Emador- (Clam down). Glad you caught the semi-naughty joke! LOL You'll just have to wait and see. Loved your review!
Lia06- She loves Jimmy. No you can't have him; Georgia won't let you! LOL
Klinoa- Awww, I liked Luke (I have a soft spot for dark haired men!). I am glad you like Georgia!
Anmerie- (I need a tissue.) I almost cried reading your review! You like totally hit on everything I want people to see about Georgia and Jimmy as a couple. Thank you so much for your review!
Miraclegirl- Yeah, Georgia is very smart! LOL And she loves Jimmy a lot!
BellaLou- She is a sweetie, isn't she? LOL But Georgy is a little concerned that you said a man's body can't handle strenuous activity! (wink) Yay, a new fan! Hi BellaLou's boyfriend. (He denies liking my story, like OC denies liking 'Dallas' in 'Do You Believe in Miracles?') Keep making him read it! LOL
Darkdestiney2000- Like honey, LOL.
Nascarchick- You'll see it soon1
Nikkd03- I wanted to show how much Georgia loves Jimmy. Gift exchange is a few chapters away!
Meadow567- Here's your update!
Killerkeanegirl- Wow, Georgia has all kinds of admirers, LOL. Loved your cough! When I watch CSI:NY, I call him 'hunny'! LOL
Milwaukee, WIIHL All-Stars Vs. USA
I sat in the locker room following the game, we had won, but I wasn't happy. Tim Harrer had scored a goal and Herb all but drooled on the kid. Rizzo looked completely dejected. All I could think is Herb is going to send Rizzo home and ruin the guy's Christmas. 'Ho ho ho, you got to go, go, go!' I thought and sighed in frustration.
"Georgy, are you okay? You're making a terrible face." Mac asked walking into the back room where I was.
"Mac, you know that as a person I like Harrer. I know you feel the same way. But he doesn't belong on this team." I said.
"I know, I totally agree." Mac said and hopped up on the table next to me.
"Last week, when Herb threatened to cut Rizzo in front of the entire team, it took every bit of strength in me not to beat Herb with his own stick." I said.
Mac chuckled. "You did mean hockey stick right?" Mac asked.
I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Yes, I meant hockey stick. Do you honestly think that when I have the hottest guy ever to come out of Massachusetts that I am going to chase some bull-headed old married man?"
"Don't let OC hear you say that someone other than him is the hottest guy to ever come out of Massachusetts." Mac said with a smile.
"In all seriousness, Harrer being here is affecting the team. It's like now everyone has a cloud over them or something. And Harrer has to be about as comfortable as a preacher's wife in Alabama wearing a girdle at an all you can eat pancake breakfast." I said.
"That's it, no more 'Hee Haw' for you." Mac said. "But I know what you mean."
"Has anyone thought of trying to talk to Herb? You know tell him that the team doesn't think this is fair. What about Coach Patrick? Craig is always more sensitive and receptive than Herb." I said.
"And what would we say to Herb? We don't think this is fair because now you'll send two of our friends home?" Mac said.
"Well I certainly don't think it's fair that everyone's parents are buying tickets and reserving hotel rooms that they might not get to use." I said. "Oh lord what if Jimmy gets cut?"
"Chances of that are slim. Jim's game is really coming together. Besides, who would we stick in goal if we cut Jimmy and then Janny gets hurt? Doc?" Mac said and we both cracked up.
"I still say someone should talk to Herb, or Craig." I said. "I would but Herb would say that I just don't want to be separated from my boyfriend."
"Maybe we should talk to them. I mean Herb can't do no more than tell us all to 'Fuck off' right?" Mac said.
"Probably wouldn't be the first time." I said.
When we loaded the bus, I took a seat next to Jim. He kissed my cheek.
"What are Mac, Rizzo, OC and Johnson up to?" he asked.
"What? I dunno, what are they doing?" I asked.
"They pulled Coach Patrick aside while we were loading bags and said they had to talk to him right away it was important. All five of them are standing in front of the bus." Jim said.
I lowered my voice so just Jim could hear, "Mac said that he was going to talk to the coaches about how everyone felt about Harrer being here." I said.
"Think Herb will listen?" Jim whispered.
"Only if we hog-tie him and threaten to throw him in a lake." I said.
We watched as Craig Patrick got on the bus and a few seconds later Herb followed him off the bus.
"Remind me when we get to the hotel, I want to call Pop and make sure he got the money I sent. I wanted him to have it in plenty of time to shop for the boys." Jim said.
"Oh sure thing." I said. Silently I wondered if my package had arrived yet. "How's he doing?"
