"So when are you gonna start to show?" Don asked as he ran his hand over Angie's belly.

"I don't know. Probably soon though. I'm at 10 weeks, but the doctor said it varies. Some women don't show till their 5 months along."

"Jeez, I hope we don't have to wait that long."

"This is a big deal for you, isn't it?"

"What?" Don propped himself on one elbow and looked down at his wife.

"My baby bump. You can't wait for me to start showing."

"Well, aren't you lookin' forward to it?"

"Yeah, I am. I'm just worried I'm gonna get stretch marks."

"So what if you do?"

"Well..."

"Please do not tell me you're afraid it'll make you less attractive."

"But it will."

"Not to me. Hey, I wanna ask you somethin'."

"Ok, what?"

"Uh, well, Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away."

"And?"

"I got a call from Ma yesterday." Don watched Angie's face for a reaction. Yeah, that's what I thought. She paled just slightly, and her brow furrowed in a frown.

"You don't wanna go see my folks, do ya?"

"I'd love to see your mom, but I can't face your dad. Please don't make me go." She looked scared.

"Angie, I wouldn't try to make you do anything. I figured you wouldn't wanna go. But I need to talk to Pop, get this thing out in the open, for better or worse. Not only that, but Kayla's gonna be there and I haven't seen her in over a year. Anyway, I have an idea. How 'bout if I go see my folks, and you see if your mom can come here and stay with you for a couple days? Or if she can't get the time off, then you go see her."

Angie relaxed. "That's a great idea. But then can we spend Christmas together, just you and me?"

"Absolutely." He pulled her into his arms. "I didn't mean to freak you out. And I'd really rather be with you. But I have ta talk to Pop. I can't keep puttin' it off."

She nuzzled against his shoulder. "I know I shouldn't feel guilty about it but it's hard not to."

"Well, Pop and I were on shaky ground long before I met you."

"But being with me has made it worse."

"Don't. Don't blame yourself for any of it. Please."

Man, I am so not ready for this...

Don was almost to his parents house, and the closer he got, the more his stomach clenched. He knew the meeting between himself and his father was not going to be fun. He tried to focus on seeing his sister and her family, and he hoped that Pop would show some restraint and talk to him in private.

He parked his car on the street in front of the house. There was a car he didn't recognize in the garage. He figured it was probably Kayla and Jevan's rental car. Pop's car was behind it on the driveway. He took a deep breath and walked through the garage to the mudroom door, which led on to the kitchen. He didn't knock; he just walked in.

He breathed in the scent of food cooking. Ma was in the kitchen with Kayla and Kelly, his 6 year old niece. They all turned as he came into the kitchen.

"Donnie!" his mother exclaimed, and rushed to enfold him in a hug.

"Hey Ma. Kayla, it's so great to see you," he said over his mother's shoulder.

She crossed the kitchen and hugged him in turn. "Kelly, do you remember your uncle Don?"

Kelly nodded, smiling up at him. "Hi uncle Don."

"Hi Kelly! Wow, you've gotten to be a big girl! Where's Kieran?"

"He's with Daddy and Grampa." Kelly turned and ran from the kitchen. Don could hear her..."Uncle Don's here!"

"Well, now comes the fun," Don said. "I hope Pop and I can get this over with quick so we can enjoy Thanksgiving."

"I warned him not to ruin the holiday with his attitude," Barbara said. "I hope he knows I mean it."

Don looked at Kayla. "How 'bout you? Whadda you think?"

"I have to admit I was shocked when I first heard about Angie," Kayla said. "But I don't know her, so I can't make any judgements. Nor is it my place to do so. If you two love each other, then I trust your judgement. But you have to admit it's an unlikely union."

"Believe me, you don't have to remind me of that. I think about it all the time. But we've come this far, and I can't imagine my life without her now. She's the love of my life, Kayla. Did Ma tell you she's pregnant?"

"Yeah, she did, and I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks. I was so afraid you'd be disappointed in me."

"Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. I feel like people expect certain things of me, because of bein' Pop's son."

