Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

Chapter 22

Billy and I joined my family in the living room. Josh and Leena were performing a very animated version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which only Billy seemed to enjoy.

"That was great!" He exclaimed when they were done.

"You know, Billy here is quite the musician," Cherie whispered to the kids. "Maybe if you ask nicely, he'll play something on Nana's piano."

Josh didn't seem very interested, but Leena eyed him.

"I'd love to play you a song, Leena. Do you have one you would like to hear?" Billy offered in a soft voice.

"Can you play the milkshake song?" Leena asked.

"Milkshake song?" Billy asked.

"Grampy used to play Milkshake Mademoiselle for her," Cherie explained.

"Of course he did," I laughed.

"Sweetie, don't you want to hear a Christmas song?" Cherie prodded.

"No," Billy interjected. "Milkshake Mademoiselle is the request. Leena, the minor problem is that it's been a while since I've listened to that one. Could you sit next to me and think real hard about the song so I can remember it?"

Leena nodded.

"Great," Billy smiled. He pulled the bench out from the piano and helped Leena up before settling next to her. "Okay, now think real hard," he reminded.

"Okay," Leena eagerly promised.

Billy let his fingers run across the keys for a moment before he broke into All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth. "Leena, you sure you aren't thinking of Santa coming?"

"Sorry," she blushed. "I'll try harder."

"Mmkay." Billy smiled and gave her a friendly nudge with his elbow. "Oh, there it is," he murmured. Then he committed to Milkshake Mademoiselle.

As Billy played, Leena burst into a broad smile; his attention trained more on her than the keys.

My sister squeezed my leg to get my attention. "I haven't seen Leena this happy since Dad passed," she whispered. She then turned her attention back to Leena and Billy.

"That was fun, Leena; thank you for teaching it to me again," Billy offered when he was done.

"You're welcome," she politely answered as she climbed down from the bench.

"Do you mind if I play a song for Lily while we're here?" Billy asked the room.

"No," the room said in unison.

"Lily, you want to join me?" He asked with a teasing smile.

"Of course," I accepted.

"Think real hard," Leena cautioned.

"Oh, dear, we'll see if I can do it." I smiled at her.

"You ready?" Billy said beside me.

"Always." A bubble of excitement erupted in me as his fingers glided across the keys before he settled into Pink Thunderbird.

Leena happily danced around us to the song, pulling most of Billy's attention.

"Leena, do you mind if we slow it down for a minute?" Billy asked as his fingers filled the time between songs.

"Okay," she agreed as she settled on the couch and tucked herself into her mom's side.

Billy slowly moved into Hallelujah as I sunk to his shoulder. He gave me a gentle kiss on the crown of my head before his voice came softly. My mind fell empty of everything except what Billy was creating around me. In between verses, he would offer tender kisses to my head. I didn't realize until the dampness of his shirt clung to my cheek that tears were falling.

The room stayed quiet when the song silenced. Billy looped an arm around me and tucked me deeper into his side. After a few deep breaths, I collected myself to find a tiny hand on my side. I turned to see Leena with tears in her eyes.

"I miss him too," Leena whispered as she stretched to wrap her arms around my neck. "Mom says it's okay to be sad."

"It is," I added as she pulled away.

Leena then turned to Billy. "You knew my Grampy," she announced. It wasn't a question; she was sure she was right.

"I did; he was a very close friend of mine," Billy confirmed.

"You can be sad too," she offered in a gentle whisper as she stretched her arms up to Billy.

Billy didn't just accept the hug. He pulled her to his lap and engulfed her in his arms. "I know, Leena. I am sad but happy that he was my friend."

"I'm happy that he was my Grampy. He was silly," she giggled.

"He was silly," my mom added.

"You're a brilliant young lady," Billy said to Leena.

"Thanks," she smiled. "My mom says I get it from my Grampy. Sometimes she says, 'oh Leena, can you be a little less like Grampy' and I say nope," Leena chirped, pulling a laugh from around the room.

"You know, Leena, sometimes I think Billy would like it if I were less like Grampy, too," I giggled.

Leena giggled at my suggestion before looking back up at Billy. "You should be a daddy. You're very good with kids." Her little brow furrowed with sincerity.

"Well, I am a daddy. I have two kids, but they are a bit older than you now," Billy explained.

Leena looked at me with wide eyes, "are you a mommy?"

"No, sweetie, I'm not a mommy," I clarified.

"Oh, you should be a mommy; you would be a good one too!" Leena chirped.

"Leena, honey," my sister interjected, knowing I couldn't have kids. "I'm so sorry," she mouthed as Leena crawled from Billy's lap and returned to her mom.

"It's okay. Billy is always saying I'd be a good mom, and he never apologizes for it," I teased.

"Nope, I'm not sorry for facts," he agreed with a kiss on my temple.

"Unfortunately, we have to get home so we can be asleep before Santa comes," my sister announced.

I glanced at the clock on the wall to find it was nearly 8:30 pm. "Oh wow, it is late," I said to myself.

"Uncle Billy, will you play more songs tomorrow?" Leena asked between yawns.

"Of course," Billy agreed.

"Mmhmm," Leena murmured before flopping on the couch, asleep.

"That's amazing," Michael said. "I wish I could fall asleep like that."

"It's a kid superpower," Billy agreed. "My kids used to pass out in the craziest places when they were little. We can help you to the car," Billy offered.

"That'd be great!" Cherie gratefully accepted.

"Beth, thank you for a wonderful evening," Billy added as he stood.

"Oh, it was my pleasure. Thank you for coming, and congratulations again." My mom smiled as she stood and met Billy for a hug.

"Michael, Josh, great to meet you both as well." Billy extended a hand to Josh just as he did to Michael, making me laugh, but pleasing Josh.

Billy helped Cherie and me with our coats, while Cherie gave me a cheesy wow face as he helped her, causing another laugh. Then he pulled a sleeping Leena up in his arms and followed Cherie and Josh to her car, quickly strapping her into her car seat as only a parent can.