Chapter 3
Cait had preset her oven the night before to warm-up at seven-thirty Thanksgiving morning. The oven beeping it was warm woke her before her alarm set for eight. She rolled onto her back, stretching and yawning. Aaron stirred next to her. The timed coffee pot was already churning out its morning goodness. Cait heard her dad come out of the den. "Come on Bella," Jarrod whispered. "We both whiz at the same time," he said, opening a patio door to let her out.
Coming out of the closet bathroom by the kitchen, Jarrod filled Bella's dish in the laundry room with food and walked across the Great Room to let her in. Bella made a beeline to the laundry room. Jarrod smiled, heading back to the den. Maggie was just getting out of bed. "Morning you," he smiled.
"Good morning," Maggie smiled back, coming around the bed. She kissed Jarrod. "You head downstairs to shower. I'll put in the first two pans of cinnamon rolls and join you." Jarrod looked at her. Maggie laughed, lightly slapping his chest. "You're not that young and neither am I. I'll get my teeth brushed."
Jarrod kissed her cheek and gave her a wink. "Can't blame a guy for trying." Cait and Aaron smiled at each other, getting out of bed.
Aaron kissed Cait good morning and pulled her into his arms. "Explain something to me Doc."
"What's that Aaron?"
"How we got nine hours of sleep last night."
Cait smiled at him. "It's Thanksgiving and we were in bed by eleven."
"I love the holidays," he smiled.
"Me too," Cait said, kissing him. "Let's roll."
By the time the first two pans of cinnamon rolls came out, Sean and Leslie were up and showered as well. Steph was using the boys' bathroom upstairs for her shower. Jake was in Cait's and Aaron's. The third pan and fourth pan of cinnamon rolls were baking. Aaron started another pot of coffee. Cait started the bottom oven to warm up. "You're the bird king," she smiled, rubbing the door.
"So early Cait?" Maggie asked.
"Mom, I get the turkey done and put it in the warmer I have in the laundry room. You put in the four sheets of dinner rolls while I'm making my apple pie. We've juggled oven space how many years now?"
"And gotten damn good at it," Maggie smiled.
Jake and Steph joined the group while Dave, Ted and Max came into the kitchen through the garage door. Cait beaded a look at Dave. "We played a two out of three match of six-handed Cribbage with the kids." Dave smiled at Cait. "Andi helped the old farts bring it home." Everyone smiled.
"I was in bed by eleven," Ted said.
"So was I," Dave said. "And heard the kids come upstairs around midnight," he smiled at Cait.
Cait looked at Aaron. "Yup Doc," he smiled, "they finally might be adults." The group all laughed. Five minutes later, Ethan came into the kitchen.
"First munchkin sighting," Dave smiled, taking another bite of his cinnamon roll.
"Yup," Ethan yawned, climbing up into Dave's lap. "Please share Uncle Dave."
Dave pushed the rest of his cinnamon roll to Ethan, kissing his head. "You got it kiddo," Dave smiled, rubbing his shoulder. Ethan took a huge bite. Cait poured him a glass of milk as Leslie added at glass of apple juice. Maggie gave Dave another cinnamon roll with a smile.
Sean looked at his youngest son. "Is the rest of the group up there moving?"
Ethan shook his head, yawning again. "Nope. They're still snoring and farting." He looked at Sean. "Dad, can I sleep on the couch down here tonight?" Dave rubbed his head, smiling like the rest.
Ten minutes later, Mike and Andi came in the door. "Sorry, we're eating and running like usual," Mike said, grabbing some cinnamon rolls, putting them on the paper plate Aaron handed him. "Thanks dad," he smiled.
"That's OK," Cait smiled at them, pulling out the plastic wrap to put over the plate. "We're all really proud of you helping out at Walter Reed again."
Mike kissed her cheek as Andi hugged Aaron. "Matt and Lauren are up and getting showers. They should be here in a bit. Hi everyone else," he waved. Andi did the same, blowing kisses.
"Thanks Mike," Cait smiled, rubbing his arm. "Go you two," she smiled at the couple.
Jake and Steph moved to the entryway to pull on their coats. "We're going with them to help," Jake smiled. Maggie and Jarrod proudly smiled.
"See ya later dad," Mike said, rubbing Aaron's chest, following Jake, Steph and Andi out the door.
