Delectable Benefits

Twenty

A/N
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Christmas became Nick's breaking point.

It probably had something to do with his wife's consistent mood wings that he couldn't put a finger on or the tears and the sadness that came about with whatever condition she was in. She said it was just PMS, he'd seen enough of PMS to know that the signs matched. He wasn't sure about her food cravings, though. There wasn't anything unusual about the meals she prepared. Each time he looked at her, there was that consistent dark cloud hanging over her head, he also knew he was the cause of her perpetual state of mind.

Then his Chicago hotel manager called and told him that his wife was requesting to book one of his hotel's function rooms so they could hold a Christmas party. He frowned and decided to go down to Anya's office to see what was going on and the moment Anya laid her eyes on him, she started crying,

"Sweetheart, if you want to close the hotel down for your event, I won't mind," he suddenly found himself saying, which on a normal day, he couldn't even imagine doing so.

Everyone in the room immediately started talking all at once. His wife was upset ant it was clear they were the cause of his distress. Pam accused the others of requesting an impossible task. Then retired Judge Brown clearly had enough of what was going on stood up and shouted at all of them.

"Be quiet, all of you!"

Everyone looked up at him. The Judge gave them an exasperated look, "All right, We can't expect Anya to cook at the same time and be the host, she can't be stretched that thin. She can plan the meal with Nick's Chef. Son, we're going to use one of your ballrooms and probably some of the rooms, the guests can have their own reservations if they are going to drink themselves to oblivion. We can have a program, the HR department can plan that."

Anya dried her tears and stopped blowing her nose on her husband's handkerchief. She realized she was now sitting on his lap. She tried to get off him but he wouldn't let go. She simply gave up and leaned against him.

Nick pressed his lips against her temple, he noticed her yawn. "Thank you, Judge," Nick said and adjusted his wife on his lap. He took one look at her and was surprised to see the woman had fallen asleep.

"Take your wife home, Nick, we have nothing scheduled today. I'll take care of things here," The old man said with the shake of his head.

Nick stood up with a sleeping Anya in his arms. "All right, thanks."

Anya woke up with a start a few hours later, she was surprised to see the canopy of her bed at home. She stood up and realized she was dressed in pajamas and a thick sweater. She sat up and looked around the room. It was clear there was going to be quite a snow storm. She left her bedroom and searched for her daughter. She found her young girl in the den watching T.V. with her father.

"Mommy! You're awake!" Her daughter said and jumped to her feet.

Nick got off the phone and looked at his wife, "Everything is set for the party. Nicolette can stay with us in the hotel and the staff can look out for her."

Anya was frowning in confusion. She just nodded and headed to the kitchen, then glanced behind her and saw Nick and her daughter looking at her in concern. "Mommy, is everything all right?"