Chapter Two
December 18
Alex hears the car pull into the driveway; she glances up at the clock, "Four-thirty, wow."
With three shopping bags in his arms, Bobby walks up to the front door, he sets the bags down to unlock the door. He steps inside and is immediately greeted by a crawling 9 month old. "Look what I have here," he says as he opens up one of the bags and takes out a squishable singing Santa. 'Have a holly jolly Christmas' the song fills the room and a giggle expels from Robby. He reaches up and Bobby hands it to him, giving his son a kiss at the same time.
Alex has been watching and smiling, "What's in all the bags?" She asks as he meets her half way, he kisses her cheek.
"Decorations, Christmas decorations for the house and I lucked out," he says excitedly as he picks up one of the bags. "The store in the Bronx had exactly what we needed for the train set. I brought the engine in and the guy wanted to buy the set from me, of course I turned him down." He removes a battery, cleaning fluid and oil from one of the many bags. Suddenly he turns.
"Bobby, where are you going?"
"I have more bags in the car, I'll be right back."
She smiles and shakes her head, "Once he starts on something……….."
He enters the room with two very large bags; he sets them down, as quickly as he returned, he immediately leaves once again. She watches him in wonder, "Bobby where are you going now?"
He is out of earshot and does not hear her, he returns with three more bags. "Ok," he rubs his hands together. "Look at what I got," he opens the first bag. "These lights are for outside, I got three strands for the three windows." He sets them on the table.
"Ah, Bobby," she picks up one of the boxes. "Who? I mean, are you going to put them up?"
Shaking his head, "No, you are."
She crosses her arms, "I could do that, you know."
He steps forward and puts his arm around her shoulder, "I don't doubt it." He kisses her cheek, "Ok, next. I bought a wreath, for the front door." Alex admires his choice. Pastel blue juniper berries, pale yellow incense buds, noble fir, and princess pine cascade throughout the wreath, "Very pretty, good choice." She shakes her head in amazement.
He opens the next bag and pulls out garland decorated with clear lights, holly and pine cones. "For the railing," he points to the stairs.
"I like that idea," she looks toward the stairs. "That will look very nice."
"Thank you. Three more," he turns around. "No four more to go." The next bag he opens has a nativity set. The Holy family of course is represented also the three wise men, two sheep, three cows and a donkey. Alex looks around the room. "If we move that lamp we can set this up there."
Nodding in agreement, "That's fine with me."
The next three bags hold porcelain buildings. "Bobby how many did you buy?"
He ignores her question, "We'll set up the town in the corner and the train will circle it. I bought this white stuff that they use for snow." He takes a step forward and looks down. Robby is playing with one of the boxes. "Ah man," he rubs his face and chin. "Maybe that's not such a good idea."
Alex points to the entertainment center, "We can set up the town on top of the entertainment center."
"Ok, what about the train set?"
"It's sturdy, Robby can play with it and not break it. We can put it around the tree."
Bobby chuckles as he looks down at his son, "He seems more interested in boxes anyway."
Alex laughs as Robby tosses a box, crawls forward and grabs another one.
Bobby proceeds to remove the items on the entertainment center, laying down the snow drift Christmas drape.
"Alex please take the buildings out of the bag." One by one Alex removes the buildings from the bag, opening them as she recites what they are and then handing them to him. "A schoolhouse, grocery store, railroad station, fire house, music hall, country church, Christmas shop," she smiles when she takes out the last one. "A police station," she says with a grin.
"Where are the people and the trees?" Bobby asks as he checks the empty bags.
"What?"
"Trees, to put next to the buildings and some figures; you can't have a town without people."
Alex turns and spies five little boxes, "Here are your people and trees."
"Thanks," he takes the boxes from her.
"Bobby I don't want to sound like Scrooge but," she pauses.
He turns to face her, "What?"
"How….how much was all this?"
"Ok Ebenezer, everything was half price." He sets the police station on top of the entertainment center, "Seems most people have already bought their Christmas decorations."
She links her arm in his and leans her head down, "You're something else, you know that?"
He kisses the top of her head, "So, I've been told."
She nudges him, "Stop that."
"I….I can't help it, it's just that, some people…..Ah the hell with it, I don't want to think about that now." he steps back. "Ok you finish up the town and I'll put the garland on the railing."
