Disclaimer: I do not have any claim to any thing other than my own crazy mind ...
The boys begin to string the lights ...
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CHAPTER TWO: BOBBY SHOULD GO BACK TO READING IN BED!
Sparky and Exterior Illumination
Liz puts her arms around Alex, their heads touch as they look outside at Bobby, Logan and Lewis, already starting to argue about the right and wrong way to light a house.
"That man adores his family Lex, you don't know how lucky you are."
"Yeah well, lets hope he doesn't burn the house down with us in it!" She's watching intently as the scene before her unfolds. Her husband, his best friend and their former colleague, now friend … working together on trying to make this Christmas … a special Christmas. A tear escapes from her eye thinking about what his Christmas past must have been like. He shut himself off from her every Christmas since they became Partners. He must be trying to erase his past she thought, by beginning a new with his new wife, new babies and new home … he did seem happy and for that she was thankful and fearful all at the same time.
She opened the window to yell out to her husband.
"Hey Sparky! I hope you paid the premium on our home owner's insurance."
Bobby's smile made Alex's heart skip a beat. She could just maul him … if her ankle wasn't throbbing and when he has his mind set on something, even Alex's womanly ways can't distract him. So Alex was content to just watch her husband from her bedroom window … there would be time for that later.
"Did you buy a staple gun?"
"Yeah, I bought one and have one … we're good."
"So, I'm thinking, if you go on one side of the house and Lewis on the other side and then somehow meet in the middle."
"How are we gonna meet in the middle Logan?"
"How the hell do I know? Do I have a house? I came for lunch. Yo Alex! What's for lunch?" Bobby smacks him upside the head.
"Mike, is that all you think about ...food?"
"No Lewis, I think about a lot of things but right now my stomach is telling me to think about food!"
Bobby and Lewis looked at each other and went back to work on untangling the lights. Liz came outside with coffees and offered to make Mike something to eat … he went inside. He hadn't seen Alex or the kids yet and lets face it … he was hungry.
"Hey Bobby G, you didn't happen to watch Christmas Vacation last night did ya?"
"The movie with the cat?" Bobby spreads his arms and legs out and Lewis starts laughing.
"I can't believe you watched that movie man. At least now I know why we're doing this."
"You know, there's a contest in town. If we do a good job, we could win. Alex would love it!"
"I'm worried about you man … I'm used to you being miserable around the holidays. You're kinda creeping me out."
"Ya well, get used to the new me Lewis, I'm on top of the world!"
"Oh Christ, you saw that movie too." Lewis marched right into the house leaving Bobby alone to untangle the lights.
"ALEX … ALEX … DETECTIVE ALEX!"
"Lewis … be quiet, you'll wake the babies."
"Hell they sleep too much as it is. Where the hell is Alex?"
Alex comes hobbling down the steps on her crutches.
"What the hell are you yelling about Lewis?"
Lewis grabs her crutches and sets them aside, then he grabs her, lifts her up and twirls her around. She squeals … a little … she is an Eames and Eames' don't squeal.
"Lewis what's this all about?"
"I've waited practically my entire life to see that man happy. I didn't think I would live that long! He gently set her back down and kissed her cheek. That man out there is happy, more than happy … deliriously happy. He wants to win the Christmas home decorating contest for you."
"Help me get outside Lewis."
Lewis picks Alex up and carries her out to Bobby, Mike hangs back with Liz and plays with the babies … anything to get out of stringing the lights. Bobby is down on his knees with the lights, a pad of paper and the blueprints to his house. Alex and Lewis look over Bobby's shoulder and then at each other before shear panic sets in.
"Robert Goren … blueprints?"
"Alex? You should be in the house resting that ankle. He grabs her from Lewis and spins her around. I can't wait for the triplets to be all excited about Christmas."
"You mean like you are?"
"This is the first Christmas since I was probably about four that I'm excited about. Now lets get you back in the house and us back to work … what do ya say Lew?"
"One thing before I go back in." Bobby sighs.
"Yes Dear."
"I know I always call you a genius and I also know you don't like it but … you are one … a profiling criminologist genius … not an electrician. Please don't burn our beautiful house down."
As he carries her back in the house, he yells for Mike to come back outside but sees his babies downstairs and takes a minute to kiss and cuddle them.
"I have this covered Als, don't you worry. We have enough electrical service to cover everything. It's gonna be great. Exterior Illumination … my specialty!"
"Since when?"
"Since I saw the movie."
"Heaven help us."
"He didn't burn the house down … only the tree. Which brings me to the other thing we have to do. Can we buddle up the triplets and go chop down the Goren family Christmas tree tonight?"
"Okay, ya know what? You are not allowed to watch TV any more!"
"Hey, chop, chop … lets climb these ladders boys, it's almost my nap time." Bobby kisses Alex and the babies and shoves Mike out the door.
"Is that what you've been doing since you retired Logan … napping?"
"Eh … yeah, Carolyn says she won't marry me until I find a job … so … I'm dragging my cold feet."
"Mike look at Bobby G. He's the happiest ever … I'm thinking about asking Laura to marry me. You know, we're not getting any younger."
"No kidding and my beard is getting longer twiddling my thumbs while the two of you contemplate your future … can we please get these lights up?"
"Okay, okay … lets plug them in before we put them up to make sure they work."
When Bobby and Alex bought the house, it came with the out door Christmas outlet package … Bobby had no clue what that meant … until now.
"This is convenient … outlets outside."
Bobby stands a little taller.
"Yeah, a ha … it's the special Christmas outlet package … cost an extra thousand bucks but when we win the contest it will be well worth it."
Glances by Lewis and Logan were once again exchanged but this time Logan made the circle motion near his temple. They plugged the lights in and the three men were instantly blinded by the thirty thousand lights. The three of them covered their eyes and stumbled backwards. Liz and Alex were watching from the window and started laughing.
"Dumb, dumber and dumbest!"
"Oh God Lex … don't let him watch those movies!"
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Next up: The Goren Family Tree. Thanks for reading, reviews are appreciated, Judy :)