"Last time I talked to him, he was a little stressed out. Money is really tight. Bills to pay, the holidays coming up, and getting his tickets and hotel room for the Olympics." Jim said.
"And you're brothers?" I asked.
"Romeo got on the phone the other night telling me all about his Juliet." Jim said. "8th grade romance is such steamy stuff, don't you know?"
"He must be cute like you if he has such a big romance." I said with a laugh.
"He thinks he's Casanova." Jim said.
"He sounds cute." I said.
"Don't tell him that, his ego is getting out of hand as it is." Jim said with a laugh.
I giggled and entwined my fingers with Jim's. I smiled up at him, so happy to just be with him, even if it was just sitting on a bus.
A few minutes later, Herb and Coach Patrick got on the bus. Moments later, Mac, Rizzo, OC and Johnson. Their faces gave no indication as to how the talk had gone. The bus pulled out and headed towards our hotel.
I walked into Jim's hotel room with him. I had my own room, but wanted to spend some time with Jim.
"I'm going to go ahead and call Pop." Jim said.
"Go ahead. Tell him I said hi." I told Jim and sat down.
Jim picked up the phone and called his dad. I sat quietly while flipping through the hotel menu.
"Hey Pop, how are you?" Jim said. "I'm okay, we won tonight………..Yeah, Georgia is good too, she says hi………did you get the money I sent you?...really what did it say?...oh really."
There was a knock at the door. I got up to answer it. I opened the door and saw Mac standing there.
"Hey Mac, what's up?" I asked.
"Herb is going to send Harrer home." Mac said.
"How did you accomplish that?" I asked amazed as I hugged Mac.
"Well, we didn't think we would, Herb was determined that Harrer was what we needed. But then Johnson told Herb that we were a family. Herb understood that and said he would send Harrer home." Mac said. Happiness flooded through me.
"He told Herb we're a family? I never saw it like that before but we are." I said and started to laugh. "We're a family!"
I leaped into Mac's arms laughing and crying. We were a family. I had 20 brothers and a boyfriend. My father and two coaches that were like uncles to me. I hugged Mac tight.
Jim walked over to us. "This something I need to be jealous of?" Jim asked with a smile.
"She may be your girlfriend, but she is my wife." Mac told him.
"Herb is sending Harrer home." I said.
"Well that is good. At least now things will be fair." Jim said.
"Well, I'll leave you guys alone. I just wanted to tell Georgy that Harrer was going home. I'll see you in the morning." Mac said.
Jim and I stepped back into his room and shut the door.
"How are things at home?" I asked Jim.
"Good, strange thing happened though." Jim said as we sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Are the boys okay?" I asked.
"Everyone is fine. It seems my family has a secret Santa." Jim said.
"Oh really?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.
"Yeah, yesterday Pop got a package and in it was a bunch of presents marked for my brothers all from 'Santa'. And there was a card for my dad with 200 cash in it, telling him to use it as he needed and wishing my family Happy Holidays." Jim said.
"Really?" I said, feigning surprise.
"Georgia Grace, you can stop I know it was you." Jim said.
"Me?" I asked still pretending to be innocent.
"Georgia, you bought those clothes for my brothers. That's why you had me pick out their sizes. You sent that money to my dad, which is why you needed to stop at the bank." Jim said.
I smiled and looked down. But Jim put his fingers under my chin and made me look at him. "You may not have the stealth skills of James Bond, but you have the heart and soul of an angel." Jim said and leaned forward to kiss me.
"How did you know it was me?" I asked.
"Well, first of all the package was postmarked Minneapolis. And everything just added up." Jim said.
"Did you tell your dad it was me?" I asked.
"No, he is just so happy." Jim said and took my hand. "Because of you, my brothers will have gifts under the tree for Christmas morning, all the bills are paid, and dad will be able to have a family Christmas dinner."
I started to cry. "I am so glad. I wanted them to be happy for Christmas. I know that you're dad lost his job and has had a rough time and you're not there…" I said and Jim pulled me into his arms.
"Georgy, I wish you could have heard him. He was so thrilled and excited. He didn't think he would be able to give the boys a good Christmas this year, and now that he can…he was just out of this world excited." Jim said. "And now I feel better because I was so worried about them. Whatever made you go to all this trouble?"
I looked at Jim. "It was no trouble at all. It was the least I could do for the family of the man I love." I said and gently touched his face. "You and I are in this together, everything. And when I can do something to help you or your family, I am going to do it. Just as I know you would do the same for me and mine."
Jim nodded. "I love you so much." Jim said and kissed me softly. "You are the most amazing woman. I have never met anyone so generous and gentle and good-hearted and beautiful, inside and out as you."
I leaned over and kissed Jim again. "I love you too." I told him.
