The Long Way Home (15 page)

Grey had just finished his shopping list for the holidays and went over to his printer. He picked it up and went over one last time before getting dress to go out. He had obviously picked turkey as the main course for the Thanksgiving then he had decided to have a spiral cut ham for Christmas then he decided that prime rib would be best for the New Years dinner. He also had all of the various ingredients for the innumerable side dishes and trimmings. Also he needed to pick the biggest tree he had ever had. He folded up the list and put on the counter by the door to the garage.

He went to his bedroom to change while he was changing he remembered that to get all the guest room ready for Mike and Company. He was so excited he was beside himself. He got in to his Cherokee and started on his way.

First he went to the supermarket and bought as much as he knew would keep he knew that some things he would have to buy later. Returned home and dropped everything off and put everything away. Took his dog Lucky she was giving him a lonely look so he loaded her up to go pick out a tree.

He arrived at the Big Tom's Tree Farm. After the initial tour from the manager of he was left to his own to pick. He was combing the various rows with Lucky running as though she had never been out before. It took him nearly an hour then he finally found what he thought the perfect tree. It was just right. He figured it was nearly ten feet and full all around. The manager came and cut it down and helped him load it.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the living room arranging and decorating his tree. Then with as sense of accomplishment he sat back on his sofa and looked up at the tree it was near nine o'clock he hadn't eaten but he was satisfied. He knew that he would have to put up the lights soon but he decided to call Charlotte and find out when everyone was coming before he fixed himself a late dinner.

Chapter Nine

Charlotte had spent the majority planning and booking her flights she only had two weeks till Thanksgiving. She went on-line and had all the flights booked and called Mike and told him. He had to turn everything over and ensure that someone would take care of the necessities while he was off.

She was preoccupied with both the trip and the on coming danger that she felt was coming. She still hadn't said anything to Mike she was concerned that he might try to call the whole thing off. Despite the fact that she knew Jill was the one to blame for the whole incident, she knew that Jill was basically good and had done so much for her. She felt some how that she owed to Jill. Charlotte knew that she had to get them together and let them sort it out. She was debating whether or not she should tell Grey. She figured that for now it would be better not to upset him. She knew how he felt about Jill, her and Mike were the only ones that he ever talked about it with. That was only once and since then they hadn't spoken of it but it was always there and that was almost fifteen years ago.

Now Charlotte was in the kitchen trying to figure out whether or not she was going to eat anything even though she wasn't hungry. She was looking in the refrigerator when he phone rang.

"Hello, I booked the flights" she knew who it was before he said anything.

"Oh good I was just going to ask. Have you told the kids yet?" Grey spoke with honest anticipation.

"No they're asleep now but tomorrow we'll tell them. I know mike is excited he could hardly sleep last night. I don't know whose worse him or the kids. He started to pack already. Oh by the way we will arrive at 2pm on the 23rd two days before Thanksgiving. That way I will have time to help you with the dinner and everything else." Charlotte was rambling because she was not good at keeping secrets she knew that she would have to get off the phone quickly.

"Hey that's great, but you know you don't have to help me with anything you will be a guest and I don't expect anything."

"Yeah but I will. Hey don't worry everything will be just fine." Charlotte said.

"Worry? Worry about what. There is nothing to worry about. This is going to be the best thing ever. I am so excited. I already got the tree." Grey move to the living room to look at while he spoke. "It's really beautiful. You and the kids will love it. Now all I have to do is load the bottom with gifts and everything will be done." Grey was too happy and involved with everything to even notice that Charlotte was being random. "Well I let you get Mike to bed call me if you need anything. Other wise I will see you guys at the airport to pick you up." Grey hung up and went to his have his late dinner.

Charlotte was still holding the phone in fear she knew that she slipped she also knew that nothing had really happen. She was afraid that she wouldn't make it without somehow letting it all spill out. She resolved to just concentrate on the up coming holidays and not to worry about it. This idea calmed her and she put the phone down.

