The Ski Vacation
Meet The Farrells- Chapter 8
This chapter is basically chapter 8 of Holiday Memories slightly revised and changed to included Grace's mother and sisters. I own no rights to Annie characters. All original characters in this story are mine.
Annie Warbucks was very excited about her family's ski vacation to Lake Placid. She was looking forward to learning how to ski and spending some quality time with her grandmother, aunts uncles and cousins. Molly was not so excited.
"Annie, I'm really nervous about learning how to ski."
"Why? It's going to be so much fun."
"What if I'm not good at it?"
"I think Daddy is going to teach both of us. Isabella has been skiing before too so she'll be able to help you if you have a lot of trouble."
Molly nodded. "Okay, what are you getting Mommy for her birthday?"
Annie shrugged. "I don't know yet. I think Mrs. Pugh is taking us shopping tomorrow after school for birthday gifts."
At dinner that night Annie smiled at her father. "Daddy, I can't wait to skiing!"
Oliver returned his oldest daugher's grin. "I have the hotel all booked from the 15th to the 23rd. It's going to be a wonderful vacation. Grace, what day are your mother and sisters coming?"
Grace smiled. " Anna's last final at BU is the 15th at 3pm. I believe they're either coming up late that evening or early in the morning on the 16th. My sister Cathy is planning on bringing her fiancée Jeffrey."
"I can't wait to meet him!" Annie said.
Grace had always loved her older daughter's enthusiasm . "Neither can I." She noticed Molly was unusually quiet. "What's wrong baby girl?"
"I'm scared about learning how to ski." She whispered.
Oliver smiled at his younger daughter reassuringly. "Don't you worry princess. I will show you the ropes and you'll be an expert in no time."
"Okay, Daddy."
"Can we have a big Christmas party while we're in Lake Placid?" Annie asked.
"I don't see why not." Grace said.
"Yippee!"
The days leading up to the ski vacation were filled with packing and shopping for birthday presents for Grace and Christmas presents for the family. At 7:30am on Sunday the 15th Molly tip toed into Oliver and Grace's room and crawled into bed next to her mother. Oliver was awake half an hour before and was preparing a special birthday breakfast for Grace with Annie and Mrs. Pugh.
"Happy Birthday Mommy." She whispered kissing her cheek softly.
Grace pulled her youngest daughter close to her and rubbed her back. "Thank you baby girl."
"I love you."
Grace stroked Molly's curls back and laid a soft kiss on her forehead. "I love you too sweetheart. Something sure smells good downstairs… let's go see what Daddy, Annie and Mrs. Pugh are making me for breakfast."
"Okay." Molly scrambled out from other the covers and went back to her room to get on her slippers and bathrobe on. Grace got out of bed and did the same thing. A few minutes later Molly rejoined her and the two went downstairs.
Grace was overwhelmed with the smell of coffee, bacon, eggs and French toast as she entered the kitchen. "Everything smells so divine in here."
Annie ran to Grace and threw her arms around her. "Happy Birthday Mom. I think you're really going to like the presents Molly and I got for you."
"I have no doubt in my mind that I will." Grace said bending down and kissing Annie on the forehead softly.
Grace took her seat at the table and Oliver came up behind her laying a soft kiss on her cheek.
"A special breakfast for the birthday girl courtesy of your three favorite chefs." He said smiling and gesturing toward Annie and Mrs. Pugh.
"It all looks lovely. Let's eat." Grace said.
Mrs. Pugh poured the coffee and then gave Grace a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Happy Birthday sweetie pie. I love you."
Grace smiled, feeling so blessed at that moment to have such a wonderful family. "I love you too Helen."
Oliver's brother Gene and his family arrived at 10:00 and they all headed to the ski lodge. Gloria,Richard Patrick and Jonathan would be meeting them there. They all piled into the Deisenberg. Gene and Anne offered to drive. Annie and Molly were so excited to see their cousins and chatted with them the whole way up to the lodge catching up on school. They had not seen each other since Annie's birthday party in October.
Oliver leaned over and kissed Grace on the cheek. "Happy 32nd birthday sweetheart. Here's to a wonderful vacation. I love you."
Grace snuggled against her husband in the plush leather of the backseat of the Duisenberg. "I love you too baby."
Once the Warbucks clan checked into their hotel rooms they hit the slopes right away. Molly was still very anxious about learning how to ski. Isabella picked up right away on her cousin's nervousness.
"Don't be scared Molly. I took lessons last year when Daddy and Mommy took me & Eli skiing with Uncle Richard, Aunt Gloria Patrick and Jonathan at Wachueset. It's really not too hard."
Molly still looked uncertain. "Are you sure?"
Isabella grinned. "Yup! Let's go over to the bunny hill. I'll teach you."
Oliver smiled at his niece. "Thank you sweetheart. Aunt Grace and I really appreciate this."
Isabella gave her uncle a tight squeeze. "No problem Uncle Oliver. Come on Molly!"
Molly and Isabella went over to the bunny hill. Annie , Grace and Anne went over to the cross country skiing trails. Gene and Oliver waited in the lodge for Gloria and her family to arrive and once they did the whole family was on the slopes in no time at all.
Grace's mother and sisters arrived around 6:00 and the Warbucks family sat down to a late dinner. Rose raised a wine glass in a birthday salute to Grace.
"To my beautiful first born Grace Elizabeth, Happy 32nd birthday darling. Here's to a wonderful year ahead for you and your beautiful family. "
"Cheers!" everyone echoed as glasses clinked around the table.
Grace leaned over and kissed her mother's cheek. "I love you very much Mama."
Rose gave Grace's hand a squeeze under the table. "I love you too angel."
The week was full of many adventures both on and off the ski mountain. On Thursday night the Warbucks family met in the common room of the hotel for a Christmas party.
Grace looked over the scene and marveled at her daughters, niece and nephews as they opened Christmas gifts. Her sister Catherine came up behind her and gave her a squeeze.
"This has been a great vacation Gracie. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves."
"Have you and Jeffrey had a good time?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes, he's really enjoyed getting to know everyone this week. I can't wait to be Mrs. Jeffery Richards."
Grace kissed her little sister on the top of the head. "I'm so glad you've found someone that makes you just as happy as Oliver and the girls make me. He's a wonderful boy Cathy."
"I meant to give to you your birthday present earlier but things have been so hectic this week." Catherine reached behind her and pulled out a package which was sitting on a table.
Grace took the present from her sister and opened it. In it was a framed picture of her and her sisters with Annie Molly and their mother from the wedding. In a smaller box was a locket that was engraved.
Grace's eyes grew misty as she read the engraving on the back of the locket. "Grace, Catherine and Anna Sisters forever, Friends for always." Grace opened the locket and was floored when she saw the photo inside. It was a picture of the three sisters with their father that had been taken before he passed away.
"Where did you find this picture?" she whispered.
"In one of Mama's photo albums. I know how special Daddy was to you Gracie so I figured you'd want a picture of all us with him to remember him by."
Grace's eyes spilled over with tears. "Oh Cathy, this is the most special present anyone has ever given to me. I'll wear it every day. That way Daddy will be just as close to my heart as my memories of him are."
Catherine pulled her sister into a warm embrace. "Happy Birthday Gracie. I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Grace stroked her sister's hair back and kissed her forehead. "I love you too my precious Catherine. You and Anna will always be my very best friends."