Chapter 4

Part 6 of the Holiday Marathon

"You earrings are very, very pretty," Angie called over her shoulder to Alyssa. "I'm goin' to da mall tomorrow to get my ears pierced. Right, Aunt Carrie?"

"That's right, sweetheart." Carrie beamed. She pointed as Casey's face appeared on the screen. "Look. Casey has pretty earrings too."

"Dey silver!" Angie clapped as she sat back down.

"I'm so glad you could do this, Casey," Grace said to her fellow college-student via video chat. "I know this is a busy time of year."

"Yeah, why professors think the week before Thanksgiving break is a good time to assign a massive project is a mystery to me," Casey replied.

"Same here," Grace commiserated.

"If I had known how big this project was gonna get I could have waited until you got back for Christmas," Grace said as she leaned over to hug Casey who was seated on the same blanket. "Sorry."

Casey smiled and returned the hug. "No worries."

"Well, that's a good lead-in to the first question," Kaitlyn said onscreen. "What's the best part about college?"

"Oh, just … all the new experiences," Casey replied. "The classes are hard, sure, but I like the challenge. I've met so many people from all around the country and even around the world. Living in California. I miss my family, of course, but it's also been really cool to kind of … I don't know … stretch my wings." She cringed. "I can't believe I said that. Did that sound as cheesy to you as it did to me?"

Grace laughed. "Yeah, but I know what you mean."

"You can edit that out, right?"

Kaitlyn grinned slyly. "Not a chance, sis." Her smile softened. "We miss you, too, by the way."

Casey smiled back.

"Though I do like having my own room," Kaitlyn teased.

"Ha! I bet you do."

"Okay, what's your favorite thing to do for fun?"

"This is going to sound so cliche for a college student, but I really do like Ultimate Frisbee," Casey said. "You know me, even during my downtime I like to be doing something active."

"Anything else you like to do to unwind?" Grace followed up.

"Running, of course. That's always been a good way to clear my head. Plus I need to stay in condition for the season."

Kaitlyn smiled. "I could have answered that one." She looked down at her paper. "And probably this one, too. What characteristics do you most admire in other people?"

"Hard work," Casey said immediately. "Honesty." She smiled. "And a good sense of humor. About yourself as well as in general."

"And what characteristics do you most deplore in other people?" Grace asked.

"Laziness. Lying. Selfishness."

Kaitlyn smiled softly at the next question. "What did you learn from Mom?"

"I'm still learning from her," Casey said. "Mom's the hardest working person I know so I learned that from her. And even more importantly I learned that there's nothing more important than being there for family. Even though now I have to do that mostly on FaceTime, I still want to be there for you and Jacob and Dylan and Cody and even Mom when she needs to talk."

"You are," Kaitlyn assured her.

Grace smiled at the sisters who she knew had a lot of personality differences but were totally supportive of each other. Her smile widened as she looked at the final question. "I'm actually really curious to hear what you'll answer for this one."

"Uh oh," Casey said. "What is it?"

"Who would you like to play you in a movie version of your life?"

Casey made a face. "End with a tough one, why don't you? Hmm, I don't know, how about Millie Bobby Brown?" She grinned. "Mostly just so we could hang out 'cause she'd need to get to know me for the part, you know?"

Kaitlyn laughed. "Only you, Case. Only you."

As Casey's face disappeared from the screen Dylan's appeared.

"Why do all my babies look so grown up?" Jenna sighed. "Just yesterday they needed me to tie their shoes and fix their hair."

"I feel your pain," Danny commiserated.

Dylan sat in front of Grace and Kaitlyn and ran a hand through his buzzed blond hair. "Ready when you are," he said.

"Okay," his sister began. "What's the most exciting thing about going to the Naval Academy?"

The blue eyes lit immediately. "Literally everything. Getting to study robotics with the most incredible faculty available while I learn naval history and I'll be allowed to follow Uncle Steve, Aunt Catherine and Uncle Joseph by serving our country." He flashed a grin. "I still can't believe it sometimes."

Kaitlyn squeezed his arm at her brother's contagious excitement. "Okay, what's your favorite thing to do for fun?"

"Build robots," he laughed. "It really is fun for me. Figuring how they can be created and tweaked for maximum functionality."

"I guarantee you're the only person who used the words maximum functionality in the fun question." His sister chuckled and they shared a smile.

"Anything else you like to do to unwind?" Grace followed up.

"Family stuff. Game night, beating you and Casey when I team up with Jacob." He laughed when Kaitlyn gently elbowed him in the ribs. "Of course we lose as much as we win," he admitted. "Oh and playing marathon games when Cody and Jess are over and we do breakfast for dinner."

