Author's Note: Things are about to get interesting, including a big admission. I hope you enjoy it!
PS: Thank you to HansonFanGermany for giving me the idea of how to get rid of a neighbor!
Chapter 7 – Ringing In the New Year
True to his word, Hotch called Cait that night. And they talked every night after that until Christmas Eve. Late Christmas evening, Cait's cell rang on her nightstand. "Hello," Cait sleepily answered.
"Merry Christmas, Cait. Sorry I woke you."
"Merry Christmas to you Aaron. I was just dozing, waiting for the weather to come on. Did Santa bring you everything you wanted?"
"Yes, about six weeks ago."
Cait smiled. "Did Jack like his presents?"
Aaron quietly laughed. "I think he would have taken his new car to bed with him, if I'd have let him. And we put all the puzzles together. They were a great idea."
"Puzzles are good for early childhood motor skills."
"Yes, Doctor," Aaron joked. "How about Matt and Mike?"
"They're still playing the new games on their X-box with their cousins."
"Oh, that's right, your brother and family are there. When do they go back?"
"Sunday afternoon."
"Any plans for New Year's Eve?" Aaron asked.
"The boys and I go to church and then we come home and I fix steak and lobster for them."
"Sounds delicious."
"Want to join us?"
"What?"
"Did Jack put a bow in your ear?" Cait laughed. "Dating six weeks, and you're already getting selective hearing. This doesn't bode well for a strong relationship."
"Will I ever get ahead of you?" Aaron laughed.
"I'll think about it. Maybe in 2019. Seriously, Aaron you're more than welcome. I get hammered over the head every day. 'When are we going to meet Aaron?'"
"What about your neighbor?"
"He's going to New York City. His publisher is throwing a big party. And I don't think Mudgie will tell."
"Then, I accept. I'll let you get back to sleep. I need it was well. Jack woke me up at 6:30 this morning. I'll call you Sunday night. Enjoy the rest of your time with your family. Good night Cait. I love you."
"Good night. I love you too."
Cait put the cell phone down on the nightstand, shut the TV off and turned out the light. As she rolled over, pulling the blanket up over her shoulders, she thought to herself, "That's a nice way to go to sleep on Christmas; smiling like a school girl."
(TB)
Aaron turned into the driveway off Deer Valley Road in Woodbridge, and took a long look at the home in front of him. It wasn't a mansion by any means, but it sure was a big house. He knew about the messy situation with Mark's will and his family after he died, and Cait said she built a home two boys could grow in. "You did a nice job, Doc," Hotch thought to himself. As promised, Cait had left the garage door open since it was bitterly cold that night and he pulled in. As he got out of the car, Cait stuck her head out the door and reached for the door closer. He came to her and she gave him a tender kiss. "I'm glad you came," she simply said. "Come in, it's freezing out here."
She showed Aaron where he could hang his coat, along with all the others of an active family of teenage boys. He followed her into the kitchen which opened to a breakfast nook and a huge great room, with a large rock fireplace on the far wall. A warm fire was burning in the hearth. "This is beautiful Cait."
"Thank you." At the sound of his voice, two sandy blond boys popped up in the room. Aaron could see they had a football game on the large flat screen TV. Before the boys could get there, a Golden Lab bounded around the corner, tail furiously wagging. "You must be Beans," Aaron said as he reached down to pet her head. Beans replied with a welcoming bark.
"Sometimes I think," Cait commented, "She understands English better than a couple other people that live here do."
"Aw mom," the taller one said.
"Thanks a lot mom," said the other.
"Aaron, these are my sons, Matt and Mike. Boys, this is Aaron Hotchner."
Aaron extended his hand to Matt, "Nice to meet you, Matt," as they shook hands.
"Nice to meet you, Aaron. It's about time."
"Matthew," Cait scolded. Hotch smiled. "So this is what Jack is going to be like someday" he thought to himself.
"Hi Mike, nice to meet you," Aaron said as he shook his hand.
"Great to meet you Aaron. We're glad you came." Aaron noticed that with his floppy hair that covered the top of his ears and only a very slight speech impediment, it would have been hard to figure Mike had such a serious hearing impairment. Cait had obviously done a wonderful job with him.
"Thanks, it's great to be here. My friends call me 'Hotch' if you like." The boys smiled. "Who's winning the football game?"
"Cal is trouncing UTEP," Matt replied.
"Yeah, it's the Toilet Bowl game," Mike added.
"Thank you gentlemen for making such a wonderful first impression. Go back to your game please."
Hotch laughed with the boys as they returned to the game. Cait had turned to finish putting some butter on some slices of bread at the kitchen island. "Anything I can help with?" Hotch asked.
"No, thank you, I've got everything under control. I was hoping to cook the steaks on the Weber, but it's just too cold for that," she said as she reached for the garlic salt for the bread. "Have a seat," she added, motioning to the lunch bar. "Care for a beer?"
"Sure, I'll drink one." he said as he turned to sit down. He noticed a large chocolate Lab looking at him intently as Cait reached in the fridge. "I take it this is Mudgie."
