I do not own Summerland. I do own the Colemans.
froggy2045: Hey, thanks so much for reading/reviewing!!! I'm glad you liked it!!! And yep, it was stupid of 'em! Lol! Hope you like this one!
Candace Storms: Thank you!!! I'm so glad you loved it!! Music to an author's ears... lol! You would know that though... Awesome! I'll go check it out now! (Your new chapter(s) I mean!) I hope you like this ch!
bj: Oh! I thought it was somebody from ffnet but didn't know who! Sorry, I'll send you a friend request cause for some reason yours got deleted off mine... I think.. I might be wrong but I'll get you on my list somehow! Lol! Anyway, thanks so much for reading and reviewing! It means a lot! And I'm sorry I didn't update that soon again... I'll try to make it sooner this time though! I hope you like this chapter! No, I've only written one more after this one so... Hope I can pull of the ending I have in my mind... Just gonna have to bare with me! LYLAS too!
ChrissyD: Big Smile! Hey, I'm glad you're still reading!!! No, it's not over yet! Still got about 3 or fours chapters to go... How could I just end it there!??! Lol! I'm so glad you liked this chapter! I know, it was sooo fun making them be afraid that the other didn't love them as much! Lol! To write I mean.. you know! Lol! Okay, I'll check out your stuff on the other site! My name there is "Anna Christie" (with the space by the way) just in case you wanna check out some of my poetry! That's all I have up as of now... anyway, hope you like this chapter!
Julie: Hi, there! Are you a new reader?? If so, thanks so very, very much for reading and reviewing! And even if you're not a new reader that still applies! Lol! I hope you like this chapter!!!
Sweet-Romantic: lol! Thank you! I'll take that! Hope you like this one just as much!!! It was my favorite to write so far, mostly the end of it but the whole thing was fun!
XoCaliBabiox: Yah only 3 or 4 left... but I'm seriously thinking about a sequel. I already have a pretty good idea for it in my head... whatcha' think? Would you read it? Or are these characters getting old... lol! Anyway, thank you so much for reading, reviewing and liking this chapter!! Lol! I really hope you like this one as much! I really enjoyed writing it so I just hope you enjoy reading as much! Lol! I don't know... it does seem like that doesn't it? Lol! Did you mean in all the Summerland fics or just mine? If you meant just mine then yeah, lol! It really does seem like it! I guess that's just like, what I picture his "environment" as being! LOL!
Chapter XXXII
Christmas Cheer is In The Air!
"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening! A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland..."
"Bradin! Could you help me with this?" Nikki Westerly called to her older brother, Bradin who was sitting on the floor stringing popcorn with her younger brother, Derrick.
"Sure!" Bradin jumped up and ran to Nikki's side to assist her in putting Christmas lights in the front windows.
"Thanks, just hang it up there," Nikki handed him a red star to put at the top of the window while she put fake candles on the sill.
"Bradin, how do I tie this?" Derrick still sat on the floor stringing popcorn.
"Just a second, D.!" Bradin called as he put a green star in the next window. "Here," he came over and sat down beside his brother to help him tie a knot at the end of his string and put it on the large Evergreen that stood proudly in a spacious corner of the Gregory living room.
Ding, dong!
"I'll get it!" four voices called at once then everyone laughed. Jay, who was closest, opened the front door to find a giddy Teresa Coleman standing on the front porch dressed in a seasonal, light, sweater and jeans. "Hey, come on in! Everybody's in the living room." He said, smiling.
"Thanks!" Teresa hurried into the living room and smiled and greeted everyone as they greeted her. "Hey, guys! Bradin, guess what!?"
"Is that an order," Bradin asked, not looking up from his decorating, "Or are you going to tell me before I get the chance to guess?"
"Just for that, it's an order," Teresa smirked.
"Okay... well... let's see... Ms. Barnes decided to leave the country- world for ever and never come back cause she realizes that normal human beings can't take her attitude!?" Bradin made up an outlandish idea.
"Bradin Westerly, she's not that bad!" Teresa tried her best not to laugh.
"She is when she gives you three weeks worth of homework crap to do over your Winter Holidays..." Bradin mumbled.
"Anyway, that's not it! Guess again!" Teresa pressed, "And it's your own fault you got that extra work!" She added, "If you wouldn't stare at girls during your lessons..."
"Hey! I was not staring... just... looking." Bradin faced his girlfriend and grinned mischievously, "Besides, it's not like I didn't notice you checking Blake Hunter out!"