"I'm so glad I'm the daughter. I know it wasn't easy for you, growing up in his shadow." She hugged him again, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "I love you Don. You're my brother. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye on things, but I'm not about to judge your choice of mate. From what Ma says, Angie's a great person, and treats you like a king."

"She does. And she's my queen."

Barbara reappeared in the kitchen. "Your father's in the den, waiting for you."

"Oh, great. Ok, here goes. Wish me luck."

He found his father in the den, watching TV. He looked up as Don came into the room. He was seated, but if he'd been standing, he wouldn't be as tall as his son. At age 65, his hair was almost snow white, but it had once been dark like Don's. He had fair skin, but his eyes were hazel, and he was heavier with a larger bone structure. Don looked a lot more like his mother. His sister looked more like Pop.

He didn't get up from the recliner where he was sitting with his feet up.

"So where's the ex-con?" he asked.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Pop. Nice to see you too." He sat down on a chair at the desk.

"Well, where is she?"

"She's at home, with her mom. You really think I'd bring her here?"

"Why'd you come without her?"

"Because Ma asked me to. Because I wanted to see Kayla and her family. And to tell you that if you have somethin' to say about Angie, you say it to me. Don't burden Ma with it. She doesn't deserve that."

"Do you have any idea what you're doin', Don?"

"Yeah, I do, Pop. I know exactly what I'm doin'. And you know nothin' about it."

"I know nothin' about it?"

"That's right. You don't know Angie and you don't know me anymore, so you have no right to judge us. And this bullshit about me tarnishin' my badge by shackin' up with a jailbird? I don't care if you are my father, you don't get to talk about her like that. And don't pull that holier-than-thou veteran cop crap on me either. I don't give a rat's ass if you are the NYPD legend. You wouldn't let someone talk about Ma that way. So what makes you think I'm gonna let you badmouth Angie?"

"Your Ma's not an ex-con, Don."

It took everything Don had not to answer back to that. No. That's up to Ma, to tell him or not. That's her choice.

"That's irrelevant, Pop. Angie's done her time. She's turned her life around. She's a website designer, and she works in a market part time. She's a law-abidin', tax-payin' citizen now. Her days as a criminal are over."

"You can't be sure of that."

"I am sure of that. And what's most important is that she and I love each other. We're committed to each other. We're gonna spend our lives together."

"Don, you're a cop, for chrissakes. I can't believe you married a fuckin' jailbird!"

Don had to force himself to breathe, and to unclench his fists. He could feel the anger simmering inside him, threatening to boil over and make him do something he'd regret. Like punch my father in the face...

"Pop, do not call her that again." He looked his father in the eyes, his stare unwavering. The older man looked away.

"Don't call her a jailbird, or an ex-con, or a criminal, or anything else. Her name is Angie, and she's my wife. She's carryin' my child. You will treat her with the same respect you'd give to Ma or Kayla.

"She's not the same as your mother or your sister, she doesn't deserve the same respect."

"That's where you're wrong. Haven't you ever made a mistake, Pop? Are you gonna tell me that you are so perfect that you've never done anything wrong in your life?"

"I've never broken the law, Donnie."

"Well, good for you, but so what? Human beings make mistakes. I'm sure you've made your fair share."

His father shook his head. "You shoulda stayed home with your wife."

"You want me to leave?"

"You're not going anywhere," his mother said as she came into the den. "Donald, just stop this. Get over yourself, for God's sake!"

"Jesus Christ, Barb, stop defending him."

"I shouldn't have to! He's your son! Can't you just let him live his life as he sees fit? Is it so important that he be a carbon copy of you?"

"A carbon copy of me! He's an embarrassment to me!"

"Well, guess what? I'm an embarrassment to you too!" Barbara blurted out.

"What the hell are you talkin' about?"

"Ma, don't. You don't have to tell him. Not for me." Don didn't want his mother to tell her story. Not now, with the whole family here.

"I'm not doing it for you, Donnie. I'll do it because I should never have kept it a secret all these years."

"Kept what a secret?" his father demanded. By this time Kayla and Jevan had come into the den, ready to mediate if necessary. Don hoped the children were safely out of earshot of all this adult foolishness.

