Exhausted I went into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed in tears. I lost track of time as I wept somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that the sun had set and I should think about finding Allison. I could try her cell phone but chances since it was Christmas Eve she had never turned it on. I jumped when I heard the living room door close. I sprung off of the bed and raced into the living room. “Allison?” I called out. I was startled as the lights went on and I found Nicole standing in the living room. “Hate to disappoint you.” Nicole smiled. “But it’s the younger cuter version.” She added with a wink and looked for a place to extinguish the cigarette she had been smoking.

Without a word she went into the kitchen to retrieve an ashtray. Unceremoniously she plopped down onto the sofa and lit another cigarette. “Did you know I got my driver’s license back?” She said nonchalantly as she blew smoke rings. “In my sister’s infinite wisdom she let me take her precious car out for a spin. Actually she sent me out to score her some cigarettes. Which I gladly agreed to do since I’m out as well.”

I looked at her suspiciously as she extinguished her smoke. “You drove all the way here from Chestnut Hill in holiday traffic?” I asked in bewilderment. “Where does she think you went for cigarettes Bangladesh?”

“I haven’t a clue.” She shrugged. “But I shut her cell phone of so she couldn’t track me down.”

“I thought you were out of cigarettes?” I pointed to the pack that she had placed on the coffee table.

“I must have forgotten about them.” Nicole replied with a smirk. Then her face grew serious. “She’s pretty upset.”

“So you came here to break my legs.” I sniffed thinking that I had hurt Allison.

“No.” Nicole answered softly. “I told you before that I would send Tia Maria for that. But since she is out of town at the moment, I guess I will have to grant you a reprieve.”

She gave me a moment to collect my thoughts as I fought back the tears. “Stephanie.” She offered finally. “Did you know that I have been married five times?” I just stared at her in disbelief. “It’s true.” She confirmed. “Not once did I make it to my first anniversary. One of the things I learned from those experiences is that it only takes one time of not thinking before you speak to end a relationship. You and Allison have not done that. Yet.”

“It’s my fault.” I began to sob the tears finally breaking through.

“She blames herself.” Nicole informed me as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around me. I just stared at her as she released me. “For running for not staying and talking things out.” Nicole explained. “By the look on your face I can see that you feel the same.” I just nodded in response as she wiped the tears from my face. “Get your coat.” She commanded as she gave me a gentle push. “Go on get your coat. I think that Ally needs to talk to you more than she needs to smoke.”

I followed Nicole’s instructions and we were on our way to Chestnut Hill. We talked on the long drive down to Newton. I was terrified. What would I say to Allison? Nicole just told me to calm down and speak from my heart. By the time we pulled into the Kendell’s driveway my heart was racing. As we stepped onto the front porch Allison stormed out. “Nikki where the hell have you been?” She began to shout and her face dropped when she saw me. Before I knew what was happening we were in each other’s arms. We were both sobbing and saying that we were sorry.

“I should have stayed.” Allison choked out. “I just felt like I was having a bad flashback.”

“No you were right.” I sobbed. “I should have told him.”

“No.” Allison comforted me as she pulled me closer. “You know him better than I do. I was just scared when I found out.”

“No Allison.” I leaned into her warm embrace. “You were right. I told him everything about me and about us.”

“That must have been awful.” Allison said softly as her hand moved to my cheek and wiped away my tears.

“Well he hates me.” I sniffed as I leaned into her hand. “But it’s over. No more hiding the truth. I was so afraid that I had lost you. I never want to feel like that again.”

“Never.” She answered me firmly as she lifted my face to hers and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Now let’s go inside it is freezing out here.” She draped her arm around my shoulder and began to lead me into the house. “Wait.” Allison stopped suddenly. “I brought in the presents but I left our bags in the car. I wasn’t sure that I was going to stay. ” She explained.

“I will get them.” I volunteered. “Nicole didn’t lock the car. Speaking of Nicole where is she?” We both looked around to find ourselves quite alone. We heard laughter coming from inside of the house and realized that Nicole had thoughtfully gone inside. “Go inside Darling, I will get the bags. Go on in it will give me a moment to fix my face.” I prodded her. Allison bent down and kissed me once again and then retreated happily back into the house.

