Mr. Fix-It
Chapter 36
"Are we about ready to leave for dinner?' Stephanie asked.
"Yes, we can't wait to see Santa Claus!" Mia said with a big smile on her face to match her sister's.
"Let's get these on."
Kayla said, "What's that?"
"We're going to be outside so let's get your heavier coats on," Stephanie brought out a pale blue and pale purple quilted parkas with hoods. Each had matching mittens and hat.
"We have jackets," they said with wide eyes looking at the new ones.
"Those won't keep you warm tonight and I don't want you to get sick."
Kayla told her, "But these cost so much money. They're the nicest coats we ever had."
Ranger was listening unseen to the conversation from the staircase.
"Then I suggest you get them on so we can go. Do you two want to miss Santa Claus?" He said coming down the steps. "Stephanie and I are your parents now, so we want to make sure you are warm with the right coats. And anything else you need. Remember the magic credit card."
They nodded.
"If we don't use it, it will get rusty. That's not good," Ranger was shaking his head.
"Ok."
Ranger held up Mia's blue coat and Stephanie had Kayla's purple one. Next, he held up Stephanie's leather jacket she got for her birthday.
Stephanie, Ranger, Bobby, Lester, and the twins walked into 'A Piece of Italy' where Mary Anne greeted them.
"Hi, Mary Anne."
"Hello there, all of you."
"Ok, tell me!" Stephanie said before Mary Anne stepped away from the hostess stand.
"I loved it. We watched the parades, some football, and after dinner we played 'Candyland' and 'Go Fish'. It was the most perfect Thanksgiving we could have ever asked for in our lives," Mary Anne hugging her. Whispering in Stephanie's ear "Thank you."
When they got to the table, Frank, Ellen, and Grandma were waiting.
"How are our girls," Frank gave Mia and Kayla bear hugs. Ellen gave each a kiss.
"Santa Claus is going to be in the parade tonight!" Mia told him.
"Really?"
Lester chirped, "Yes, really. I got my list," showing a folded piece of paper inside his jacket.
Ranger leaned over to Stephanie, "Babe, think I could get Santa to take him back to the North Pole? Maybe, if I slip him some money, Santa will pretend Santos is an escaped elf."
"Lester's just a very big kid. Grandma, how was your evening at the assisted living home?"
"Baby Granddaughter, I think I found a new honey."
Frank piped in, "It's good." Nodding his head chuckling.
"He rode me home on his three wheeled scooter last night because he didn't want me to walk by myself. Such a gentleman. Stanley has a bad hip so he uses the scooter to get around when it's a distance. He reminds me of your friend, Randy. He's a little person."
"There she was standing on the back of the scooter, holding his little shoulders, coming up the sidewalk," Frank was waving his arms for emphasis because he was still laughing. "What a sight."
"That's wonderful, Grandma," Stephanie didn't want to laugh. "I'm glad you're making new friends."
"Stanley called me a little while ago. The home has one of those mini buses. They decorated it for the parade. There's extra room so I'm going to ride on the bus with him. Make sure you stand on this side of the street so I can wave to you."
Frank was snickering, "Maybe the bus will go off the end of the boardwalk and float away in the Atlantic."
"Can we ride on the bus?" Lester asked.
"I'll check if there's room for you big fellas."
"Lester, if you ride the bus, you might miss Santa," Mia told him.
"I guess I'll have to miss the bus, Grandma. I want to make sure I see him. I've been good this year," pulling out a four page list from his bomber jacket.
"That's a big list, Lester," Frank said.
"I hope I didn't ask for too much!"
"Babe," Ranger put his hand in front of his mouth, "do you think he still believes?"
"And you don't?"
Ranger gave her an eyebrow.
Cliff came over with wine, pouring it into the glasses, "Hi folks. Stephie, I want to thank you and the girls for your help yesterday. The residents loved the candles. They want more for Christmas. I just hope they don't burn down the place."
"Hear that Girls."
"We better get more shells, Stephanie," Kayla said happily.
"We'll have them ready, Cliff."
Ranger spoke up, "If you need help, Cliff, I'll volunteer."
"We all will help," Stephanie answered.
"Thanks. What can I get you?"
"Pizza!" Mia and Kayla announced together.
"Pizza," was the unanimous vote of the table.
"A large mushroom and two large pepperoni ones."
"Got it. What about drinks? Pop in the cups with lids?"
Mia and Kayla nodded.
"I want a brewski," Grandma gave her drink order.
Stephanie said, "Ice tea for me,"
"I'll have wine," Ellen poured a glass for herself.
The guys wanted beer.
"Bring a pitcher of beer, Cliff."
A young waiter brought over bowls of dipping sauce and warm bread.
Stephanie took one of the bread plates and spooned some of the sauce on it, passing it to Mia and Kayla with bread.
"Thanks, this is so yummy," Mia was licking her lips.
Stephanie dipped a piece and fed it to Ranger.
"Don't get any ideas, Ellen. They do this every time."
"Mom, did you talk with Valerie?" Stephanie asked between bites of her bread Ranger fed her.
