A Little Snow Chapter 10

A little later in the evening Andy and Liv had arrived at the restaurant. Liv had successfully added the other women to their reservation and was excitedly awaiting their arrival. "Here, I'll sit next to you," she offered pulling out the chair to the side. Nodding to her right she indicated the best seat for him, "You need to face the door, so we don't miss them when they come in."

Andy nodded and somewhat reluctantly moved to the specified seat at the round table beside his sister, but still facing the door. Sharon had responded to Liv's text that they would be able to meet them for the 7:30 reservation time. Their plans were flexible until later, as they had tickets to the Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's that evening. The mother and daughter had originally planned to walk by the shops and the different decorations, but to find dinner along the way. Since the restaurant was nearby Sharon, with a gentle prod from Emily, had agreed to meet them there.

This evening the restaurant was full, but not overly crowded. It appeared that many of the diners were groups without small children enjoying the opportunity for a nice holiday gathering without the cleanup. Liv and Andy had been shown to a table near the front windows, and next to the Christmas tree in the corner. The lights from the tree reflecting off the window gave the dining room a very cozy holiday feel, even if the view of the dirty city street left something to be desired.

As the waiter dropped by to confirm the number in the party and if the group wanted tap or bottled water, the front door opened. Liv watched as Andy's head lifted and a flash of recognition crossed his face. As quickly as the light had appeared, he recovered with a small wave in the direction of the door. His sister followed his gaze to the front and beamed at the arrival of whom she assumed were Sharon and her daughter. She knew they were coming, but had been a little nervous that something would pop up. A small part of her also worried that she had been a little too pushy and had turned them away. Since it was Christmas she had tried her luck and hoped that the others would be willing to join them for a nice meal. It was not everyday that she had the opportunity to meet someone from Andy's west coast life, and if nothing else she could offer to at least be another contact in the city for Emily.

As the pair approached the table Andy stood to greet them and to introduce them to his sister. Liv stood as well and stepped around one of the chairs to offer Sharon a brief side-hug. "Merry Christmas," she greeted with a genuine smile. "It is so lovely to finally meet you both. I am very glad you could join us, especially on such short notice." She reached for Emily's hand and gently pulled her to the chair at her left, leaving the seat across from her for Sharon. "Now, you live here in the city?" She questioned as she sat back into her own seat and Emily allowed herself to be pulled into the adjacent chair.

"I do," Emily smiled shifting in the seat to scoot her legs under the table. She glanced to her mother, who was removing her purse to hang the strap on the back of her own chair, and then back to the other woman. "I just finished school last spring and am attempting to begin my career. A couple of my friends and I share an apartment not too far from here. It's small, but it works."

Liv looked across the table. Andy had his hand on the back of the chair as Sharon sat down. When she was situated she nodded her thanks to Andy and he retook his own seat. He turned in his seat to listen to the women's conversation. Liv smiled softly to herself, but without missing a beat returned her attention to the young woman. "Such an exciting time for you right now, Emily. A life so full of possibilities, and I can tell you are motivated. Your parents must be so proud of you!"

At the comment Sharon reached out her right hand to rub Emily's shoulder, "Trust me, I am." She smiled genuinely at the other woman, "Although I would be proud of her no matter what she was doing."

"My mother is, and has always been, my biggest fan," Emily explained with a sincere smile. "She is always there for us when either myself or my brother need her, always."

Liv reached out and patted Emily's hand that rested on the table, "As she should be." She pulled her hand back and reached for the water glass a member of the wait staff had just filled. "So, you said you were just starting your career? What are you doing? Or I guess, what are you hoping to do?"

She had caught Emily mid sip, so Andy cleared his throat and replied to his sister, "She is a dancer. A ballet dancer."

"Oh really?" Liv exclaimed twisting closer to Emily, "how lovely. Would I have seen any of your shows? I do not make it out often, but I do try. I love the ballet."

Returning her glass to the table Emily grinned, "Probably not, unless you attend the showcases at the university. I have had a couple small parts in a few productions as well, but probably nothing you have been to see yet."

Andy leaned forward supportively, "I feel like I have heard something somewhere about there being no small parts?"