They spend the next hour setting up the rest of the decorations, while Robby continues to play with each opened box that they toss on the floor.
Alex starts to pick up the boxes, "Bobby I hope there is room in the attic for all these boxes."
"Huh," he says.
"The boxes we have to save them so we can store the decorations for next year."
"There's plenty of room, I'll put them up there tomorrow." Quickly he passes her.
"Where are you going now?"
"To bring the tree in, where's the stand."
"I'll get it," she pauses. "Wait, where are we going to put the tree?"
He stands still and surveys the room, "Anywhere you want."
She looks around the room, "In that corner," she points to the left side of the room.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure."
"So after I bring in the tree and set it up, you're not going to change your mind and want it in that corner," Bobby looks to the right as he points.
She puts her hands on her hips, "No," she says feeling slightly offended. When he takes a glance at her she had a scowl on her face.
He takes a step back, "Ah where did you get that look from, I've never seen that one before."
"Get the tree Bobby," she says pretending to be upset.
He raises his hand to respond, he decides against it, "I'll get the tree."
He sets the tree up in the stand and they move back to take a look at it, "Looks good to me, but the branches," Bobby pulls one of the branches down, "Are sticking up in the air."
"We have to let it sit for a day."
"Why?"
"I don't know," she steps forward. "That's what my Dad always does."
Bobby stuffs his hands in his pockets, "If we put the ornaments on, won't that weigh down the branches?"
"Yes but you have to put the string of lights on first, then the silver garland, then the ornaments."
"All that," he turns to look at the rest of room. "No wonder he let it sit for a night he was exhausted."
Alex starts to laugh remembering, "Yeah I think you're right."
The clock chimes six times, "I'm getting hungry; Bobby should I call for a pizza?"
"Definitely," he responds.
Alex phones Rocco's, "Pizza should be here in half an hour." She bends down and picks up Robby, "Come on sweetie, diaper change time." The boy wiggles in her arms. "I know," she squats down and grabs a small box and holds it out for him. He takes it and giggles.
When Alex returns downstairs Bobby is standing in front of the tree. He turns to face her when he hears her enter the room. "I think we should get a bigger tree," he steps up to the 7 foot tree. "This one is too small."
"If we get a taller tree then the branches on the bottom will stick out and take up half the room."
He rubs his chin, "Yeah, you're right, ok this one is fine."
Alex prepares Robby's dinner then seats him in the high chair. She hears Bobby exclaim. "Oh man I forgot."
"What? What did you forget Bobby."
He checks the bags, then his coat pockets. He holds up CD's, "Christmas music," he says.
She smiles as she holds the spoon up to Robby's mouth, "Da-dy."
"Yes Daddy, he is having fun isn't he."
After dinner Bobby cleans, oils and sets up the train set. "Ok," he exhales, "Here we go." He flips the switch and the engine starts and pulls the rest of the cabs around the track. He pushes a button, steam puffs up from the engine, another button, and the engine sounds the horn. Robby is sitting on his father's lap. Alex looks at her two 'boys' sitting on the floor, the smile on Bobby's face is a mile wide and the eyes on her son is the same. She smiles at the sight. He's so sweet, all that he has been through and he's so sweet. She takes a step forward, "Hey you two, you going to sit there all night."
Bobby looks up, "What?"
She smiles, "Nothing," she says shaking her head, Alex takes a seat next to them. Robby crawls off Bobby and over to his Mom. She reaches down and picks him up. They sit there in silence, watching the train as Christmas music fills the room.
The chiming of the clock 8 times causes them to realize it is time that someone should be in bed. Bobby finds a place to keep the controls, out of Robby's reach.
Alex stands, "It's time for bed, sweetie." She bends down to pick up her son. He whines and wiggles, "You can play with the trains again tomorrow." Bobby stands and takes Robby from her arms; she follows him up the stairs. After a diaper change and snuggling with 'Ernie', his favorite toy, Robby falls asleep.
Bobby and Alex return downstairs, the smell of pine is filling the room. The garland is lit up on the railing, the buildings of the little town are illuminated and one of the Christmas CD's is playing. Alex pours a glass of wine for them.
"Thanks," he says as he opens his arm for her to snuggle in.
"I love the decorations you bought, Bobby."
He squeezes her gently and smiles to himself, "Thanks."
TBC