"Yes, Dear. I heard you were mean to hear, but I told her to get over it. She can't go around criticizing the houses because she feels left out. If she can't say anything nice, then I suggested she not visit any time soon again."
"Mom, that was Saint Valerie you spoke roughly too!"
"Well, that's our house that Carlos bought. I like it!" Ellen pounded her fist on the table. "It has a big kitchen with a dishwasher. I can't help it Albert isn't the best attorney."
"She deserved the harsh words, Pumpkin. She'll get over it."
After dinner, Grandma went to meet the Assisted Living Minibus and everyone else found a spot in front of the restaurant. Mary Anne was beside them with Matty and her parents.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hodge, how are you?" Stephanie asked.
"Very Well, Dear?"
"This is Carlos. Our friends, Bobby and Lester. You might remember my parents, Frank and Ellen Plum."
"It is so nice to meet you. Carlos, my daughter and son-in-law have told us about the nice young man Stephanie has. They're happy to have you as a neighbor."
"Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Frank and Ellen, I remember when Stephanie was the adorable little girl running on the beach, and now what a beautiful woman she has become with a heart of gold."
"Thank you. She is that and more. We're very proud of her," Frank said as he looked at his daughter.
"Daddy, you're embarrassing me."
"Every word is true, Babe. You make be believe in the good," kissing her thoroughly.
"He never kisses us like that, Bobby," Lester joked.
"Watch it."
They heard the Point Pleasant Marching Band coming to start the parade.
"Matty, Santa Claus will be coming," Mia said to the little boy standing next to her.
Stephanie had a blanket that she put around the girls, "I don't want you to get cold."
Kayla smiled, "You and Ranger take good care of us," looking up at them standing behind the girls.
There was a car that went by with the mayor waving at the crowd. A few floats. A honking horn could be heard coming down the boardwalk. It was the minibus decorated with bells and green tinsel. Grandma and some of the other residents were hanging out the windows waving at people. On the seat in front of her, was a short man with a goatee and thick glasses.
"Stanley, that's my family!" Grandma shouted. The minibus had stopped waiting for the parade to continue. Stanley was now hanging out the window.
"Nice to meet you, family! Your Grandma's a hoot!"
Stanley leaned a little too far out the window and almost fell out, but Grandma grabbed his pants pulling him back in but his pants slipped some revealing boxers with big pink hearts.
They could hear "Oh my!" "Oh my God." "Who is that woman?" And a few cat calls and whistles.
"What kind of package you got in there?" Grandma shouted. Everyone on the sidewalk could hear.
"Look," pulling the boxers away from him they could hear and see from the sidewalk.
Grandma gave a thumbs up out the window to Stephanie
"I don't know her," Frank was hiding his face in his wife's shoulder.
"Steph, your Grandma is so crazy," Bobby was bent over laughing at the scene on the minibus.
Lester smirked, "Good think he wasn't commando."
"Is he one of the Veterans, Frank?" Ellen asked.
"Mom, commando means going without underwear."
"Oh, my! There are children present. That would be a disaster. My mother!" shaking her head.
They could see Stanley was pulling his pants back up as the bus moved on.
"I like it here. I have a dishwasher and a kitchen island. So help me Mother gets us run out of town, I'll disown her," Ellen said.
"That was Grandma, Mr. and Mrs. Hodge in case you didn't know."
"She's still unbelievable," Mary Anne was laughing with Cliff.
Ranger was just shaking his head.
The incident was forgotten when you could hear cheers in the crowd. 'Here comes Santa Claus' was playing.
"It's Santa!" Mia, Kayla, and Matty were jumping up and down.
Young girls dressed as elves were passing out candy canes to the people.
Santa Claus was sitting in a white horse drawn carriage with a driver dressed in a long Victorian coat and top hat.
"Over here Santa!" Lester was jumping up and down with his Viking hat on his head.
Santa waved to him.
"He saw me!"
Ranger was standing there with a dumbfounded look on his face watching Lester. "Babe, we need some valium for him."
"He's happy. Let him go."
Santa got out of the carriage and walked over to where Mayor Handy was standing with a microphone. "OK, Folks. Lets count down from ten and Santa will light the Point Pleasant Christmas tree."
"10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1," the people counted.
Santa hit a button and the large tree lit up with white twinkle lights . The tree had gold stars and white seashell shaped ornaments on it."
"Yeah! That was so much fun," Mia told Ranger and Stephanie. The girls were turned around looking up at them and weren't aware that Santa Claus was walking their way.
"HO, HO, HO!"
Mia, Kayla, and Matty's eyes all grew big when they saw Santa standing there.
"Mia, Kayla, and Matty, have you been good this year?"
They nodded just looking at him.
"They have been very good, Santa!" Stephanie told him.
"Yes, Santa," Mary Anne concurred.
"Well, I'll be looking for those cookies on Christmas Eve when I visit."
"Santa, here's my list," Lester handed it to him.
Ranger mouthed 'Lester'.
He looked at the four pages, "Have you been good boy, Lester?"
"Oh yeah, Santa. Ask my Boss?"
"Has he been good, Boss?"
