Chapter 17: The Family of the Year

JUNE 26, 1980

AVALON, CA

"Oh, my God! That was amazing. The water was so clear and there were so many cool fish!" Kirsten exclaimed as she climbed back onto the boat.

"I know! It was really great! I'm glad we finally got to do this afternoon of snorkeling," Jimmy said as he followed her.

"Well, I guess my two-week grounding coupled with finals didn't really help, but now it's summer!" Kirsten said excitedly. "We're finally done with junior year…I can't believe we're going to be seniors now!"

"I know! It's crazy…this year went by so fast," Jimmy replied.

"Yeah…I did," Kirsten mulled. "Definitely had its ups and downs…but overall, definitely a good one," she said and kissed him.

Jimmy continued kissing her and mumbled, "Definitely good."

Eventually the kiss broke and Jimmy said, "We should probably start heading back to Newport if we want to make it back by dinner time."

"Yeah, probably should…especially since I'm at least attempting to stay on my dad's good side these days…so I don't get grounded again," Kirsten told him.

"Oh, yeah, speaking of which, congratulations!" Jimmy told her.

"Congratulations?" Kirsten asked, having absolutely no idea about what he was congratulating her for.

"Have you looked in Riviera Magazine lately? Your family was chosen as 'The Family of the Year.' My mom said there's a party at your house on Saturday for it," Jimmy informed her.

Kirsten started laughing and said, "How the hell did that happen? How is my family 'The Family of the Year'? And how did I not even know?"

Jimmy shrugged and said, "You are the Nichols. What better family?"

Kirsten let out a 'Ha!' and said, "Do you have any idea how screwed up my family is? I mean, my father is a workaholic and a ruthless businessman. My mom, as good a person she is, has issues. My seven-year old sister is probably corrupted to the age of a teenager. And me, I mean I don't even know where to begin…"

"Well, to me, you are perfect," Jimmy said and gave her a quick kiss. "And besides, whose family isn't dysfunctional?"

"I guess," Kirsten agreed. And with that, Jimmy started up the motor of the speed boat and started driving towards Newport, while Kirsten thought, Just nobody seems to idolize other people's dysfunctional families…

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JUNE 28, 1980

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

It was a beautiful morning, but to Kirsten's dismay, the morning of 'The Family of the Year' party. It made her want to vomit. These people will take any excuse to throw one of these parties, she thought.

She stared at the cover of Riviera Magazine, at the family picture of the Nichols taken at their Christmas party last year, and read, 'Honoring the Family of the Year: The Nichol Family.'

Kirsten opened the magazine and read the first lines of 'The Family of the Year' article. 'It's safe to say that when people think of the ideal family of Newport Beach, their minds immediately go to the Nichol Family. Powerful CEO Caleb Nichol along with his gorgeous and charitable wife, Katherine, and his two beautiful daughters, seventeen-year-old Kirsten, who will be a senior in the fall at Harbor High School, and seven-year-old Hailey, who will begin second grade in September, comprise this year's 'Family of the Year'. Though many people cannot remember a time when Caleb Nichol wasn't one of the most commanding people in the community, he rose from humble beginnings. Upon graduating from college, Caleb married Bostonian socialite Katherine Patterson, and the couple moved out west to Southern California with almost nothing. But Caleb Nichol's smart business sense has led him to found and become the CEO of The Newport Group, one of the biggest and most influential development companies on the west coast…'

The article continued on, giving a miniature life story of the Nichols. Kirsten had already read it once and really didn't feel like reading the rest of it again. Although it was all true, it seemed like everything was sugar-coated to Kirsten. That there were no flaws, no hard times for the family. That everything was perfect all the time. I guess when you are the family of the year, everything should be perfect, right?

Kirsten left her room to go downstairs to get some breakfast, but stopped right next to her father's office when she heard him yelling into the phone.

"No! This cannot wait until Monday. It must get done now, Shaun!" Caleb yelled into his office phone. "This deal needs to happen! And I mean by any means necessary!"

Kirsten sighed. 'By any means necessary' sounded a bit suspicious. She wasn't dumb, though. She knew that her father didn't get where he was by being a nice guy. She tried to get a bit closer to the door to listen better, but her feet got tangled up in her slippers and she ended up on the floor directly in front of the open door with a thud.

"Hold on a second," Caleb said into the phone. He looked over at his daughter on the floor and said, "Kirsten, come in and sit."

Kirsten reluctantly entered her father's office and sat at a chair in front of his desk, while Caleb continued on the phone.

"Like I said, by any means…I want to hear back from you by this afternoon. And the deal better be done." Caleb said and hung up the phone.

