Chapter 32

Again, I don't own any of these characters

As Christmas Eve wasn't until the following Saturday, everyone had a full week to spend in Kettlecorn. Their first morning there, Cody and Bailey did something they hadn't done in a long time – they slept in. Once they did awake, they really didn't have anything pressing to do. So, they walked into town just to look around. It was there Bailey saw something she never thought she would see...Kettlecorn now had a McDonald's! Bailey could only shake her head. She never thought her hometown would ever be big enough to have one, but there it was. Cody joked to her that Kettlecorn would know it had fully arrived when Wal-Mart came in.

They just walked around for a bit and ended up going into one of the stores in town. As they walked in, the older man behind the counter looked up and smiled.

"Well, if it isn't Bailey Picket! Long time, no see..."

Bailey smiled. "Its good to see you again too, Buck."

"Your folks tell us you are back east studying at Yale. Good for you. But don't let those big city types change you from the sweet girl we all watched grow up."

Bailey laughed. "They aren't so bad. In fact, I'm engaged to a big city boy. Buck, this is my fiance, Cody Martin."

Cody extended his hand to shake hands. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Buck shook his hand, but was kind of leery. "You're engaged to one of them?"

Bailey nodded. "Yes, I am. He's from Boston, but he is also the kindest, sweetest, most amazing person I have ever met in my life."

Buck shrugs. "If you say so. We just don't want you to change."

Cody smiled. "Neither do I. The Bailey everyone here watched grow up is the one I fell in love with. I love her just the way she is..."

Buck nods. "Well, alright..."

Bailey changes the subject. "So, how are things going around here?"

"About the same..." Buck pauses. "Have you heard Moose is getting married this spring?"

Bailey shook her head. "No, I hadn't. But then again, I can't say I really care one way or another..."

Buck just looks at her. "You don't?"

"No. I've got my own life and my own fiance. I wouldn't trade either of them for anything in the world."

Buck nods. "Well, I guess you have grown up then. You aren't the same girl who used to work here. I always thought that..."

"Buck, will you shut up!"

Cody and Bailey turn to see an older woman come out from the back.

Bailey smiled. "Myrtle!"

"Hello, Dear. Ignore my husband."

Myrtle turns to Cody. "So, you must be the young man the Maggie has told me so much about. Its a pleasure to finally meet you."

Cody nodded. "Likewise I'm sure. I'm Cody Martin."

Myrtle smiles. "Oh, we know all about you around here. You're the boy who kept besting Moose over and over..." She pauses. "Thank you! That boy was getting too big for his britches!"

Cody wasn't quite sure what to say. "You're welcome?"

Myrtle laughed. "Don't worry about old fogies like Buck here. You have no idea how many people in this town you have on your side. This town needed to be shaken out of its ways."

Cody just looked to Bailey who was smiling back at him. She then turned to Myrtle. "That's because he's the absolute best. And he's all mine..."

"Good for you, Honey...And good for you for going out in the world and showing it what you can do. Most of the gals around here are rooting you on!"

Bailey smiled at her. "Thanks. I promise to do my best and try to make everyone proud."

Eventually, they left Buck's and headed back to the house. The rest of the day was just spent hanging around the house and helping decorate the Christmas tree. The rest of the week there was mostly a time for everyone to recharge their batteries. On one evening, Kurt took his boys out for a guy's night out – which ended up being them at the tavern catching the UCONN basketball game on the TV there. And it was a chance for Zack and Cody to spend some time hanging out together. Both had accepted that life was moving on, but they still enjoyed those moments where they could just have some brother time together.

The humans weren't the only ones having fun. Porkers was enjoying hanging out in the barn with the other animals, strutting because he was an Ivy League pig now. Of course, that meant absolutely nothing to the other animals. But, Porkers had fun hanging out in the barn again and sleeping in his old pile of straw.

Soon, Christmas Eve was upon them again. The day was very similar to Christmas Eve the year before. Dinner was scheduled for the early evening to be followed with the exchanging of gifts to be followed by a late night Christmas Eve service at church.

Preparations for dinner started early. Once again, Cody and Bailey helped out with making the meal. Bailey inwardly smiled as more than once one of her sisters mentioned how lucky she was to have a feller who actually enjoyed helping out in the kitchen. She didn't have the heart to tell them that in all actuality, Cody did most of the cooking with her being the one helping.

Dinner was delicious, and afterwards everyone was sitting around the living room and the Christmas tree. Like last year, the gift opening began with the youngest and moving to the oldest. Of course, this meant Bailey's nieces and nephews and younger sisters. And from Cody and Bailey, they all got Yale sweatshirts.

Finally, it was time for Zack, Cassie, Bailey and Cody. When it was their turn, their parents all looked at them.

"Well, we know that you all don't need the same things as last year, so this year will be a little different..."

Kurt nodded. "Joe's right. We all realized there were a few things you all could use, but before we get to those, we have other things we thought you would prefer..."

With that, Maggie handed out four envelopes to the teens. All of them opened up their envelopes and found an assortment of gift cards and the one gift every college student loves to get – cash.

The four look up and thank their parents for the great presents inside the envelopes.

Sarah speaks up. "Now, you can do what you want with those, but we do have a couple of gifts for each of you that we thought you could really use..."

And with that, two large boxes are given to Zack and Cody and two smaller ones are given to Cassie and Bailey. They boys motion for the girls to go first, and both begin to open the gifts. Inside, they both find an assortment of wool socks, warm gloves and ear muffs for both couples.

Maggie smiled. "We figured those would come in handy this up coming semester..."

Bailey laughed. "I know they will. Thank you all..."

Cassie nodded too. "Yeah. Actually, I could have used these during finals week. It was getting downright cold...Thank you."

Now, the boys opened the large boxes in front of them. Inside, they found tool boxes with an assortment of new tools and a heavy duty flashlight.

Joe spoke up. "We figured you all might actually need these around just in case..."

Zack laughed and turned to Cassie. "I think we can actually fix that closet door now...Thanks, everyone..."

Cody nodded. "Yeah..." Then he laughed. "Now Jo and Bill can tell us to fix things ourselves now..."

Bailey laughed. "Yeah. Though, something tells me I'm going to have to keep an eye on Cody with those..."

Eventually, it was time for the parents to open their gifts. All of them added new shirts and sweatshirts to their closets bearing the names of two universities in the state of Connecticut. Beyond that, Cody and Bailey got her parents a Foreman grill like the one they had. They hoped they enjoyed as much they enjoyed the one they did. For Kurt and Sarah, they got them each a brand new carry on bag that they hoped would be more useful in their travels.

Finally, it was time to head to the church service. It was a lot like the one last year except every lady in the congregation came up to warmly congratulate Cody and Bailey on their engagement. By the time they were done shaking hands, both of their hands were cramping up. Eventually, the service started, and it was very nice. Afterwards, everyone returned to the house where everyone grabbed their bags and corralled Porkers back into his travel carrier.

After more hugs goodbye, Kurt and Sarah drove the four back to Wichita. And soon enough, they were at the airport saying their goodbyes to them. Finally, their flight was called, and all of them boarded the plane. Next stop – Boston.

To be Continued...

Author's Note: I realized after that posting the last chapter that many people may not have heard of Tufts University. Its a private university in Boston that may be better known as the alma mater of Elaine Benes on Seinfeld or as the university that all the main character from Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place attended. The medical school is the same one the Ryan Reynolds' character attended.