She knew that Mike would be home at any minute. She decided that she wasn't going to tell him anything. He would just get mad and it would ruin everything. She wasn't going to ruin the holidays for Mike or Grey she would just concentrate on everything that needed to be done with the packing kids etc. She knew that she could easily get lost in all that was the holidays.

She decided not to eat anything just go to bed and pretend that she was asleep so she didn't have to talk to Mike. She wasn't ready just yet.

The remaining two weeks flew by for Grey while he was setting up everything for his guests. He was looking forward to having them over and had quite a bit for them. He had all the gifts for everyone wrapped in the closet he wanted it all to come out on Christmas day. He loved doing all of this because it kept his mind off of his father. If he sat long enough and thought about it would send him into a deep depression. He felt that loving his father was what caused him all of his problems and the cause of his loneliness.

He looked at his watch and realized that Mike and Company would be at the airport in twenty minutes. He washed the thoughts from his mind and grabbed the keys to his Cherokee.

Once in the airport he checked the terminal listings on the monitors above and found that the flight was delayed slightly and he still had twelve minutes before they landed. He paced the terminal and thought to himself that he needed to talk to Mike about everything that was going on. All that he knew was the he was tired of being alone. Standing there waiting for some else's family made him realize. If he wanted a real family then he had to make one. Only the last time he did that it didn't go over very well and he knew that he would need some help.

The gate in the terminal opened and unknown people started to wonder out. He looked searchingly through the crowds and finally he saw Mike and Charlotte each with a kid in hand. Mike with James and Charlotte with Jessica. The two adults looked traveled even though the flight from L.A. to Montana was short he supposed flying with toddlers would tire anyone. Just then the kids spotted him and were eagerly pulling their parents to go and see "Uncle Gwey". About twenty paces away the parents relented and let the children go. The two little ones ran with excitement toward Grey who scooped them up in both arms. They hugged him and for a moment he was happy with their love. Mike interrupted.

"Hey it's good to see you too." Grey looked up with a smile and relinquished the kids to give Mike and Charlotte each a big hug. "It's really good to see all of you guys. I hope that you guys had a good flight. I have everything ready at the house. Let's go get your bags and get out of here." Grey led them to the baggage claim. "I hope that you didn't over do anything Grey these kids are spoiled enough as it is." Charlotte said looking reprovingly at Grey. Mike could care less he felt that his kids should be spoiled.

"Oh of course not nothing out of the ordinary." Grey said slyly as he helped Mike with the dozen or so bags. "Hey did you guys leave anything behind." Grey said jokingly. "Well from the time that Charlotte booked the flights until we left she was packing so don't be surprised to find my golf clubs in there." Mike said with a laugh. They loaded up the car with the bags then loaded the kids in the car. James and Jessica were put into car seats with a great deal protest. Once they were all in the car they started on the ride to Grey's.

As they were driving up the driveway Charlotte already knew that Grey had over done it with the 12 foot balloon Santa and reindeer on the roof and enough Christmas lights to light up Dodgers stadium. "Oh dear, this is a bit much, who did you hire to do your lights, Walt Disney?" Charlotte said with her head held in her hands. "Hey cool. I've never seen so many lights." Mike was excited, and so were the kids they were wide eyed and pointing to Santa as Grey pulled to a stop.

Grey led them into the house "we can get the stuff out of the car latter lets have some fun first" he said to the kids and Mike. When they came in and saw the enormous tree they were so happy Mike was jumping up and down. The kids were in awe and Charlotte was speechless she knew that Grey had defiantly conned her into thinking that he hadn't over done it. Here it was not even two minute in the house and every one was already jumpy.

