When Greenlee had finished getting ready for bed, she quietly creeped out of her room and all the way down the stairs. She was wearing her rubber duck pajama bottoms with a matching pink tank-top, and her hair was up in a messy bun. As she passed by the billiards room on the second floor, she heard Jimmy's voice and the sound of balls clacking around. She continued down the main stairs onto the first floor and hurried into the kitchen. The lights were off, but the moonlight was bright enough for Greenlee to make her way around. There were two big ovens next to each other, a large sink with a dishwasher, two giant refrigerators, and enough counter-space for at least two or three restaurants. Greenlee went straight to one of the refrigerators and pulled out a carton of milk. She didn't feel like getting a glass out, so she opened up the carton and drank straight from it.

The kitchen was suddenly filled with bright lights; Greenlee quickly glanced at the door, milk dripping from her chin. A man was standing there, someone Greenlee didn't recognize. He looked very handsome, Greenlee thought, standing there with a silly grin on his face.

"Greenlee, right?" He said suddenly.

"Yeah," She nodded, wiping the milk from her face.

"I'm Andrew Crandlemire, your cousins told me a lot about you."

"Did they?"

"Uh-huh," He started walking towards her.

"Did you want something to eat?" She asked.

"Josh said I could help myself."

He stopped in front of her.

"Oh no, I'll get it, what would you like?"

"It's okay, I can get it. It looks like you were getting ready for bed?"

She looked down at her pajamas, "Oh, these? They're just, you know, comfy, I was actually planning on coming to play pool with you guys."

So she lied. If Andrew's personality matched his looks, maybe he wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Want a sandwich or something?" She offered.

"No, no, just something small to hold me over." His lips curled into a charming smile, and he stepped even closer, pushing Greenlee up against the counter. He put his hand on her waist. Feeling a little uncomfortable, she glanced behind herself nervously and noticed a bottle of wine on the counter. She grabbed the bottle and held it up between them.

"A glass of wine?"

"Perfect."

Greenlee inched away from him and made for the cupboards. She opened up one of the higher one's and, standing on her tiptoes, got two wine glasses down. She opened a drawer and pulled out the bottle opener.

"Will you?" She asked, holding the bottle and opener out to him. He took the items, screwed the opener into the cork, and with a loud pop he opened the wine. He poured both glasses half-way full.

"Thanks," She smiled, bringing the glass to her lips.

"So, I hear these Smyth Christmas Party's are pretty amazing?"

"Oh, they're something alright." She laughed.

"My mother said we couldn't have been invited to a lovelier place. I think she's right."

Greenlee looked down at her bare toes. She felt a little cold.

"How did our mother's meet, anyway?" She asked, looking back up at him.

"I'm not sure," he said, "through a club of some sort, I'm sure."

"Probably. My mom thinks it's good for the soul to get involved, funny how things that require real work don't count as involved though."

She sipped her wine.

"I know what you mean," he nodded, "my mom is the same way."

"That doesn't surprise me." She rolled her eyes; to her, all rich people were the same.

"Come again?" He looked confused.

"Never mind. Are you in college?"

"Graduated."

"Oh, that's right. Oxford law, correct?"

"Correct."

"So you're a lawyer then, eh?"

He smiled, "Yes, I'm a lawyer. What about you? Where'd you go to college?"

"U.C.L.A."

"Nice," he nodded, "What did you major in?"

"Nothing, actually. I got my bachelor's in teaching, but quit after that. I work for a newspaper now."

"I'm surprised your parents didn't make you finish."

"I don't let them control my life," She said quickly. "Ready to go back upstairs?"

He set down his wine, which he had hardly touched.

"Sure."

A few minutes later, Greenlee and Andrew walked into the billiard's room together. Greenlee's arm was laced around Andrew's.

"Well, well, well." Jimmy grinned at them, "Look what Andrew found."

"I thought you were too tired to play pool, Greens?" Josh raised an eyebrow, smiling at her.

"Who told you that?" She winked at him, picking up a cue. She slipped it between her fingers and prepared to smack a ball when Josh stopped her.

"Greenlee, sweetie, when's the last time you played pool?"

"Oh I don't know, not since we were teenagers I guess. Why?"

"Because you're holding the cue backwards."

Greenlee blinked, looking at the stick in her hand. She set it down.

"I never cared for the game anyway."

She pulled a stool out from a corner and sat down on it, deciding to watch the boys. After a couple games of pool, some chit-chatting, a few good laughs, and a good night kiss on the cheek from Andrew, Greenlee finally went to bed.

