The Streetlight were hazy, due to the light snow fall. It almost felt like Hawaiian shaved ice, only thinner and without the syrup. Large blankets of icing were caking everything that it landed on. Each snow flake that fell on the ground seemed shapeless. But, if you caught one snowflake, you could actually see that it really did have a shape. The wind was whispering as snow fell like birthday confetti on Jan's winter toboggan as she walked down the street. Taking deep breaths against the cold numbing air, she blinked as frost was kissing her face.

Finally, after a long walk five-minute walk to grocery, she reached her house. When she walked inside, she found the house was much warmer than it was outside. She put her two grocery sacks on the table and took a seat in the recliner as the furnace kicked on.

"I see that you are back," James said when he walked down stairs. "How's the weather like?"

"It's really cold," Jan informed. "But, I've heard that the snow plow man is supposed to get out to plow the roads this afternoon."

"At least we'll be able to get out when we need to," James answered when he took a seat on the couch. "I just got a call from Markus; we are still going to have our Christmas party tonight. Everyone is going to be cooking something to bring to the party. I said that we'd bake cookies."

"James, I bought several jars of frosting and all of the ingredients while I was out," Jan said when James took a seat next to her. "I also bought extra cookie dough, frosting, and sprinkles. Tommy requested it. He says Kimberly didn't get to enjoy baking Christmas cookies. Once when her mother bought cookie dough, he threw it out and said people only liked homemade cookies."

"Are you kidding me?" James gasped.

"No, I'm not," Jan confessed as she just hung her head. "When her father threw out the cookie dough, Andrew and Caroline started to make homemade cookies. They wouldn't let Kimberly take part. Andrew told her that cookies had to be cut perfectly with a cookie cutter, otherwise, it would crumble in the oven. When she learned that we were going to bake cookies, she mentioned to him that she'd love to take part in baking cookies."

"I always did think her parents were very selfish people," James commented putting an arm around his wife. "What kind of person goes off and leaves their child so they can start a new life."

"I never met her father, but I never really did like her mother," Jan added. "How could a mother hide she's dating someone from her child until she is engaged and is going to move to Paris with him? She didn't even give her daughter a chance to know Pierre. And what's worse she disowned her daughter due to what happened down in Florida."

"Some people are just like that," James stated planting a kiss on her cheek. "I just hope we can be good in-laws to her. I've always wanted a daughter."

"I've loved Kimberly as if she was my daughter after Tommy started bring her home with him over school holidays," Jan answered with a smile. "We could never find anyone better to be married to our son."

Meanwhile, a bite of cold wind had crept under Kimberly's pink night gown. As she started to shiver, Tommy turned over and spooned her up his arms. Within seconds, his body had molded into hers, sharing his body heat as well as his own heart. She couldn't believe just two years ago; she swore that she'd never let another boy get close to her. But, after the right boy had come back into her life all of that had changed. Since then, Tommy was the only flower in the meadow for her.

It had only been nearly two weeks since she had married Tommy. Sleeping and waking up next to him each day, were two major spot lights of her new everyday life.

"It's a cold winter day," Tommy whispered giving her a kiss on the neck. "If it wasn't for my father hosting the Christmas party, I'd vote to stay in bed all day and just hold you."

"As much as I'd second that, we can't," Kimberly answered when she turned over to face Tommy. "Jan and James have already told us that their co-workers want to meet their new daughter-in law."

"I can't complain about that," Tommy gushed when his feet hit the floor. "I always did love having a chance to show my beautiful and loving girlfriend off to my parents' friends. Now I can say you're my wife now."

The moment Tommy and Kimberly slide into their chairs, they were served a huge plate of food. Scrambled Eggs, bacon, hash browns, and biscuits. The bowl full of freshly cooked homemade biscuits would keep everyone in the home going for week, if not longer. Beside each plate was glass of freshly made orange juice.

"I've got Cinnamon buns cooking in the oven," Jan said when she took a seat at the table next to James. "And there is plenty of food if anyone wants seconds."

Kimberly popped a piece of bacon into her mouth. As she started chewing, the bacon broke over her tongue, crunchy, salty, and crisp. If she didn't know better, she'd say the bacon's flavor was almost like a bomb, which was exploding in every right way. More pieces of bacon sat in the frying pan in crispy like waves.

"I just love your cooking," Kimberly compliment taking a sip of juice. "My parents could cook, but nowhere as near as good as you two."

"Did I tell you that Tommy is an excellent cook?" Jan revealed with a smile.

"Really?!" Kimberly gasped as she placed her hand on top of Tommy's. "He never told me he could cook?"

"He's been cooking since he was twelve," James said. "His mother had gallbladder surgery that summer and I couldn't take off work to take care of her. So, before she had surgery, Tommy expressed an interest in wanting to learn to cook to help out with the meals."

"Sounds like something he'd do," Kimberly purred giving Tommy a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, mom can we soak in the Jacuzzi?" Tommy asked. "After we soak we're going to lay down and take a nap."

"As long as you allow enough time to get your showers and time to get dressed for the party," Jan answered. "The party starts at 2:30."

Kimberly walked into her room and got black garment sack that was hanging in the front of her closet. She had just gotten the dress for the party during her last shopping trip and she couldn't wait to show it to Tommy. A pair pink sling back high heels were sitting on the floor. Normally, she would be curling her hair for the party, but she couldn't find the prefect hair style. When she asked Tommy to help her find one, he just told her to wear it loose since that was how he liked it best.

