Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 10 Christmas Eve

Harvey and Lori had been looking forward to Christmas Eve—their close friends Melanie and Gareth Caswell would be coming over for a good dinner by Lori, gift opening and maybe even some carol singing. Lori planned to make crown roast of pork for supper, with all the trimmings. She’d had the house decorated for some time and now that the evening was here she was really excited.
 
When Gareth and Melanie arrived it had snowed that day and they were stomping their boots to shake the moisture off as they came in the door.

“Merry Christmas!” Melanie cried.
 
Of course, immediately she just had to pat Lori’s baby bump and talk to the baby.

“She’s feeling Lori’s belly like a housewife who’s guessing if a melon is good,” Harvey joked in a low voice to Gareth.
 
“Eh, women,” Gareth replied, “They just have to have these little rituals.”







Harvey had noticed that for some reason Gareth seemed a little irritable tonight. Normally quite even-tempered it was odd for him to exhibit such behavior, at least when getting together with friends. But Harvey shrugged, everybody had their off days, even Gareth, he supposed.
 
“Hmm,” Melanie said shrewdly as though she were a midwife who’d been through this many times, “You’re carrying the baby all out to the front, must be a girl. Now if your hips were wider and your butt kind of spread out it would more likely be a boy…”
 
“What? If my hips were wider or my butt any bigger I’d kill myself!” Lori laughed.

“Say, Melanie, would you forget the crystal ball stuff—we want to open presents and eat,” Gareth complained.

Melanie rolled her eyes but smiled and sat down by Gareth where Harvey had placed Lori’s present to her.

After opening and exclaiming over the gifts they had exchanged, Lori went to the kitchen to finish her preparations.


"Should she be on her feet so much?" a concerned Gareth frowned as he asked Harvey.

Harvey replied,

"You know Lori. It's hard to keep her from anything she's determined to do and she's been planning this dinner for two weeks," then he only half-joked, "What's the matter--don't you think I take good care of her?"


"I'll go see what I can do," Melanie said quickly and headed to the kitchen, calling, "Hey, lady, could you use some help?"


Glenn glanced at Harvey and then looked away saying,


"Sorry, man, it's just that I know how tired Melanie got when she was pregnant and overdid things."


"No problem, I think Melanie will get the kitchen situation under control," Harvey paused and then added quietly, "Considerate of you to worry about Lori, though."


Gareth shrugged and changed the subject to the recent college football game he'd attended at Sim State U.


Finally the four of them sat down to supper, which turned out to be excellent, the pork was succulent and the apple-pork stuffing delicious. Glazed carrots, along with herbed roasted potatoes, cider gravy, tomato-onion relish, broccoli casserole and hot, fluffy biscuits completed the picture.

“This is to die for, Lori,” Gareth marveled while Harvey beamed with pride.

“You have to tell me how you did it,” Melanie agreed.
 
Lori shrugged,

“Actually everything I cook or bake is usually from my mother’s books or her show, but this happens to be my mother-in-law's recipe. I have her family recipe for ribs too, I'll have to make you some this summer.”

“Honey, you outdid yourself,” Harvey told her, “But not all your recipes are from your mother or my mom—what about that chicken and stuffing thing you made for me? And the Ambrosia cake?”

“Yes, you’re right, but I got those from magazines, sweetie. I’m learning a few new
tricks now and then, though,” she grinned.

After they’d praised Lori’s meal for a while the two couples  moved conversation out by the Christmas tree and it became a discussion of Gareth’s job. He’d just been promoted to Director of Athletics for the Tri-County schools. Melanie brought out the latest pictures of Scarlett they’d had done at the photographers and they gave a nice 5 x 7 one to Lori and Harvey, and told stories of how adorable and intelligent the baby was. The Fergusons didn’t mind—they knew that soon they’d be doing the same thing; assuming that no other baby was as cute or as smart as theirs. In fact, they couldn’t wait to be doing that.

