Jim pulled the car into the already full driveway and looked up the house in front of him. Strings of Christmas lights outlined the roof lines and railings on the porch. He could see a light laden Christmas tree in the huge front window. There were people moving behind the tree and he glanced over at Maggie. She reached for the door handle and tried to climb out of the car. He hurried to help her and then opened the back door for the bags of gifts. She was already halfway up the walk when he turned to hurry after her. She stopped at the front door to look at him for a second and then reached for the door bell. To their surprise, the door opened before the bell rang and they startled the young woman coming out.

"Maggie…" she said. She stepped aside and let them into the entry. She continued to stare at Maggie and frowned.

"Watch your step this time, Maggie," she finally whispered angrily. "You haven't been around for months. Mom doesn't need any of your crap right now." Maggie leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Becky" she said. She reached for the bags in Jim's arms and turned on her heel to go into the living room. Becky glared after her.

"You weren't expecting us, I take it?" he asked. The girl was shaken from her thoughts and glanced at him as if she was seeing him for the very first time. They both looked toward the living room door as the noise and laughter became louder. They could hear Maggie above all of them. Becky shook her head in disdain and moved to the doorway. Her mouth dropped open and she swung her head back to him.

"She's pregnant?" she hissed. Jim nodded. Maggie's sister cast her eyes up and down his frame as she gave him a once over.

"Is it yours?" she asked. Jim frowned and had opened his mouth to speak as Maggie burst into the entry way and looped her arm through his.

"There you are!" she cried. "Come and meet my family." He dragged his eyes from Becky's as Maggie drew him into the brightly lit and crowded living room.

There were cousins and aunts and uncles and babies and little kids and teenagers…and in the center of it all, Maggie's mother. She ruled the celebration from her easy chair, covered with an afghan and her head wrapped in a close fitting, brightly colored silk scarf. Jim was a bit intimidated when Maggie dragged him over the wrapping paper strewn floor to stand in front of her.

"This is Jim, Mom," Maggie said happily as she hugged him. "This is my husband." He was aware that the noise in the room had stopped and all eyes were on him. He glanced about and then smiled uneasily at the piercing gaze of Maggie's mother.

"Hello," he said. He hesitated a moment and then leaned down to press a kiss to her dry cheek. "Merry Christmas." Annemarie Bryant continued to study him and nodded.

"Sit right here," she said and indicated the chair next to hers. "I think I want to talk to you for a bit." Maggie grinned and nudged him toward the chair as the older man who had been sitting there stood up. He shook hands with Jim and raised an empty cup.

"Uncle Ben," he said with a smile. "Í was just about to get a refill anyway. Want something, darlin'?" His sister shook her head and he moved away. Jim settled himself in the chair and watched Maggie as she made her way from person to person in the crowded living room. She was laughing and kissing and showing off her belly.

"So you're Jim," Annemarie sighed as she leaned wearily back against her chair. He nodded. She hadn't taken her eyes off him once.

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

"You realize that you broke her heart when you left her to go….where ever." Jim's smile faded.

"Oklahoma," he said. "I got a job there in the oil fields for a while. A good job. Besides, she knew I was coming back."

"Did she?" Annemarie sighed and was quiet for a moment. "Are you going to take care of her now? She can be a little difficult. Always has been." Jim chuckled and shook his head. A little? That was an understatement.

"I love her," he said softly as his eyes rested on Maggie. Their eyes met across the room and she grinned broadly. "Of course I am going to take care of her." Annemarie nodded slowly and studied her daughter. She reached over to pat Jim's hand.

"I'm glad then," she said wearily. She looked over at him, startled, as he took her hand in his.

"She'll be fine," he said. Maggie's mother nodded and a soft smile crossing her face as she clung to her son in law's hand. The two of them watched Maggie together.

Later he sat at the kitchen table in front of a plate of food.

"It's breast cancer," Becky said as she took a drag on her cigarette and flicked the ashes into an ashtray in front of her. "We've been through it all. Chemo…radiation… not much hope right now. But can't tell that to Maggie."

"She's never said a word to me about it," he said as he lifted a forkful of potato salad.

"I'm not surprised," she shrugged. "Maggie is in Maggie's own little world most of the time." Becky sniffed and crushed the cigarette out and then turned to look at him.

"She won't be able to take care of a baby, you know," she said. "My mother, I mean. You can't look for her to help when Maggie….." Her voice trailed off.

"Melts down?" he offered. Becky's brown eyes studied him. He shrugged.

"We'll manage…." he said. Becky snorted.

"You're working two jobs, right?" she asked. Jim nodded.

"For now." They both looked up as Maggie approached brushing her way through the cigarette smoke disdainfully.

"We have to be going," she said. "I can't sit in the middle of all this smoke. It's not good for the baby." Becky rolled her eyes.

"Jim," Maggie insisted.

"Let him be, Maggie," Becky scolded. 'He just got something to eat for god's sake." Maggie frowned and Jim took another bit from his plate before standing and carrying the dish to the pile by the sink.

"Are you going to need some help with all this?" he asked. Becky shook her head.

"No," she said. "I'm going to get the cousins all busy in just a few minutes." Jim grinned and then rested his hand at the small of Maggie's back.

"Go say good night to your Mom and I'll get our coats," he said as he nudged her back toward the living room. Maggie glanced from Becky to him and then nodded. Becky shook her head as she was left alone in the kitchen.

"You poor, poor sucker… she whispered as she watched him head toward the bedroom where the coats were.