Post Fractalization

Chapter 1

“But...”

“I know, sweetheart, but it’s for the best.”

“But we always spend Christmas together.”

“Not always but I can’t remember a time when we haven’t. The doctor said I really shouldn’t be in a car for more than fifteen minutes. I don’t see how...”

“Then we’ll come to you. We’ll load everything up and...”

“Kiddo, that’s not very practical, now is it? And I doubt if the Morrison family is going to want to travel into Pittsburgh on Christmas day.”

“But...”

“Listen to me. Are you listening?”

“Yes, Maw.”

“Think of it as just a slight change of plans. And you’ll have a quieter, calmer Christmas. You hate when we invade the cottage.”

“No, I don’t, not really. We have all this food and the biggest fucking turkey I’ve ever seen!”

“Brian, honey, cooked turkey freezes well. Besides, Emmett will be there. He’ll organize everything.”

“But...”

“Sweetheart, the doctor said I should be right as rain in about a week. Why don’t you all come for Little Christmas? We can exchange presents at that time.”

“But...”

“Brian, you’re beginning to sound like a motorboat. Now the girls have decided to stay here; they’ve organized everything. Michael and Ben will do Christmas here too. And Hunter and his handsome doctor are staying in Pittsburgh. Danny even volunteered to cook. And frankly his lasagna is almost as good as mine. The girls can’t cook for shit. Emmett and Drew are already up there as well as Ted and Allen. I already spoke with Claire; she’ll help Emmett and I know I can count on Jenn. So you’re all set.”

“But Maw!”

“What honey?”

“I’ll miss you,” Brian said softly, disappointment and frustration evident in his voice.

“Oh sweetheart, that has got to be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me. I have to hang up now; the pain pills are starting to kick in. I haven’t been this stoned since that day I shared that joint with you.”

“Deb, are you really going to be all right?”

“Yes, kiddo, I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“I can arrange for a private nurse to take care of you.”

“No need, honey. Lacy and Kat have been here since I fell. And my Carl has been very attentive to all my needs.”

“TMI, Deb.”

“Brian, just spend Christmas with your family. Between Jennifer and Seth, Molly and Owen, the Bridgeton family, and the boys, the cottage will be full enough without us. Sweetheart, I have to hang up now, I’m very sleepy.”

“Okay, Deb, you take care of yourself and we’ll see you on the 6th. I love you, Maw.”

“Love you too, kiddo.”

“I’m calling you every day until we do Christmas.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything else. Bye, honey.”

“Bye, Deb.” Brian stared angrily at his phone as if it was solely responsible for ruining his Christmas instead of a greasy French fry.

It was two days before Christmas 2017. The plan was to have the whole family come to Edna’s Treasures to spend the holiday together. Jennifer and Seth had come up mid-week. They were spending time with Emmett discussing their wedding plans set for April. They had brought Gus with them. He was off from school and wanted to spend time at the cottage. Molly and Owen were planning on coming, as well as most of the Liberty Avenue family.

The newly formed Angles-Sanchez-Samuels family was spending the Christmas break in St. Augustine, thanks to Brian’s wizardry. Sarah Kingsley had commandeered Sharon and Owen Sr. to her condo for the holiday. Joan was spending the holiday with Brian’s sister’s family. That left the Bridgeton contingent and they were more than happy to spend the holiday at the cottage.

But even with knowing how much of the family was planning to spend the day, Brian suddenly felt very lonely. Debbie wouldn’t be there.

“Hey Pop,” Gus called up to the attic office. “I got a weird phone call from the moms. They’re gonna spend Christmas in the Pitts. Said something about Grandmaw Debbie flat on her back. What’s up with that?”

Hearing Gus bellow up in the air, the family all converged in the sun porch. From the balcony, like a king addressing his subjects, Brian explained.

“Debbie had an accident yesterday,” Brian started. A collective gasp came up from the family below. “She twisted her back. She’ll be fine but her doctor gave her strict instructions to rest. She also got the good drugs. She was flying high by the time we hung up.”

“So are we going there for Christmas?” Justin asked the 64,000 dollar question.

“No, she can’t handle it. So we have a slight change in plans.”

Brian then recounted his conversation with Debbie, about who was staying where.

“Sonny Boy, do you want me to take you back to the Pitts to do Christmas with the moms?”

“No, that’s what they called about. I’ll stay here, if it’s okay with you,” Gus said with a small smile.

“Okay, Gus, I appreciate that. Deb said she should be up and bitching in about a week. She wants to do Little Christmas, so we’re invited to her house on the 6th,” Brian told them.

“What about food? How is Debbie going to feed everyone?” Emmett inquired.

“Well, according to her, Danny makes a mean lasagna, so she won’t be forced to eat the Muncher’s food.”

“It’s not that bad, Pop.”

