A Stamford Christmas Carol pt 7

Greenwich...

"I'm sorry I didn't eat anything at the lunch, Steph, but I wasn't hungry." Trips apologized as they drove through the snow in their Escalade. "There's a diner up here, we can stop."

"You can't eat my parent's food, but you can eat at a crappy diner on the side of the road. You're really something." She spat and looked away out her window. She stayed where she was when Trips went inside to get his food.

"I'll take that to go. I'll be back in a minute. I need to use the men's room." He walked into the restroom and stood at the urinal to do his business when the lights went out. "What the hell?"

"Pauly?"

"Who's there? Look, a men's room isn't the most polite place to ask for an autograph, pal." He was getting nervous.

"I don't want an autograph, Pauly. We have some business to take care of." The door to one of the stalls swung open and an enormous figure stepped out in a long, red, velvet robe. "I'm going to show you what's going on out in the real world this Christmas. The Christmas present."

"Andre'? Now I know I hit my head too hard."

"Don't be scared, I won't hurt you. Just do what I tell you." He smiled and transported them to the parking lot outside the diner. "Stephanie. She was like a daughter to me and look how hurt she is. I should hurt you for that, but I won't."

"I know daddy, I'm sorry. He wasn't feeling well this morning, but I made him come along anyway. I'll make sure he eats something and gets some rest."

"She cares for you, but you don't care back. She's a sweet girl, so why would you hurt her the way you do?"

"I never laid a hand on her! I'd never hit a woman!"

"You don't have to hurt her physically. You have done enough to her emotionally and mentally to last a lifetime, Pauly."

Trips bit his lip in frustration. "Can we see something else?"

"Of course. Let's go south, where it's warmer. I don't like the cold." Within a few seconds, they were standing on the back porch of a brand new house in the pine forests of North Carolina.

"Where are we? Appalachia? I don't like the whole Deliverance thing, Andre'."

"Get a grip. We're in the rural south. Some people call this home. Yes, Pauly, home is not always a mansion with servants and 20 rooms. Look inside of things more often, instead of just the outside. There's so much more to enjoy."

Trips nodded and walked through the glass doors into the living room. "I guess it's not a bad place. Kind of cozy."

"Put the star on it, Shan. Then light the whole thing when you're done. It makes the whole idea more flashy." Matt smiled from the couch where he sat wrapping presents with his leg up on the coffee table. "Put these under it. I want everything to be nice when she comes home."

"It will be, Matt. She's gonna love it. Where was she when she called?" Shane asked. He was on the floor trying to operate the digital camera.

"She was somewhere over Kentucky, so she'll be here soon. I really need her here with me." He added the last part so the other guys could barely hear him. "With Jeff away at our Grandparent's house and Dad at aunt Sally's, there's no family around."

"No family? What the hell are we then? You know, I have relatives, too. Lots of them, but I'm here with your broken-legged ass trying to be a good friend!" Shan yelled. "Like it or not, we are family and we have been since we were kids. So deal with it, or I'll break your other leg." He chuckled.

"I think you had enough egg nog, Shan. Is that a car?" he perked up and tried to see out the window.

"What's she doing home? She's supposed to be in Missouri!" Trips exclaimed. "I'm gonna have her ass on Monday."

"Calm down and just watch." Andre' smiled.

"Hello? Anybody home?" Amy yelled from the front walk. She dragged her luggage in and dropped it in the hall. "Matt?"

"AMY!" Shan and Shane yelled happily as they ran and hugged her. "We missed you!"

"You saw me 2 days ago. Get a grip guys. Where's Matt?"

"He's in the living room. We'll get your bags."

"Amy? I'm in here!" He smiled when she came into the room. "Come here?"

She fell on the couch beside him and showered him with hugs and kisses. "I thought I was going to miss Christmas. I couldn't stand the thought of not being home tonight."

"How did you get here so soon?" He helped her out of her coat and gloves.

"I was a naughty girl. I skipped the animal shelter. Their gonna get mad, but if I stayed, I would have been snowed in and there were no rooms in the hotels." She shrugged.

"SHE WHAT? She knew where she was supposed to be!"

"Can't you shut up for a minute? Something special is about to happen."

"Come in the kitchen and eat. We made lots of food." Matt smiled and hopped along behind her with Shannon and Shane. "Sit here."

"It feels so good to be home for the first Christmas in our new house. I haven't had a real holiday in my own house since I was a little girl. Thank you guys so much for this." She smiled brightly and looked around at the food and the lights.

After the main course was finished, Matt waved to Shannon to get something from the fridge. "Ah, I know we have pie and all, but I made you something this morning." He smiled. "Your favorite."

"This is boring, Andre'"

"I know I said I wouldn't hurt you, but I swear, I will if you don't shut up Pauly."

"Matt, you made me strawberry shortcake? Why? You shouldn't be standing up on your leg. It looks perfect." She was so amazed by the dessert, she didn't realize the other guys had left the room.

"It's perfect, like you. Take a big bite and just enjoy the moment."

She nodded and broke off a big piece with her fork. "Mhh, something…"

"What?"

She spit out the piece in her napkin. "There's something hard in it. I hurt my tooth."

"What was it?" he looked through the half chewed food while she checked her front teeth for chips in the reflection of a knife. "I found it."

"You did? What was it?" When she looked back at him, he was on his good knee holding a cake coated ring out to her. "Matty?"

To be continued...