Teresa blushed but moved on, "Fine, you're not gonna guess so I'll tell you! My mom is getting me a car for Christmas... er has gotten me a car for Christmas! It's in the driveway and that's not all!" she exclaimed, her joy clearly showing, "My grandpa Dave is coming down!! Oh my God, I can't believe it! I haven't seen him in years!" She smiled so that it took up her entire face.
"That's great, Baby!" Bradin gave her a kiss on the cheek, "I know how much you've been missing him!"
"I have... I know! And he's bringing his sister, my great aunt Fay and a whole bunch of cousins and uncles and aunts that I've never or barely met, and of course some that I have, with him! It's gonna be like one big happy family reunion but from both sides of the family since my mom's side was already coming down and now my dad's is!!" Teresa laughed, "Which means there's bound to be some "opinion differences!"
"Don't you mean fights?" Bradin asked, moving around her to hang an ornaments on the tree.
"I like to be polite about it but, yes!" she laughed then seemed to suddenly notice everyone else in the room, "Oh gosh! I totally forgot you guys were here!" She laughed, "Feel free to butt in at any time though, okay?"
"Okay..." several voices chorused then everyone laughed again.
It was the 15th of December and everyone was really getting into the Holiday spirit. Ava sat in a comfy green arm chair next to a side table addressing Christmas cards, Susannah was making a few final touches to a seasonally colored, velvet dress, Jay was wrapping presents for his friends and family, who weren't in the room with him that is, Johnny was hanging stockings over the "fire place" which was actually a book shelf, but hey, when you live in California, on the beach, you have to improvise. Derrick was stringing more popcorn, Nikki was now sitting on the floor wrapping presents for Amber and Cameron and Bradin was hanging ornaments on the tree with Teresa.
The family had invited Teresa and her mother, aunt and sister to join them for Christmas dinner on the 18th as their relatives were to be arriving on the 20th and they wouldn't be able to come after that. They had accepted and Teresa was looking forward to it immensely.
"Brae..." she ventured, more quietly than everything else she had said.
"Mm hmm?" Bradin asked, absently.
"Brae, do you think... um... well, that is, would you mind taking me somewhere?" Teresa looked worried he would say "no."
"I thought you got a car?" Bradin asked, grinning. Teresa frowned. "I'm just kidding, where do you wanna go?" he smiled sweetly.
"Well... not far just, well, yeah, far." Teresa laughed, "I was wanting to go down to Raines and watch the sunset, it's supposed to be the most beautiful during the winter..."
"Raines? You realize that's like, nearly 500 miles from here?" Bradin asked, trying to make sure she really knew what she was talking about but not sound like he wasn't willing to do it.
"Yeah... but I thought we could take my car and I have a friend down there who said we could spend the night with her so we didn't have to drive back overnight. It would have to be okay with your aunt but I thought I'd make sure you even wanted to before asking her. I already cleared it with my mom." Teresa's eyes showed that she really wanted him to say yes, and how could he say no anyway?
"Alright... if Aunt Ava'll let me," he added even quieter.
"Aunt Ava..." Bradin and Teresa walked up to the woman, smiling.
"What is it?" Ava continued to address envelopes.
"Um... I was wondering if you'd mind if we took my new car and drove down to Raines to visit a friend of mine and to watch the sunset?"
"Raines?" Ava raised her eyebrows then smiled, "Of course, the sunset is beautiful down there... I don't see why not but won't you have to drive back overnight or..."
"No, my friend asked her mother if we could stay one night and she said yes. Her name's Ali Johnson and you can call her mother if you'd like to make sure it's all true!"
"Oh, that's alright, I'm sure you're not making it up!" Ava laughed, "Alright, you can go." She said, looking at Bradin.
"Thank you!!" Teresa smiled widely.
"Yeah, thanks, Aunt Ava," Bradin agreed then turned to Teresa, so when are you wanting to leave?"
"Tomorrow morning, say... 5:00am?" Teresa asked, looking at Ava again. She nodded.
"Whoa... nobody said I'd have to get up early..." Bradin laughed, "But whatever, I don't have anything better to do with my break anyway..."
Teresa smiled, "Just that homework you made yourself get piled on! Anyway, I'll be over here at 4:30am to wake your butt up!" she laughed.
"Works for me," Bradin said then picked up a string of popcorn and handed it to Teresa, "Now, you get to help Derrick put this up while I go somewhere..."
"Where?"
"Oh, nowhere in particular... Hey, Nik, you ready?" Bradin said mysteriously. Teresa smiled, he must be going to get her something...