Kaitlyn smiled when Grace asked, "What characteristics do you most admire in other people?"

"Honesty. Living up to your responsibilities. Following through. I admire hard workers and people who put others first. Watching our whole family and spending so much time with Uncle Chin over the years made me more determined to do the right thing in every situation. Not because it's easy … because it's right."

"And what characteristics do you most deplore in other people?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Selfishness. Cheating. Shirking responsibility and not owning it when you screw up."

His sister smiled. "What did you learn from Mom?"

"Everything about priorities," was his quick response. "Mom absolutely put us first. I always felt loved and supported and I wanted to pay that forward for you and Jacob. Like she and Cody and Casey did for me."

"Awww, you did," Kaitlyn assured him.

"And you do it for Jacob, and DJ and Angie and Joan. That's Mom in us." He smiled at the camera.

"We have an incredible family of role models," Grace said and the siblings nodded their agreement. "Last question," she said. "Who would you like to play you in a movie version of your life?"

"Ahhh, I don't know." His eyes sparkled mischievously. "No, wait, your favorite so you could meet him. Tom Holland the Spider-Man guy."

Kaitlyn blushed. "Thanks."

Jacob, having pestered Kaitlyn to tell him the order the interviews would appear in, knew he was next. He elbowed DJ who was sitting beside him and said, "Wait 'til you see my joke."

"Okay, Jacob, you've gotta stop bouncing or you're going to make everyone motion sick watching this," Kaitlyn said with a laugh.

"I can't help it, I'm excited!" the thirteen-year-old responded with characteristic enthusiasm. To his credit he did stop bouncing in his seat. "What's the first question? I'm ready."

Grace grinned. "What do you like best about school?"

"Easy," he replied. "Science class 'cause of the experiments, and special activities like helping plan field day and stuff like that."

"And what's your favorite thing to do for fun?" Kaitlyn asked.

"I love making obstacle courses and making up games. I like playing games, too, like Jenga and Uno but I really love making up my own. Especially outside games."

"You do make up some good ones," Kaitlyn agreed.

"And I like going to Tutor Time with Aunt Elizabeth to help kids there," he added. "I love when they come back the next day or week or whatever and say they did something we worked on on their own. Like a math problem."

"I'm sure the kids appreciate your help and encouragement," Grace said. "I know Aunt Elizabeth appreciates the energy you bring to Tutor Time."

He grinned. "Like Mom always says, I've got plenty of that."

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Grace asked.

"For a long time I really didn't know," he admitted. "I just liked having fun. But now I'm starting to think that I might want to be a teacher. I know I've gotta learn a lot more 'cause teachers need to be really smart and know lots of things, but I think it's also really important that teachers help kids want to learn and Aunt Elizabeth says I can do that."

"Ohh, Jacob, that's really awesome," Kaitlyn said. "I think you'd be a great teacher."

He smiled proudly.

"I think so, too," Grace agreed. "Okay, next question, what do you love most about your family?"

Jacob thought for a moment. "That there's so many of us and that we really love each other and like doing things together. There was always someone to play with when I was little, you know. I mean, I know there were a lot of bad things that happened, but I was pretty little so I was just happy that if Mom was working then Cody was there to help me or that you would play with me, Kaitlyn. And Dylan and Casey, too. And now things are so much better but we still like doing things together, you know?"

Kaitlyn smiled softly. "Yeah, I know. I feel the same way." She glanced down at her paper. "Last question, what's the most important thing you've learned from Mom?"

"That our family is special. Not everyone is as lucky as us. Maybe that sounds weird to say we're lucky because of all the stuff that happened before, but we've always had each other. I don't know what would have happened to us if we didn't."

Kaitlyn leaned over to hug him. "I don't know either, so I think we're pretty lucky to have each other, too."

Grace smiled at the siblings. "I always thought it would be pretty great to have so many brothers and sisters. I'm just glad I get to have you all as cousins!"

"Us, too!" Jacob said, smiling at her.

Grace made a checkmark on her paper with a pencil, drawing Jacob's attention. "Well, that's all the questions. Thanks again for doing this, Jacob."

"Hey, can I end with a joke?" he asked, already grinning.

Kaitlyn put a hand to her head but couldn't help smiling. "Go ahead."

"Which hand is it better to write with?"

Grace and Kaitlyn looked at each other, then down at their hands.

"I don't know, I'm right-handed so …" Grace started.

"Neither!" Jacob cut in and pointed at her hand, already laughing at the punchline. "It's better to write with a pencil!"