Suddenly Melanie said, “Let’s have some music! Lori will you play?”

So they gathered by the new piano and sang Christmas carols for almost an hour.
They didn’t even hear it when Santa Claus sneaked in and delivered some gifts, but then Melanie finally glanced out to the living room and saw him just as he was leaving. She jerked on her jacket and ran to catch him, calling to the others as she did so,

“There goes Santa!”       

But she was too late. As she came down the steps to the walk Santa melted away at the edge of the property. Where his reindeer and sleigh were Melanie did not know but he was gone, surely to the next house on his list. She wondered who it was…

“It’s time we got home anyway, baby,” Gareth grinned, “Maybe we’ll catch him there—unless you haven’t been a good little girl.”
 

After they had gone, Harvey hugged Lori and told her what a great night it had been. Then he helped her with the cleanup before they went to bed.

Early, early the next morning while she thought Harvey was still sleeping Lori crept downstairs to turn on the Christmas lights and she leaned way over to tuck a few last gifts for him in the pile under the tree. As she straightened up with a grunt the baby gave her a good hard kick for what she'd just done thereby squishing him or her.

“Awww, poor little nubbins,” she crooned, rubbing small circles over the area where it felt like there was a little baby butt pushing against her skin, “Mommy’s sorry for cramping your style.”

Harvey heard her and smiled to himself. He was awake and pulling on his robe.

“I’ll be right down,” he called.

“Okay, I just turned on the coffee.”

Lori really didn’t care for regular coffee; she preferred to drink creamy sweet psuedo-coffee drinks with flavors like hazelnut or French vanilla, but because Harvey was a coffee purist she’d learned to make really good regular coffee from freshly ground beans. Harvey joined her downstairs.

“Honey, look up there,” he pointed to the living room ceiling where they’d hung mistletoe.

Lori took the bait—she’d forgotten about it—and he held her close and kissed her.
They actually did not have much time this morning—as soon as they opened their gifts they would have to get ready to go over to Harvey’s parents house for breakfast. So they had planned to only open up one gift each in the morning and then open the rest later that night. 

When Lori thanked Harvey for his gift: her favorite highly expensive designer perfume in a gift set (she’d given him an I-pad), he pulled her on his lap and put his arms around her.

It was probably the best Christmas either of them had known yet in their young lives, even including their first Christmas together as man and wife. Because this year they knew that their baby would be here soon.

“Just think, Harvey, next year at Christmas our child will be with us—and all excited about Christmas I'm sure!”

He smiled,

“Yes, and we’ll be showing photographs to everyone we meet whether they want to see them or not.”

“Oh, you’re so bad. I’m glad they showed us the photos and even more glad that we have our own photo of Scarlett.”

“I’m teasing, honey, I think she’s a beautiful baby.”

“I know. I just like to remind you how mean you are and that I’m really nice to make up for it,” she admitted with a laugh.

“I see. Well, what was that song your mother used to sing to you?” he reminded her.

“Why did my mother have to tell you that? It wasn’t a song anyway, it was a nursery rhyme.”

When she was a little girl her mother used to read the rhyme to her out of Lori’s Mother Goose book. Then, any time that Lori was misbehaving or pouting, Melora quoted it to her.

“There once was a girl who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good she was very, very good.
But when she was bad…
SHE…WAS…HORRID.”

“That’s okay, honey. I love you when you’re good and I think I love you even better when you’re horrid,” he gave her a wicked smile which, with his slanted eyebrows, made him look like a satyr—at least Lori claimed it did.  And it always made her giggle.

“Well, Daddy finally told me that it was the same song Grandma Elaine sang to her when she was a little girl--so this apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Anyway, I’ll get your coffee, and then I’m taking my shower—we’re running late now.

They would have to be getting ready to leave soon, and it would be hectic but merry over at their parents’ homes, but for this short while beforehand, the day was cozy and quiet.