"Ready for what?" Nikki was putting a bow on the present she'd bought for her boyfriend and looked up at her brother.
"Don't make me tell you what just come on!" he laughed.
"Ooooh!!!" Nikki grinned and stood up. Running upstairs she grabbed her purse and slipped on some shoes then headed back down to the living room to find her brother standing at the front door, "Let's go!" she smiled.
Once outside, up to the main road and into town a little ways Nikki spoke up, "You know, it sure doesn't feel like Christmas weather around here..."
"I know... remember how freezing it would get back in Kansas..." Bradin laughed but then wished he hadn't said anything about Kansas.
"Yeah.." Nikki spoke softly, "Do you ever miss the snow?"
"All the time!" Bradin smiled, "I know, you miss them... I miss 'em too, Nik..." he added, sounding sad.
"Oh, Brae! I wish I could just have one more day! One more chance to say 'I love you,' one more hug, smile, word, anything!"
"I know..." Bradin said quietly, "Come here." He wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulders and pulled her close to him, "We've got each other and we've got our memories and we'll see them again some day so... be happy, okay?" he smiled down at her making her smile in spite of herself.
She nodded, trying to hold back tears. "I love you..." she choked.
"I love you too..." Bradin held onto her as they walked down the streets of Playa Linda. "Hey Cameron!" he called, suddenly noticing the younger teenager coming out of a store. "Heads up, Nik..." he whispered, telling her to quit looking so sad.
Nikki punched him in the arm for getting Cameron's attention before giving her a "heads up." "Gee, thanks!" she hissed, trying to sound angry, but she was really joking.
"Hey, guys! Trying to steal my girl, Brae?" Cameron grinned impishly, referring to Bradin's arm around Nikki's shoulders.
"Not a chance," Bradin laughed, "Hey, I can hug my sister, can't I?"
"Sure! Hey, Baby..." Cameron kissed Nikki quickly on the lips as she gave him a hug, "You ready for Christmas?"
"Yeah... I can't wait to see what you got me!" Nikki grinned.
"Oh, so you can wait to see me but not what I got you! Boy, are you full of yourself!" Cameron laughed.
"Cameron Bale!" Nikki folded her arms across her chest, "You can consider your present given to my brother now." She frowned.
"I'm sorry..." Cameron still laughed.
"It's okay, I'm not serious anyway!" She smiled and kissed him deeply.
"Hello!? I'm standing here!" Bradin said making the two pull apart.
"Yeah, so close your eyes if you don't wanna see it!" Nikki stuck out her tongue then kissed Cameron again.
"Yeah, so I'm going now, Nikki!" Bradin said loudly, walking down the street.
Nikki pulled away and smiled, "Gotta go! Hey, you wanna come?"
"Where you going?"
"Helping Brae get Teresa a present..."
"Sure," Cameron smiled, put his arm around Nikki's waste and walked beside her as she caught up with Bradin.
"Mind if he comes?"
"If he can keep his mouth shut!" Bradin said, giving Cameron a look.
"Will do!" Cameron pretended to zip his lips closed, "One thing though, what am I keeping my mouth shut about?"
"You'll see... and you better keep that 'will do' promise!" Bradin said as he looked over at Nikki, "Here?"
"Yeah, here is probably good," Nikki looked up at the building the trio stood before.
"A jewelry store- oooooh..." Cameron dragged the word out, grinning.
Bradin smiled and looked around to make certain Teresa wasn't around for some strange reason.
"Come on, Brae, she's helping Derrick! She won't be out of there till after his bedtime!" Nikki laughed and grabbed her brother's hand, "Let's go!"
The three walked into the small jewelry store and walked up to the counter where the clerks were.
"May I help you?" A young woman, about 20 years old, asked.
"Yes, I'm looking for an engagement ring," Bradin said.
The girl smiled, "Over here, please." She led the way to a crystal clear, glass case of various styles of rings in various sizes.
Bradin and Nikki looked them over until finally finding the one that they both said was perfect. Bradin thought it would look good on her finger and Nikki claimed she "wouldn't be able to turn him down with that one!"
After purchasing the ring and having it put in a dark red box with a small green bow tied around it the three left the store.
"Now, tell me something, Brae... How long have you been saving for that?" Nikki laughed.
"Um... I kinda... 'took out a loan...'" Bradin admitted.
"From where- Oh, no! Not your savings!" Nikki smiled, "Gosh, you're a sweet guy!"
