CHRISTMAS EVE
Standard Disclaimers – The JAG characters don't belong to me – all the others do….
Please read and review -
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OUTSIDE THE CHEGWIDDEN HOME
"Everyone will be here right?" Anna asked.
"Yes, and they are looking forward to seeing you again." Clay smiled.
"So am I. Thanksgiving was fun." Anna replied. Together they walked into the house.
"Merry Christmas Anna." Mac said.
"Hi Mac good to see you. Merry Christmas everyone." Anna replied.
"Merry Christmas Mac. Talking to me?" Webb asked Mac.
"Of course I am, Merry Christmas Clay." Mac said giving him a hug.
"Hi Anna, good to see you." Harriet said. "I brought the tape."
"Wonderful. I can't wait to see all of your acts from that Follies." Anna laughed.
"Webb!" Harm called from the other side of the room. "Would you step outside please?"
"Rabb!" AJ said with a slight warning.
"Harm, it's Christmas." Bud said quietly.
"Relax people." Harm said, as he and Webb walked out onto the porch.
"What's going on out there?" Anna asked Mac. "Is there a problem?"
"No, there was a small problem." Mac stated. "But not anymore."
"That's good." Anna said.
"Harm is just asking Clay if he will usher at our wedding." Mac whispered.
"Oh that's so nice, he's never said it exactly, but I think you guys are his only friends. I think you're his family." Anna said.
"Well we are a very interesting family." Mac laughed.
"Wait you haven't met mine yet. Poor Clay he is going to be overwhelmed on Christmas." Anna laughed.
"Clayton Webb is going home with you for Christmas?" Mac said a bit too loud.
The room froze. "What's the big deal?" Anna laughed.
"I don't believe it. Someone has tamed the Sexy Beast." Gunny laughed.
"That what?" Anna said shaking her head.
"Long story Anna. Too long." Gunny laughed.
Just then the door opened and Harm and Clay walked in.
"Is everything ok?" Harriet asked.
"It's fine." Webb said.
"People, it's time to go." AJ announced.
"Admiral this was wonderful thank you for having me." Anna said reaching up and giving him a hug.
"The pleasure is mine Anna. Please call me AJ. Will you be joining us at the service?" AJ asked.
"Unfortunately we need to get to New York." Anna said.
"Well be safe and have a Merry Christmas."
AJ said. "Webb Merry Christmas."
"Thanks AJ. Merry Christmas." Clay said and they left.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
True to his word, Clayton Webb and Anna flew to New York; they landed at Kennedy Airport at 10:15.
"Now to get a cab." Anna said.
"You wait here I get one." Clay offered.
"Clay thanks but you better let me. There is a queue anyway." Anna replied.
"Anna I can get a cab." Clay said.
"Yeah yeah yeah, look blue blood you're on my turf now." Anna laughed.
"Go ahead." Clay said smiling at her. God I love her bossiness.
Anna got them a cab and 30 minutes later they were at her mother's home.
SAN REMO APARTMENTS – CENTRAL PARK WEST
Walking into Lucia Paparini's home was an event. It was not what Clay expected. He knew she lived in the San Remo building overlooking Central Park but he had no idea of the grandeur and opulence. Lucia came to the door and greeted her daughter. "Pico, it's about time." She turned to Clay. "Who is this?"
"Ma this is Clayton Webb. He's my…." Anna began.
"Oh let me tell her." Teresa begged walking over. "How are you Clay?"
"Fine Teresa, good to see you." Clay replied.
"You know him?" Lucia asked. "Someone want to tell me who he is?"
"Ma this is Anna's boyfriend." Teresa said laughing.
"I don't believe it." Lucia said jokingly putting her hand to her heart. "You are bringing a man home? Has hell frozen over?"
"Ma!" Anna said wishing she could hide.
"Clayton, welcome. It's a pleasure to meet you." Lucia said giving him hug.
"It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Paparini." Clay said not knowing how to react.
"Please Mrs. Paparini was my mother in law. Call me Lucia." Lucia said waving her hands. Clay liked this woman and if she was an indication of what Anna was going to look like at 65 all Clay could think was wow.
Lucia Paparini was a few inches taller than Anna; she was in wonderful shape and didn't look her age. Her hair was gray but it didn't make her look old. There wasn't a wrinkle on her face and it was obvious that it wasn't the result of botox or a face-lift.
"Anna, are all these people staying here?" Clay asked looking at the army that was starring at him.
"No just the kids. Since we all go to midnight Mass it's easier to have the kids together and two people baby-sit. We switch off every year."
"Nice, whose turn is it this year?" Clay asked looking at all the kids.
"Mine and yours." Anna teased.
"Oh." Clay said eyes growing wide.