 
Next blog update: Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 11 Christmas Day Pt. 1

Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 9 Trey and Chelsea

Lori's brother Trey and his girl, Chelsea Lomax, had dated all through high school and college and six months after graduation they married in Las Vegas. After their honeymoon at Twikkii they returned to Pleasantview and bought a new three story home.

First and second floors:

 Top floor

 Living room

Main floor bath:

Kitchen

Second floor master bedroom:

Master bath:

 
Chelsea's flower arranging room next to the art studio.

Top floor game rooms and powder room.

Both of them still loved gaming and had a "Don't Wake the Llama" table set up as well as a pool table on the third floor. A chess set and chairs were in the ante room that led both into the gaming rooms and the balcony.

Chelsea had begun to learn flower arranging right after they returned from University and was going to open a florist shop in Bluewater Village. She ran into her sister-in-law, Lori Ferguson, at Amelia's closet and they talked about how much Trey was helping her get the business set up--they were nearly ready to open.


While there Chelsea's younger brother, Andy, came in with the good news that his wife Holly had just delivered a new baby boy to join their twins, Arliss and Alexa. They'd named the child Bradley.

The Christmas holidays were approaching and Chelsea had fun decorating her new shop, which she did the very day after Halloween. She'd named it "Chelsea's Flowers"; not original, but Trey wanted her name on the shingle and it was easy to remember. She had a work space at home as well as at the shop. Every night at supper Trey and she talked about the events of the day.

He was in local politics and had been thinking of running for mayor.  Recently, though, he had became interested in possibly buying the Galaxy Arcade in Bluewater Village which would mean he and Chelsea could drive in to work together. Bob Blackford had retired and was thinking of selling the business. As winter blew in early, they talked more about the possibility. Both of them owning businesses would definitely mean putting off having children for a few years, but Trey had fond memories of the Arcade and his teen years there and didn't want to see the business close or get bought by someone who didn't really care about the kids who would make up over half of the customers.

An elderly woman, Brenda Brecht, had come in to apply for the job of cashier and, while Chelsea wondered if, being a senior citizen, she would be able to stay on her feet all day. Happily, Brenda had turned out to be a hard worker. Still, she only wanted to work 8 hours and now the shop had longer hours due to the holidays. So Chelsea often had to pinch hit as cashier. She was terribly slow but hoped to improve with time and providing the customers didn't get disgusted with their wait and stalk off the premises.

Lori came in again one evening and bought a number of arrangements and then told Chelsea that she and Harvey were expecting. The thought of a new niece or nephew thrilled Chelsea and she couldn't wait to tell Trey he would be an uncle soon. She knew his parents had waited a very long time for a grandchild.

On her way to get the mail one Saturday after work Chelsea ran smack into her mother, Jenny. They had mended some of their fences a while back through a chance encounter at Goth Apparel where they talked for an hour or so. Since then, however, Chelsea had not attempted to contact her mother, but Jenny had called her at home once or twice--they had not exchanged cell phone numbers. Both times Chelsea had been gone and Jenny left a message which assured Chelsea she did not need to phone back but that she hoped Chelsea would call any time she felt like it.

"She's asking you to contact her, you know, as plain as can be," Trey murmured when she told him, "She just doesn't want to be too pushy."

Often Chelsea thought about it, wondering if she would ever have the nerve to meet her half-sisters. She never could make a decision and so had never returned her mother's calls. Now, her heart singing with happiness about her new successful business and the happy time of year, she greeted her mother gladly and invited her in.

Trey was home and they all visited a while. After a few false starts, Chelsea finally asked about Loni Faye and Liara. Jenny hesitated to say too much since the last time she'd brought up meeting them Chelsea had frozen the conversation.

"It's okay, Mom, I'd like to hear about them--do you have pictures?"

It was obvious, at least to Trey, that Jenny carried photos around with her on just this kind of off chance she would see Chelsea.

