Thank you so much for the reviews and I hope this chapter will be as good as the last.
…And a Happy New Year!
"What do you mean your going home?" Her mother asked in shock.
"I'm going to go spend Christmas with daddy." Annabelle said now zipping her bags.
"And how are you going to get there? You don't have a plane ticket."
"Yes I do!" Annabelle said waving the ticket in front of her mother. "Mr. and Mrs. O'Callahan bought it for me as a 'just in case'."
"They don't have the right to give that to you."
"They gave it to me as a Christmas gift. Besides I can come a spend Christmas with you guys as much as I want, but right now I'm wanting to spend Christmas with daddy."
"He put you up to this didn't he?" She asked angrily.
"Mom, daddy doesn't put me up to anything ok?" Annabelle said and set her bags down on the floor. "I just want to spend a Christmas with him since you never let him have us after the divorce. Besides I'm an adult now so I can make my own choices. Grace understands perfectly and wishes that she could go with me."
"I know the reason! The O'Callahan's gave you that ticket so you can hook up with they're son. Am I right?" She demanded.
"If they did want that, then they didn't have to waste they're money. Mom I've loved Jack ever since we moved to this neighborhood, and to tell you the truth, I don't think I could live without Jack." With that Annabelle picked up her suitcases and walked out to awaiting taxi.
Her mother followed her out the door trying to get her to reconsider her choices. Annabelle didn't budge and with the help of the taxi driver, put her suit case in the trunk. She looked at her mother one more time and smiled before shutting the door. The taxi drove off in the slushy snow until her mother couldn't see her anymore.
Jack woke up the next morning to Jimmy's snoring. He walked to the small kitchen and looked out the window. A fresh blanket of snow had fallen over night.
"A white Christmas." Jack whispered. He started to coffee maker to wake himself up. He called his parents the other night to wish them a 'Merry Christmas' and also to find out from them if they heard or seen Annabelle. The answer was something he didn't really want to hear, but he guessed Annabelle would probably be back at her dorm. He walked back to his dresser and pulled on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt before walking down to Annabelle's dorm. He knocked a few times, but no answer came, he knocked a second time, but still no answer. He was about to knock a third time, except Craig came out of his room across from Annabelle's.
"Hey O.C. what're you doing outside AB's room?" he asked tiredly.
"I was trying to see if she was back. The team and I didn't see after the second period of the game the other day, and I just wanted to see if she was ok." Jack said quickly getting embarrassed standing outside her room.
"I might as well tell you that AB went home yesterday for Christmas, but she'll be back before New Years."
"Went home for Christmas! How come she never told us?" Jack asked in disbelief.
"She didn't want you guys to be bummed that she left for about a week, so she just left during the game. Also with yelling at Herb, which I know you heard she had to leave immediately." Craig explained.
"She's still with the team right?" Jack asked worriedly.
"As far as I know of." Craig said and looked at Jack seeing something differently about him. "You love Annabelle don't you?"
Jack was shocked at first and just stared at him for a few seconds. "Yeah I guess I do. I've loved her since high school."
"No wonder she speaks of you differently. Look Jack I understand that you love her, but please don't let this get in the way of your game."
"It hasn't and it won't. I swear coach." Jack said seriously. Craig nodded and walked back into his dorm. Jack looked into space trying to figure out how this all happened and why he just spilled the beans to his coach, let alone, Annabelle's dad.
Jack walked back into his dorm and saw Jimmy still asleep. The coffee was done so Jack filled his cup and sat down at the little table. He contemplated over his choice of telling Annabelle straight out at Lake Placid how he felt, or wait until after the games when he knew he had time to think the final things over. He was snapped back into reality with Jimmy's loud snore, Jack then threw a small soft pillow near-by at him. The pillow landed on its target, Jimmy's head, Jimmy let out a loud snort and woke up.
"Why'd you do that?" Jimmy asked sleepily. "We don't have practice today."
"That's right sleeping beauty we don't, but I can't stand it when you sound like a bear." Jack said and took a sip of his coffee.
"So what are you doing up at this hour? I thought you would sleep in after all the drills and practices that Herb puts on us."
"I went to see if Annabelle was back yet, and found out from her dad that she is in Boston. She left yesterday during our game."
"Was Herb behind it?" Jimmy asked a little worried.
"No, Annabelle had it all planned out, but didn't want to tell us." Jack said and looked at his stemming cup of coffee. Jimmy looked at Jack and saw something else that he didn't say.
"O.C. what else happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Something else happened so spill."
"When I went over to find out if Annabelle had returned, Craig saw me over there. We started talking and that's when he told me that she was home for a week. Then he asked the question that I wished I never answered." Jack stopped and looked at Jimmy. "He asked if I loved Annabelle and I said yes. Craig took it very well considering it was a ground rule that no one can date her, but I guess he knew that we have a different friendship then any other person on this team." Jimmy nodded and smiled.
"Well just be grateful that he didn't skin ya for liking his daughter and admitting it up front." Jimmy said and walked to the bathroom.
Jack chuckled and continued sipping his coffee. Before he could go to the bathroom after Jimmy came out, Jack answered the door to find Buzzy there.
"Hey Buzzy what's up?"
"Doc wanted me to tell you that he and his wife are having Christmas dinner over at they're place tonight so the whole hockey team is invited."
"Sounds like fun. We'll be there." Jack said and watched as Buzzy went down to the other door to tell the news.