“I’ve had your mother’s two hundred cloves of garlic chicken, Sonny Boy.” Brian made a face as Emmett made a gagging noise. Bree laughed as did most of the family. "Besides, you know Debbie starts cooking early then freezes everything. Between that and the rest of the family, they have the dinner menu covered. She ordered that we carry on as usual,” Brian said as he walked down the spiral staircase and into the porch.

“I’m going to miss her,” Justin whispered as he met Brian at the bottom of the stairs. The lovers hugged. They were already feeling sad that their surrogate mother wouldn’t be joining them for the holiday.

“Well, then I say we party like we’ve never partied before,” Emmett spoke up as cheerfully as he could.

“What?” Brian growled.

“Did not Debbie say for us to carry on as if she were here? It’s not like she died. She’s too tough to let a little accident stop her. By the way, what caused the fall?” Emmett asked.

“A French fry. She was carrying a bunch of pink plate specials and didn’t notice a fry on the floor,” Brian told them. The present company cringed.

“Ouch,” Bobby said.

“Yeah, big ouch. They took her to the emergency room, did the usual tests and x-rays. She’s just badly bruised. They gave her some anti-inflammatory and lots of pain pills then sent her home with instructions to rest.”

“That’s probably hurting her more,” Jennifer commented.

“Probably,” Brian agreed.

“So I say we party in Debbie’s honor,” Emmett reiterated, and the family readily agreed.

 

*****
 

“Dada, is it time to get our tree yet?”

Brian groaned. Bree had been asking him that question every couple of hours for the last three days. The family had agreed that they were going to get the tree on Christmas Eve, but now Brian was wondering if it wouldn’t just be easier to go get one right now.

“Justin!” Brian called. “The princess wants to go get our Christmas tree. Are you up for that?’

“Why don’t you and Bree and Patrick go get the tree and I’ll haul all the decorations out while you’re gone? It’s time we got some Christmas spirit going around here.”

“I agree,” Jennifer said. “Seth and I will help you.”

“Sure,” Brian griped. “Send me out with the infants and you guys stay here and have eggnog and keep warm by the fire.”

“You hate eggnog,” Justin retorted.

“That’s beside the point.”

“I’m not an infant,” Bree declared.

“Me either,” Patrick threw in.

“I’ll go with you, Pop,” Gus volunteered.

Brian heaved a sigh. “Oh for fuck sake! Let’s go.”

“Yay!” Bree squealed. “Can we take Ashley?”

“Ashley?” Brian asked, aghast at the thought of another child being under his care.

“You know the short dirty blond kid that goes riding with us,” Gus laughed.

“I know who the fuck she is,” Brian bellowed.

“Pweeze, Dada?” Bree begged batting her eyes at her father.

“Ashley will be your responsibility,” Brian said glaring at Gus.

“Great. Ashley and I get along fine,” Gus giggled knowing that his Pop was beat.

“Call the child and let’s get this fucking show on the road.”

“Have fun,” Justin chuckled as he kissed Brian’s lips.

Soon they were all in the SUV on their way to pick up Ashley. Gus was driving until they got to Ashley’s house, and then Brian would take over.

“You drive good now, Gus,” Bree told him as they pulled up at Ashley’s.

“Much better,” Patrick added.

The door to the house opened and Ashley came running out to the car. Her mother who looked slightly harried waved at Brian and Gus as they changed positions and got back in the vehicle.

“Hi, Ashley,” Bree said happily as her friend got buckled in.

“I’m glad you’re coming with us,” Patrick told her.

Ashley smiled blissfully as they took off.

 

*****
 

Seamus Griffin, owner of the Piece of Plenty B & B in St. Augustine Florida was just starting to decorate his Christmas tree when the front door of his house opened and the Angles-Sanchez family came in.

“Hello, family,” Seamus called from his living room. “How was the tour of St. Augustine?”

“Just great,” Raph replied. “Oh my, you have a real Christmas tree?” Raph said in surprise.

“I certainly do,” Seamus replied.

“I kind of thought everybody in Florida would have an artificial tree,” Raph explained.

“A lot of people do, but I’m old fashioned and I love the smell of pine.”

“Smells really good,” Curtis said sniffing the fragrant air around the tree. “I never smelled a real Christmas tree before.”

Hector noted the wistful note in Curtis’ voice. “Did you have a Christmas tree at the … place you used to live?” He refused to say the Hardigan’s name if he didn’t have to.

“They had an ugly white artificial tree,” Curtis said with distaste. “I hated it, but they thought it was okay. I thought it made Christmas … ugly.”

Hector and Raph looked at each other. What a life Curtis must have had.

“Maybe we should have stayed home for our first Christmas together as a family. I never thought...” Raph said his voice trailing off with uncertainty.

“It’s okay,” Curtis said quickly. “I like it here.”

Seamus watched the newly formed family. They had told him the story of how they came to be together when they first arrived at the B & B. “I’ll tell you what,” Seamus began. “I could use some help decorating this tree, and I’d like nothing better than having you spend Christmas Day with me … if you’d like to.” The smiles on the faces looking at him told Seamus that they would very much like that. “I have a neighbor coming over on Christmas. We always spend the day together so that we’re not alone. Neither of us have any family. I think we should make this a real family Christmas, and that includes your family. How does that sound?’

