Once again because it's Halloween. Massive thanks to monkeybaby my only reviewer for the last chapter. Thanks to everyone who read the last chapter that makes me feel great.
References to 3x5 and 3x6 but it'll get more into 3x6 in the next chapter.
The Sunday before Halloween was the last day of Anna's trip to Pittsburg. After a quick breakfast, store tour, and lunch, Rob drove Anna and Sofie to a football stadium. When Anna saw it, her jaw dropped. "Here? Your appearance is here?" Anna asked.
"Yep. Agent thought it was a good idea," Sofie answered. They met up with the lady who would be showing them around and she handed over three Steelers' hoodies. Sofie and Rob instantly put them on but Anna hesitated.
"Is everything alright? They're brand new, I promise," the lady told them.
"She's a Giants' fan," Sofie said.
"No offense. I'm hoping the Steelers win because that'll put the Redskins down further but can't betray my Giants," Anna explained.
"I understand. Felt the same about my Ravens. Took about three or four years before I became a Steelers fan. It's fine." The lady showed them around the stadium, to the box office, to the broadcaster's booth, and finally to their guest box. "If you need anything there's an attendant in the hallway. Enjoy the game," she said. Then she was gone.
Halfway through the final quarter Sofie leaned over to her as Anna looked up at the TV in the corner reading the scores scrolling across the bottom. "How upset would your parents be if we had to stay here another night?" Sofie asked lightly.
"I could probably talk them into it, even if they don't like it. Why what's up?"
"Rob's not feeling too good, stomach or something. I love you, Anna, but you can't drive after nine and it'll be after that when we get to New York. I don't have a have a license, Mom said it wasn't necessary so that's out," Sofie explained.
"You don't think he'll make it back to New York?"
"I don't want to push him."
Anna nodded and promised to call after the game. So once back in the car after the game Anna video-called Nicky. In New York, Nicky had just helped her great grandfather and cousins blow out the candles on the anniversary cake when her phone buzzed. As her mom went to get plates and a knife, she checked her phone only to be chided by her grandfather.
"Nicky, no phones at the table," Frank chided.
"It's Anna," Nicky answered her grandfather as she accepted the call and held it up. "Hey," Nicky said to Anna.
"Hey, where's Pops?" Anna asked.
"Right here," Nicky smirked.
"Let me talk to him for a moment." Nicky moved behind Henry and held the camera phone out in front of them. "Hi, Pops," Anna grinned.
"Hi, Anna," Henry answered.
"Congrats on 60 years," Anna told him.
"Thanks. Is that a stadium I see in the background?"
"Maybe. I'm really sorry I can't be there."
"What are you doing at a stadium? I'm pretty sure your parents said you were at a fashion show."
"They did. The show was yesterday. That's beside the point though," Anna said.
"That is the point," she heard Danny say. The camera turned toward her normal seat. "Maryanna, did you lie to us?"
Anna thought over what she had told her parents about the trip. "No, I never lied."
"Nicky," Linda said. She traded the cake server for the phone then made her way into the kitchen with Danny behind her as Erin joined the rest of the family with dessert plates and a knife to cut the cake. Danny shut the door behind them and they walked over to the kitchen island. "I distinctly remember asking you about a football game," Linda said sternly.
"Relax, Mama. Like I told you the Giants are in Dallas and their game just started. The Steelers just trashed the Redskins. I knew that you were asking to make sure I didn't come out here just because of the game and I didn't."
"And when we asked last night and you said it was just an appearance?" Danny asked.
"I didn't lie then either. I didn't know about the—" Anna was cut off when Sofie pulled the phone from her hands.
Sofie looked at her aunt and uncle sheepishly. "I didn't tell Anna about the game until we pulled up in front of the stadium. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I didn't want you to stop Anna from coming just because there was a game involved. Please, don't be mad. It's an official appearance. My company and agent thought it would be a good idea to get my face out there at a pro football game. I'm sorry, Uncle Danny, Auntie Linda. Anna was so excited about coming to my show and I didn't want you to not let her go."
Linda looked at Danny then sighed. "Okay. Are you headed home now?" Linda asked.
"Well, about that," Sofie started.
