You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me

Chapter 37

Dean sat numbly at the bottom of the stairs at the house. Chrissy sat next to him with her arm around his shoulders.

"How much time?" he finally rasped.

"A month... Maybe less. I started packing. I figure we go out as soon as the kids are home from school. Christmas break starts in two days anyhow."

"I don't want them to have to see her like that. They can stay here. Craig, Claudia, and Gail are grown. They can pitch in to look after Deana and Jamie. Jeanne will just keep Dean Paul, Ricci, and Gina. Then we'll take Marie with us."

"Okay, Dean. Whatever you think is best."

Dean wrapped his arms around Chrissy. "You know when I thought about us being together, I only thought of the good stuff," his voice started to crack, "But words can't express how thankful I am for you right now." A sob escaped him as he held tightly onto Chrissy.

"I love you, Dino."

"I love you too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angela scolded Chrissy while lying in bed, "I thought I told you not to come look at me when I was sick."

"Dean wanted to be here for all of you, and so did I. You have always been there for me."

"Are the boys getting along?"

"Yes, the typical brother nonsense but they're good."

"The two of them always butt heads when they're together."

"They're getting along just fine. You don't need to worry about anything."

Angela reached for Chrissy's hand, "I wonder what it'll be like."

Chrissy gave her a weak smile, "Well, I'm sure there'll be no more pain. I'm sure you'll be greeted by Nonni and my babies."

"Won't that be beautiful?" Angela sighed, "Chrissy, I'm very thankful you're here. Would you mind if I rested a little less while? Then maybe you could bring Marie in to see me."

"Of course." Chrissy stood and kissed Angela on the cheek.

Then she went downstairs where Dean, Guy, and Dean's brother, Bill, were all bickering.

"I told you that already!" Dean grumbled.

"No, you didn't. I know you're a big celebrity, but she's my mother too. I'd like to contribute," Bill stated.

"Your mother won't want either of you paying for anything. That's not your burden," Guy interjected.

"I want her to have the best, and I can afford it, so why won't you both just let me take care of it. I'm not flaunting anything. I have the means and want to take care of it," Dean tried to explain calmly.

Chrissy pinched the bridge of her nose and went into another room where Marie was sleeping in a pack and play. The men had been arguing since they all arrived about money. Dean wanted to take care of any expenses (and with good reason, CBS had just signed him on for a show, record sales were booming, and movie royalties were rolling in); but Bill felt like it was a slight to him; and Guy didn't want his sons worrying about any of the expenses, despite the fact that both had more money than he and Angela.

As the bickering got louder, Chrissy went to intervene, "Listen, I'm not involving myself in this, but you're getting louder and you're going to wake her. She already asked if everyone's getting along and I said yes. Don't make me a liar."

Bill gave her a weak smile, "Sorry, Chris. I guess we're all stubborn Italian men. Can't agree on anything."

Guy chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, "Guess you both get that from me." Taking Chrissy by surprise, Guy began to cry, "It's nice having both of you here..."

"Aw, Pop," Dean said hugging his father.

"Pop, we're here for you. I'm here more for you than I am for Mama. You need us most right now," Bill said, giving his father a hug as well.

Dean and Bill looked at each other. Dean wiped away a few stray tears, "Come here, you big dumb oaf."

Bill and Dean hugged, "I love you, Dino. I know we don't say that very much, but I do."

"I love you too, Pally."

That evening was Christmas Eve, so all of them spent the evening in Angela's room talking to her. Angela was thrilled to see how wonderfully everyone was getting along.

Eventually, she said she was very tired, so they let her go to bed.

And with peace in her heart that her boys were getting along and would be well taken care of, Angela passed peacefully in the night.