Brand New Journey
Chapter 11
Kelly woke from her nap crying out for Rose and not seeing her, got out of bed and went downstairs finding Amanda and Dotty in the kitchen.
Amanda seeing her morose look picked her up and kissed her asking, "Sweetie, did you have a bad dream? Huh?"
Kelly cried, "Where's Grandma? I want Grandma! Santa won't find me!"
Dotty sighed and stated amid the wailing, "Oh, dear! Well, she doesn't mean me obviously. What do we do?"
The boys came into the kitchen from the family room and Phillip queried, "What's wrong, Mom?"
Amanda asked as she brought Kelly to the couch and sat her down, "Can you find a program for her to watch, please? I'm gonna get her dinner now."
She then addressed Kelly responding softly as she wiped her face with a tissue, "Shh, Honey. I promise you that Santa knows where you are. He's not gonna forget about you, okay?"
Jamie remarked to Amanda, "We found "Rudolph."
Amanda nodded and replied, "Thanks, Sweetheart."
Looking at Kelly she kissed her temple and commented, "I'm gonna get your dinner started while you watch this with the boys, all right?"
Going back to the kitchen she called Lee first.
When he answered she stated, "Hi, it's me. Sorry to bother you but Kelly's a bit unhappy at the moment. Here's what happened..."
When Amanda finished telling Lee everything he sighed replying, "Aw, the poor kid. Has she had her dinner yet?"
Amanda shook her head responding, "No. Why?"
Lee thought quickly and answered, "Tell her I'll be by soon with a bedtime story."
Amanda deadpanned asking, "Do you even know any?"
Lee growled defensively retorting, "Just do it, will ya? I'll be there soon!"
Amanda hanging up with Lee thought, This ought to be good!
Meanwhile Lee called Billy querying, "Know where I can get a Santa suit this time of night?"
Billy's guffaws set Lee's nerves on edge! He groaned remarking, "Cut it out, will ya? I'm serious! Kelly needs cheering up right now. You got any better ideas?"
Amanda was sitting down with Kelly then trying to get her to eat stating, "Please, Sweetie? Grandma Dotty says you love her pot roast."
Kelly sniffled and asked, "Can you read "Night 'Fore Christmas?"
Amanda stroked Kelly's head gently and nodded remarking, " Sure, Honey. But as a matter of fact, Lee's coming over in a little while to read you a bedtime story. I'm sure he'll read that one if you want, okay? Now try to finish eating so I can give you a bubble bath and you can come back down here for a bit, all right?"
Kelly nodded forgetting her sadness for a moment as she commented, "I like bubbles."
Amanda returned the smile answering, "I know. Let's finish here so we'll be ready when Lee comes, okay?"
Kelly at last began to eat some of the meal but it was apparent to Amanda and Dotty both that Kelly wouldn't finish anyway so while Dotty cleaned up, Amanda took Kelly up for her bath and brought her back down a little while later.
As they were coming downstairs, the doorbell rang.
Phillip stated, "I'll get it."
Opening the door, the family was surprised to see Lee dressed as Santa!
He remarked to the group deepening his voice, "Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas! Is this where Kelly Morgan Stetson lives? I have a special gift just for her!"
Kelly ran from Amanda and up to Santa/Lee and jumping up and down excitedly yelled, "That's me! Manda, he found me!"
Amanda chuckled as she came up beside Kelly patting her shoulder stating,"I told you he would! Now, let's let him in and see what he brought for you."
Letting him in they led him to the wing chair in the family room and as Santa/Lee sat down he brought Kelly to his lap and asked Phillip, "Young Man. Would you be so kind as to bring me my bag of goodies from the front porch, please?"
Phillip nodded slowly as he smirked responding, "Sure, Santa."
Jamie followed his brother and whispered to him, "This is so cool! Wonder why Dad never did this with us?"
Phillip shrugged as he got the bag and brought it back to the family room handing it to Santa/Lee.
Lee continued the charade replying, "Thank you. Now, Kelly. Have you been especially good this year?"
Kelly's face lit up as she bounced happily, "Yeah, Yeah!"
