Chapter Three

Sam

It was Christmas morning and the house was already full of yelling. Grace's eyes were looking into mine when I opened them. She almost made me fall out of the bed.

"Good morning Sam,"

"Hey," I said in a tired voice.

"Merry Christmas,"

"Merry Christmas back,"

Grace giggled and kissed me on the cheek. I got up and went to brush my teeth and Grace followed. We brushed our teeth together, got dressed, and then walked into the hallway. When we walked to the end of the hall Paul yelled,

"Sam, mistletoe,"

I looked at Grace who was laughing at me and Paul; I gave her a little kiss on the cheek.

"No Sam, like this," he walked over and pushed me into Grace. Wow I never had a kiss like that. It was incredible, but I knew this whole thing was a set up.

"Thanks Paul," I said as I pushed him into his girlfriend, and they kissed.

Everyone sat on the couches and floor. I walked over to the tree and put my box underneath the big tree. I sat back down next to Grace and put her hand in my hand. Ulrik liked to play the role of Santa, so he passed out the presents. He wore a sweater that said "Kiss Me I'm Santa" I didn't get it but he did. The first present went to me.

"Sam the first one is for you." He passed it to me and I read the label, it was from Beck.

"How did he-?"

"Sam he said he knew he would never have a Christmas with you and he wanted to give it to you before he left but he never did."

I ripped the paper and looked at the cardboard box. It had something written on it.

"Sam you were the best of us remember that, I know you can."

I opened the box and it was something I thought I would see from him. It was an instruction manual on how to put on a tire, another manual on how to get a girlfriend, a manual on what to and what not to do with your girlfriend. Grace and I probably broke every one of the not to do's in this book, and a letter that said,

Sam I loved you like the son that I never had, I hope

that you understand that you really were the best of us.

I love you Sam, I really do.

Love,

Beck

I wanted to cry right there in the middle of the living room, but I held it in and said to myself,

"Thank you Beck."

Grace asked what I got and I showed her the two girlfriend manuals. She laughed and said that we broke all the rules in the not to do book. Great minds think alike. We both thought the same thing. Presents were passed out. I got socks, a joke Paul like to do to me, when I was first living with Paul and Beck I used to do everything without socks and Paul used to get mad when I ran outside and wore no shoes or socks so Paul thought he was funny, a comb, chap stick, another stupid joke from Paul, I would always complain I had chapped lips but I never put chap stick on , condoms from Cole, he thinks that he is so funny, and a Rilke book from Grace. It was the love version.

"Special edition," she said "Not even on the shelves yet."

I was so happy I gave her a big kiss. She gave me one back. Grace got a hand knitted blanket from Officer Koenig's wife, some socks and chap stick, from who do you think? She also got a sweater that said "Kiss Me I'm Mrs. Clause" Ulrik thought he was funny by doing that.

After all the gifts were given Ulrik went around the tree to see if he forgot anything, he found my gift to Grace.

"Grace this is from Sam," Ulrik said

"Sam? Oh Sam, you didn't have to get me anything, having you is all I need."

"No Grace you need this." I said as I looked into her sweet eyes.

She took the paper of and folded it next to her; she looked at me and smiled.

"Go on open it," I insisted.

"I'm going,"

She opened the little box and teared up.

"Sam?" she said, "it's beautiful."

I grabbed the little box and clipped the necklace around her neck. Cole walked into the kitchen and grabbed a little wrapped present out of the bread box. He sat on the couch next to Isabel and said,

"I knew you probably weren't expecting anything but I got you something real special."

Isabel took the box and ripped the paper off the box. She is so the opposite of Grace. Isabel opened the box and gasped. Cole took the box and said,

"Isabel will you marry me?"

"Cole" Isabel gasped again. "Are you- Oh my, yes!"

Cole took one ring out of the box and slid it on Isabel's finger.

"Wait" Isabel said. "Why is there another ring?"

Paul took the box from Cole and walked over to his girlfriend, he did it the old fashioned way, and he bent down on one knee and opened the box.

"Lori, you probably weren't expecting this but I love you more than anything-"

"O.K. let's get off the sob story and get to the point." Ulrik yelled.

"I'm getting there, Lori will you marry me?"

"Paul," she bent down and kissed him. I think it caught him off guard because he almost fell over. "I will."