Pete is gone when I wake up. It's Christmas. I sigh and get up, it's just another day. Another sober day. I pull my dark jeans on and a dark red long sleeved boat neck top, I straighten out my necklace so it lays over the top. I look in the mirror and I could almost pass for normal. I step out and see Dr. Mellark at the puzzle.
"Merry Christmas!" He greets. I give him a smile and say, "Merry Christmas."
"I like to work on the puzzle when the boys are around, it makes them feel better not to have too much help."
Remembering Mark's jab at his Dad on the first puzzle I laugh, "Yes, don't want them to feel too dependent."
I get a glass of water from the kitchen and surprise my self when I walk back over to work on the puzzle with Pete's Dad.
A few quiet minutes pass, where he and I don't talk unless pointing out pieces we're looking for. Pete comes down with Charlie close behind.
They join us at the puzzle for a little while, Pete keeps looking at me, probably seeing how I'm handling the day.
"Have you eaten yet?" He asks, when I shake my head no, he holds out his hand for me to hold, then we go into the kitchen. As soon as we're around the corner he pulls me in and covers my mouth with his, any shock I had from this sudden passionate kiss disappears completely when our tongues touch. I love how he can make my knees go weak when he kisses me, if he hadn't been holding onto me I don't think my knees could support my weight. He pulls back and we both catch our breath for a moment, then he looks in my eyes.
"Merry Christmas, Katniss."
"Merry Christmas, Pete."
He rests his forehead to mine for a moment then we hear someone coming so we break apart and he gets some juice out of the fridge.
"I'll get started on the pancakes, Pete. I have some bacon in the bottom drawer in the fridge, if you can get that going. Mary and the girls will be here in about half an hour, I'd like everyone to eat something before stockings," His Mom is already in high gear, pulling out mixing bowls and ingredients.
Pete lines the bacon up on a baking sheet and puts it in the oven.
"I never knew you could cook bacon like that," I say, when I was younger we'd always use the frying pan and try not to burn ourselves while flipping them.
"You can cook a lot more this way," He tells me, "It'd take way too long in a pan."
Pete and I go back out and work on the puzzle until his mom calls that pancakes are ready. Aunt Polly and her girls show up shortly after and the girls easily put away four pancakes each.
Stockings are opened and I find that they had filled one for me too. Gift cards to JCrew, Nordstroms, and another for Barnes and Noble, then some Aveda lip gloss, chapstick, two packs of fuzzy sock slippers and a bar of gourmet chocolate. The guys all got mostly gift cards and socks while the girls got little extra trinkets that only a preteen girl could get excited about.
As soon as everyone was done, Grace stood up and went to the kitchen to get started making the dinner, Aunt Polly went to help her, while Dr. Mellark went to take a nap on the big couch in the sun room. Pete got a nice fire going, adding to the nice cozy feeling the room already had, and we all worked on the puzzle some more. My hair, that I had left down, keeps falling over my shoulder onto the puzzle, I quickly braid my hair and tie it with a hair tie that I had slipped on my wrist earlier. I turn my focus back to the table, at first I think nothing of Pete giving my braid a little tug, then I saw him toss something into the fireplace. I stop and look at him, then notice that he had pulled my hair tie out. He looks back up at me and we stare at each other for a second before I ask, "Did you just throw my hair tie into the fire?"
This causes Mark and Charlie to look up at us.
"Yes, yes I did."
I don't say anything for a while, I just stare at him, I see him starting to shift his weight, he's getting nervous that I might actually be mad at him. It's then that I start laughing and Pete leans over and kisses my cheek. Mark laughs, "Oh you kids."
"It's your fault if my hair knocks any pieces off," I warn.
"I'll have to carry the weight of that possibility with me then," He says with a wink.
A few minutes later I decide to take a break and get my new book and sit in an arm chair close to Pete, who was still at the puzzle table. I look over at Susie and Mary who are watching some Christmas movie that's going to be playing all day. Because, just in case you miss the 7 or 10 am showing, you still have a chance at 1, 4, 7 or 10 pm to see it again… Phew, that's a relief. I turn my attention to my book, the pictures are beautiful. From what I can tell of the book so far it concentrates a lot of Roman and Greek civilizations, which is really interesting. But I like to look at more the beginning of civilization, to see what lead up to those cultures.