Santa/Lee pulled out a tiny box from the bag and responded slowly, "Kelly, your Grandma Rose wrote me a letter telling me what a special little girl you were and how very much she wanted you to have this present. I promised her I'd deliver it in person for her."
Giving her the box he held the bottom of it as Kelly opened the top. Inside was a beautiful silver locket!
Everyone murmured softly as they admired it. Amanda then gave Lee a questioning look and seeing her stare just raised a finger to his lips silently as if to state, "Not now."
Amanda nodded and asked Kelly, "Want me to help you put it on, Sweetheart?"
Dotty then queried, "Can we see what's inside, Honey?"
Amanda helped her open it and there was a picture of Rose!
Dotty gulped and remarked, "Well now she'll always be near your heart, Darling."
Amanda helped Kelly put it on and as they all once more admired it Amanda queried, "What do you say to Santa, Honey?"
Kelly shyly answered, "Thank you, Santa."
Santa/Lee patted Kelly's head gently and replied, "You're welcome, My Child."
Clearing his throat he helped Kelly off his lap and got up from the chair and commented boisterously, "Well, I must be off! I have many more stops to make! Everyone keep being good! Merry Christmas! Ho, Ho, Ho!"
Everyone said their goodbyes as Phillip let him out the front door.
When Phillip came back Amanda stated, "Well I think it's time we all went up, don't you?"
Jamie immediately scoffed and shook his head responding, "I'm not gonna-"
But Amanda fixed him with a stare that meant business and narrowing her eyes at him commented, "We all have to be in bed so Santa will come. Unless you don't want any presents?"
Jamie gulped as he thought about the things he and his brother asked for and decided not to chance it even at his age! He answered quickly, "Uh, yeah. Right. C'mon, Kelly! I'll race you!"
Kelly ran after Jamie but Amanda stopped her and remarked, "Whoa! Let's put that pretty locket away, all right? I'm gonna keep it in my room and you can just wear it for special times, okay?"
Kelly nodded as Amanda got it off of her and put it back in the box and immediately Kelly joined Phillip and Jamie as they ran upstairs!
Dotty shaking her head stated to Amanda, "Well, I was sure surprised seeing Lee dressed like that considering how he feels about the holiday to begin with."
Pointing a finger at her daughter she asked, "Tell the truth. You put him up to that, didn't you?"
Amanda raised her hand replying, "Mother, I swear I didn't know anything about it! But I wonder what got into him all of a sudden?"
Dotty grinned and stated, "Or how long it will last."
The doorbell rang and Amanda commented, "That's probably him now."
Dotty teased as she nudged her gently answering, "Maybe with your present, hmm?"
Amanda shook her head and remarked, "Oh, Mother! Would you please go check and see if Kelly's at least in bed by now while I let him in?"
Dotty shrugged and smiled responding, "All right, Dear. But knowing the boys, they've gotten her too excited to sleep anyway."
As she headed up Amanda opened the door and nodded as she teased Lee answering, " My! You must be exhausted from all that sleigh riding tonight! Sure you're up for this?"
Lee growled at her and asked, "Ha, Ha! Put a sock in it, Lady! Is Kelly ready for a story? Which one does she want?"
Amanda led Lee upstairs responding, "The Night Before Christmas." Um, do you want me to run through it with you first?"
Lee groaned and stated, "No. Believe it or not I actually heard it as a child, all right?"
Amanda shrugged and contritely remarked, "Okay. Just trying to help."
They reached Kelly's room where Dotty was getting her settled in bed finally and the boys were there as well.
Lee commented, "Excuse me. I understand Kelly wants a story?"
Kelly then got up on her bed and jumping up and down excitedly replied, "Night 'Fore Christmas! P'wease?"
Lee chuckled as he picked her up and kissed her cheek stating, "Okay. But first you have to lay down, huh?"
He got her tucked in and sat down on the edge of the bed as Amanda saw her sons watching and queried, "Do you need a story, too?"
They shook their heads and Phillip grinned remarking, "Heck, no! We just wanna hear how he tells it!"