Anna leaned forward and pulled the phone from Sofie's hands. Sofie glared at her cousin but Anna just stuck her tongue out. "There's been a little flag on the play," Anna said, turning her attention back to the phone. "You see, Rob's not feeling too well and I'm not supposed to be driving after nine. I could drive us back that way but we'd have to stop often for him and we won't make it back to New York until after nine anyway and Sofie doesn't have a license so that's out. Because of all that we were wondering if you would have a problem if we stayed another night. I know I have school tomorrow and everything, but I don't have any kind of test coming up and I haven't missed a day since I got sick in the eighth grade. I'll study real hard and I promise my next test will be an A. Please?" Anna nearly begged. She looked down when her parents didn't look convinced. "If it's not okay then Sofie can figure out a way to get me a last minute ticket to JFK. You'll just have to pick me up," she finished softly.
Her parents shared a look and Danny shrugged. "Alright, you can stay," Linda agreed.
"Thanks, Mom, Dad. Tell everyone I love them and I'll see you both tomorrow," Anna grinned.
"Stay safe. Love you," her parents told her.
"You too," Anna said. She hung up and they went back to the hotel after getting Rob something to calm his stomach. The following morning around ten, Anna got a phone call from her mother. "Hey, Mom. We're just about to check out—" Anna started but Linda interrupted.
"Could you not?" Linda asked concerned.
"Not what? Check out? Why? Don't you want me home?" Anna asked.
"Of course I do but, Anna, turn on the news."
"Which news?"
"Any news. You'll know it as soon as you see it."
Anna sighed then grabbed the remote off the TV stand. She flipped the channels trying to figure out what her mother was talking about. "Bombing, baseball results, election, more election, hurricane, football—whoa, hold up, hurricane? Did that say New York?" Anna asked. She turned it back to see the anchor talking about the path of the hurricane. "Is it really supposed to hit New York?"
"They're predicting the eye hitting somewhere around New Jersey or Delaware tonight or tomorrow but that doesn't mean that we won't get the wind and the rain from the outside of the storm. You might make it home before the storm hits but if you run into traffic, I don't know what time you'll get home and I really don't want you driving in this weather. I've talked to Wendy and she agrees. We want our babies home but we don't want you in the middle of this. Just stay there and we'll talk again in the morning."
"Okay, we'll see what we can do," Anna said. They hung up and Sofie called her modeling company who was paying for the room and the front desk who agreed to two more nights. She figured that with the storm moving towards the coast, it could also head towards them and better safe than sorry. "So what now?" Anna asked.
"Well there's a strip mall not far from here. We could do some shopping; maybe find something for your brothers?" Sofie asked.
"Sounds good. Rob, you up for it?" Anna asked. Rob nodded and they headed out. The next day Linda called and told her that New York was under a state of emergency that under no circumstances was Anna to come home. It was pouring down rain and the storm was almost right over top of them. Anna agreed and they waited another day. Finally on the 31st of October they made their way back to New York. They came down through New York into Brooklyn. All three silenced by amount of flooding but lack of devastation. There were trees and powerlines down but most buildings and cars looked completely untouched. Even when they crossed into Staten Island, all that was noticeable was the high water along the coast. Anna got home and saw her mom's car in the drive but not her dad's on the curb. She thanked both Sofie and Rob and headed inside. Shortly after she shut the door, she was surrounded by her brothers. She opened her arms and the siblings hugged. "Hey, guys." Anna grinned.
"You missed the storm," Sean said.
"Yeah, Mom didn't want me driving in it. We still on for Trick or Treat?" Anna asked.
"Didn't you hear?" Jack asked. "The mayor canceled it. They're talking about waiting until next week or the week after."
"Well, if half the city is underwater ..."
"I guess." Jack sighed.
Not liking the disappointed looks on her brothers' faces she changed the subject. "I brought presents," Anna said. It had the desired effect as they both grinned then rushed to sit down on the couch as they were taught. "For Jack, for Sean." Anna pulled two bags from her suitcase and handed them over. They tore into them and pulled out the gifts.
"Oh, cool," Jack said, shaking the snow globe he had pulled from the red bag. It had the Pittsburg skyline in it.
"Is this ...?" Sean asked.
"It's a replica of the Stanley Cup. I know much you like hockey, plus it's food safe and dishwasher safe so you can drink out of it," Anna said.
"Awesome," Sean cheered.
"You're welcome." Anna smiled expectantly.
"Thank you," they chorused. Anna smiled and went to her mom.
"I bought you something. Don't take it the wrong way. I just want to help." Anna offered her mother a package and Linda smiled softly.
She took it and opened it. "Dining on a dime: 25 delicious, home-cooked meals under $5 a person." Linda read from the cover. "Thank you, Anna." But her tone didn't match her look.