Grace held up her pencil, laughing. "Good one, Jacob."

"I've got more!" he said.

Before he could get another joke out, Kaitlyn waved her hands in front of the camera, laughing. "No, no, the video is going to be seventeen hours long if we let him tell all his jokes!"

"Oh, I think I can go longer than seventeen hours," he said, grinning.

"Next time," Grace said. "Next time."

As Mary and Aaron's faces appeared on the screen she leaned over and whispered to him, "We should have thought to add a joke."

He kissed her cheek. "Too late now."

Mary and Aaron took seats on the sofa and Kaitlyn set up the phone to video their interview.

"What's our first question?" Mary looked between the girls. "Joan is so excited about this whole project she was coaching us to sit up straight and smile," she chuckled.

"That's adorable, we're so happy she's excited," Kaitlyn said. "Here's your first question."

Grace read from the notes, "If you weren't at your current job what would you be doing instead?"

"Something similar," Aaron said. "I like creating solutions and math, so anything involving both."

"Since I've only been in my job for a little while, I don't think I would want to do anything else other than social work. But, maybe teach in a preschool."

"What's the best thing about your job?"

"I work with a great team of coworkers, and I really like when a corporation, school system or private client needs a solution and we're able to find one for them," Aaron said.

"I love being able to make even a little difference by helping people choose a better path," Mary said enthusiastically. "I especially like working with women who are trying to reestablish themselves and get a new start. I've met some great people at work, too and I made a few new friends who have similar interests."

"I always knew you'd make a great social worker, Mary. Your clients are lucky to have you," Grace said with a smile and gave her a hug.

"Our next question is what's your favorite thing to do for fun?"

"Spend time with Joan and Aaron," she answered quickly. "And family time with all of my inlaws and Aunt Deb and everyone here when we visit. We love taking Joan to the park and the beach and family nights. On date nights we like going to different places to eat and maybe a movie. I really like a spa day when I can get to one."

"Volunteering with my friends at the food pantry is great and I'm not the best but I like playing the open chess games in the park with a few friends, and except for the spa stuff, Mary took a lot of the rest of my answers," Aaron chuckled. "I'm going to add that in addition to trying new restaurants, our new thing is to try something we've never done before every once in a while like playing golf or going bowling together. And I actually love going to Disneyland and watching my daughter's face as she discovers something new every time. Watching her interact with the princesses…" he said with a shrug. "I probably have 5000 hours of video."

"Awesome daddy award." Grace held up a hand to high five and Mary beamed at her husband's happy smile.

"What's one thing you want Joan to know?"

"That we love her unconditionally, no matter what," Mary said. "I'll always be here. Always. Even when she's an adult, she will have me right there whenever she needs me." She was smiling but her voice held an earnestness that had Aaron leaning over to kiss her temple.

"I want Joan to know her mother and I support her in every way. Whatever she chooses we will be there for her. And her beautiful personality and love of life brighten my days, every day. I'm so happy she's got so many people who love her and she's going to be my pumpkin forever." He smiled into the lens.

"Ohhh my heart," Kaitlyn placed a hand on her chest. "Joan, wait till you re watch this at my age."

Aaron's smile broadened. "We'll plan to play it a lot when you're a teenager, pumpkin." He winked as Mary laughed.

"What's a favorite childhood memory?"

"I pretty much won the parent and sister lottery but let's see… Definitely playing with Alyssa and our cousins on the beach in Mexico," Aaron said. "And learning to cook with our Abuela."

"Playing with Steve," Mary said with a small smile. "Or following him around until he'd play one of my games. Christmas Eves listening to the choir, sitting between him and Dad when our family went to church."

"If you could change one thing about your life, past or present, what would it be?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing," they chorused, then looked at each other and laughed.

"Guess that says it all," Grace said with a little sigh.

Aaron laced his fingers with Mary's. "Guess it does."

Once everyone's video interview had been played it was time for interviewers to take their turn in the hot seat.

"Ready?" Grace asked.

Kaitlyn took a deep breath, trying to control her grin. "Ready. It's a little weird being on this side of the camera now."

Grace grinned back. "Okay, what do you like best about school?"

"I know it's not cool to say, but I do like learning new things. But I also love seeing all my friends and stuff like that, too, I'm not a total goody-two-shoes," she added with a laugh.

"Nothing wrong with that," Grace assured her. "Anything you don't like about school?"

"I don't like when some other kid acts up and the teacher has to deal with that instead of with the rest of the class. And when there are fights. Or when we have to practice lockdowns." She frowned. "I know it's important but it always makes me a little anxious for a while after."