"Hey Katniss," Susie calls from the couch in front of the TV, I look over to her and see that a commercial for Say Yes To The Dress is on. I take a sip while I watch some girl in a white dress throw stuff around a store. "When you a Pete get married can I come with you to try the dresses on?"
Wait. What?! I must inhale into my water or something because now I'm choking on my water. I look over at the puzzle table and they are all staring at me, there's no question that they heard what Susie asked. Pete gets up and looks like he's fighting back a smile, he pats me on the back as I continue coughing. Mark and Charlie both start laughing at my prolonged coughing fit and Pete is having a harder time keeping a straight face. Then I can't help but laugh along with them, while a rogue cough flares up a few more times.
"Well, Katniss?" Mark teased, "Answer the girl." My face is beat red from both the coughing and the shear embarrassment at my reaction.
"They're not engaged yet, stupid. Plus we live in Dallas, we'll only come up for the actual wedding," Mary tells her with an eye roll.
If Pete hadn't been right next to me still, I probably would have been more freaked out by this situation (and in all likelihood, hide in the guest bedroom for at least the rest of the day), but as it was his hand was rubbing rhythmically on my back. I felt calm, he was with me.
The door bell ringing announces that the Grandparents are here. After many hugs around the room, they introduce themselves to me as Grandpa Mellark and Grandma Mellark. Grandpa Mellark is a retired family practice Doctor. All the boys seem to call him Doc Mellark. Grandma Mellark is a prim and proper lady, she sits in the chair with her back to straight and hands placed just-so on her lap, her dark blue skirt and matching jacket offset the string of pearls draped over her neck.
"You're at the University with Pete and Mark, Grace tells me," She says, she seems kind but very sharp minded. The kind of person you always use your best manners with. The hoity-toity high school I went to had a "etiquette" class for half a semester in the 11th grade, I usually read a book under my desk during those classes, now I'm wishing I had paid attention. I feel like I'm being observed more, Grace is more like a mother hen, but Grandma Mellark is the matriarch, the one looking after her family.
"Yes, I'm planning on getting a Bachelors in Anthropology."
"Oh," She says and seems interested, "What career options are there for an Anthropologist?"
I know she is just making conversation, but I feel pressured, "Well, I'm hoping to get a PhD, then I'd like to work in a museum."
She asks me a few more questions then decides to switch to the boys, asking about their school work, etc. She asks Charlie if he has any special girl, then asks Mark how Kate is doing and when the wedding was planned for. I couldn't help but admire her, she was so direct but in a polite way.
After the delicious dinner that Grace put together, the Grandparents passed out their gifts, I was happy that I wasn't included in this gift exchange.
Grace and her Mother-In-Law and Polly sit in the sun room and chat, while the Dr. Mellark and Doc Mellark sit in the Christmas room with a plate of cookies and cups of coffee sit between them on the end table.
Grandma and Grandpa Mellark leave around 7 and Aunt Polly and the girls head out shortly after.
Pete and his brothers eat a full meal again, while their parents retire for the night.
Pete and I step outside for a smoke and walk around for a while. I look up, there isn't a cloud in the starry sky.
Before I can stop myself I'm singing Don McLean's Starry Starry Night, I only remember a few of the verses so I can't sing the whole thing, but when my voice fades out, I know that Pete has been watching me, I meet his gaze and he is looking at me with such passion and… love.
"I love you so much, Katniss," He says and cups the side of my face with his hand.
Oh god, oh god. I should tell him now, it would be the perfect time for it. Damn it why won't my mouth move, I'm frozen still.
"You don't have to say it back," He tells me then pulls away with a knowing grin, "I know you do."
I start stammering, he just smiles bigger and kisses my nose, "You said so last night... At least I assume it was me you meant when you said "him"."
I'm sure my face drains of it's color right now, "I-I said that out loud?" My expression must be priceless because Pete laughs then pulls me closer to him, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," He whispers in my ear.