"Clay I'm joking. It's Carlo and Maria's." Anna said. "You can stay with them or you can come to Mass with me."
"Well I've never been to midnight Mass before and I really don't know them, but more importantly I would like to be with you." Clay said. Webb what is happening to you?
"Good answer, blue blood." Anna laughed.
"Pico are you planning on introducing Clay to the family?" Lucia asked.
"When I'm ready." Anna said. "Ok everyone into the front foyer. Listen up."
"My daughter always the boss." Lucia laughed.
"Tell me about it." Clay laughed.
"Everyone this is Clayton Webb. He's a nice guy so don't embarrass me." Anna advised.
"Hi." Clay said looking at all the eyes looking at him.
"Ok, Clay I am going to give you the rundown." Anna said then she whispered "Don't worry if you don't get it all."
"Let's hear it." Clay said.
Anna began:
"This is Charlie Gianetti and his wife Donna Maria, their kids Chucky, Deena and Marie. This is Daniel Gianetti and his wife Sonya who is a Paparini, their kids Alicia and Annette. Then there are Louisa Gianetti Carbone's sons, Carmine who is married to Joesphina Amoretti with their kids, Albee, Dotti and Michael. This is his brother Salvatore who married her sister Lydia and their kids Linda, Johnny and Carmine. Then you have Angelo Sr's sons Christopher who married Miranda Ragusa who is Dorothea Amoretti's daughter their kids Gianni and Paulie. You already know his brother Angelo and my sister Teresa and their kids Antonio and Giovanni." Anna took a deep breath.
"Then there are the D'Alessio kids: Franco sons Franky Jr and is wife Louise, their kids Francesca and Louis. That's Vinny who you met and of course my cousin Frankie, their kids Arianna and Al. Then you have Maria D'Alessio's kids. Eddie who is married to Maryanne Gianetti their 3 kids Marty, Eddie Jr and Patty. Connie who is married to Alberto D'Amore their kids Roberta, Juliana and Nicholas. Adamo who is married to my Aunt Sophia's daughter Natalia, their kids Suzanna and Joey. This is Carlo Ragusa, son of Dorothea who is married to Maria, Louisa Gianetti Carbone's daughter; those are their kids Carlo and Freddie. Matty Amoretti and his wife Gina and their kids Matthew and Elizabeth." Anna took another breath and looked at Clay who was just standing there taking it all in.
"The rest is pretty easy" Anna said with a smile. "This is Aunt Sophia's son Roberto Zambrini who is married to Isabella D'Alessio, Franco's daughter, their kids David and Louis and my cousin Anthony Paparini and his wife Donna Gianetti, those are their kids Tony and Viviane. This is my cousin Marco and his wife Carmella their daughter Connie and one on the way. And that's it." Anna said exaggerating an exhale.
"So did you get all that?" Vinny asked with a laugh.
Clay turned to Anna, "Let me see…" Clay started pointing to each person. "Charlie and Donna Marie Gianetti, Chucky, Deena and Marie. Daniel and Sonya Gianetti who is a Paparini and Alicia and Annette. You are Carmine Gianetti and this is your wife Josephina who is an Amoretti, and Albee, Dotti and Michael. Carmine's brother Salvatore and his wife Lydia who is Josephina's sister and the kids, Linda, Johnny and Carmine. Christopher and Miranda Gianetti who is an Amoretti and you guys are Gianni and Paulie. You're Franky and Louise D'Alessio and your kids Francesca and Louis. Vinny and Frankie, it's nice to see you both again, nice to meet you Arianna and Al. Eddie D'Alessio and Maryanne Gianetti with Marty, Eddie Jr. and Patty. You're Connie and Albert D'Amore and Roberta, Juliana and Nicholas. You are Adamo and Natalia D'Alessio and you are Suzanna and Joey. Carlo Ragusa and Maria Gianetti Ragusa, hi Carlo and Freddie. You're Matty Amoretti and this is your wife Gina and these are your kids Matthew and Elizabeth. You're Roberto and Isabella Zambrini, and you guys are David and Louis. Anthony and Donna Paparini, Tony and Viviane and Marco and Carmella Paparini, this is your daughter Connie and congrats on the one coming. Oh and of course Angelo and Teresa, nice to see you guys and my pals Tony and Gio. Finally last but not least, the baby of the group or so I have been told Anna Sophia Paparini." Clay exhaled loudly and Anna's entire "family" converged upon him.
They loved him, how he was able to get all those names right was amazing and he sure impressed them.
"Ok enough. I don't want you people scaring him." Anna said shooing everyone away. They were all asking him a million questions.
"You have all day tomorrow to talk to him." Lucia said, "But now we need to get going."