Bradin laughed, "Thanks... yeah, my savings, but hey, she's worth it..." Bradin seemed to lose himself in thought so Nikki leaned into Cameron and sighed. They walked along in silence, each thinking their own thing, until they reached a Pizza Parlor.
"Wanna stop here for lunch, guys?" Cameron asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Sure!" the siblings chorused.
"Great! I'm starved!"
"You're always starved!" Nikki laughed.
"He's a guy, Nik, get used to it!" Bradin laughed.
"Oh, don't worry, I am! I live with you don't I!?" Nikki laughed again as they all entered the small restaurant.
"I think I'll call Teresa and have her meet us here," Bradin said pulling out his cell phone and dialing the number without even thinking about it.
"Ow!" Teresa sucked her finger where she'd just poked it with a needle trying to embroider garland into Place Mats with Ava and Susannah. Took me back to the house in the back yard tree, said you'd beat me up you were bigger than me... You never did, you never did...
Taylor's Swift's "Mary's Song (Oh My, My, My)" came from Teresa's phone on the table next to her. She grabbed it and hit talk. "Hello?"
"Hey, Babe! I'm down at Pizza Parlor with Nikki and Cameron and wanted to know if you wanna join us for lunch?" Bradin spoke into the phone as he slapped Nikki's hand away from his Ipod.
"I'd love to! Oh, but I don't know if I can, I just remembered I said I'd help Susannah-" Teresa stopped and Bradin heard muffled voices in the background then, "Hey, sorry 'bout that! Anyway, never mind what I just said, I'll be there in ten!"
"Great! See you in a minute!" Bradin smiled, "I love you too, bye!" Closing his phone he set it on the table next to the Ipod and laughed as Nikki again reached for it. "Don't you have one?"
"Yeah, but it's got my songs on it, I wanna see what you have!" Nikki smiled, "Please?"
"Fine, whatever, but I do not want to hear you laugh when you get to Barney singing 'I Love You...'" Bradin said seriously.
"You have- oh shut up!" Nikki started to believe him but realized it was only a joke. She grabbed the music player, stuck the headphones in her ears and started searching through his list of songs. "Cool! I didn't know you had this- actually, I didn't know anything you had! Anyway, good song wouldn't think you'd like it though..."
"Which one?" Bradin asked, not really paying attention.
"Mary's Song (Oh My, My, My) by Taylor Swift." Nikki said.
"Oh, that's Teresa's. She asked me to get it for her so she could listen to it since she doesn't have an Ipod..." Bradin still wasn't paying much attention, "My favorite's 'Photograph' by Nickleback..."
"Cool, I have that song too!" Nikki said. She kept flipping through songs till she came to "Bad day" by Daniel Powter. "Awesome! I've been meaning to get this on mine," she said, this time stopping to listen to the whole song.
"Hey, guys!"
The trio looked up to see a beaming Teresa Coleman heading toward their booth. Bradin stood, kissed her on the cheek and let her slide in beside him to the window. "You seem unusually happy!" he remarked, feeling a little gloomy for some reason, his girlfriend's cheerfulness making it worse...
"I am! Being with your family has been the first time I've been able to feel like... well, like everything's okay even with my dad and brother being gone..." Teresa continued to smile but it was clear that bringing up her father and brother hadn't been the greatest thing.
"I'm sorry..." Bradin mumbled, looking intently at the polished brown wood of the table before him. "I'm glad you're happy, baby, I really am!" he added quietly.
"What's the mat-" Teresa cut herself short as she noticed Cameron, almost imperceptibly, shake his head. "Um... have you ordered?" she changed what she was going to say.
"Yeah, it should be ready-" Cameron looked at his watch, "now." He grinned and stood up to get the pizza's. Bradin went with him leaving the two teenage girls alone.
"So, Nikki... is Bradin alright?" Teresa ventured, slightly chewing on her lip.
Nikki took off the headphones, wrapped them around the Ipod and set it by Bradin's phone. "I think he's just a little upset... I mean, it's our first Christmas without-" Nikki choked.
"I'm sorry," Teresa said softly, putting her hand on the younger girl's.