I made my way carefully through the snow back to the car. As I opened the back hatch my breathing hitched as I spotted a dark figure hiding in the bushes. I was frozen with fear as the young man shifted to conceal his presence. I swallowed hard and took a protective stance placing my feet in the proper position for balance as I slowly raised my arms into combat position with my right fist facing down and my left facing up. He must have noticed my reaction and began to approach me. There was something hauntingly familiar about him. “Stephanie?” Allison called to me from the porch.

The young man’s blue eyes widen in fear at the sound of Allison’s voice. He turned and bolted across the icy front lawn. “Oh my God!” Allison gasped as she jumped the railing of the front porch and ran after him. She caught up with him by a large oak tree. They struggled briefly as she held onto him tightly. “Wait.” I could barely hear her pleading with him.

As they were struggling Nicole appeared on the porch. “What is going on?” She asked in confusion. I turned to her and finally let my body relax out of its defensive mode. “There was a man hiding in the bushes.” I explained as I pointed over to Allison and the man. Nicole’s face dropped as she too hopped over the railing of the porch and raced over to the scene unfolding under the oak tree. I followed after Nicole as quickly as I could. Nicole reached her sister and pulled her gently away from the young man. Nicole reached out her hand to him. He pushed her away and stepped back but made no attempt to run. He just stood there and they backed away giving him his space. I stopped suddenly as I approached them. Seeing the three of them together I knew instantly who he was. “Don’t run they want to see you.” Allison pleaded softly. He began to sob and his sisters approached him carefully. Slowly they wrapped their arms around him and just held him.

I walked back to car to allow the three of them some privacy. I retrieved our bags from the car and headed into the house. Walking into the Kendell home unannounced somehow seemed perfectly natural to me. “Well there you are.” Jefferson greeted me with a big hug as I set the bags down. Pauline followed hugging me tightly and wishing me a Merry Christmas. “Gaia said that I needed to set a place for you at the table. But she also told me to add one more.” Pauline explained. “I guess she finally got one wrong.”

“Perhaps not.” I answered quietly as I cast a glance over at Gaia who just sat by the fireplace smoking her pipe. “You should come with me.” I offered to the Kendell’s.

“Are those girls having a snow ball fight?” Jefferson chuckled. “Well not without me they don’t.”

“I think you both should come outside.” I said carefully. They looked at me with confusion as I led them outside into the cold winter air. They stared out into the night looking for some explanation. I watched their faces change as the image of their three children approached the house.

“David?” Pauline sobbed quietly bringing her hands to her face as her husband pulled her closely to him.

The three siblings stopped at the bottom steps with Allison on one side of her brother and Nicole on the other. The three of them were a sight to behold. Each with jet black hair and finely chiseled features and broad shoulders. I found it slightly amusing that Nicole who stood a good five inches taller than me was the shortest of the trio. Another strange thought popped into my head at that moment. “Allison and I are going to have great looking kids.”. I found it odd that I should be thinking about that now since only an hour ago I was terrified that I had lost her. Maybe it was the holiday or perhaps it was the sight of the Kendell children in glow in the moonlight set against the snow-covered background. That or the fact that no one in this family was the least bit unattractive.

Allison and Nicole stepped back slightly as their brother hesitantly stepped onto the porch and approached his parents. Jefferson and Pauline wept as they wrapped their arms around their son’s body. I smiled at the sight of Nicole and Allison holding onto one another. His parents led David into the house. Nicole and Allison followed putting their arms around me as well as we entered the house.

David’s parents had yet to release him from their arms. Nicole simply watched the scene with tears in her eyes. I removed my coat and hung it in the hallway. I took my place by Allison’s side and wrapped my arm around her waist as we stepped into the family room followed by the rest of the family. I walked over to fire with Allison to warm myself. I looked down at Gaia who was still puffing away on her pipe and rocking her rocking chair gently. “You are beginning to scare me.” I said to her with a smile. She just smiled back and continued with her rocking. “How did you know?” I asked her.