Danny unlocked his apartment door and ushered his son in with the first load of packages. The guys had come on ahead after loading C.J.'s bags into Danny's car with their haul. He'd agreed with her plan for her to grab gift wrapping supplies at her place while the guys did the heavy lifting.
Danny was suddenly nervous. The two people he loved the most in his life were set to be in the same place at the same time with a minimum of distractions. He desperately wanted them to get along because he desperately wanted a future with C.J. that would include P.J.
"Son, I'll go down and get the rest of the packages. You have two jobs - check the answering machine and make sure there's ice in case we want cold drinks."
"Got it." He waved as his father went out the door.
Danny brought the last bags in and took everything to the dining room table. He gave Patrick orders to get his Gameboy off of it and to hunt up scissors, tape and a pen for the finishing touches on the gifts.
P.J. in turn told his Dad there was a message on the machine from Donna Moss. Danny hid a worried look from his son. Donna would only be calling about Josh and Danny said a silent prayer for Josh to be up to Patrick's visit.
"Okay. I'll call her after I straighten out the bathroom and get out the chili. You let Ms. Cregg in and offer her a place to sit and ask if she wants something to drink."
"Don't you get to call her C.J.?"
Danny ruffled the boy's hair. "Yeah, I do. I keep forgetting how quickly you make friends."
"Mom says I'm like you - never met a stranger."
"Make me proud again and be a great host."
C.J. balanced a large bag with several rolls of wrapping paper, a white bakery box and an escalating case of nerves. What the Hell was she doing here on Danny's big weekend standing outside his apartment door? The child was charming but would he like her when he spent a prolonged amount of time with her?
Danny was becoming more and more important to her. His son meant the world to him and she wanted to keep from disrupting that and secretly hoped P.J. would like her enough to not mind her being around on his D.C. visits.
One more deep breath and C.J. started to search for her key to the door. Hold it, how would she explain that to a young boy? She knocked instead on the heavy wooden door in the hallway of the brownstone.
P.J. flung open the door. "You found it okay? Come in. Sit down. How about some 7-Up? Oh your coat, hand it over."
C.J. just blinked at the rapid chatter. "Give me a sec to get all my answers straight."
She put down the wrapping paper. "Let's see. Yes. Okay. Not yet. No, thank you. In a minute."
The child counted off on his fingers and C.J. had a chance to study him again. He was slender and seemed to be the right size for his age. His grin confirmed he was Danny's son. That genetic duplication was also evident from his coloring to the slight curl in his red hair. "Where's your father?"
"Calling someone back and getting out the chili. Or the other way around. What's in the box?"
Danny rounded the corner in time to corral P.J. "Twenty questions is not the name of today's game. Let me take your coat and bring you something to drink."
"I did that Dad. She wasn't ready for stuff like that."
"He was very welcoming." C.J. handed the box to the boy, "These are super sized fudgey and really thickly frosted brownies for dessert."
"How cool is that? Can I have one?"
Danny raised a parental eyebrow, "Manners, son."
"Oh yeah. May I please have one?"
"No it's too close to eating but at least you asked politely."
"Aw, Dad."
"Besides there are gifts to be wrapped and I expect you to help."
"Is your hand broken?"
"No and keep that tone up and you'll find out how well it works." Danny's tone was crisp and C.J. figured Patrick's parents were able to keep him in check with words and examples. She listened as Danny continued, "I am the chef. You're the designated assistant."
He turned to C.J., "What can I get you to drink?"
"Nothing until we earn our keep by wrapping at least some of this stuff." She turned to P.J., "Should we start on your pile first or mine?"
"Ours, please."
Danny smiled at the polite tone. "I'll leave you to it. P.J. make sure you are as eager to help with things for the little girl."
His son sighed in exasperation. "Okay as long as I don't have to touch any girly stuff like underwear."
The adults hid smiles as Danny nodded. He hurried out of the room before dissolving into laughter. He was certain he could never convince P.J. that in just a few years he'd be fascinated with girly stuff like underwear and getting his hands on it while a girl was wearing it.
