Shout-outs: Donnamour1969, OneWriterGirl97, AngryLittlePrincess, Aania71, mwalter1, glindaloveshoes, Jane Doe51, Guest, Florale, Dutchie, MissDonnie, butterfrostcupcake, MartyMc49 and blueeyedmentalistfan
Rated: T
Author's Note:
To the guest reviewer who told me this story wasn't very deep. I wasn't aiming to be deep, it's a holiday story and I want it to be fluffy and fun and something different from what I write the rest of the year. So, if you don't like this than don't read it. Please.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
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Chapter 2 Makeovers
"You're engaged?" Erica asked grabbing her hand and examining the ring on her left hand. "I didn't even know you were seeing anybody!"
"We were keeping it a secret," Teresa said. "We're completely different people, you see and we didn't want to cause a stir."
"Is he actually a see?" Erica teased.
"What!? No! He is wealthy and important. The reason we didn't tell anybody is because I'm a waitress and he is going to inherit his father's business and millions one day."
"Just like the old movies!" Erica said. "But why are you telling everybody now? Why not just continue to keep it a secret?"
"His grandmother wanted to meet me. She thought she was dying," Teresa answered, relieved to be able to tell a little bit of the truth.
"But she isn't." It was a statement, not a question.
Teresa nodded. "Now that she knows, who's to say that it won't get out?"
"Teresa, don't you think they'll be angry that he kept it a secret?"
"Of course!" Teresa answered, taking a coffee pot and filling two mugs with the rich, dark brew. She handed a cup to Erica and then leaned against the counter.
"And your brothers. How will they react?" Erica asked. "Do they even know?"
"No. No they don't, but I think they'll be happy. Especially if it means I'll stay in Chicago."
"Wait! You're giving up your dream to be a detective?"
"He's a junior partner; you can't be a junior partner just anywhere."
"You can with hard work!" Erica answered. "Besides, isn't that why you broke up with Greg? Because you'd be stuck here for the rest of your life?"
"I changed my mind! Can't a girl change her mind?"
"Mmmh," Erica said taking a sip of her coffee. "It is her prerogative. But you hardly ever change your mind, especially for a man!"
"Well. . ." Teresa trailed off and looked at the clock over the door. "My shift is over, I'll see you later Erica. I have somewhere I need to be."
"Right. Have a good rest of your day and a very Happy Thanksgiving."
"You too," Teresa replied, pulling on her coat and waving goodbye.
Patrick was waiting for her just like he said he would be. He got out of the car and opened the door for her as he asked how her day had been. It was a nice change because nobody ever asked her how her day had been. It was always an endless parade of permission slips to sign and problems to untangle. She was lucky if anybody asked her for dinner.
When they got to the salon, she was whisked away by ten other girls while Patrick stayed in the waiting room to go over notes for a case he was working on.
Two hours later, she barely recognized herself. She had been made up and plucked into a version of herself that belonged in Manhattan not a Chicago diner. She touched her new pixie haircut and blinked a few times, unable to distinguish her old self underneath a mask of mascara and red lipstick.
When Patrick saw her, he did a double-take. "I thought I told them to give you a trim not a complete makeover!"
But he was smiling, so Teresa knew he didn't really mind the transformation. He paid for everything and then helped her into her coat.
"Thank you," Teresa said when they had left the salon and were in his car again.
"It was no problem, really I was happy to do it."
"It just seems like a lot of money for something that won't last past the New Year."
"It was worth it," Patrick assured her. "Now we just need to make one more stop and then we'll go and see my grandmother."
Thirty minutes later, she was decked out from head-to-toe in black. She smoothed out the short skirt and turned to look at him. "Well? Do I meet the Jane family standards now?"
"Teresa. . ." Patrick said. "You are just as beautiful now as you were yesterday."
"You're deflecting," Teresa replied zipping up the black, high-heeled boots that Patrick had handed her.
"I'm trying," Patrick answered, handing the sales associate the credit card. "Really though, I am just trying to make things as painless as possible for you. My mother is. . ."
"Intense," the sale's woman supplied.
"Exactly!" Patrick said, handing her the newly purchased wool coat. "Come on, Grandmother is waiting for us."
Teresa gathered up her waitressing clothes and followed him out of the store. "Could you make a quick stop at my house? I don't want them to worry about me and they need dinner."
"They can come with us. I am sure Grandmother would love to meet them."
Teresa hesitated but before she could reply, Patrick was adding more.
"If they don't meet her today, they'll meet at Thanksgiving dinner."
"Oh. . ."
"You said you would come to all my events. Thanksgiving dinner is part of the deal."
"Right. . ." Teresa smiled. "Well then, I guess we might as well start the introductions now. Just. . . don't get let them get too attached to you. I'll have to pick up the pieces after you go."
"You worry too much," Patrick told her. "Especially for someone your age. Rest easy my dear; I will not do anything you don't approve of."
"Don't call me dear," Teresa said smirkong as he opened the door for her.
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After collecting her brothers and introducing them to Patrick, they were finally on their way to his grandmother's nursing home. All three of her brothers were talking over each other, totally oblivious to the fact that their sister had made a fiance appear out of thin air.