That night she dreamt about Andrew. They were in Italy together, gently cruising across a lake in a fancy boat, enjoying dinner under the moonlight. A beautiful diamond ring was on Greenlee's finger, and she was wearing the most expensive and galmourus dress she could imagine. She stared across the table into his eyes.

"Ask me anything," he said suddenly, "anything at all."

Greenlee bit her lip. She looked out at the lake. This was too familiar, where had she heard that before? She turned back to Andrew, but to her horror, her ex-fiancée had taken his place. He was staring back at her with those same old eyes, those eyes Greenlee remembered so vividly.

"Ask me anything." He said.

Greenlee woke up. Her heart was racing.

Early the next morning, the entire family was crowded around the table for breakfast. Greenlee yawned as she sat down next to her cousins, looking over all the delicious food. There were big plates stacked high with pancakes, waffles, toast, and bacon. There was a big bowl filled with scrambled eggs, and lots of fresh fruit. Greenlee noticed all her girl cousins were sitting on one end of the table, and all the guys were on the other. Andrew was sitting up near the head of table, next to his father, discussing something or other with the men.

"Greenlee!" One of her cousins suddenly sat down next to her. "All the girls and I are going shopping after breakfast, want to come?"

"All the girls?" Greenlee asked, still gazing at Andrew.

"Yeah, Annie, Amy, Jacky, Olivia, Mady, Samara and me."

Greenlee bit her lip and turned to her cousin. That was just about the last thing she wanted to do. Susie walked up just then, she was carrying four little plates.

"What about you, Susie? Are you going shopping with the girls?"

"Oh I can't go," She said, "what would I do with all these kids?"

She put a strawberry onto one of the plates, which caused her oldest son Alex to pitch a fit.

"I don't like strawberries, mommy!"

"You can't just eat waffles, you have to have something healthy."

"No!" He screamed

"ONE strawberry, that's all I ask!"

Teresa tapped Greenlee's shoulder.

"So are you gonna come?"

"Oh. . . no, no I don't think so."

"But it'll be fun! We'll go to all the best places in New York, and afterwards we'll go out for lunch!"

"I've already made plans for today, but thanks for inviting me."

"Come on, Greens!" Amy piped in from across the table, "Remember all those shopping trips we used to take? Spending all our dad's money."

"Yeah, I spend my own money now." Greenlee said, she stood up and turned to Susie.

"Let me help you with that," She took one of the plates.

"What do you want, Becky?"

"Toast!" The three year old squealed. Greenlee put some toast and mixed fruits on the plate, then set it down in front of Becky.

"There you go, sweetie."

She glanced behind her, Teresa and Amy had gone back to their seats.

"Thanks Greenlee," Susie sighed, "normally I wouldn't be so stressed out, but with Grandma and Jim's mother watching my every move, I feel so nervous."

"I know, my cousin Yvonne goes through the same thing. She has two of the wildest little boys, you should hear my Grandma go off on her about how she needs to get them under control." Greenlee said.

"Well at least it's not just me. " Susie rolled her eyes, "You know, I'd really like to set these kids lose in that big maze your father has in the backyard. That'd keep them out of my hair for awhile."

Greenlee laughed, "I think they're planning on letting everyone lose in there tomorrow, they're going to make teams and the first team out wins a prize. Isn't that stupid?"

"It's not stupid if Jim takes all the kids while I take a nap." Susie grinned.

"You'll have to get him away from Josh first," Greenlee glanced at James and Josh, they were sitting next to each other. "Have you noticed how inseparable they've been the passed two days?"

"Mom, I can't cut up my waffle!" Alex whined.

"Yeah," Susie said to Greenlee, taking her sons plate. "It's kind of weird."

She sliced Alex's waffle, then handed his plate back.

"Susie," Greenlee said, "why don't you and I take the kids out today?"

"Are you crazy?" Susie reached over to Michael, rolling up his sleeves that were almost drenched in syrup. "I can't take these kids anywhere!"

"Have you ever been to Dylan's Candy Bar?" Greenlee asked, "The walls are literally made out of chocolate, and you can color your own M&M's any color you want. The kids would absolutely love it, and there's going to be a million other kids there, so they can be as loud or wild as they want. My treat?"

"I wanna go mom!" Alex yelled.

"Me too!" Michael said.

"Me too, mommy!" Becky chimed in.

Susie smiled and shook her head at Greenlee, "Alright. . .sounds like fun."