In the meantime, Tommy paced his room in his party clothes, which consisted of khakis, a black tee shirt, and a classic green cable sweater. At least this was the first time his parents didn't make him wear an ugly Christmas suit. Until he was about 13, his parents always loved to wear matching outfits to their Christmas party. The last time he went to a Christmas party his parents picked out green suits with candy canes printed on them. And James had even found green ties with candy canes on them for him and Tommy to wear. Tommy always though Jan had the better end of the bargain because she just wore a white button-down shirt with her outfit. And to make matters much worse, they had won the ugly Christmas outfit contest for several years in a role.

"I still can't believe my parents still have those pictures of our matching ugly Christmas outfits hanging on their bedroom wall," he thought when he took a seat on his bed. "At least Kimberly is the only one who has seen them."

"Tommy, I've got my dress," Kimberly announced when she walked in the room.

"What does it look like?" Tommy hinted.

After laying the garment bag on the bed, Kimberly carefully unzipped it, revealing a pink silk knee length A-line dress. It had a semi-heart shaped neck and very thin spaghetti straps holding up the dress.

"I can't wait to see what it looks like on you," Tommy purred.

"You'll have to wait a little bit," Kimberly stated when she picked up the dress headed into their bathroom. "I've got to put my make up on first. But, I may need you to zip up my dress."

Kimberly stood in front of her the bathroom mirror as she finished putting applying pink rouge to her checks. Having Tommy around when she got ready was huge benefit because he always let her know if she had put on enough make up. And she couldn't forget that she didn't have to sit around on special occasions holding a dress up to her chest if she couldn't reach the zipper or laces in the back.

"Tommy, could you zip up my dress?" Kimberly asked as she held the dress against her chest.

"Of course," Tommy answered with a smile. He walked up behind her and zipped up the back of the dress.

"So, what do you think?" Kimberly asked.

At last, Tommy was able to get a view of dress. Her dress was formed fitted, which hugged her body until it reached her waist. At the waist it started to flare out. He couldn't help from staring at the cleavage that the dress provided. He watched as she spun around to model in it and he immediately noticed that the back of the dress plunged until it reached her spinal column. It was surprising how those tiny spaghetti straps were able to hold the dress up.

"Tommy, what do you think?" Kimberly repeated as she finished spinning around.

He stood there still unable to speak. All he could do was just give off a weak was such a big deal that could make him so tongued tied? He had seen her in all types of clothing before and now that he was married to her, he was seeing her in undergarments and even without clothes. And no matter how he saw her, she was still the most beautiful girl there ever was.

"Tommy are you okay?" Kimberly asked in a worried tone.

"Yes," Tommy finally answered. "You are so beautiful and I can't wait to show you off to my parents co-workers."

Three long tables sat in the Oliver's dining room, which were loaded with all kinds of foods that you can think of. Yeast rolls, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn on the cob, freshly baked pepperoni pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, homemade chili, homemade vegetable soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, salads, chocolate cake, cherry pie, Christmas cookies, cheese cake, apple strudels, lemon tarts, and even homemade ice-cream.

"So, this is your new daughter in law?" asked a woman when Kimberly took a seat next to Tommy. "So, tell us how did you meet?"

"We met in high school," Kimberly quickly said.

This woman was attractive, she was tall and very skinny. Her dirty blonde hair was down to her chin. And it was obvious she was into fashion. She was dressed in a red dress that came down to her thighs. A black belt was around her waist and white fur was around each sleeve and around her skirt. She wore a pair black stockings and very fancy black dress boots that came up to her knees. Even though she was very attractive, she was not very friendly. She kept her eyes locked on Kimberly. No smile on her face. All she did was roll her eyes very so often and give her a mean glare.

"I was asking Tommy?" the woman said in a sweet voice. "I should have addressed it at him. So, Tommy, how did you meet this girl?"

"We met in high school," Tommy answered. "It was actually on my first day at Angel Grove. She was the first person I met. She asked me if I would like to meet after school. And I went and felt like I was a part of the group."

"So, how long did it take you to ask her out?"

"Miranda, Tommy is about to get to that part," Jan stated when she took a pan of rolls out of the oven.

"It took me a few months," Tommy admitted placing his arm around Kimberly's shoulder. "We were having a dance at school. And I spent a lot of time at the lake. Mostly to practice what I was going to say to Kim when I asked her out-"

"-any other reasons?" Miranda interrupted as she rolled her eyes. "I heard you didn't get make the school wrestling team-"

"-Miranda!" Jan shouted slamming the pan of rolls on the counter. "He does not need to be reminded of that. He remembers it very well and you don't have to remind him. If you say something else disrespectful, I am going to ask you to leave."

"Anyway, Kimberly came to the lake to see me. And we both kissed. We both had been wanting to kiss for a long time. And finally, I was able to ask her to be my date to the dance. Then we started dating. We dated in high school and college."

"I hear both of you attend MIT," Miranda remarked as she rolled her eyes at Kimberly. "My nephew claims that his best friend Harry broke you both up by writing break up letters to you two."

"Yes, that did happen," Tommy confessed pulling Kimberly closer to him. "Harry was very good a forgery. But, we found out the truth behind the letters. They were sent on the same day and said the exact same thing. We both decided to be friends again. Nether one of us knew anyone else on campus and since we were both really good friends we spent all our time together. Eventually, we decided to date again. We dated for a year and a half. Finally, on valentine's day, I popped the question and she said yes."

"I'd love to hear more, but I've got to leave," Miranda lied as she got up and left her plate full of food laying on the table. "I have to be somewhere."

"Is everything okay?" Jan asked.

"My husband Andrew's got a flat tire and he needs me to come gets him," Miranda said grabbing her coat. "I hope you all have a good party."

Author's note:

Who do you think Miranda is? What does she have against Kimberly? Do you have any idea what Andrew's last name is? Find out in the next chapter!