pants, his favorite men's pea coat, along with a scarf, leather gloves, and he was holding a bouquet of roses.
Kate ran into his arms, hugging him as hard as she could. He buried his head in her hair, holding her tightly. Kate could faintly hear kids applauding from behind her as she backed away to kiss Alex properly.
"How did you get here?" Kate finally asked. "You were in Paris."
Alex smiled, brushing some hair off her face. "I was at JFK airport when I called you last night," he said. "Your sister and friends were a big help."
Kate turned around to look at everyone, who had now piled out of the house to the front yard. "I made sure you stayed here at the house last night so Alex could go back to your place," Lindsay explained.
"And I took you for that walk earlier so that Alex could drop off your gift without you seeing it," Don added in.
"Then Peter and I drove around a little bit until Lindsay texted me saying you were all opening presents and it was OK for me to come back," Alex finished. "Are you surprised?"
"Very," Kate said, kissing Alex again. "I'm so happy you're home."
"Me too, baby."
Everyone was smiling. They hadn't seen Kate this happy in a long time. "Hey, why don't you guys come back in? Lunch is almost ready," Lindsay said.
Alex looked at Kate. "You want to?" he asked.
Kate hesitated. She really just wanted to go home with her boyfriend, but it was Christmas, and it was only lunch. "Yeah, it's Christmas. Let's stay. Then we can go home and have our own fun," Kate said, winking slightly. Alex laughed, kissing her again. "I love you," he said, and she smiled and rolled her eyes. "Duh," she added, kissing him.
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Everything worked out for Alex business wise, and Kate was so happy to have him home. Christmas was over, but New Years brought the biggest surprises.
Jess announced she was pregnant, and had to explain to Ava that she would soon have a little brother or sister. Everyone was so happy for Jess and Don.
That wasn't the only surprise. Alex proposed, and Kate said yes. She was finally getting married. The new year would bring changes for the group: a wedding, a baby, and many more, since after all, the holidays are a time for miracles.
THE END.