Grace reached over to squeeze her hand. "That's totally understandable. I used to feel like that in school, too." She shook off the negative thoughts and smiled. "What's your favorite thing to do for fun?"

"Hang out with friends and my family," Kaitlyn replied immediately. "And volunteer at the animal shelter and the library." She smiled. "And bake. I especially like coming up with new cupcake recipes."

"The Cupcake Queen," Grace said with a broad smile. "What's your favorite thing you've ever baked?"

"Oh, I don't think I could ever pick." She laughed. "I sound like Mom if someone asked her who her favorite kid was. But it's true. I even like the things that haven't turned out because at least I learned something from making them. And I really like when I make a special cupcake for someone and they really like it. I don't do it so they'll say how good it is or whatever, I just really like making other people happy with my baking."

"You definitely do that," Grace said. "Those tiramisu cupcakes you made for my birthday this year were amazing!"

Kaitlyn beamed. "I'm so glad you liked them!"

Grace checked her list and chuckled at the next question. "Okay, I bet I know the answer to this: what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Kaitlyn grinned. "A veterinarian. With my own clinic like Alyssa. Or being a vet at a zoo."

"Not a baking veterinarian?"

"Ooh, I like the sound of that. The baking veterinarian." She laughed. "I wonder if there's a college for that."

"Auntie Cath is probably looking it up right now," Grace said, glancing at the camera with a grin. "Okay, time for some aww questions. What do you love most about your family?"

"How we love and support each other," Kaitlyn answered without a second's hesitation. "Totally, unconditionally. We've been through a lot of rough times, but I've never for one second not known that my mom and my brothers and sister love and support me. And to be honest, it's a big reason why I'm who I am. They've helped me grow more confident in my opinions and choices, like being a vegetarian, and have always loved and supported me, no matter what. So yeah. I could go on and on about everything I love about my family, but that's the biggest and most important."

"Awwww," Grace said. "See, I told you these were the aww questions. I bet everyone watching said 'aww' too."

Kaitlyn looked down for a second, smiling. "Probably. Because our whole big family is like that. Supportive."

Grace nodded. "They are. One hundred percent. Okay, ready for the last question?"

Kaitlyn took another deep breath. "Ready."

"What's the most important thing that you've learned from your mom?"

Kaitlyn's features instantly softened. "Wow. Where to start …" She exhaled slowly. "I think the most important thing is what I was just talking about. How important it is that families love and support each other. She's always said that, but even more importantly, she's always done it. For all of us. She's shown me that you can change your life if you really want to. That believing in yourself is the first step to reaching any dream. And–" She stopped herself and laughed. "I guess that's more than one thing. But I can't help it. Mom is awesome."

"She is," Grace agreed. She looked at the camera. "Jenna, I hope you heard that, because it's true. You're awesome." She turned back to Kaitlyn. "And so are you. Probably a connection there."

Kaitlyn smiled proudly. "You're probably right. And thanks. I think you're pretty awesome, too."

"Oh no, this is your video. You're not turning it around on me."

Kaitlyn laughed. "Then we better end it and get on to yours!"

There was a quick change of position on screen and Grace became the interviewee.

"Okay, your turn now," Kaitlyn said as Grace smoothed out the front of her shirt.

"And I promise I haven't seen the questions Kaitlyn picked to ask me," Grace said, looking straight at the camera. "So I'm in the same boat as all of you."

Kaitlyn giggled. "That's true. Okay, first question. I know this answer," she said with a smile, "but tell us anyway. What's best about your job?"

"I love my job." Grace grinned. "Boris is wonderful and so is Gus. I get to work with your mom on some great projects and the best of all is I get to help make people happy when they're celebrating occasions that mean a lot to them and their families. Seeing them light up, watching kids and brides and grooms and graduates… and that's just a few … is incredible. That's not even to mention the fun corporate stuff, like celebrating a local coffee company's 100th anniversary. Three generations of family were there and so many past employees came back even though they were retired because Mr. and Mrs. Kalea and their kids and grandkids were and are such great bosses." She giggled. "I'm rambling, so I guess I love it all, except maybe once in a while we get an unhappy person who isn't too nice. But Boris says that's part of the business. We do our best to make them leave satisfied."

"So awesome," Kaitlyn grinned. "What's the best part about college?"

"My classes are mostly great. I love that next year I get more electives in my major. And I made some incredible friends, especially Kendra."

Kaitlyn grinned. "The next question is, what did you learn from your dad?"