"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have."
"It's not. This is great, thank you, really." Linda smiled and Anna believed her this time.
"I also brought these. Sofie bought them. They're supposed to be the best cookies in all of Pittsburg," Anna said. Linda smiled, this time reaching her eyes.
"That's great; we can have them after dinner."
"Yeah?" Anna asked worriedly.
"Yeah," Linda said. Anna went back to the living room and plopped down between her brothers who proceeded to tell her everything she missed. That included the fact that they had pizza for Sunday dinner from Salducci's. "Jack, Sean, go wash up for dinner. Anna, suitcase does not go by the door."
"Yes, Ma'am," all three answered. Anna dumped her dirty clothes in the laundry room and sorted them then took her stuff up to her room. After put the clothes on her bed away, she too washed up and joined her brothers at the dinner table. Danny came in just as Linda brought dinner to the table. "Hey, Dad. Hi, Dad. Sup, Pop?" three voices greeted him as he dropped his suit jacket on the arm of the couch and rolled up his sleeves. Then he realized it was three different voices and didn't include his wife's. He looked up sharply and was surprised to find his daughter at the table with his boys. He grinned as he walked over.
"Boys," Danny said. He stopped behind his daughter. "Anna, welcome home." He kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks, Dad," Anna answered looking up at him. "Sean, those cookies are for after dinner."
"How'd you see that?" Sean protested.
"I'm your big sister, I see everything," Anna told him.
"You sound like grandpa," Jack quipped. "I'm the PC, I know everything."
"Well, that's what he pays his staff for. They look into everything and keep him apprised of anything he should or wants to know," Anna answered.
"Dinner, before it gets cold," Linda insisted. Danny took his seat and they tucked into dinner during which Danny and Linda insisted on hearing everything about Pittsburg. Anna looked at her brothers who looked interested then filled them in. She told them all about the fashion show and the game and what they did while they were waiting out the storm.
Anna approached her mom on Friday after school as her brothers played one-on-one basketball in the driveway. "I uh ... I noticed when you came home that the van's still making that weird noise. I was thinking that since Dad's gotta work all night and doesn't have time to try to fix it tonight and both of us have to work that maybe I could take the van instead of you. I mean you work in the city and while you can take the subway to the train and get home if something were to happen to the van, it'd be easier and cheaper for me to get home if something happened to the van while I was driving it," Anna explained.
"Anna," Linda warned.
"I know that you don't like taking my car because it sits so low to the ground and all, but it's a 20 minute walk from the house to the diner and it's no big deal. Ten blocks, I can walk that in a heartbeat," Anna went on.
"And I told you if you work after dark, I don't like you walking home alone."
"So I can call Jim to pick me up if something goes wrong. He'll be at home doing nothing. Besides it's just for one night and maybe tomorrow Uncle Jamie can take a look at the van and see if he can do something about it. It's probably electrical and Uncle Jamie's really good with cars. At least he can do more than just wiggling some wires around until it starts."
"I don't know, Anna."
"Please, Mom. Like I said you won't have to worry about paying for an extra ride to get home."
"What time do you get off?"
"10:30. I know I'm not supposed to be driving after nine but I can't get into any trouble in 10 blocks, can I?" Anna asked.
"Most accidents do occur less than 2 miles from home."
"Please, Mom? I just have this feeling. I promise that I'll pay Becky when I get home as she's watching the boys and I won't complain about having to take my brothers Trick or Treating if the mayor reschedules it and I'll load the dishwasher every day for a week."
"Unload and put away for a week and you have yourself a deal."
"Thank you, Mom."
"You're welcome, now get dressed you're going to be late for work."
Anna saluted her mom and ran upstairs to change into her work clothes. When she came back, she dropped her keys on the TV stand and grabbed her mom's then went outside to find her brothers still playing basketball. Sean missed a rebound so Anna caught the basketball as it rolled down the drive. She put her bag down on the ground then took a few steps towards the hoop. She took a shot and the ball ricocheted off backboard, hit the drive then bounced back towards the garage door. "Total brick!" Jack jeered as Sean scooped up the ball.
"And that's why I don't play basketball."
"Stick to baseball, you're better at it," Sean added.
"Okay, give me a hug. I gotta jet to work. Becky should be over in about an hour to look after you boys tonight. I'll be home by 10:30-ish no later than 11," Anna said. Jack and Sean shared a look, both rolling their eyes but came over and hugged Anna. The siblings said goodbye then Anna went to work.