A/N: I WAS GOING TO SKIP RIGHT TO THE GROUP IN LAS VEGAS BUT I DECIDED TO ADD A LITTLE CHIRSTMAS CHAPTER, SO HERE GOES. I DO NOT OWN JORDAN OR ELVIS, BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT. ENJOY!
CHAPTER 3: BLUE CHRISTMAS
TWO DAYS LATER
"I can't believe it, this is the first Christmas I'm spending without my parents.", Dolly sighed to Nigel. "I'm sure they'll be here Luv.", Nigel said in a comforting tone. "I haven't talked to my mom since I told her about the wedding. And last night when I talked to my dad, he was trying to exchange their plane tickets so they could be here, next week, for the trips to Las Vegas.", she replied with teary eyes. Within seconds, Dolly was sobbing in Nigel's arms.
Woody and Jordan were watching the scene unfold from the other side of the room. "I can't take this anymore. There's gotta be something we can do to fix this.", Woody stated, heading for the kitchen. "Hold it Farm boy.", Jordan muttered, standing in front of him, blocking his path. "Just what are you planning to do Woods, she asked in a demanding tone, standing over him with her hands on her hips. "Something I should have done two days ago.", he smirked, maneuvering around her to the kitchen.
The next day was Christmas day. Early that afternoon, after mass at St. Inez, the Hoyts gathered at Max's house for Christmas dinner. Jordan, Dolly and Colleen were preparing the food in the kitchen, while Max, Woody, Nigel and Cal tried to keep the rambunctious babies busy, in the living room, with the new toys they had received as gifts. "Mass was beautiful, I'm glad the babies behaved. Except for Colin's huge burp during the Gospel. He's so much like his father.", Colleen laughed. Jordan chuckled along with her sister-in-law, but Dolly was silent, meticulously placing the marshmallows on the sweet potato casserole. Jordan gave Colleen a concerned look.
"So, did you here anything?", Jordan whispered to Woody as he tried to sneak some baby food into Millie, alternating between that and real potatoes. She was starting to figure that out and would clench her mouth shut as soon as the baby food filled spoon came anywhere near her mouth. "Nope, not a word.", he replied, passing the turkey to his wife, then looking over at his sullen cousin, picking at her plate of food. "Uncle Charlie said he'd try, but it is Christmas day, and my aunt is still upset.", Woody added with a shrug. Just then the doorbell rang.
The group quickly deserted the dinning room and followed Max to the door. There, standing on the other side of the door, were Betty, Charlie and Betty's mother, Mae. "Mom, Dad, Nana.", Dolly exclaimed. Hugging them all. "How, I mean.…I thought…", she rambled. "A little elf called and told us how miserable you'd be if we didn't spend Christmas together, so we came.", Betty exclaimed with a smile, then kissing her daughter and eyeing a 'thank you' at Woody. Dolly smiled through her tears and looked over at Nigel. He shook his head and shrugged and immediately Dolly knew who was behind this surprise. She smiled brightly, through her tears at her cousin, Woody smiled back and nodded to her, a 'your welcome'.
"I thought you didn't want to come for Christmas because you were angry with me and Nigel.", Dolly said, helping Nana with her coat. "Sweet pea, we're not mad at you two. I admit, I was very surprised and a little disappointed, but I was never angry.", Aunt Betty explained. Dolly hung her head down. "This just wasn't the way I expected my daughters, my only child's, wedding would be.", Aunt Betty confided. "But if this is what you both want, and you two are happy, then I'm happy too. ", she added, hugging Dolly tightly.
"How 'bout a nice big glass of eggnog, Nana Mae.", Woody offered, trying to get the group back into the dinning room to give Betty and Dolly some time to talk. "Dinner's getting cold.", Max added. "You read my mind Woodrow.", she chuckled, pinching his and Cal's cheek. "Ah, my boys.", Mae smiled, leading the group into the other room. Charlie stayed back , and sat on the couch with his wife and daughter. "I'm so glad you're both here...and Nana.", Dolly stated, squeezing her parents hands.
"You're her yougest grandchild. She wouldn't miss this for the world.", Betty reminded Dolly. "You know, Uncle Jack and Aunt M...", she continued. "Mom." "Betty", Dolly and Charlie interrupted in unison. "I'm sorry, it's just...the family...our friends. I've had so many dreams on how your wedding would be; shopping for flowers, choosing a caterer, inteviewing bands, a traditional ceremony at St. Mary's with Father Lawrence presiding. He's always been there for our family, he married Dad and I, baptized you, gave you your first Communion, Confirmed you.", Betty sighed at the memories.
"He did all that for Woody and Cal, he even burried Aunt Beverly and Uncle Marty and they didn't come back to Kewanee to get married.", Dolly mumbled under her breath, sounding much more like a ten year old than she had intended to. "Your right, Honey. This is your wedding and it will be beautiful. It's just everything is paid for and already planned, I wish there was something special I could do with you.", Betty replied sadly. "Well there are a few things I need to decide on when we get there...and I still don't have a dress.", Dolly stated. Betty immediatly pulled Dolly into a hug. Charlie smiled at his daughter and gave her an approving wink.