"Anna, where are everyone else's parents?" Clay asked noticing that Lucia was the only senior member there.
"Oh, the ones that are still with us will be here tomorrow. Remember they are all at least 80, they don't do the Mass thing anymore." Anna replied. "Uncle Franco, his wife, Aunt Sophia and her husband will be meeting us at church."
"Sounds like I am going to have more names to learn." Clay said.
CHURCH OF THE BLESSED SACREMENT
The church was no more than a five-minute walk. As the group approached the entrance Clayton Webb was in awe of its beauty. The Gothic style church was modeled after the Saint Chapelle in Paris, with its arched entry and stone carved structure it was quite breathtaking. He had been in churches before, as a child and even as an adult. However, those churches were nothing like this. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling coupled with the beautiful alter terracotta floors and Crucifix above only added to the mystery and holiness of the occasion.
"This is beautiful." Clay whispered to Anna.
"It is, we've been coming here for as long as I can remember." Anna said and then chuckled, "it was just so much fun driving here from Brooklyn every Sunday."
Before Clay could respond a priest walked over to the group. "Lucia I see you brought the troops." Father Michael said with a laugh greeting them in the vestibule.
"Of course." Lucia laughed. "Father Michael I would like you to meet Clayton Webb, a friend of Anna's."
"A friend of Anna's really? A pleasure to meet you, Anna was the first baby I christened when I came to this parish. I have watched her grow up." Fr. Michael stated.
"I guess you and I will have to talk sometime." Clay replied with a smile. Webb you're making small talk with a priest?
"All I can say is heaven help you." Fr. Michael joked.
"Ah, that's enough Father Michael." Anna cut in.
"Anna it's good to see you. Does Father Charles know you are here? I am sure he will want you to…" Fr. Michael began.
"No he doesn't." Anna said quickly cutting him off.
"Well. We need to go tell him. Come with me." Fr. Michael said taking Anna by the arm.
"Clay go with my mom, I'll be right back." Anna said rolling her eyes.
Clay walked into the church and sat next with Lucia on one side and Teresa on the other. The service was beginning and Anna had not joined them yet.
"Where's Anna?" Clay whispered.
"She helps with the Midnight Mass sometimes. When they con her that is." Teresa replied with a quiet laugh. "They sucker her almost every year."
Clay didn't know what to think. Here he was sitting with a group of people he barely knew, in a church he had never been to at a Mass he had only heard about. Webb it's amazing that a woman has done this to you. I wonder if this is how Harm felts when he first fell in love with Mac. Whoa in love? Where the hell, oops I mean heck, did that come from? Webb sat there thinking. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he missed most of the service; it wasn't until the organ music began to fill the church that he snapped back. A song I recognize, he thought. The introduction to Oh Holy Night began, suddenly he heard a familiar voice, he looked up to alter but there was no one there. Teresa gently tapped his hand, turned her head and pointed to the balcony. There was Anna singing.
Oh
holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn...
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night, oh night divine
Clay was in shock. He thought back to the day he walked in on Anna's performance when she was singing and dancing around her apartment, even her singing in the car; but it was nothing like this.
"Clayton, close your mouth, you're going to catch flies." Lucia teased.
"I had no idea." Was all Clay could say.
The chorus sang the second verse and the service was over. The family went into the vestibule; Anna came down the balcony steps and was greeted by Webb.
"That was beautiful, why didn't you tell me?" Clay asked.
"I didn't know it was going to happen until we got here." Anna laughed.
"How do you do that?" Clay asked?
"Do what? They just play it in a lower key, I can't hit those high notes." Anna laughed.
"I realized that, I meant how is it that you always manage to surprise me?" Clay said, Anna just smiled at him innocently and shrugged.
"So anyone for the Christmas tree?" Teresa asked.
"Sounds like a plan." Anna said, "Clay do you want to go to Rockefeller Center?"
"Sure, sounds like fun." Clay replied. I want to have fun?
Part of the group walked down towards Rockefeller Center to look at the tree while the rest went to their respective homes. By the time they returned to Lucia's home it was 2am for the City that Never Sleeps it was very quiet. As they reached the doors of the San Remo building it began to snow.
"Ahh." Anna said looking up at the sky. "Now everything is perfect. It's going to be a white Christmas." Clay just looked at her, then at the few family members that were with them. He had this image in his head of every old movie he had every seen. He grabbed Anna and kissed her; not worrying about the eyes that were on them.
"Well the man has some passion in him." Frankie whispered to Teresa.
"According to Anna that's not all he has." Teresa whispered back laughing.
They all quietly went inside and left the couple standing there in their embrace.
Tomorrow was Christmas and it was going to be a very interesting day.