December 15th, 2001

Week 30

Randi and Dave trudged through the snow. He snaked his arm around her expanding waist as he helped her over a snow mound. The cold winter air bit at their exposed skin. Randi jumped off of the snow pile. Dave chuckled at her.

"You know those earflaps really bring out your eyes." He said.

"Hey. This is a very cool hat." Randi tugged on her purple knit hat. "It keeps me warm."

"I really love those pink fuzz balls. It just screams tacky." Dave smiled. Randi stuck out her tongue.

"Very funny, Malucci. You aren't getting any tonight."

"I don't think I can maneuver around that big belly of yours." Dave jumped away form her flying hand.

"You are definitely not getting any." Randi smiled kicking a snow pile. "I want a big Christmas tree."

"We'll get the biggest." Dave smiled balling up a fist of snow and throwing it at a stop sign. Randi smiled softly. This was going to be her first Christmas with an actual tree with an actual family. She it was just her, Dave, and her extremely large belly but it'd be wonderful. She would attempt to make a Christmas dinner. They would decorate the tree and play Christmas carols over the stereo.

"Can you believe this is almost over?" Randi asked. Dave glanced at her.

"What is almost over?"

"This pregnancy." Randi said, "soon, she'll be born and in the Cabot's arms."

"Luckily, the Cabot's are nice people." Dave said rubbing her side.

"Who do you think the baby will look like most?" Randi asked with a soft smile.

"Let's see she'll have your hair and you perfect nose. She'll have my eye colour but your eye shape."

"She'll have your lips." Randi smiled.

"And she'll have you're personality." Dave said, "Nobody will get in her way with Fronzcsak and Malucci genes in her." Randi laughed.

"I think you're right." She said. "Oooh. There's the tree lot." Dave looked up to see Hoston's Christmas Tree Lot. There were so many different types of trees. There were skinny ones and fat ones. There were short ones and tall ones. There were pine ones and fir ones. There was a Christmas tree for every type of person. "I think we'll find the perfect one."

"I know we will." Dave and Randi walked into the lot. Dave smiled softly at a family debating to get a tall firtree. Someday he'd be here with his kids and...He was here with his kid. He glanced over at Randi who was looking at a tall tree. She wrinkled her nose and moved on.

"Can I help you ma'am?" Randi glanced up to see a tall African-American looking at her. She smiled softly.

"I'm looking for a tree." She said.

"Well, I think I can help you with that." He chuckled, "but I think we'll have to narrow it down some. I'm Aaron and I'll be to your service."

"Thank you. Aaron is a lovely name. That was my son's name." Randi said softly.

"God is watching over him and Aaron is watching over you and his sister." Aaron said. Randi looked at him.

"How...did you know I was having a girl?"

"I just know." Aaron winked, "Now you seem to me to be the type of girl that wants a big full Christmas tree." Randi nodded slowly still trying to take in Aaron's earlier comments, "Very well, we have some lovely selections here." Dave wandered around the lot looking at all the different trees. He loved the smell of pine.

"Welcome to my lot, Sir." An old man walked up to Dave; "I'm Hoston Meyers." Dave smiled politely.

"It's a nice lot you have here." He said.

"Why thank you." Hoston said, "I see your fiance is expecting." Dave and Hoston glanced over at Randi who was examining a tree Aaron was holding up.

"Yes she is." Dave smiled softly.

"A girl." Hoston said. Dave nodded.

"Yes." He said.

"Are you two Irish?" Hoston asked. Dave looked at the old man.

"Ah....No why do you ask?" Dave looked at him questioningly.

"I just...Never mind." He smiled, "Have you picked out a name yet for the little girl? Maybe an Irish name?"

"Um...No we haven't. We're waiting until the delivery day." Dave said. This guy was giving him the creeps. Hoston smiled and nodded.

"Well, I trust the little girl will have an uncommon and strong name." He said.

"Sure...Ah...I should go with her." Dave quickly left Hoston.

"Hmmm....That is a nice tree." Randi said inspecting the branches. She looked up at Dave, "What do you think?"

"I like it." He said, "It's big and fluffy."

"Fluffy?" Randi cocked her eyebrow and laughed.

"You know what I mean." Dave chuckled. He looked at Aaron, "I think we'll take this tree."

"Very well." He smiled.

"How much is it?" Dave asked.

"It's free. Take it." Aaron said. Randi and Dave stared at him.

"No. Seriously. How much?" Dave asked. Aaron chuckled.

"For the two of you, it's free." Aaron said, "Take it home and spend time decorating it and making memories."

"Are you sure?" Randi asked. Aaron nodded.

"Yes. Take it and have fun."

"Thank you." Dave said picking up the end of the tree. Randi grabbed the light end. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Folks." Aaron said, "And happy New Year." Dave and Randi smiled lugging the tree out of the lot.

"That was very nice of him." Randi said.

"Yes it was. The people were weird there though." Dave said, "Hoston the guy that owns this place was going on and on about the baby's name, like he already knew what it was going to be."

"Well, he should let us in on it because I have no idea what its going to be." Randi chuckled, "Well, that guy that picked out the tree talked about Aaron and how's he's watching over us. It gave me the creeps."

"Hum. Yeah it would me too." Dave shook his head, "are you okay? I can carry this by myself."

"I've got it. It's not that heavy." Randi chuckled. She stopped in her tracks, "Oh! I think I dropped my scarf back at the lot." Randi put the end down and turned around. She stopped in her tracks. "Ah...Dave?"

"What Babe?" Dave asked wiping sap onto his pants.

"Where is the tree lot?"

"It's right...." He turned around, "There.... Where is it?" Dave and Randi stared into an empty lot. Randi's scarf laid on a snow pile. She grabbed it.

"I want to go home." She said softly. Dave nodded.

"Yes...Let's go. I'm getting the creeps even more." Randi grabbed her end of the tree and bolted. They had no idea where the Christmas tree lot ran off to and they didn't care to find out.

****

Randi and Dave have made a list of baby names they like but can't decide.

Help them decide and choose your favourite ones

You may vote more than once.

http://www.gigapoll.com/?105764