"Where're the kids?" Don asked Kayla.

"Upstairs, playing." Kayla said. "What secret are you keeping, Ma?"

Oh, fuck, this is it. Now we see how strong their relationship is. Jesus, Pop was right. I shoulda stayed home.

"Ma, don't. Just let it go. I'll go home."

"NO! No you won't! God dammit, I will not have you driven away from me!" She turned to her husband.

"You selfish bastard, how dare you! You think you're so high-and-mighty, what, because you used to be a cop? NYPD legend! Well guess what? You've been living with an ex-con for the last thirty-four years!"

Stunned silence. Kayla, Jevan, and Pop. All open-mouthed in shock and confusion.

Kayla spoke first. "Uh, would you care to explain this, Ma?"

Barbara's eyes welled up. Don started to get up, to go to her, but she met his eyes and shook her head. He sat back down.

"Hasn't anyone wondered why I was the one person who had no apprehension about Donnie and Angie? Why it was so easy for me to welcome her, to be happy for Donnie? It's because I can relate to her. When I was sixteen I was arrested twice for shoplifting. Granted, it was just shoplifting, not armed robbery, but still. I know what it's like to fall in with the wrong crowd, to make that kind of mistake."

Kayla handed her mother a box of tissues. "Thank you, honey." Barbara wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Then she went on.

"When I met you, Donald, I was seventeen and you were thirty. You were already a cop, and had been for several years. I was so afraid you'd dump me if you knew I had a record, and I was so madly in love with you. I couldn't stand the thought of losing you. So I didn't tell you. And it didn't matter, it was just something from my past. But then Don and Angie got together, and you started ranting about how Donnie was tarnishing his badge by being with a jailbird. The more you went on about her, the more I wondered how you'd feel if you knew about me. I left and went to see Donnie because I couldn't stand to hear it anymore. It was making me nuts. So, I went to see Donnie, and I met Angie, and saw what a lovely girl she is, and how much they love each other. I knew then that her past didn't matter. But I wondered if mine did." She stopped, and tried to get her emotions under control.

"Don, did you know about this?" Kayla asked.

"Not until she came to visit. She told us then. I was just as shocked as you are." Don looked at his father. Pop was sitting with his head in his hands.

"Donald, I know you're in shock and probably mad as hell at me, but I hope you can understand why I kept this from you. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."

Pop got up suddenly and walked out of the den.

"Oh, shit," Don said. He looked at his mother. Her eyes were swimming but her face was resolute. She doesn't regret havin' told him... I gotta stop Pop from leavin'. They need to talk this out... He turned and went after his father. He looked back and saw that Jevan was following him.

"What the fuck, Don?" Jevan said.

"I shoulda stayed home, Jevan."

"None a' this is your fault," Jevan said with his Irish accent. "It woulda come out sooner or later."

"Pop! Dammit, don't you leave!" His father was on his way to the kitchen door. He followed him, Jevan close behind him.

"Maybe we should let 'im go. He's gotta be in shock."

"Oh, I'm sure he is. I remember how I felt when she told me. Fuck! I gotta get to him before he gets to the car."

"You better be careful. He might run you down."

Don reached his father just before he opened the car door. "Pop, please, don't leave. Where the hell are you goin'?"

"None a' your damn business, boy. Get outta my way."

Don got between his father and the car door. "Pop, don't do this. Come on. Don't do this to Ma."

"Don't do this to Ma? What about what she just did to me?"

"She told you the truth. She's done her time, just like Angie. Can't you just fuckin' let it go?"

"You're enjoyin' this, aren't you? Watchin' me try to deal with this."

"That's bullshit and you know it. Trust me, I was just as shocked as you are."

His father laughed mirthlessly. "I doubt that. You knew when you met Angie that she was a criminal. I just got it sprung on me in front of the whole family."

"Jesus, Pop. As usual, it's all about you. What about Ma? She's been carrying this around all these years. Why do you think she did that? It's because she loves you. It took a lotta guts for her to tell you. I can't believe you'd just walk away from her after this."

"You just don't get it, you dim-wit. She just made everything I've done, everything I've lived by for most of my life, meaningless. She made me into a joke!"