By ten that morning, Jack, Tate, Wyatt, Matt and Lauren were inhaling the last of the cinnamon rolls, sitting at the table in the nook. Lauren brought her coffee cup and paper plate into the kitchen, stuffing them into the trash bin. "Honey," she cooed at Matt, pointing at the full bag.
"Yes dear," Matt said. "I'll take care of it when the crew is done," he smiled, nodding at the three boys at the table. Everyone laughed at them.
Cait was prepping her dinner rolls, pulling the frozen balls of dough out of the bag, putting them in one of the four pans she had on the kitchen island. Maggie was doing the same with a second bag. The dough balls needed two to three hours of room temperature heat to rise. Lauren shook her head at Cait. "Why is it that you will cheat," she said, using the word lightly, "on the dinner rolls? But you insist on making pie crust from scratch, rather than using the pre-made crust."
"Pie crust needs homemade love," Cait winked at her. Lauren smiled.
Matt looked at his parents. "Under the maybe I've grown up department, do we need to pitch on the food fund for this weekend?"
"You already have," Aaron said. Everyone looked at him. "What mom and I can't cover with our salaries comes out of you boys' inheritance."
Sean, standing next to Aaron in the kitchen shook his head at his brother and looked at Cait. "Holy shit. You've done it. He's learned a sense of humor." The group started to snicker.
Cait smiled. "I'll go one better. That one-liner just might get him laid tonight."
"Yeah baby," Aaron smiled, doing Jack's double fist pump.
"TMI!" Tate and Jack shouted. The kitchen group roared with laughter.
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Dave and Ted came into Cait's formal dining room each carrying a water pitcher to start filling water glasses. Matt pulled off Cait's centerpiece to make room for the dishes of food soon coming from the kitchen. Ted smiled at Dave. "Cait treasures that centerpiece."
"Yes she does," Matt smiled.
"It was given with love and appreciation," Dave added with his smile. Mike, the family sommelier, swooped in with three bottles of Barkley Reserve Chardonnay and his wine service, expertly pouring.
At precisely four o'clock that afternoon, the group in the home, joined by Hannah, John and Jessica Brooks as well as Father Jimmy, sat down at Cait's immaculately set table in her formal dining room to enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner together. Like always, the bond of family was wonderful. The food matched.
Two hours later, Matt, Lauren, Mike, Andi, Jake and Steph were walking the neighborhood with Bella, Max and Millie. Dave, Ted, Jarrod, John, Aaron and Sean were at the nook table, enjoying a tightly contested six-hand Cribbage game. Father Jimmy was keeping score. The scotch and Baileys was getting a workout at the table.
Maggie and Hannah were sitting in the nook chairs, sipping their Baileys, talking with Cait, Leslie and Jessica as they all enjoyed their after-dinner drinks. The four boys were upstairs in Jack and Tate's nook off their bedrooms. Watching Star Wars on the Spike channel. Again.
Jessica shook her head at Cait. "How many times can they watch that?"
Cait smiled. "It is timeless Jess."
Maggie shook her head at Cait. "Your dad dragged me to the movie theater to see the original when it first came out. It was our second date."
Cait giggled. "Forever the romantic."
"I heard that," Jarrod grumbled, looking at the cards Sean just dealt. Cait and Jess giggled together.
"John and my first hot date," Hannah smiled, "was Jaws."
"No!" Cait said. "That's so wrong!"
"Mom, you never told us," Jessica laughed.
"My brother Gordon was the projectionist at the Majestic. He snuck us in for free," John said.
The ladies all shook their heads. Dave looked at John and Jarrod. Aaron shook his head. "Back down Big Dog." Dave looked at him. Aaron smiled. "The next zinger to you is easy," he smiled, showing Dave three fingers.
"And will bury you," Sean smiled.
"Judge not lest ye be judged," Jimmy intoned.
"You're giving me Yoda?" Dave asked looking at Jimmy.
"No Davey, that's the book of Matthew, King James version of the Bible," Father Jimmy smiled at his friend.
Dave looked at the cards on the table. "Where were we?" The group all laughed.
After everyone had dessert and Cait's kitchen was spotless, the Brooks family and Father Jimmy got ready to head home. "I'm sorry we're missing Diana and Bill again this year," Hannah said to Cait. "And Fran and Sandy."