"That's true," Emily smiled again, "I did not mean it like that. Just that I am still paying my dues and training hard." Her eyes drifted toward her mother as she bit down on her lip, "But I do have some news on the dancing front," she offered. "I have a pretty exciting audition coming up in a few weeks."

"Really?" Sharon leaned toward her daughter.

"Uh huh." Emily feigned indifference and shrugged, "Just a little opportunity with the American Ballet Theatre, no big deal."

Sharon clasped her hands together excitedly in front of her and echoed, "No big deal? Emily this is wonderful news."

"Congratulations," Andy offered from across the table. He knew very little about the dance world, but any audition with a something like that had to be a good thing.

Emily smiled and looked around at everyone, "Thank you. But it is nothing to be too excited about yet. I mean I am really hopeful, but I have not made it yet. I auditioned before last season as well. This time around I have a call back, so... We shall see how it goes."

"Still, that is all very exciting," Liv added. "Something to be proud of for sure. Are you dancing anywhere now? I would love to come to one of your shows. Sometimes it is hard to know what to do and where to go in this city. I am always looking for new places to go, new people to see."

The younger woman smiled, "I am in a winter showcase right now at a small studio in the Village. Luckily, I was able to find a place where I could teach and train at the same time. So, my life is all dance right now, and I absolutely love it."

"Em has been dancing since before she could walk. I always knew she would find a way to make it her life," Sharon beamed. Emily pressed her lips together in an awkward smile as her face reddened slightly. Her mother leaned toward her and reassuringly hummed her earlier sentiments, "I am so proud of you honey. This is where you are meant to be."

Liv glanced over to Andy with a smile in order to give Emily a moment to collect herself. However, before anyone had another chance to speak the waiter returned to take their orders. When everyone made their selections Liv took the opportunity to shift the topic of conversation away from ballet. "So, Sharon," she straightened in her seat and leaned forward, "You and Andy work together."

"Well, not together," Andy clarified before Sharon could answer. At his response, Sharon shot him a quick look prevent him from interrupting the conversation any further. Andy closed his mouth and reached for his glass instead.

His sister pressed her mouth together to hold back a chuckle over the exchange. When she was certain Andy was not going to interrupt, Sharon grinned across the table to Liv. "He is right, we don't work together. We both work for the LAPD of course, but in different departments."

"Mom is in internal affairs," Emily nodded reaching for her glass as well, "she polices the police."

"The rat squad," Andy groaned under his breath.

Not hearing his exact words, but assuming it was something negative Sharon smirked, "Someone has be to there to hold everyone accountable. We may not be the most beloved department, but without us? Things could devolve into utter chaos. Not everyone on the force has the same goals and motivations in mind. We are a wonderful department on the whole, but occasionally someone decides they are above the law. The system falls apart if regulations are overlooked or ignored. If an officer lets something slide it runs the risk of discrediting the entire system."

"It sounds like a tough job," Liv nodded, but cut her eyes meaningfully in Andy's direction. "I have been policing this one for decades and sometimes it feels like a losing battle. I can't imagine doing it on a larger scale, and with those who you can't threaten, to tell mom."

He caught her look and forced a smile, "Policing me? I am not that bad."

"Not anymore." Liv reached out and placated him by rubbing his arm, "but you still have your moments."

Andy returned the comment with an unimpressed smirk. Emily let out a hearty laugh at the familiar sibling exchange. At the sound of the laughter, Andy's face broke into a smile as well, but before he could offer anything in his defense he heard Sharon snort into her drink. He shifted his eyes to the spot at his right; she was attempting to hide her amusement behind her hand, but her eyes were still shining with laughter. "You think that's funny, Raydor?" When she only shook her head to the side he went on, "You cannot deny that I am right. I am not that bad, there are worse people out there. I follow the rules," he shrugged before adding, "mostly."

Collecting herself she smiled, "Is that your argument, Flynn? There are worse people out there, and you are not that bad? Because that is not exactly a high bar you have set for yourself."

Andy rolled his eyes, "You know what I mean."

Liv sat across the table observing their banter. She leaned toward Sharon conspiratorially, "Tell me, Sharon. What is my little brother like at work? His stories always leave me thinking there is something more. You know he has always been a bit of a troublemaker. Momma always said it was a pleasant surprise for all of us when he made the choice to be on this side of the bars, rather than ending up on the other side of them."