“It sounds positively wonderful, if you’re sure we wouldn’t be intruding,” Raph said.

“I’m very sure you won’t be intruding. It will make it seem like a real Christmas. Usually it’s kind of lonely. I don’t often have people stay in the B & B over Christmas. They’re with their families.”

Hector nodded. “That’s very generous of you. It would be lovely to have a real Christmas with you and your friend.”

“Then consider it done,” Seamus said with a big smile. “Grab a box of ornaments and let’s make this tree into a masterpiece.”

Curtis picked up a box of the fragile looking ornaments. He lifted one out and very carefully hung it on a branch. He stood back to admire the placement. Then he went to the tree and gently turned the ornament so that its best features were shown. A wide smile lit up his face before he reached for the next ornament.

Hector, Raph and Seamus watched the young lad with smiles on their own faces. They were each thinking that this might turn out to be the best Christmas ever. That’s what Christmas was – family and friends, and they seemed to have found both.

 

*****
 

“That’s the one,” Patrick said decisively.

“Do you think it’s big enough?” Brian asked sarcastically. He looked up at the tall evergreen. It had to be almost twelve feet tall, twice as tall as he was.

“I think it’s perfect, Dada,” Bree said.

“We need a big tree for the sun porch. The roof’s very high,” Gus contributed. “I think it will look great. You don’t want some dinky little tree.”

Brian stared at his son. “What do you think, Ashley?” he asked the little girl.

“It’s awful big,” she said seriously, “but it will be … wonderful.” There was awe in her voice.

“Then the consensus wins. Let’s cut this puppy down,” Brian said.

“Yay!” Bree and Ashley said at the same time.

“I’ll get the tools,” Gus said as he headed back to the booth at the tree farm where you could get tools or someone to help you cut down your selected Christmas tree.

“Uncle Bri, will this tree fit on the roof of the car?” Patrick asked.

Brian smiled. “I was wondering the same thing, but I think we can manage. It’s not that far back to the cottage.”

“We’ll have to tie it tight,” Patrick added.

“Absolutely,” Brian agreed. “Wouldn’t want it flying off the roof of the car. You sound just like your father when you say things like that.” Brian tousled the red hair.

Patrick grinned. “I want to be an architect just like my Dad,” Patrick replied.

“Good for you.”

“I thought you wanted to be a lawyer like your Poppa,” Bree supplied.

Patrick frowned. “Yeah, that would be okay too.” Brian smiled at the boy who had two great fathers to emulate.

“What do you want to be, Bree?” Patrick asked.

“I want to be a artist like my daddies,” Bree declared.

“Don’t you mean like your Daddy?” Patrick asked her.

“Nope, bof my daddies are artists.”

“We are?” Brian asked with a chuckle.

“You make good advertising, Dada. Very pretty. Daddy told me all about what you do at Kinnetik. I be an artist just like you and Daddy.”

“You can be anything you want to be, Squirt,” Brian chuckled. He was silently pleased to be included in the ranks of the artists in the family.

“What do you want to be, Ashley?” Patrick asked the quiet little girl.

“I’m going to be a doctor,” Ashley stated decisively.

“That’s a worthy goal,” Brian said.

Ashley nodded her head. “My mommy gets really bad headaches, and I want to help her.”

“That’s good, Ashley,” Bree told her with a very serious expression on her face. “Maybe I should be a doctor too.” Bree looked very thoughtful.

“You don’t have to make a decision just yet,” Brian said gently.

At that moment Gus returned with a saw and an axe to chop down the tree.

“Let’s get to work, team,” Brian said. “We have a tree to fell.”

“Silly Dada,” Bree laughed. “The tree won’t fell by itself. We have to chop it down.”

“Right you are, Squirt,” Brian chuckled. He didn’t want to try to explain to his daughter what felling a tree meant.

Gus shook his head. “Want to chop or saw?” he asked his father.

“If you hold the branches up. I’ll start the process with the axe,” Brian said.

Before long they had the huge tree down. Brian sawed off the bottom of the trunk to make it even.

“Grab the top, Gus,” Brian instructed. “I’ll take the bottom. Each of you children take a limb and we’ll carry it back to the car.”

The little troop moved along the path. When they reached the booth, Brian paid the exorbitant amount demanded for the very large tree. The workers at the lot helped get the tree strapped to the roof of the SUV.

“Hot chocklet,” Bree said as soon as they were finished.

“Yes, Squirt. Let’s go inside and get five hot chocolates. I think my toes have already frozen into little blocks of ice."

“Maybe I should be a foot doctor,” Bree said, as Brian took her hand and Gus took Ashley’s. Patrick brought up the rear. They all walked over to the shed where hot chocolate was on tap.

 

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