"Why don't you come out Saturday when they are all here? They would love to see you as well," Cait smiled.
"We don't want to intrude on team time," Jimmy said as the four boys came downstairs to hug everyone leaving.
Aaron shook his head. "They all missed you last year. Trust me, you will not be intruding. It's a potluck. And you can stick around for the game."
"Aaron?" Sean asked.
Aaron shook his head. "On the flight home Sunday, two overworked and very tired dummies, aka Reid and this one," Aaron said, pointing at Dave, "got into a heated argument about who's the better poker player." He looked at Sean. "We're hosting a Texas Hold 'Em Poker tournament," he said rolling his eyes. "Complete with one-hundred-dollar buy in."
"All proceeds go to the FBI Lost Agents Fund for Families," Dave added.
"It better," Matt growled. Aaron smiled at him.
Mike looked at his dad. "Who's sitting in the seven chairs?"
"Dave, Reid, Derek, Emily, Tara and Will," Aaron said.
Matt shook his head. "That's six."
Aaron smiled at him. "Guess who the cobra is that teaches my team a lesson?"
Mike winked at Matt and looked at the group. "Matt and I have got five to two on mom if anyone is interested," he smiled, "supporting the same charity." Cait looked at Dave and pointed her index and middle finger into her eyes and then pointed at his. The group all laughed.
Sean looked at Mike. "Put me down for twenty."
"Me too," Jake smiled.
Dave smiled. "Not remotely happening."
"Pony up Uncle Dave," Matt goaded.
Jimmy shook his head and looked at Maggie. "Will a shrimp cocktail thingy I can buy at the grocery store deli work?" He smiled. "Cause I'm not missing that."
"That works Jimmy," Maggie smiled, rubbing his arm. Tate hugged Father Jimmy.
Cait looked at Jessica. "I'll forward you Penelope's potluck list. Go from there. Anything works."
"Grandma," Jack said. "Your meatballs."
"Perfect!" Cait smiled. She and Jack shared a high five as Wyatt and Ethan warmly hugged Hannah and John.
"We're in," John smiled, buttoning his coat. He looked at Matt. "Put me down for ten on mom," he winked.
"Got it grandpa," Matt grinned.
"No pressure," Dave smugly smiled at Cait.
Cait looked at him. She already had her poker face on. Oh shit Dave thought.
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By three o'clock Saturday afternoon, the Hotchner family home on Deer Valley Road was filled with family and friends. Like Aaron predicted, Diana and Bill Reid, along with Fran Morgan and Sandy Jareau were thrilled to see the Brooks family and Father Jimmy. Maggie, Hannah, Diana, Fran and Sandy sat together at the nook table talking together.
The New York Hotchners thanked JJ for her string pulling so the boys could see the wreath laying ceremony at Arlington. Wyatt and Ethan proudly showed her their pins. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," JJ smiled.
With an overnight snowfall of four inches, JJ and Savannah helped Michael and Hank into their snow gear while the older boys pulled theirs on. Sean and Jake chased the boys into the backyard to enjoy sliding with three dogs merrily joining them.
Mike, like always, was manning the bar downstairs and was busy with the BAU team and their significant others. Matt was serving the older, and lighter, imbibers upstairs. Along with Jarrod, John, Ted and Father Jimmy. Declan made himself at home on Cait's piano bench, beautifully tickling the ivories playing holiday music. Matt handed a beer to Jimmy, nodding at Declan. "You Irish stick together," Matt winked. Jimmy delivered the beer.
Diana looked at Cait in the kitchen with Jessica, Leslie, Lauren and Andi, putting together the buffet. "I need a favor," Diana smiled.
"Name it," Cait smiled.
"You and that kid," she nodded at Declan with a smile, "doing something from The Sound of Music for me."
Cait shook her head. "Diana, you know I love you." Diana smiled with a nod. "There's a certain song from that movie that is a holiday favorite." Diana smiled more, already knowing the song. "Sorry luvs," Cait smiled at her. "I'm the wrong Barkley lady to ask to do it. That's mom, not me," she smiled with a point and wink.
"Come on grandma," Declan smiled, finishing Sleigh Ride. "I'd love to back you." Maggie got up from the table, walked to the piano and sat down next to Declan on the piano bench. "Name me your key," he smiled.