"That's Mudgie, the elder statesman and all business hunting dog."
Hotch put his hand down for Mudgie to sniff, while accepting the beer from Cait. Satisfied that he wasn't a threat, Mudgie gave Hotch a waggle of his tail, which earned him a scratch behind the ear. Aaron sat down. He noticed the table in the nook was already set.
"Mom, when are we going to eat? I'm starving," Matt bellowed from the living room as he added more logs to the fire.
"In about twenty minutes."
Cait turned to the individual bowls of salad on the counter. "When it comes to salad toppings, I can't get the two of them to agree on anything. So you have your choice of onion, celery, carrot, tomato, cheddar cheese and hardboiled egg."
"All of the above," Hotch replied.
Cait finished the salads and had Hotch set them at the appropriate places on the table. She put the steaks on the small grill on the range top and the lobster tails in the oven. The kitchen soon smelled like Aaron had died and gone to heaven. She grabbed a platter and handed it Aaron. "Would you mind taking the steaks off and putting them on this."
Aaron took the platter and took care of the steaks while Cait put the rest of the gourmet meal on the table. The boys took their spots and after saying grace, dived in like only teenagers could.
Twenty minutes later the three "men" looked at each other, completely stuffed and sated. "Mom, that was fantastic," Mike said as he started clearing the table.
"It was the bomb mom," Matt added as he began to assist his brother.
"I'll make it unanimous. That was phenomenal Cait."
"Thank you kind sirs, one and all." Looking at Hotch, Cait said, "Grab your wine glass. I'll give you the tour while the boys clean up."
"I would love to see your home." Before they started, Aaron said, "The fire's getting low. Do you mind?" Cait shook her head.
"Boys, leave the grate on the range grill. I'll clean it later when it's cool."
"Got it mom," Matt said.
Hotch and Cait walked toward the foyer and he put his arm around her waist. "They are wonderful young men. You've did a great job with them."
They made small talk as Cait showed Aaron her home. Returning downstairs, they met the boys on their way up. "We're going to play video games for a while," Matt said.
"Mom, we really can stay up and watch the ball drop?" Mike asked.
"Yes. Aaron and I will let you know when it's getting close."
They raced up the rest of the steps as Cait and Aaron went into the great room. She handed him the remote. You find something for us to watch for a while. I'm going to clean that grate up."
"Sure you don't need help?"
"Thanks, it'll take me less than five minutes. Make yourself at home."
Cait returned a few minutes later to find Hotch sitting on the couch, his shoes off and his long legs sprawled out onto the coffee table. "I hope you don't mind."
"That's fine," Cait smiled as she came around the table, sat down next to him. He put his arm around her as she curled up into his chest. They watched a movie until 11:30 when Cait got up. "I'll let the dogs out while you go upstairs and get the boys."
Soon they were watching the festivities in Times Square while Cait busily worked on something in the kitchen.
"Hurry up mom," Mike said. "It's just about time."
Cait entered the great room with four champagne flutes in her hand. She handed the two with the pinkish color to her sons and one of the other two to Hotch. "What's this?" Matt asked.
"Teenage champagne; Aaron and I get the big kids' stuff." Soon, the four of them began counting down with the throng.
"Happy New Year" echoed through the living room. The boys high-fived each other and Aaron and gave their mother a big hug. Aaron took Cait and gave her a kiss and pulled her into a hug. "Happy New Year," he whispered in her ear. "I believe 2009 is going to be a special year. I love you"
Cait pulled out of the hug and kissed Aaron, "I love you. And I'm glad you're here to share this with us." They clinked glasses.
The boys giggled at the two of them, took their glasses to the kitchen and said their "good nights". "Come on Beans and Mudgie," Matt called. The dogs took off and raced ahead of the boys upstairs.
Aaron finished his champagne and said, "I should be heading out as well. I'm sure there are at least four DUI checkpoints on I-95 between here and Arlington."
"And because of that and it's so cold, why don't you stay? You have your go bag in your car don't you?"
Aaron stammered, "Um, Cait the boys…." Cait giggled.
She rubbed his side as she said, "Aaron, I ready for the next step, I truly am, but not that big of step. I prefer they get to know you a little better before we go that route. There's the bedroom upstairs or the couch in my study pulls out into a bed. It's pretty comfy. My folks sleep there when they come."
"I'll take the study. The boys don't need to hear me snore."
"Oh, good; I get to look forward to that. Go grab your bag and I'll make up the bed."
Aaron entered the study with his bag as Cait was throwing two pillows at the head of the bed. "I locked the door and set the deadbolt."
"Thanks. I can set the alarm from my bedroom. The quilt should be plenty warm, but if you get cold, there's another blanket on the shelf," she said as she shut the closet door. Aaron pulled her into a deep kiss that soon found them exploring each other's tongues.
When it finally ended, Aaron looked at Cait and said, "I think I need a cold shower." Cait raised her eyebrows at him. "Gotcha," he laughed.
Cait lightly punched him in the arm and gave him another kiss. "Good night. See you in the morning. I love you."
"Good night. I love you, too."
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