I really thought this was going to be short but I have to stretch it to Christmas and now I have to get it back on track ... here goes something ....
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CHAPTER EIGHT: THE CIRCUS MOVES TO THE GOREN'S
Back To Business As Unusual
After all was said and done, the Goren's and the Eames head from one circus back to another … the Goren household. They all came through the door with circus memorabilia, photos, candy and memories to last a lifetime. John Eames rushed over to the TV and hooked up the camcorder while Bobby and Alex changed and fed the triplets and Mike got on the phone and yelled … "dinner is on me." He placed a pizza order … big spender that he was … and they all sat back and relived Bobby's big circus debut. Everyone was laughing, Nate was sitting on his Uncle's lap bouncing on his knee … happy as a clam while Matt watched on. Matt was losing his son and he could see why … Bobby was a real life super hero in Nate's eyes … how could he compete with that. He got up to leave. Bobby saw this and stopped him.
"Hey man, where are you going … you're making progress with your family today."
"No I'm not you are. I can't compete with you."
"There's no competition here Matt. You're his dad … I'm just the guy that married his aunt. Get back in there and fight for your family."
"I can't walk on a high wire Bobby."
"So what … when everyone leaves … Alex is gonna cut my balls off. After that … well … I'll have no balls to do anything with."
Matt laughs. "Okay, I need that phone number, I can't fight this alone."
"Anything you need, Alex and I will be there for you."
"For me?"
"Yeah Matt, for you, Liz and Nate. It's Christmas time … we're family … we stick together … okay?"
"Okay."
The men go back inside and Liz and Alex notice. Alex looks at Matt to see if he has any bruises.
"Everything okay you two?"
"Yeah babe, everything is fine … I need to get a phone number for Matt."
Alex knows what that means and she gives Matt a kiss on the cheek and returns her attention back to her children. Matt brings his hand up to where Alex kissed him … it was a beginning, he was feeling alone, now he had the support of family … he didn't think they would support him because he slipped. He was wrong, they were a family, he looked around at all the happy faces … he went and sat by Liz.
"Daddy, daddy!"
"Yeah Nate?"
"Look up."
Alex still had her mistletoe hanging all over the house, Liz and Matt were sitting under one of them.
"You and Mommy have to kiss."
Matt leaned over and kissed Liz. Nate jumped up and kissed them both.
"I love you guys … Merry Christmas." He then he ran off leaving them there to ponder their kiss.
Alex whispered in Bobby's ear … "and you made fun of my strategically placed mistletoe."
"It's gonna take more than a weed to mend those fences babe, don't get your hopes up."
She smacked him in the side forgetting about his ribs. He buckled over in pain. She held her hands up …
"I don't want to hear it, Oh Great Flying Goren … if you walk a hire wire, you can deal with a little smack in the ribs from your tiny little wife."
Under his breath … "My tiny little wife that can kick most men's ass!"
"I heard that Goren!"
"I wanted you to hear that Eames!"
The door bell rang … "Saved by the bell! I'll get it."
"Mr. Goren?"
"Yes … can I help you?"
"Yes Sir, My name is Jack Frost … ha ha .. Not really, Bobby rolls his eyes. I'm Ken Fisher from the Suburban decorating committee. We are giving out the awards for the best house lights tonight."
Bobby yells back to everyone one to come to the front door.
"Oh yes well, it looks like you're having a family get together, how delightful."
Bobby looks back at everyone and Alex wraps herself around her husband. "Yes, everyone … how delightful." He says mocking him. Alex jabs him in the ribs again.
"I'm delighted to inform you that you have won second place." He hands Bobby a plaque and a fifty dollar gift card to Home Depot.
"Wow guys … a plaque and fifty bucks to Home Cheapo … I mean depot. That's awesome Mr. Fisher. Thank you."
Mr. Fisher leaves and Bobby looks at the plaque. Mike puts his hand on his shoulder and Lewis comes over and says …
"Guys, next year we'll set up the high wire act in the front lawn and Bobby … we'll post show times and work it around your schedule. That will get first prize for sure!"
"I don't think so Lewis, my husband is hanging up his tights."
"Tights? I missed that."
"I wasn't wearing tights Lewis. I'm sorry honey, I bet that house down the block won … half the lights … a little understated. I guess we were a little over the top."
"No way Goren … next year … a winter carnival."
"How about, next year Mike … you go suburban?"
"Shh, one step at a time Goren … on step at a time."
Alex pulls Carolyn aside.
"Lynnie, when did my husband tell you about the hire wire thing?"
"Remember when we worked on that case together … Judge Garrett?"
"I'm not likely to forget that."
"Well, we went out drinking one night and … Alex cuts her off …
"Which night?"
"Yeah … that night … he was upset. Anyway … we got a little silly and you know, we both talk a few different languages and we were saying some off … well, silly things to each other and he started talking German. I asked him if he ever did anything exciting in Germany and that's when he told me about the Flying Wallendas."
"Did you do anything else beside talk and drink that night Carolyn?"
"Ooh, I think Mike is calling me, excuse me Lex."
Alex cleared the house out after that. Bobby was in trouble for his past and present behavior and he didn't even know it. Poor guy didn't even know what was about to hit him, one second he was sitting on the couch with his father-in-law watching a video of little John giggling and the next, well lets just say, it wasn't going to be the pink fuzzy cuffs.
Bobby was putting the kids down when he heard Alex in the bedroom … she had been noticeably quiet since everyone left. He grabbed some mistletoe and held it over their heads. She grabbed it and ripped it to shreds. He looked bewildered.
"Because of the hire wire? I thought all was forgiven. Matt took the phone number and Liz and Nate went home with him. What gives?"
"Judge Garrett, my confession about the letter, you said you weren't upset … sound familiar?"
"Ah, I guess, why are we re-hashing this?"
"Did you go out with Carolyn that night?"
"Maybe. Truth be told, I was upset … I drank a lot that night. Mike was there … he may have left though."
"You told her about the Flying Wallendas."
"That's why you're upset?"
"No. She implied that you slept with her."
"Really? More like … passed out … I drank a lot. I don't remember sleeping with her. I wonder why she would say that?"
"She didn't exactly."
"Then what exactly did she say?"
"I asked her if she did and she didn't answer the question."
"Well then, maybe I did."
"Maybe you did!"
"Yeah, so."
"Bobby!"
"What … who did you sleep with back then … not me. So, yeah … so!"
"You can sleep on the couch tonight."
"Over something I may or may not have done how many years ago … that, may I remind you, was your fault to begin with!"
"MY fault!?"
"You wrote the letter!"
"You were weird!"
"I still am!"
"I want you so bad right now!"
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me Goren … hurry up before the babies wake up … get your clothes off!"
"Who's weird? Oh well … whatever you say Dear."
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Christmas approaches and Alex hasn't done her shopping yet! Thanks for reading .... judy