All Lana wanted was to get home for the holidays, just like anyone else. But when her flight is cancelled due to a snow storm, maybe she can find home in a big city and a man and his kids. Follow her as she finds a way to be home for the holidays.
I woke up on the floor. I look up at the clock. Five o'clock. I get up and stretch. I open the fridge and grab eggs fruit and whipped cream. Then I grab bacon and sausage out of the freezer. I look around for a skillet and some olive oil. When I find it I make sunny side up eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and French toast.
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I look at the clock and smile. Two little feet pound down the stairs. "PANCAKES!!!" Crimson screams. I giggle. She goes and wakes up the boys. They all rush into the kitchen. They sit down and eat and I grab orange juice and pour everyone a glass. I set them down while everyone hums their approval.
"I'm gonna go shower. Where are my bags?" I ask. "Up the stairs, down the hall to your left, right turn, last door." He says. I nod and follow his directions.
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"Very christmasy." I say to myself. I go to the joined bathroom and hop in the shower. I let the warm water run over me and wash myself with a vanilla Noel body wash in the shower caddy. When im done I dry off and hop out. I put on my clothes.
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I go downstairs to see Nick washing dishes and Blake, crimson, and Jacob watching cartoons Christmas special. I roll up my sleeves and take the rag from Nick. "Go spend some time with your kids." I say. He smiles at me softly and goes to plop down next to crimson on the couch. I look at them and they're all smiling. I smile and think of them when their mother was here.
I finish up the dishes and go back up stairs. I sit on the bed and think. Suddenly the door is flung open and everyone rushes in. The kids hop on the bed and Nick comes running in like a big monster. "Daddy's the tickle monster!" Crimson shouts. "She can't protect you." Nick says. "Because..." He starts. He lunges at me and tickles my sides. "I think she's ticklish too!" He shouts and I giggle. The kids start to tickle me too. "No fair!" I cry. I'm laughing hysterically when the doorbell rings.
"I'll get that." Nick says. I catch my breath and wipe the tears from my eyes. Crimson and Blake cuddle up to me. And Jacob crawls up behind crimson. I sigh contently. Footsteps come pounding up the stairs. Suddenly Nick and a not much younger man come into the room. The kids jump off the bed and run into the young man's arms. He kneels down and hugs them. They release and he straightens himself upright again. And looks at me.
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"Hey I'm Daniel. Nick's brother." He says extending his hand to me. I take it gently, shaking it. "Lana." I say. He smiles. "Lana is daddy's best friend!" Crimson says. He pretends to be hurt. "I thought I was daddy's best friend." I giggle. "How've you been Danny?" Nick says. "Great. Where's ash?" He asks. "In his cage." Nick says. "Nick can I talk to you?" I ask motioning towards the door. He nods and we walk out.
"So are there any pictures of your wife that I can borrow." I ask. "Ummm for what?" He asks angrily. "As a gift for your child because they miss their mother." I whisper yell.
"Lana you are a handful." He mutters. "I heard that." I sass.
He quickly dashes into a room and dashes back out handing me a picture. "She's beautiful." I whisper, staring at the picture in my hand. The woman was sitting with a mug full of something and smiling at something in the distance. "She was watching crimson and Jacob run around together. This was before Blake." He says reminiscing of better times.
Crimson runs into my arms. "Uncle Dan is staying for Christmas." She exclaims. I smile. Then I lean down to whisper into her ear. "Let's show the boys how we can win in a snow fight." She grins up at me. The boys see the two of us grinning like Cheshire cats and raise their brows.
"Let's go build a snow man." I say. Crimson and I race down the stairs. And out the back door. The boys come rushing out moments later. Nick handing me and crimson a coat and some gloves. We start building the snowman and crimson 'wanders off'. Out nowhere a bird shrieks and crimson and I ambush the boys with snow balls. They all take off to the other end of the yard. Crimson and I retreat to our end gathering more of our icy ammo.
The boys all charge at us. Each carrying a snow ball as big as a fist. Nick and Dan hurl snowballs at me. I block myself and run away. This is what home for the holidays feels like.