Still enjoying the conversation Emily smiled mischievously across the table, "Is she saying you were trouble as a kid, Andy?"

Liv nodded to the young woman, "He acted out some."

"Who didn't?" Andy huffed, "but I didn't sneak out of the house to meet my -"

"That isn't what we are speaking about right now, Andrew," Liv interrupted with a stern tone. "You are the one with a questionable history of not following the rules, and your indiscretions are well documented."

Sharon shifted forward and laughed, "History? You mean a questionable present too, right?"

"Oh yes," his sister smiled, "I misspoke, I have heard of a few recent misadventures as well. You know what they say about old dogs and such."

"Hey now," Andy interrupted. "Who are you calling old? And I think new tricks have been mastered, thank you very much. I may have a handful of charges in my file, but I have been cleared of each one of those bogus claims."

Sharon tilted her head to the side in thought. "Mastered new tricks?" She clarified tapping a finger to her chin, "I feel like we may have differing definitions of that term."

"Careful, Andy," Emily warned with practiced seriousness, "I know this look. She is just getting started. You had better just stop talking now and admit that you are wrong." Despite her attempt to appear firm she began to giggle at her mother's expression.

Sharon lifted an eyebrow in her daughter's direction, "Are you suggesting I am not willing to discuss a difference of opinions?"

"No, mother, not at all," Emily stated sweetly holding back her laughter. "I was just giving Andy a heads up. From my brief observations today I feel like he does not quite have this all figured out yet."

Liv patted her brother's shoulder, "He is a slow learner."

"Hey!" Andy swiveled his head toward her, "Whose side are you on? What about sibling solidarity?"

"Well," she sighed as she took a sip of her water to avoid answering.

Sharon laughed at the evasion. "Poor, Andy. You have had a rough couple of days, and now that we are all here your sister seems to be siding against you too."

"She has crossed over to the dark side," Andy groaned. "I knew this dinner was a bad idea."

Liv rubbed her brother's arm again. "Oh now, Andy, don't be like that. We are just teasing you." She shifted her gaze to Sharon and smirked, "but I don't think this was a bad idea at all. I am having a wonderful time."

"Me too," Emily chimed in. "Mom was a little hesitant, but I always enjoy meeting her friends."

"Hesitant?" Sharon echoed, "I just did not want to keep Andy away from his sister. We had a long journey and it is not like we had planned to spend the evening as a group."

Emily smiled at Liv, "See, hesitant. But you cannot force her to do something she does not want to do in the first place. Also, like I said I thought it would be fun as well. Since my brother is out of the country and I am over here there are no rules to say we had to stick to something specific."

"No rules?" Andy chimed in, "How will you survive?"

Sharon cut her eyes in his direction, "Funny," she stated firmly. "Contrary to popular belief I can adapt to new situations, rules or no rules."

"I feel like this whole conversation needs to be documented," Andy teased. "Provenza would have a field day with this."

She pressed her lips together in a saccharine smile, "Go ahead and continue with that line of thought. I dare you."

"Careful, Andy," his sister warned, "I am definitely on Sharon's side for this one."

Andy sat back in his chair and smirked, "Of course you are."

Fortunately for Andy the food arrived and the conversation shifted to short conversations about the meal and the atmosphere. The food was delicious, definitely better than the hotel breakfast that morning and the roadside diner that afternoon. Liv took the opportunity to ask Emily more about her job and her life in the city, but nothing too specific. As the dinner came to a close Liv asked about the rest of their evening plans.

"I was able to get tickets to Midnight Mass at St Patrick's," Emily smiled. "It is a beautiful cathedral, I am really looking forward to the service tonight. I do not usually attend mass over there, but for Christmas it seemed appropriate. We are going to walk around for a bit first though."

Andy nodded, "We are going to a service closer to Liv's place."

"Yes," his sister confirmed, "but we still have time to walk around. I was going to make my brother take me over to see the tree. He hasn't been up here for Christmas the last couple of years and that was one of the things we did as kids. Although, I think we will skip the ice skating this year, I don't think I have it in me."

Emily smiled at Liv, "Well, if you want you could join us." She gave her mother a quick grin before returning her attention to the other woman, "As I said, there are no rules tonight. We are just wandering around enjoying Christmas in the city."