"Hey do you kids want to watch some movies. I just bought some good cartoons." Grey pointed to the far wall where there was a shelf. He had purchased the entire Disney cartoon library. Mike immediately ran over to it leaving the kids to play with the tree. "Let the kids pick out what they want to watch" Charlotte said she was getting annoyed with Mike's childish behavior already. Grey picked up both kids and walked them over to the shelf and the two of the unanimously decided on the "Lion King" then "Finding Nemo" then just to make Mike happy they decided to watch "Marry Poppins". Grey started the first movie for the kids Charlotte stayed with them and he had to drag Mike to help him get the bags from the car. "Let me just watch this one then we'll go." Mike pleaded. "No way, you always cry when Simba sees Mufasa die. I want the kids to have a good time." With that Grey hauled his recalcitrant friend to get the bags. After two trips they had all the bags in the guest bedroom. Grey peeked into the living room and saw that Mufasa was dead so he let Mike go and Grey went to the kitchen to fix dinner when Charlotte came in. Grey ascertained that she wanted to say something from the looks of her but he figured that he should start on dinner and let her tell him when she was ready.

"Do you want any help?" Charlotte said. "Sure I was going to make spaghetti you can start boiling the water while I prepare the sauce." Grey got ingredients from the refrigerator. "There is a big pot in the cupboard" he pointed to where she could find it. She grabbed it and started to put water in it "Hey so have you found anyone yet?" Charlotte inquired. Grey laughed "No not yet I have mainly been setting up for you guys to arrive. I want everything to be perfect so that you guys have a great time. But that doesn't mean that I haven't thought about it if that makes you feel any better." Charlotte put the pot on the stove lit it putting the flame on low "Oh yeah well what have you been thinking, have you found someone that you are interested in at least". Grey came up next to her and put a sauce pan on the stove and started the flame "No not yet but I wanted to talk to Mike about it. But you'll do for now." Charlotte scoffed at him "well if I am not good enough to talk to then I'll just go watch the movie." Grey laughed "no it's not like that, it's just a guy thing. I can talk to you about it too. I just wanted a guy's opinion that's all". Grey put some Italian sausage into the pan then went to the counter to start cutting the onions and garlic for the sauce. "Well I have some ideas of my own" Charlotte said she was debating with whether or not she should tell Grey about the conversations that she had been having with Jill. She was still unsure she knew that she would have to be very careful. She didn't want this to go the wrong way.

"Well I tell you what let me give you my idea then we'll go over yours. What do you say?" Grey said as dropped the onions and garlic in to the pan then added some olive oil and other spices. "That sounds like a great idea." Charlotte had the pot up to a low boil then added the noodles and some chicken broth to the pot turned the flame down to a simmer and turned to look at Grey. He was preoccupied with his sauce it was turning out nicely and he was just now putting the tomato sauce in the pan. He the put a lid on it then turned the flame to low then turned to look at her and said "well my idea was pretty simple. It's just, I think that maybe I should start looking for someone in my life. The thing that you have to understand is I am more than jealous of you and Mike. All I have ever wanted was a family, I love you guys and the kids. But I know I need that for myself I can't live vicariously through your family forever. I want to create my own." Grey was pacing and stopped he looked at Charlotte. She seemed deep in thought then she said "I think you are right and to be honest with you I was going to say pretty much the same. Not that you can't be a part of our family as a matter of fact you will always be apart of it. Even when you have you own family. You can't get rid of us that easily and besides you will forever be 'Uncle Gway' to the kids you can't forget." Grey was looking at his hands when she was talking then looked up at her she could see the emotion in his face. He walked over to her and gave her a big hug as said in to her ear "will you help me find someone?" She moved him away and looked at him "of course I will. You're like the brother that I never had. We all love you." She hugged him again. "Well enough of that lets start the salad." Grey said then let go.

They continued to talk and catch up. Mainly they talked about "Days of Our Lives" while they finished the salad and set the dinner table. When they were done with the table they went back to the kitchen and checked on the sauce and noodles. Seeing that they had some time they went to the living room Mike had one kid on each side of him on the sofa. "Smells good, want to watch the rest of the movie with us?" Mike said. The kids pleaded with him. Grey turned and looked at Charlotte she said "it's fine I can take care of every thing from here." So Grey sat on the sofa with them and Jessica went over and sat on his lap.