Christmastime at the Plaza

chapter 10

Meanwhile, at an airport, there was a woman with flowing blonde hair with a large hat dressed in a white fur coat and had expensive looking clothes and a purse as she left and had unknowingly ran into Atticus.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sir..." the woman told him in a slightly thick French accent.

"That's alright, I'm on my way to the Plaza." Atticus said.

A taxi came, it was the only one available.

"I'm headed there too, would it be too much trouble if we rode the same cab?" the woman asked, seeing the slight predicament, they would both probably get to New York too late since they were both headed there and couldn't fly out.

"It's no trouble at all." Atticus said.

The driver allowed Atticus and the woman to get in the seat and they told him their destination.

The woman looked out the window. "It's always so anxious trying to get home in time for Christmas when you're an adult... I just hope my daughters aren't too disappointed with me after I told them I probably couldn't make it this year."

"Same with me and my twin son and daughter." Atticus said.

"Oh, twins," the woman smiled. "My younger daughter once told me about twins who came to the hotel, Bruce and Bobby... She said one of them liked her and the other didn't."

"That's nice to know." Atticus said.

"Oh, yes, I just love hearing her little stories..." the woman smiled. "My name is Sofia LaBelle by the way."

"Pleased to meet you, my name is Detective Atticus James Fudo." Atticus said.

Sofia had heard a lot about him.

"Wow, Monsieur Fudo, you lead an exciting life..." Sofia couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Probably due to being a detective and all..." 

The driver had them nearly to the Plaza Hotel without any troubles that the plane would have given them.

"Looks like we're going to make it," Atticus said. "Oh, by the way, where's your husband? Is he at the hotel?"

Sofia's smile stayed in place, but it seemed to emotionally change. "I'm afraid I don't have a husband anymore... He left as soon as I was pregnant with my younger daughter not being emotionally ready to have another child, so I have to leave home a lot and have my younger daughter in care of an old family friend and my older daughter in boarding school in her father's hometown in London."

"Oh, dear." Atticus said.

"It's hard to find the right person, I'm sure you and your wife are happy though." Sofia smiled softly.

"We sure are." Atticus said.

Sofia smiled.

"Here we are, folks, that'll be $10.95." the driver told them.

"Oh, allow me," Sofia took out her wallet and took out a hundred dollar bill. "Keep the change."

They then left the cab. Sofia took Atticus's hand, but only to cross out safely, not feeling attracted to him since she knew he was a married man and already spoken for. She put her hood up as it was a bit colder outside as they came to the front doors of the Plaza Hotel. 

Hark Hear the Angels sing was being played as the guests sang along and Nanny gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. Estelle looked disgusted while Felicity looked intrigued and held her father's hand.  Cherry kissed Forte on the lips briefly, then looked away into the distance. Mo felt a little left out, even Akito got to kiss Eloise. Atticus and Sofia then entered inside. Sofia put her hood down as they came inside and she looked to see the piano where Nanny, Giselle, Eloise, Estelle, Akito, and Felicity were.

Eloise glanced over sadly, but then she looked very happy instantly. "MOTHER!" she ran towards the woman who gave her a hug in return. "I knew you'd make it..."

Akito, Estelle, and Mo looked to where Eloise was and saw Atticus. Akito and Estelle rushed to Atticus, hugging him, they were glad their father was back too. Sofia then hugged Giselle and Nanny. 

"I absolutely love Christmas." Eloise chirped as she stood next to Akito.

"I love Christmas as well, not as much as I love you." Akito said.

Eloise then stood on her tip-toes, kissing Akito again as everyone continued to sing and they had a very Merry Christmas Eve and were sure that Christmas morning would be just as precious. And where that Christmas would be one no one would ever forget.

                                                                                       The End