"Claudia! It is so good to see you!" said Edie Brewer as she hugged her tightly. "I was just telling Watson that it seems like only yesterday when all of you girls used to have your slumber parties here." She watched Sam walk into the house and clucked her tongue.
"speaking of slumber parties…son, so nice of you to actually come home and say hello to your old mother."
Sam grinned before kissing his mom on her cheek.
"Hey mom, a guy's gotta have some fun right?" With a wink at Claudia he ran upstairs to change as Kristy and Nigel came thundering down the stairs.
"So Claudee, are you all done shagging Sammy-boy?" boomed Nigel as he gave Claudia a bone crushing hug.
Claudia groaned as Mrs. Brewer clucked her tongue again then walked into the kitchen.
Kristy linked her arms through Claudia's and led her into the kitchen.
"Really Claudia, all the guys in the world and you have to get with Sam? I guess we all were pretty drunk though." Kristy sighed as she turned to her friend. "Look, it's cool that you invited him to hang out with me, Nigel, Shannon and Andy but you don't have to be nice to him just because he's my brother."
"It's not a problem Kristy. I really like him…um I mean hanging out with him. We had a lot of fun with Stacey and Jason today so don't worry about it." Claudia flushed under Kristy's piercing stare and hurried into the kitchen.
"Claudia! I haven't seen you in so long!" called out a thin, young man with a serious face. He gestured proudly to the man sitting next to him. "I'd like to introduce you to my boyfriend Gary."
"Well Hi Andrew! I didn't expect to see you here!" she responded hiding her surprise. "Gary? I'm Claudia, very nice to meet you."
"Well we wanted to come in to see Kristy and Nigel and Gary has only been to Stoneybrook a few times so we figured we'd make a vacation out of it. Plus we thought we'd head over to Boston and visit Karen for a few days."
"We're just about to play Scrabble with Edie and Watson if you'd like to play?" asked Gary smiling warmly at Claudia.
"Oh, thank you but spelling really isn't my forte. We are actually heading out if you guys wanted join us?"
"That's right ol' Gary boy, how 'bout you and Andy come throw back some pints with us?"
Gary laughed and explained that they might head out a little later as Sam came down the stairs, his hair still damp from his shower.
"See you later mum & daddio! " called out Nigel to Kristy's parents. as they walked out the door. "We'd best be seeing you boys later!"
"Do you have to yell all the time?" remarked Sam to Nigel as they got in the car. "I grew up with Krusty the human megaphone; I can't believe we are adding another loud mouth to the family."
As they drove to The Rusty Nail, Sam and Nigel argued over rugby vs. football while Kristy filled Claudia in on her family. Claudia learned how Emily Michelle was thriving at the University Connecticut where she was an active member in a sorority as well as co-captain of the dance team.
David Michael was doing well as an Engineer. He was living just a few hours away with his wife, Cara and their daughter, Lola. Charlie and his wife were busy racing to soccer games, dance classes and art lessons. Charlie was a financial planner and his wife helped out with a catering company. They had 3 children, the oldest about to turn 13.
"Did you tell her about Karen?" chimed in Nigel.
"I was just getting to that, ass." Replied Kristy before leaning into the front seat to give him a kiss.
"My dear sister Karen, who is currently 2 semesters away from a Masters degree in Social Work, decided that she wants to join the Peace Corp and move to Cambodia."
"You have got to be shitting me!" cried Claudia.
"Nope, I'm hoping Andrew can talk some sense into her. She tends to listen to him. Speaking of which, he and Gary just celebrated their 2 year anniversary. My mom is so happy he found someone. I know his real father Seth and Watson are having some issues with it still but they are both coming around. Oh look there's Shannon!" Said Kristy waving out the window.
They ran to catch up to Shannon and Andy and caught a table near the back of the bar. Soon a cute, petite waitress came over to take their order. At the sight of the table, the waitress stopped.
"Oh my God.! It's you! Do you guys remember me? You used to babysit for me and my sister Andrea all the time! It's me! Jenny Prezzioso!"
The girls stood up and all gave Jenny a hug as questions began flowing. After Jenny left to get their drinks the girls began gossiping.
"Who would have thought that the angel would drop out of college and work in a dive bar?" said Shannon giggling. "Plus to have Andrea breezing through medical school. Wow!"
Almost two hours later, as Claudia was wiping away tears of laughter from Andy's stories of unruly passengers she noticed Stacey and Jason walking towards them.
"Stacey claims she's still hungover to have a drink but after a 2 hour dinner with her mom and Warren, I need a drink." Said Jason flopping into a chair with mock exhaustion.
"Shut up! My mom's not bad. Warren is just….Warren." Stacey let her sentence trail off as she wrinkled her nose at the thought of her mother's boyfriend.. "On second thought maybe a Captain and diet coke might help out my headache."
"Hey look you guys!" called Shannon pointing to the TV. "There that ad for that new movie with Derek Masters."
"Wow, I thought his career was over after that sex tape was found…" chimed in Kristy as they began talking some more of their former babysitting charges.
"How many are coming tomorrow anyway Claudia?" Asked Sam as he signaled to Jenny to bring another round. "I just want to know if it's ok to give the kids the mimosas. Maybe the champagne will calm them down."
As the group laughed Kristy raised her eyebrow at Claudia. Claudia pretended not to notice as she leaned across the table to look at Shannon's ring.
"So Sam is coming tomorrow?" Hissed Kristy under her breath oblivious to the fact that Sam was listening to the whole conversation..
"Yes, Stacey, Jason, Sam and I made all the food today." said Claudia. "You said it was important for him to be around friends."
"There is a difference between being around him and being on top of him Claudia." Said Kristy leaning back and crossing her arms.
"Whoa love, that was quite a barb there!" said Nigel good-naturedly putting his arm around Kristy's shoulders. Kristy shook his arm off as the entire table turned to watch the scene unfold.
"Kristy what is your deal? Seriously? Do you not want Sam there?" asked Claudia biting her lip and trying to calm down before she let her temper get the best of her. She shook her head as Sam went to rest his hand on her leg.
"My deal is that I want to know what the hell you expect to make of this? You were one of my best friends growing up and Sam is my brother. This isn't like when we were 13 and he and Stacey liked each other!" yelled Kristy half standing up out of her chair.
"Oh my God, can we all just forget about that? That was 20 years ago!" moaned Stacey as she turned red and hung her head as Jason and Andy laughed and Sam winked at her.
"Look Kristy." began Sam. "Claudia and I have been having a great time getting to know each other. It's nice to have someone to talk to and who appreciates my sense of humor. Why can't you let us just hang out and see what happens?"
Kristy looked from Claudia to Sam and slowly sat back down a small smile playing at her lips.
"So you guys really like each other eh? One of my best friend's is banging my brother?"
Nigel burst out laughing as Claudia buried her face in her hands with Sam rubbing her head affectionately.
"Kristy, you really have a way with words!" said Shannon wryly.
"And so do I!" bellowed Nigel. "Hullo barmaid? Bring us 8 pints. I've got to teach these wankers a new song!"