Annabelle was on her flight just becoming more nervous by the minute. What she really wanted was to jump in Jack's arms and kiss him and tell him without hesitation, even if Herb and her dad were there, that she loved him. Already she dodged the bullet with Andrew, just the thought of being around him again, made her want Rizzo, Jimmy, and Silk back up there to help her hang him from a locker. In the short amount of hours that she was gone, she already missed the team. Annabelle looked down at her watch and saw that it was almost one in the afternoon, the team might have practice, but she didn't remember ever asking Herb if he wanted practice at all.
Jack sat in the common room with the team. There wasn't that much talk going around, but what small talk they had was about the up coming games against the Soviet Union.
"Do you think we'll even get a chance at beating them?" Neal Broton asked.
"Sure we will. Hell with all this training we better. I'm not about to do anymore hour worth of Herbies." Mike Ramsey said.
"I second that." Steve Janaszak said.
"You know I would go to the bar, but I'm not up to going out." Coxie said.
"Why? Herb wearing you out?" Silky asked with a slight challenge.
"Oh come on guys don't do this now. We're gonna be leaving in a couple of hours to Docs and you guys don't need to be piss-out drunk." Rizzo said.
"Fine, but on New Years Eve, we're drinking until one of us passes out." Coxie said.
"What's the catch?" Buzzy asked.
"If I pass out before Silky, I'll do an hour worth of Herbies." Coxie said even though he really didn't want to.
"Then I'll do the same if I pass out." Silky said and they shook on the bet.
"This'll be good." Mark whispered to Wells.
"Great dinner Velta. I really enjoyed it." Herb said setting his plate in the sink.
"It was my pleasure Herb. After all you, Craig, and my husband have been working none stop with this team, I have to do something."
"Thanks."
Velta watched as the team ate two turkeys and had uncountable side dishes on mashed potatoes, vegetables, and home made cookies. When they finished eating, Jimmy grabbed the bag that was sitting in the corner of the kitchen and started to hand out presents.
What the team and coaches didn't know was that Velta and Patty had a trick up they're sleeves. Velta looked at the clock on the wall that read, 10:45; the team's surprise should be here by now. Velta calmly and quietly snuck to the back door to look out and there was the surprise walking up. After opening the door and getting the present in and warmed up, she said,
"I'm so glad you changed your mind."
"Me too." Annabelle said smiling and sipped her hot chocolate.
In the distance they heard they heard Herb say good bye so Velta walked to the doorway to the kitchen.
"Good night Velta, thanks for having me over."
"Good night Herb." She said and waved.
As soon as the door closed, Annabelle heard Jack say, 'Let's play some football!' All the guys stood up and walked to the kitchen to get they're coats. Annabelle stood in a shadowed part on the kitchen, close to the refrigerator. She made sure all 21 guys had walked out of the kitchen before she walked into the living room to surprise her dad.
"I know what you mean Doc, but we still have to have a chance at beating them."
"I understand Craig, but the country doesn't. The Soviet Union has dominated this game since '64…"
"…Can't you guys for one minute not think of the Olympics?" Annabelle interrupted Doc.
"Sorry Rose but this…" Craig said and looked up in surprise, "Annabelle…ANNABELLE WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" Craig said with so much excitement.
"I couldn't stay that long away from the team and you." Annabelle said with a huge smile. Craig stood up and brought her in a hug.
"God I can't believe you couldn't stay away from here for a couple of hours."
"Oh daddy come on, I love it here and I want to stay with the team. I can go to Boston any time I want, but right now I want to be here." Annabelle said.
"Why don't you take your coat off?" Doc asked.
"No I'm gonna go out and surprise the boys."
"You mean Jack?" Craig asked with a smile at Annabelle's quizzical face. "Yes I know that you love him and I'm impressed that when you were 'fighting' with each other, you didn't kill him."
Annabelle smiled with a slight chuckle and kissed his cheek and Doc's too.
"Well I'm gonna tell the others Merry Christmas." Annabelle said and walked through the kitchen and quietly out the backdoor.
The guys were playing hockey on a fairly good sized pond in the yard. Annabelle remembered when she would come to visit she would come and fish with Doc's kids and grandkids. She could see that the guys were playing the traditional hockey with 6 people on each side. The only thing was, one side had an extra person. Close by Annabelle was a fire that they set to keep them warm when they took a break.
Annabelle walked down the snowy embankment to watch them play. None of the players seemed to notice her standing close by. She watched as the Coneheads made they're famous goal together and cheered.
"Great move Buzzy!" Annabelle said. All the guys turned around with surprised or shocked faces.
"ANNABELLE!" They all screamed.
She smiled and was almost tackled down by the players. The first person she hugged was Strobel, but the first person that took her by surprise was Jack. In one swoop he gave her what she wanted, a true to the heart kiss. All the guys cheered and yelled Jack and Annabelle's names.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked after everything settled down a bit.
"I couldn't leave you here in the lion's den for a week. All of you would die of boredom." Annabelle joked.
It now was New Years Eve and only 45 seconds left of 1979. Everyone, including the team hoped 1980 would bring miracles with the Cold War ending, the hostages being released, and the gas shortages demolished.
"Everyone made a wish for the New Year?" Annabelle asked over the T.V.
"Yes." They said in response, except Silk and Cox, who were passed out drunk.
"What about them? Can't someone wake them up?" Annabelle asked.
"Naw they'll be fine. Besides they both have to do Herbies for an hour." Wells said.
Annabelle had been filled in on they're bet and thought it pretty stupid, but on the other hand, it suited them good. As the count down kept leading up to 1980, Annabelle only hoped the best for the team and also for her and Jack.
"5…4…3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The team said together.
Okay yet again a long and difficult chapter. I hoped you enjoyed it, and if you have any questions, just send me an e-mail.