Ranger looked at his friend with his goofy hat on his head. Nodding, Ranger said, "Yes, he has, Santa Claus."
"Well, I'll see you, too, on Christmas Eve. Make sure you're in bed early so I can visit."
With wide eyes like the children, "I will, Santa," Lester said in an almost whisper.
"Bye!" Santa walked down the boardwalk to visit more children.
An amazed Lester turned to his friend, "Ranger, I saw Santa!"
"Santos," Ranger was laughing, "maybe you need to be on that bus with Grandma."
"How about some hot chocolate inside. Cliff was keeping some warm," Mary Anne told them.
"Go ahead, Babe. I'll be there," kissing Stephanie and ruffling the girls' hoods.
"Ok."
"Where's he going?" Frank asked watching Ranger disappear in the people walking on the Boardwalk.
"I don't know. Let's go get some hot chocolate," walking into the restaurant.
Stephanie unzipped the girls' coats and made their way over to her Grandfather's table with the girls. When she was walking, she bumped into Mark Treat, the veterinarian who treated Barney.
"Hi, Mark."
"Hi, Stephanie," Mark greeted her. "Hello, Sir."
"Hello, Doctor. Stephanie, why don't you sit down with the girls and I'll bring over the hot chocolate."
"Ok, Daddy. Join us, Mark," waving at the empty chairs around the table.
Mia and Kayla took off their coats and hung them on the back of the chairs.
"Mark, this is Mia and Kayla. Carlos and I are in the process of adopting them. Girls, this is Dr. Treat. He took care of Barney's foot when I found him."
"It's nice to meet you. How is Barney?"
"He's the best dog," Mia informed him.
Kayla added, "We love him."
"It sounds like he has a very good home. Did you come for the tree lighting?"
"Yes, and, of course, Santa Claus," Stephanie replied.
Stephanie's father came back with cups of hot chocolate and sat down next to the girls.
"Did you enjoy yourselves tonight?"
"Yes, Grandpa. It was so much fun," Kayla looked up at him with her big blue eyes.
Mia touched Stephanie's arm, "Stephanie, I have to go potty."
"Me, too," Kayla got off her chair.
"We'll be back " Stephanie told Mark and Frank.
Ranger walked back into the crowed establishment, grabbing a hot chocolate, and made his way over to Frank and the Merry Men talking to Dr. Treat.
"Where did you disappear too?" Frank asked as Ranger sat down.
"Hello, Carlos," Dr. Treat extended his hand.
"Nice to see you. To answer your question, Frank, it's a surprise."
He saw Stephanie's wild curls coming through the people.
Smiling at him, "There you are. What are you up to?" Stephanie bent down to kiss his cold cheek. She put her warm hands on his face to warm it up.
"I have a surprise. I'll be back. Why don't you get your coats on."
"Can we come?" Bobby asked.
"I wouldn't leave you two out. Oh, Frank, I ran into Grandma and she wanted me to tell you she's riding the minibus back to the home and she has a key."
"Damn, I knew it was a mistake to give her a key."
Ranger headed towards the bathroom. Mark got up and told Stephanie he had to stop at his office to check on a couple of animals before heading home.
Stephanie's mother came walking over to the table, "Where are you going?" noticing Frank putting on his coat.
"I don't know. Ranger has a surprise."
"Ready, Babe?"
"Sure," zipping Mia's jacket and hers. The girls had on their mittens and hats under their hoods.
Ranger picked up Mia and Lester got Kayla so they could get through the crowd. Going out the door, waiting was the white carriage Santa Claus rode in.
"I thought we could end the evening with a carriage ride around Point Pleasant."
Ranger lifted Mia up into the carriage, then Stephanie. Mia sat on her lap. Bobby got in and sat across from Stephanie.
"Can I ride up front?" Lester asked the driver.
"Sure, young fella. Nice hat."
Frank hopped up, followed by Ranger with Kayla. Lester climbed up front. Ellen handed Bobby a woolen blanket and put one over herself and her husband that was on the seats. Stephanie cuddled next to Ranger throwing the big yellow blanket she brought over them.
The driver, Mr. Wilson, clicked the reins and the big brown Clydesdales started out. They followed the boardwalk with all the lit-up shops. White lights were strung on both sides of the street. He turned the carriage to the right heading from the busy boardwalk to the quiet residential area.
He told them some of the history of the bigger Victorian houses they passed.
"It's snowing," Mia noticed big fluffy white flakes beginning to fall.
Stephanie had her head resting on Ranger's shoulder as he had an arm around her. They rode around Point Pleasant for almost an hour when the carriage stopped in front of Cliff's restaurant. Ranger helped everyone down out of the carriage.
Mia and Kayla walked over and told Mr. Wilson 'thank you' for the carriage ride and petted the horses.
"Thank you," Ranger shook his hand before he pulled out.
"Good Night," he said tipping his old top hat.
"Thank you," Stephanie rubbed his cheek with her soft cashmere glove, "that was a perfect way to end the night."
"You're welcome, Babe," bending down to kiss her with the snow falling down gently around them.