"I'm not that good," Maggie shook her head. "Give me options." Declan played two. "That one," Maggie smiled. My Favorite Things soon filled the home with music and brought the group downstairs into the Great Room with their drinks. When the duo finished, being greeted with loud applause, Maggie rubbed Declan's back. "You are good," she smiled.
"So are you," he smiled, kissing Maggie's cheek. JJ rubbed Emily's back as Em proudly smiled.
The boys soon burst into the home from the garage, heading for the fireplace to get warm. Michael LaMontagne skipped that and headed straight to the buffet, chugging a small bottle of water Sean had given him in the garage. "I'll get warmed up from the inside Aunt Cait," he smiled. Cait grabbed a plate and helped him fill it.
Cait handed the plate to him. "Go sit with Grandma. I'll get you some milk." The others didn't need another hint to enjoy the buffet.
While everyone was enjoying the food, John looked at Aaron. "I've gotta ask," he smiled. Aaron looked at him. "Who's the impartial dealer for the big poker tournament?"
"That would be me," Ted smiled, raising his hand. "With Mike highly monitoring my scotch intake."
"Afterwards, all bets are off," Mike smiled. "Andi and I get him back to Dave's."
"You are a good loser Rossi," Morgan smiled.
"No Derek," Dave smiled back. "It will be Ted's reward."
Cait shook her head at Aaron. "Let the games begin," she whispered. Aaron smiled at her. "No Aaron, I'm saying let's get this done now before it goes too late into the night."
Aaron looked at Ted. "Mr. Dealer, when you get filled up, please call the players to the table." Everyone looked at him. "We want you all to have fun and enjoy the night. And let the AARP crowd enjoy it too. But Cait and I also want you to be responsible. We just might care about you a little," he smiled.
"Hotch," JJ smiled. "Forty minutes to get smelly boys showered."
Cait smiled at her. "You know where the showers and towels are." Jack, Tate, Wyatt and Ethan ran upstairs. JJ chased Henry and Michael into Cait and Aaron's bathroom. Will grabbed the boys' bag they had brought and followed her. Savannah got Hank heading downstairs with Derek doing the same thing.
Moving to the piano, Cait sat down on the bench, nudging Declan off. "Go get something to eat," she smiled. "I've got this."
Declan kissed her cheek. "You Barkley ladies rock," he smiled.
"Yup we do," Cait smiled back.
Jarrod looked at Declan moving in to forgage the buffet line. "Just don't cross any of them son," he winked.
"Sound advice dad," Aaron smiled.
"Figured that out long ago," Declan smiled with a wink. Matt handed Declan another beer with a smile.
After Declan ate, he sat back down next to Cait. "Please do something with me," he smiled.
Cait smiled, playing him a grandiose introduction, nodding at the younger boys gathering around the piano. Declan smiled, pulling Hank and Michael onto his lap. Ethan smiled, climbing onto Cait's lap. The boys joined Declan and Cait doing Jingle Bell Rock.
Tara joined the sing along, doing a Hannah request of her Do You Hear What I Hear. Jack, leaning on Hannah's knee, eating his dessert, smiled at his grandmother. "That is awesome."
Tate was doing the same with Maggie. "Totally," he smiled at her. Maggie smiled, rubbing his back.
Matt, Lauren, Mike and Andi had everyone laughing and tapping their feet with their cover of Straight No Chaser's Christmas Can-Can. Everyone ate more, had dessert and enjoyed the music. Cait and Declan called a timeout to use the bathroom. Ted looked at the group when Cait returned. "Let the games begin," he smiled, heading downstairs. The seven younger boys headed upstairs to Jack and Tate's den area to watch The Avengers.
Aaron gently took Cait's hand and pulled her into the entryway going to the garage. "Got your rabbit's foot?" he grinned.
"Let's hope so," Cait smiled back.
"Good luck," Aaron said, giving her a kiss.
Cait started to walk away and then turned to look at him. "If I'm lucky enough to bury this once and for all, you owe me big time," she mischievously whispered.
"I know," Aaron whispered back with a smile.
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A/N: My annual "holiday" message on Facebook is Straight No Chaser's Christmas Can-Can. I send you all to YouTube.