Dotty smiled responding, "I'm curious myself. Does he really know it?"
Amanda shrugging answered, "He says he does."
Lee clearing his throat answered, "Quiet now. No help from the audience, please."
He began: "Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through this house,
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
He came down the chimney and did his work quickly.
As he went up the chimney he called to his reindeer,
On Dancer, On Prancer,
On Donner and Blitzen,
Let's hope the Bears don't get blitzened by the Colts tomorrow!
As Santa led his team away on through the night he exclaimed,
Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a good night!
As he finished he saw Kelly was fast asleep and that the room was empty.
Kissing Kelly's cheek he got up shrugging and muttered softly, "Everyone's a critic."
Coming downstairs to the kitchen Lee found Dotty and Amanda giggling.
As they saw him they began to laugh uproariously!
He sputtered sheepishly and retorted, "O-Okay! So, how did you hear it growing up?"
Amanda wiped tears of laughter away and gulped answering, "Uh, the way it was actually written? You left out four other reindeer and I don't remember football being in that story!"
Dotty nodded agreeing and asked with a laugh, "Where pray tell did you get that version?"
Lee shrugged commenting, "My uncle's base the first year I went to live with him. The base cook told us all that tale. Brought down the house actually. My uncle wasn't much for storytelling, but he liked it as well."
Looking at his watch he stated, "Well, I'd better be going if I wanna be back here at a decent hour to see Kelly open up her presents. Goodnight."
Dotty remarked, "Goodnight, Lee. And thank you."
She then yawned asking Amanda, "Are you coming, Dear?"
Amanda nodded and replied, "Sure. I'm just gonna walk Lee out. Be there soon."
As Dotty headed upstairs, Lee and Amanda went out to the driveway.
Reaching Lee's car Amanda queried, "You weren't on your way home, were you?"
Lee shook his head stating, "Uh, no. I got a room in town. Made more sense than driving all the way back. Why?"
Amanda commented, "Well if you still have your bag in the trunk, why don't you just stay here instead?"
Lee mocking her with a raised eyebrow replied, "Why, Mrs. King! Whatever could you be suggesting?"
Amanda blushed furiously and swatted Lee's arm remarking with a groan, "Oh, c'mon! Get your mind out of the gutter, would you? I just meant that I'd make up the pullout in the den since you're probably too tired to drive anywhere else tonight, okay?"
Lee laughed as he grabbed her hand gently giving it a squeeze and responded, "Hey. I was joking, all right? Thanks. You go on in and I'll be right behind you."
As he watched Amanda head into the house, he thought about how fun it was to tease her that way.
Getting his overnight bag out of the trunk he then realized it was getting easier being around here.
Shaking his head suddenly he thought, Whoa! Where did that come from?
He locked the car up and headed into the house where Amanda met him in the kitchen stating, "Room's all set. Now, if you need anything-"
Lee nodded but answered, "Thanks, but I know where things are here. I'll be okay-"
Amanda put a hand over his mouth and whispered nervously, "Shh! Look! You and I both know that you know where things are, but my mother doesn't know that you know, all right?"
Lee took her hand away from his mouth and shook his head at her ramble replying in a whisper, "Amanda! We're not doing anything illicit here. You invited me to stay in the den out of the goodness of your heart because as usual, you're worried about me. Thank you for the invite. Now, good night."
Amanda nodded feeling embarrassed and headed upstairs mumbling, "Good night."
Going into her bedroom she changed into her nightgown and brushed her teeth thinking, Why do I act that way around him?
Getting into bed she sighed shaking her head knowing the answer. And it bothered her. A lot.
Meanwhile Lee changed and was laying down finally thinking, What is her problem? She invited me to stay and she shouldn't feel guilty about that because it is after all her house!
He shrugged and then thought, Well, her mother and kids are here and maybe she's concerned how it would look.
Settling in bed he then shook his head thinking, I can't believe I actually care about this. It's their problem if they can't handle it!
Punching the pillow he laid down and muttered out loud, "Sleep had better come soon! I've had too long of a day already here!"
TBC