Nikki tried to smile at the same time she fought tears but failed. Crystal droplets fell from her eyes and she looked away, quickly brushing them with her hand as Bradin and Cameron came back. Bradin set down his box of Pizza and Cameron the other but neither sat down. Bradin looked at Nikki, who was still looking out the window and sat beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders, "It's alright, Nik..." he whispered into her ear. She sighed, clearly upset, and leaned onto his shoulder, "I know... but, it's so hard..." she sighed again, her breath shaking with the threat of sobs but she held them in and made herself smile. Cameron stood by patiently and waited until Bradin had wiped away a couple of tears from Nikki's cheeks, smiled and kissed her on the forehead. Squeezing her hand, he stood up and took his place beside Teresa as Cameron sat down next to his girlfriend and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
The meal was eaten in near silence and nobody attempted conversation because of the sadness that hung in the air. Teresa did miss her dad and brother but seeing Nikki cry made her realize how lucky she was that she did still have her mother. And Bradin... he was trying to be strong, he was doing a good job of it, but she could tell he was hurting deeply and because of that she could find almost nothing to say the entire time.
Cameron hated it when his baby girl cried! He held her tightly with one arm the whole time they ate and knew that he didn't have to say anything, just being there made all the difference a lot of the time. He also hated to see Bradin upset, they were both such great people, it just didn't seem right that they should have had to suffer so much... And everything else that had happened to Bradin... he didn't know how he would have held up to being molested and beaten!
After eating Nikki and Cameron went to Ava's to decorate some more plus, Nikki had invited Cameron to stay to dinner so he was headed that way anyway.
"Wanna go for a walk before we head back to your place, Brae?" Teresa asked as she and Bradin stepped out of the Pizza Parlor. Bradin nodded silently, avoiding her eyes, shoved his hands in his pockets and dropped his head. Teresa sighed, she hated seeing him upset, especially when he wouldn't open up to her.
After walking for a good 15 minutes in silence Teresa moved closer to Bradin, pulled his left hand out of his pocket and took it in hers. "Brae... you alright?"
Bradin slipped his other hand out of its pocket and wrapped them both around Teresa's waist, sighing, "Yeah... I just miss them..." he stopped to keep his emotions in check, "So much... You know, it's like... they should just still be here... right now..."
"I know... it's okay..." Teresa walked along beside him all the way back to the beach house where they sat out on the back step remembering their dads and Bradin's mother and Teresa's brother till Ava found them and asked them to come help her in the house.
After a lively dinner everyone went into the living room and chatted a while longer until it was nearly 11:00pm. Cameron had just left for his house when Teresa said suddenly, noticing the time, "Gosh, I better get home!"
"I'll walk you if you'd like," Bradin said, standing.
"Thank you. I would like," Teresa smiled, taking his hand.
"I'll be right back, Aunt Ava," Bradin said heading for the door.
"Hang on just a minute!" Ava said, rushing upstairs and back. "Nikki," she got the young teen's attention away from the card she was making for her grandmother and said, "I think you better open this today," she handed her niece a medium sized box wrapped in silver and pink wrapping paper with a big, soft blue bow tied around it. "I'm sure it'll wanna eat before the 25th!"
Nikki looked puzzled but carefully untied the ribbon and took off the lid to the box, She squealed and gingerly picked up a tiny white kitten with short whiskers, bright blue eyes and a pink nose that seemed to stand out in contrast with its stark white fur. The baby cat was no bigger than a Twinkie and began meowing almost the instant Nikki touched her.
"She's a little too young to be on her own so there's still some raising to do, but Susannah and I found her yesterday on the side of the road and gave her a bath and fed her and she seemed alright, we took her to the vet and she's perfectly healthy, just young." Ava explained. "So take special care of her!"
"Oh, Aunt Ava! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Nikki exclaimed, giving her aunt a hug. Ava smiled and told her she was welcome.
"What are you gonna name her, honey?" Susannah asked, looking on.
The biggest smile spread across Nikki's face and she ran over to Bradin. Upon reaching her brother she looked up, "Snowflake." She declared. Bradin smiled and took the tiny kitten in his hands, its small body barely taking up his palm, while Nikki ran into the kitchen with her aunt to get a bottle of milk for her new baby, Snowflake.
"Why Snowflake?" Jay raised one eyebrow, looking over at Bradin after Nikki had left the room.
Bradin looked at Teresa, standing next to him with her eyes dancing, then up at Jay. He had a mixed look of sadness and peace on his face as he replied. "Our mother used to tell us that with the first snowflake of the winter... everything was okay..." he looked down at the kitten, "Everything's okay."
Okay, so that's my favorite chapter! (Out of everything I've written so far.) Y'all let me know what you think, mkay? Thank you!!!
P.S. Still a good three chapters to go, maybe four.. I'm not sure yet... But keep on the lookout!
Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15