Chelsea steeled herself to face pictures that would include Lonnie as well as Jenny and the girls, but it hadn't been as bad as she thought.

"These were taken at our house a couple months ago. Loni Faye is the oldest, she's the one with her hair up, putting her personality out there. Liara is two years younger and somewhat shy except around family. This one is of the girls up in Loni Faye's bedroom and the last one is all four of us--Lonnie used the timer on the camera and propped it up on a step-ladder."

Chelsea couldn't help but think how sweet they looked and, although she could see how much they looked like their father, she could see just a little of her mother--and maybe even herself--in them.

She passed the photos to Trey to see. She just couldn't help herself as she said,

"They are beautiful, Mom. I just hope you won't desert them when they most need you someday--like you did me."

Jenny had the grace to be embarrassed but even more the comment filled her with guilt and regret. She glanced away from Chelsea toward Trey who was frowning slightly at Chelsea. Tears came to Jenny's eyes that she swiftly blinked back and Chelsea was ashamed. She might as well have slapped her mother across the face.

"Cute little girls; I bet they keep you and your husband hopping," Trey grinned as he handed the pictures back to Jenny, "They kind of remind me of my sister when she was little and, man, was she a handful."

Jenny smiled again,

"Yes, they are very active but they do extremely well in school and are very well behaved with guests."

Trey was aware that Chelsea was having a hard time with her emotions, but he was not happy that she had spoken that way to her mother, especially in front of him.

Jenny left a short time later saying she had to get home to put the girls to bed.

Later before they went to sleep Trey and Chelsea talked and he said if she did want to go see her half-sisters and didn’t want to face it alone, he would certainly go with her.

“Family is important, Chels, and these little girls have done nothing wrong. You might be missing an opportunity you’ll regret later if you don’t at least try to establish some sort of relationship with them.”

She nodded silently, filled with fear and trepidation. Trey held her for a long time that night before she relaxed enough to sleep.

Often Chelsea worked on her flowers late into the night and Trey read then, waiting for her to come to bed. They were still like newlyweds and when she wasn't consumed with her the florist shop, Chelsea responded eagerly to Trey's gestures of affection. It took a while before she recognized that, in spite of her thriving business, she should not forget what was most important in her life and that was her husband. Truth to tell, Chelsea had always been devoted to Trey and would never before have neglected him in any way. It was just that everything involved with owning and managing a shop was so new and exciting to her as well as time-consuming. She vowed now to find a way to balance the flower shop with her life with Trey.

Meanwhile, she continued to struggle with the cash register. One evening she had a late supper at Le Magnifique. She was hungry and wanted to eat, but also she wanted to observe her mother's husband. She wondered if he still flirted with every woman in sight. But when she got there she could see that he was much too busy for that--at least not on this occasion--his hostess was on break and he was manning the phone and seating customers. Once she thought his eyes caught hers; he had to know who she was. A flurry of new people came in then, though, and by the time he had straightened all that out Chelsea was on her way home.

That night over a late night snack of Christmas cookies she told Trey,

"They have a huge menu there, but I just ordered dessert--cherry cheesecake--and it was delicious. I have to admit he appears to be a hard worker and his customers love to talk with him. I have a feeling his clientele includes a lot of repeat customers," she paused and tried to be offhand, "So I was thinking maybe we could go there for dinner one night."

"Sounds like a plan," he agreed, staying casual for her sake.

Christmas Eve arrived and the couple had a quiet evening. They were going to Trey's parents' house the next day where it would be fairly noisy and very busy--but fun. One guest did surprise them around 1:00 am...Santa Claus. They tried to pay no attention, not wanting to disturb him in his work. They cuddled and tried not to giggle like children. Santa went on his way after depositing a couple of gifts under their tree and then Trey and Chelsea "settled down for a long winter's nap" with the sound of jingling bells and ho-ho-ho's drifting into the distance.

Next blog update: Harvey and Lori Ferguson Ch. 10 Christmas Eve