C.J. and Patrick had a system going. P.J. pulled things out and folded the bags. Then, he assembled boxes and clipped price tags. C.J. enclosed gift receipts after neatly folding tissue around the items. She let her assistant pick the paper. She meticulously cut the wrapping paper, fitted it on boxes and made perfect creased corners.
Following a nod from C.J., Patrick would tape the paper down. He'd watch C.J. tie on a ribbon and make bows. He would offer his index finger to anchor ribbons and bow placement.
As the pile of wrapped presents grew, P.J. became more animated and talkative. He wanted to know about her nephews. When C.J. told him Steve and Kyle lived with their parents in Colorado, the boy nodded and knew it was a place with mountains in the backyard.
"C.J., did you know I live in Pennsylvania?"
He rushed on before she could answer, "My Mom is a college professor. It's called Textile Arts. That's weaving and stuff. Our house is nice and I play baseball in the summer just like my Dad did."
"I'll bet you're a good player."
"I try. I like all sports like Dad." The child looked up at her and lowered his voice as if he were sharing a secret, "My Mom and Dad aren't married any more but still talk because of me. They love me."
"Of course they do and they do what's best for you."
"Are you married?"
The child's natural curiosity about another grownup didn't faze C.J. "No, I'm not. I was once a long time ago but it didn't last and we're not friends any more like your Mom and Dad."
That seemed to satisfy P.J. and C.J. breathed an internal sigh of relief at navigating that landmine.
"Mom says I can see Dad whenever I want because we miss each other." Even though his tone was matter of fact, C.J. nevertheless felt her throat constrict with tears for a fractured family.
"My Mom makes the best apple pancakes. I like breakfast. Do you?"
"Absolutely. I don't have time usually for a big breakfast except on days off."
"Like weekends, C.J.?"
"Not always. In my job the President sometimes needs me to work weekends."
"Wow, bummer. But can you make stuff like French Toast?"
"Yes." She concentrated on measuring a length of ribbon for the last of the gifts for a young boy. "I haven't made that treat for awhile."
"More fun to make it for something special."
"I suppose."
"You know I really like breakfast and my Dad does too."
C.J. paused trying to figure out where this was going. "I'm glad to hear it. Does he make a good breakfast?"
"Not really. Mom says he's at his best with ground beef and you don't have cheeseburgers for breakfast." Patrick looked around to make sure his Dad wasn't within earshot, "He burned the bacon today and the eggs were dry."
"Must have been an off day for him."
"Yeah, cuz I sure do like breakfast." He smiled sweetly at C.J., "Would you like to make breakfast for us tomorrow?"
"Excuse me?"
"Please, C.J. I don't know what we'll eat at Josh's. I'll bet you're a good cook."
His innate charm and his blue eyes both inherited from Danny decided P.J.'s case. She sighed, "I suppose if it's okay with your father."
"It will be. That's great. Thank you." He reached for ribbon on the table. "I think this color looks good with this wrapping paper."
"Thank you, color consultant."
P.J. wasn't sure what that was but liked the smile in C.J.'s voice and that set him to giggling.
Danny heard the sound too and it let his heart soar with hopes and dreams. Sounded like they were getting along fine without him. He figured he could take a little more time to square things away.
Late afternoon at this time of year meant darkness loomed even for an early dinner. He thought of candles and realized P.J. would love it. C.J. was used to eating by candlelight at the apartment.
Next step was putting the water on to boil. True Cincinnati Chili required spaghetti as a base. He would warm the chili in the oven along with some crusty bread.
No cries for help from the dining room meant he could also double-check the takeout menus for tomorrow's visit to Josh. Danny had offered to bring the food since Josh was supplying the drinks and the essential big screen TV.
He'd planned on wings and polish sausage sandwiches until Donna's phone call. She made Danny promise to keep the call a secret but wanted him to know Josh's system at this point couldn't stand a lot of spicy, greasy food.
Danny apologized for not figuring that out himself. He assured her he'd come up with something. The same place offered grilled chicken sandwiches. Danny figured that was safe and sort of tail gate like.
"One more problem solved. Now on to grating cheese." He whistled "Hail To The Redskins" as he opened the refrigerator.
(TBC)