"Wow. So much." Grace took a breath. "Never give up. That family comes first. Blood and otherwise. That family - la famiglia like Nonna says, are always there for you. That my dad loves me more than anything and he'd do anything to keep me happy and safe. And that he's a really good person. He loves kids, animals, he worries if there's a case with a kid and I know he would contact families after a case was solved to make sure they didn't need anything." She smiled. "I always thought he could do anything, that he was the best detective in the world, and the older I get, the more I believe it's because he cares so, so much about everything and everyone. Oh," Grace grinned, "and that if anyone hurts me, Danno will be their biggest problem and so will Uncle Steve."

"Uncle Danny," Kaitlyn leaned into frame, "I love you, you're awesome and Grace is exactly right."

The girls exchanged a hug and Kaitlyn went on.

"What's your favorite thing to do for fun?"

"Ohh, um, go on adventures, go dancing or out to eat with friends, shop, spend time with our family. I like to take my brother Charlie to do things I did at his age. He loves rope climbing places and stuff, and I really like to volunteer whenever I can."

Kaitlyn smiled. "Who was your first crush?"

"Ha! A kid named Ryan. Ask Danno about the boy-girl Halloween party he let me have that year. He and Uncle Steve were hysterical. Auntie Cath and Auntie Kono literally saved the day. Ryan was nice, but we were like twelve so the crush was walking across the school together until we didn't like each other anymore, which was about by Christmas," she added with a laugh.

"What's one thing you would want Angie, DJ and Joan to know?"

"That we are part of the best family. That I love them unconditionally forever and I'm always here for them." She looked at Kaitlyn. "And you and your siblings, no matter what because that's what our family does."

"Awwww another hug." The younger girl wrapped an arm around her again.

"If you could change one thing about your life, past or present, what would it be?"

"Nothing. I'm not gonna lie, at first moving here was scary and I was so unhappy. I missed my family in New Jersey. I didn't see Danno every day and I knew he was so sad because when I was with my Mom and Stan, he was totally alone. But then he met Uncle Steve, and the team and we had a family here. I have great friends, a huge family and I'm able to spend time with the New Jersey family, too. I love that Nonna comes here and we get to see my grandparents and aunts, uncle and cousins. I'm so happy we had a judge that believed dads can have primary physical custody and that Gabby and Stan treat me like their own kid.

I love school, work, and my friends and family. I really don't want to change anything."

"Okay, that's beautiful," Kaitlyn said. "And I'm so happy you're here. If you could choose one thing from your childhood to relive, what would it be and why?"

"Maybe the Christmasses when I was little and Danno dressed as Santa and I totally thought it was him." She grinned, clearly considering her little cousins who were watching. "I didn't realize Santa was busy at the North Pole at the time. It was so much fun, even when I did realize a few years later it was my dad, because all our family was there. Uncle Steve, Auntie Cath, Uncle Chin, Auntie Kono and Kamekona. Then once she was stateside, Auntie Cath, too. They went out of their way to make it great and I love them so much for that."

Katilyn smiled. "What characteristics do you most deplore in other people?"

Grace wrinkled her nose. "Lying. Criminal behavior. It puts other people and the police in danger. Bullying, which is wrong on every level."

Kaitlyn nodded her agreement. "I like this one. What makes you happy?"

"When everyone's safe and together. Knowing I'm surrounded by a great family and friends. Spending time with you, the kids and my little cousins and my friends."

"Last one, who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?"

"Ohhhh I think Emma Watson. She's really good and she's smart in real life."

"Oh I love that, she'd be perfect for you!"

Grace grinned. "Have you got her number?"

"I wish. Okay, final question. Why did you decide to do these question videos, and what's been your favorite part of doing it?"

"Oh, you are sneaky. That wasn't on the list of questions."

Kaitlyn grinned. "Nope."

"But I probably should have seen it coming." She took a deep breath. "Well, it started as just something fun to do with Angie and then Uncle Steve came to pick her up and it hit me it would be fun to interview him and Auntie Cath because I was already planning to do one with DJ." Grace shrugged. "Then I talked to you and it kind of snowballed. I didn't think about it when we started, but we've really learned so much about our family. These people we thought we knew so well." She grinned. "While there were a lot of questions I totally knew the answers to before asking, there were other answers that really surprised me." She smiled softly. "Nonna always says it's important to remember family history. What better way than to have videos? We can make them so easily and I think it'll be a great thing to have for the future. Especially for the younger kids, so they can see what they were like and what we were like at this age." She smiled and looked directly at the camera. "So to our future selves, have fun remembering!"

Stay tuned for part 7 of the marathon tomorrow!

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