Post by larue on Aug 30, 2011 20:19:59 GMT 10
“The coast is clear. He is finally asleep.”
She took a sip of the peppermint mocha latte he had gotten for her and watched out the window as he drove through the quiet streets.
“You know,” she said . “Your manner of hitting on me is doing nothing for my…um….curves.” Scott grinned.
“I love your…um….curves,” he mimicked. Susan rolled her eyes.
“Says he with the reed thin, hard as a rock body,” she mused. “How do you do that anyway?“ He laughed. She took another sip and smiled as they passed a house covered in lights with a party going on inside. Christmas eve.
“Are you sure its going to be okay if I stay the night?” he asked.
“You are the one that insisted on getting him the wii,” she moaned. “You are damn well going to be the one to figure out how to hook it up.” Scott laughed and pulled the car into her drive way at the duplex. They shut the car doors quietly and then he opened the trunk. She piled a stack of wrapped presents in his arms and quietly closed the trunk. She took some of the packages from him and they made their way up the cleared sidewalk to the porch. Luka came out his front door and locked it behind him.
“Quiet night?” he asked. Susan nodded as she unlocked her front door.
“The worst was that I had to send a three year old up to pedes with ketosis. Merry Christmas, huh? Dr. Franklin was there early…as usual,” she said. “And keep an eye on that med student….Simpson. Total slacker with patient protocols tonight.” Luka waved and headed for his car.
“Merry Christmas!’ Luka waved again and started the car. Susan watched him leave and followed Scott into the house. The only light came from the softly twinkling tree. Her dad was sound asleep under a quilt in the recliner. Scott had already put his packages under the tree and took hers to put there as well. Susan slipped out of her jacket and opened the closet door quietly. She hung her coat up and then reached deep inside to a corner and carefully lifted out three filled Christmas stockings. Scott took them from her and she pointed toward the tree. He carried them over and set them on the floor under the tree. He surveyed the tree with satisfaction and turned as she took his jacket off him. He grinned and leaned to kiss her.
“What was that for?” she laughed quietly.
“Its Christmas….” he grinned. He checked to see if Henry was still sleeping and then wrapped his arms around her for another kiss. She suddenly backed away and pulled the vibrating cell phone from her pocket. She leaned back and looked at the number and then frowned at him. Scott loosened his hold and she turned away as she lifted the phone to her ear.
“Chloe?” she said. “I know but its almost midnight here. I know that its earlier in California. It’s okay. Chloe? Chloe! Are you there? Okay. Yes. We will have a merry Christmas. You too. Are you okay? Chloe?” Susan pulled the phone away and checked the number again. She pushed the redial button and put the phone to her ear and waited. There was no answer.
“Damn,” Susan said quietly as she looked worriedly at Scott. “She’s not answering.”
“Was that my mom?” Susan turned to see Susie standing on the landing with two heavily laden stockings in her arms. Her hair lay across her shoulder in a braid and she wore an old tee shirt of Chuck’s over her sweat pants. Susie didn’t wait for a response and stepped down the last four stairs and moved to the tree.
“She’s drinking and maybe using again, isn’t she?’ she asked as she tucked the stockings next to the three Scott had placed. Susan looked at him and sighed sadly.
“She might be,” she sighed. Susie straightened and turned to Susan.
“She called here earlier and talked to Grandpa and I,” she said quietly. ‘She thought it was Christmas already.”
“I’m sorry, honey,” Susan whispered and pulled the girl into her arms for a hug.
“Its okay,” Susie said as she hugged her back. “I kind of thought something was happening when I was in California last summer.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?’ Susan whispered sharply as she held Susie back to look at her face. The girl shrugged.
“My mom makes her own decisions, Aunt Susan,” she said. “She has to deal with the consequences, not us.” Susan hugged her tightly again and kissed her cheek.
“I love you,” she said firmly. Susie nodded and then smiled up at Scott.
“Good night,” she whispered brightly. “I‘d get some sleep if I were you. The munchkin has a tendency to be up before the crack of dawn on Christmas.” They watched as she made her way around the couch and disappeared up the stairs.
“Her mom is an addict?” Scott asked quietly. Susan nodded. Scott studied her face.
“I hate this….” Susan sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. “She’s got graduation coming up this spring and…..” Susan’s hands dropped to her sides and she shook her head.
“Damn it, Chloe!” Scott studied her for a long moment and then drew her into his arms. Susan melted against him as he held her close.
“Is that how you ended up with Susie?” Susan nodded against his chest.
“I had her for a while when she was a baby,” she said. “I even filed to officially adopt her after Chloe just disappeared. Then her mother showed up with Joe in tow and the court gave her back to them.”
“God, that was rough.” She sighed heavily and pulled away from his embrace to wipe her eyes. She looked at him and smiled a little. She sighed again.
“Its Christmas,” she said weakly. “You don’t need to hear all this now.” She reached for his hand and he didn’t move.
“It can destroy a family, you know,” he whispered softly. “It did mine. You‘re lucky.” Susan stopped short and her eyes searched his face in the light from the twinkling tree lights. Scott shrugged.
“My older brother,” he said. “He managed to kill himself finally with cocaine and my parents died quickly after that because of it. Their life insurance and sale of the house put me a good way through medical school though.” Tears flooded Susan’s eyes.
“Lord, we are a pair, aren’t we?” she sighed with a soft laugh.
“A good pair,” he responded and moved toward her. “Survivors.“ His arms tightened around her and they still together for a long moment.
“Susie is right, you know,’ she sniffed finally. “He does get up before dawn.” Scott chuckled and kept one arm around her shoulders as they made their way toward the stair case. She held his hand as she went up the stairs before him.
He was stretched out on her bed when she emerged from the shower and closed her bedroom door behind her. Stretched out on the bed in sweats and he was sound asleep. She laughed a little softly and slipped into her own tee shirt and yoga pants. She ran a comb through her still damp hair and then slipped under the covers next to him. She snuggled against him and drew his arm over her waist. Scott murmured something and pulled her closer. He tucked her head under his chin and breathed deeply. She smiled contentedly and closed her eyes.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS, MOM!” Susan opened her eyes and blinked in the early morning light. She lifted her head and looked up at the window and then at Cosmo’s face close to hers.
“Hi, honey,” she crooned and kissed him.
“Can I go downstairs now?” he asked excitedly. “To see if Santa has come?“ Susan nodded and he raced from the bedroom. She reached over and nudged Scott.
“He’s up,” she said as she swung her legs off the bed. “Wake up. We’re going to miss all the fun.” Scott shook his head and blinked in the light.
“What time is it?” he asked as he sat up. “I thought you said he’d be up before the sun.” Susie stuck her head in the door.
“Can you believe it?” she said with her eyes wide. “The little wart slept past five o’clock!”
“Merry Christmas to us!” Susan laughed and held out a hand to Scott. He stretched and climbed off her bed. He took her hand and kissed it as he followed them downstairs where Cosmo was shrieking with excitement.