Before they got to the nursing home, she quieted them down and told them that theey couldn't act like wild maniacs where they were going amid protests from Tommy and Jimmy that they were always on their best behavior no matter what the situation.
Patrick just smiled and exchanged looks with Teresa that said he knew differently and that he would help her make sure they didn't overwhelm anybody. He wasn't sure she could reead his expression but she smiled back at him in appreciation all the same.
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"You came back!" Cecelia said when they all came into her bedroom. "And you brought company!"
"Yes," Patrick answered. "These are Teresa's little brothers. Stanly, Tommy and Jimmy."
"Ah!" Cecelia said, beaming as she tightened her robe. "It's lovely to meet you! All of you! I had the distinct pleasure of meeting your sister tonight. But she never told me that she had brothers."
"We didn't really have time Grandmother!" Patrick interjected before Tommy could say anything.
"I know," Cecelia said sweetly. "Now, why don't you and the boys go get pizza while I have a nice visit with Teresa?"
"Grandmother, you can't have pizza!" Patrick protested.
"I want pizza! Deep dish!" Cecelia answered. "Please."
Patrick sighed. "Fine. Come on boys, Grandmother wants pizza. And what Grandmother wants, she gets."
"Why should we go with you?" Jimmy asked. "We don't know you."
"But I do!" Teresa said hastily. "Stop arguing and go with him. Okay Jimmy?"
Jimmy made a face and turned around with his arms crossed.
"We just told him too," Teresa explained. "He hates secrets."
"I do too," Cecelia told her. "But he'll come around. Especially when he gets to know Patrick. Now tell me about you."
Teresa pulled at her turtleneck. "There's not much to say. I'm the oldest of four, I'll be twenty-three on my next birthday and I'm raising my brothers. Both our parents are dead."
"Good for you!" Cecelia answered. "It's nice to see a girl like you. Most of them are so full of themselves these days, they would never think of raising three boys."
"If I didn't, who would?"
"Anybody else."
"I couldn't fathom the thought of putting them in foster care," Teresa said. "My dad was the chief of his fire department and he would tell my mother horror stories about the system. I know it isn't always the case but I didn't want to risk it."
"You're a good girl. And you're so beautiful. But I already said that, didn't I?"
"Last night," Teresa replied.
Cecelia sighed. "Oh well, you deserve to hear it. And knowing that grandson of mine, he doesn't say it nearly enough."
"He has a lot on his mind."
"Yes, yes. . . but that doesn't mean you should make allowances for him. He doesn't have rights to be oblivious."
Teresa smiled. "I guess you're right."
"I know I am. I was with my husband for twenty-five years and he told me every day how beautiful I was beautiful. We adored each other and I have wanted the same thing for Patrick. I'm glad he met you."
Teresa looked down at her lap and then back at him. "I just hope I'm worthy of him."
"My dear, I hope he is worthy of you," Cecelia answered as Patrick and the boys came clamoring back into the room.
"Deep dish pizza just like you asked," Patrick said. "I had to sneak it past Faye; I hope it's worth it."
"Oh it will be! Now Teresa, I'm sure Patrick already extended an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner already but let me confirm that you are more than welcome to join us."
"Us?" Patrick teased.
"Hush! Of course I'm going to be there, I am really looking forward to your mother's reaction to the newest addition to the family."
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A couple of hours later, her brothers were asleep in the back seat of Patrick's car, stuffed with deep dish pizza, root beer soda and sugar free butterscotch discs.
"What time are you coming to get us tomorrow?" Teresa asked quietly.
"Eleven-thirty, that way your brothers can watch the football game. They were complaining about missing it while we got the pizza. So, I gave them an incentive. The football game on my father's plasma TV."
"You watch football?" Teresa asked.
"Nope, but my father does. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to watch football with your brothers. It'll be an experience that he's never had before. I mean having somebody who wants to watch the game with him instead of reading David Copperfield."
"Oh, you're a Dickens fan."
"You're not?" Patrick asked.
"I like detective stories," Teresa answered, drumming her red fingernails on her lap.
"Nancy Drew?"
"When I was younger. Now I like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot. . . the Thin Man," Teresa replied. "Stories like that."
"Now I know what to get you for Christmas."
"Oh, you don't have to get me anything!"
"But gifts are essential in our family. The bigger the gift, the more you love the person." He stopped in front of her house. "Do you need any help getting your brothers into the house?"
"Um. . . no," Teresa answered, turning around and shaking Stanly. "Come on Stan, we're home."
"Okay Reese," Stan replied yawning as he pinched Tommy and Jimmy. "Wake up guys, we're home!"
They had a harder time waking up but after Stanly had pinched them a couple more times, they were half awake. They thanked Patrick for the pizza and filed out of the car, waiting for Teresa on the sidewalk as she said goodnight. A few minutes later, she was getting out too and he was speeding off into the night while they bombarded her with questions.
TBC. . .
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Author's Note II:
I am anxiously awaiting your thoughts. Thursday I will post the Thanksgiving chapter because it is Thanksgiving. So, it is only fitting to post it on Thursday instead of Friday. I just need to finish writing it first.
Until Next Time!
Love,
Holly, 11/21/2014_