And you deserve it, you sonofabitch... "You know what? I dunno why Ma even puts up with you. You are a self-righteous, narrow-minded ass."

"Don't you talk to me like that, Don. I'm your father!"

"And sometimes I wish you weren't!"

"I oughta knock you on your miserable ass."

"You wanna hit me? Go ahead and do it. Come on! DO IT!"

Don saw stars as his father's fist slammed into his jaw. He crumpled against the car and slid down onto the driveway. He rolled away from the car, vaguely aware that his father was possibly enraged enough to run over him. He hadn't thought he'd really hit him. Well, I asked for it. He heard tires squealing as he tried to get his eyes to focus. Two blurry images became one clear one and he saw that Pop's car was gone. Shit. He got away.

"Jesus Christ Don. Are you alright?" Jevan was kneeling over him. He tried to sit up, and Jevan helped him.

"I'm ok. Shit, he can hit hard for an old man." Don got slowly to his feet, swaying a bit. He was dizzy. He could taste blood in his mouth. Jevan got his arm around him and they started up the driveway to the garage. The women burst out of the kitchen.

"Oh my God! Ma, Pop punched him!" Kayla yelled.

"That bastard. Where'd he go?"

"I dunno Ma. He decked me and then drove off."

"We need to get some ice on that," Kayla said. Between the three of them, they got him into the kitchen.

"Ma, quit fussin' over me. I'm ok." Fuck, why can't I be anywhere but here?

His mother was trying to get a look at the cut on his lip. Pop had hit him hard enough to split it open on one of his teeth.

"Be still! Let me see it." She snapped, dabbing at it with a paper towel. "Is this gonna need stitches?"

"Oh come on, he can't have hit me that hard." It did hurt like a bitch, though. He winced as his mother tried to look at the inside of his bottom lip. "Ow! Come on, Ma."

Kayla appeared in his field of vision, and seemed to be studying his war wound. "No, it'll be ok. Eating's not gonna be much fun, though."

"How 'bout a drink, Don?" Jevan asked.

"Yeah, I could use one. Break out the good stuff, Jev."

After a short family conference, it was agreed that they wouldn't go try to find Pop. They'd have dinner and try to enjoy it. Don had to admit to himself that he was glad Pop wasn't there. He didn't want to have to listen to his father's snide remarks and thinly veiled insults.

He's always been like that. Such a cynic, and such an asshole sometimes. I don't know how Ma's put up with him all these years. Could she really love a guy like that? I don't know. I guess that's her business. Love is a strange thing. I mean, lots of people scratch their heads over Angie and me. I guess you just never know.

"Hey, you ok?" Kayla asked, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinkin' about Ma and Pop. I don't get why Ma puts up with him."

"She loves him."

"But how can she love a guy like that? You know I was always so afraid I'd grow up to be just like him."

"You didn't. You've got some of his cynicism, but you're nowhere near as bad."

"Thank God for that. I look at him and... well, I don't wanna go there right now. Where's Ma?"

"She's upstairs with the kids."

"Oh. Speakin' of kids, I oughta talk to you and Jevan about parenting. I'm not at all sure I'm ready for it."

"I don't think anyone's really ready. Kids don't come with instructions. You just have to do your best. But sure, we can talk. Are you gonna stay over?"

Don thought about that. He wasn't sure he wanted to be here when Pop came home. No, scratch that. I definitely do not wanna be here when he gets home. "I don't know, Kayla. I don't wanna stick around to see what happens when Pop comes back. Am I a coward or what?"

"You're not a coward. I don't really want to see it either, but this is where we're staying while we're here. We can't pack up and go to a hotel without making things worse."

"I wish I'd stayed home. This wouldn'a happened if I hadn't been here."

"I'm glad you came. I've really missed you." Kayla smiled at him, and he remembered that she and her family were the main reason he'd made the trip.

"I've missed you too. You're the main reason I'm here." He held out his arms and she stepped into his embrace. "I love you sis."

"Hey, let's see if the turkey's done," his mother said as she came into the kitchen. "I don't know about you but I'm starving."