"Kiki," he said, turning to his daughter. "Do you enjoy eavesdropping on my conversations?"

Kirsten rolled her eyes and said, "Well I couldn't help but overhear that you are closing another one of your shady deals."

"You are way out of line, Kirsten!" Caleb raised his voice.

"I'm not stupid, Dad. You would think though that the head of 'The Family of the Year' would spend a little more time worrying about his family that some illegal business deal. Like how in the past year Mom has been drinking too much…way more that she ever did before," Kirsten stated firmly.

"I've had just about enough of this, Kiki!" Caleb was now yelling.

Kirsten stood up and said, "The only reason why you are getting so upset is because you know it's true. Just give that some thought…"

"Kirsten!" Caleb yelled at her, but she walked out of the room without turning around and went downstairs.

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"Okay, now just a few more shots," said the cameraman of Riviera Magazine. "Very nice, very nice," he continued as he snapped the camera. "Okay, all done. And congratulations again."

The fake smile that had been plastered on her face for the last 15 minutes for Riviera Magazine's 'The Family of the Year' photo shoot immediately left once the cameraman was done, and she walked away from her family members without a word. She saw Jimmy in the distance and formed a slight smile on her face as she approached him.

"Hey, you," she said as she hugged him and then gave him a kiss.

"Hey…so how are you holding up with this party…it seems pretty uneventful," Jimmy asked.

"The party's going okay, I guess…but things with my dad, not so good," Kirsten told him.

"What happened?" Jimmy inquired.

"Well, I got into a fight with him this morning…I overheard him talking to my Uncle Shaun, who's not really my uncle, just an old friend of my dad's who works for The Newport Group…but anyway, it sounded like some shady deal was going down…he caught be listening to him and then I yelled at him for not paying enough attention to our family…I think I might be grounded again," Kirsten sighed.

Jimmy wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I'm sorry, Kirst."

Kirsten smiled as they ended the hug, but Jimmy still kept his arm around her, and said, "It's okay. It's not like it hasn't happened before…but it does make it a little hard to pretend to be the perfect little family

The couple stood in silence, with Jimmy's arm still wrapped firmly around Kirsten and pulling her close to him. Kirsten glanced across the backyard and saw her father talking to Uncle Shaun. Probably making sure he wraps up his dishonest deal on time, she thought.

"So Shaun…everything set?" Caleb asked him.

"Yeah, the deal is done…but I'm going to tell you…Robert Sanders is not going to be happy," Shaun told him.

"Well, we knew that going in, didn't we? The important thing is that it's done and I can enjoy my party," Caleb said as he sipped his merlot.

A moment later, Caleb felt a hand grab his shoulder. He turned around and said, "Ah, Robert, how are-"

"You son of a bitch!" Robert yelled out and punched Caleb squarely in the jaw. "You screwed me!" he exclaimed and punched Caleb again, this time in the nose and sent him flying back into the pool.

"Daddy!" Hailey screamed out in response to her father flying back into the pool.

"Hey, man, take it easy," a man said as he tried to restrain Robert Sanders along with another man. "You better get out of here now. Before the cops show up."

Across the pool, Jimmy and Kirsten witnessed the entire thing. "Oh my God!" Kirsten exclaimed.

"Well, this is new," Jimmy said in response to the scene.

"As much as it added excitement to the party, let's hope it doesn't become a regular occurrence," Kirsten replied and walked over to help her family.

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Kirsten knocked softly on her parent's door and entered when she heard her father say, "Come in."

"Kiki," he said, somewhat surprised. Caleb's face was already forming bruises and he was holding and ice pack to it to try to prevent swelling.

"Hey Dad…how are you feeling?" Kirsten asked.

"As well as expected, but don't worry, it's not too bad," Caleb replied.

"Listen, Dad…about this afternoon, I just wanted to apologize…I-" Kirsten started before getting cut off.

"Kirsten…you don't have to apologize…you were right…and I hope I can put your mind at ease by telling you that I plan to have a talk with your mother…I'm just not into the whole therapy…I want to try to work it out at home," Caleb explained.

Kirsten smiled and then went over and did something it seemed like she hadn't done in a long time. She hugged her dad. And not just one of those quick hugs, but a real hug. When she pulled back, she said sincerely, "Thanks, Dad. It really means a lot to me."

Caleb smiled warmly at his daughter, and then said, "I think I'm going to get some sleep now…it's been an eventful evening…see you tomorrow, Kiki."

"Good night, Dad," Kirsten said as she left the room. Maybe things will be different now…I can only hope, she thought.

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