| Chapter 27: Alone for Christmas “I can’t believe you’re gonna be touring for Christmas,” Lauralee was putting Alex’s clothes in a suitcase. “Show business, darlin,” he handed her some shirts. “It can be the greatest, or the worse thing in the world.” Lauralee nodded. “Yeah, but why Europe? At least you can still be in the same country.” “You think I want to do this? Blame Lou, he’s the one who set this up.” “At least your mom is going with you. I wouldn’t want you to be alone.” “I’ll be OK. My offer still stands though.” “I can’t.” Lauralee zipped up the suitcase. “I don’t want my mom to be alone. Besides, there’s nothing like New York on Christmas. Laura, Veronica and Bianca will keep me company.” “The lonely Backstreet girlfriends,” Alex shook his head. “Nick said to me the other day ‘Geez, man, just when I met someone.’” “Now, their relationship is a weird one.” “How so?” “I mean, I’ve known Bianca when she was playing with Barbie dolls. And now, I fixed her up with a guy. I feel like a mother watching her kid grow up.” “That’s how we all feel about Nick.” Lauralee sighed. “Our first Christmas, and we’re gonna be thousands of miles away.” Alex put his arms around her. “We have New Year’s.” “Yeah, and even then, you’re performing.” “We’ll run off stage at midnight and give you your midnight kiss. We already fixed it up with the crew.” “Oh I forgot!” Lauralee ran to her bag and got out a wrapped box. “Merry early Christmas.” Alex sat on the bed. “You didn’t have to get me anything.” “Shut up and open it.” Alex ripped open the paper and looked at it. “Frank Sinatra Boxed CD Set!” “I found it at this store on Lexington. It’s got all his songs. Like it?” “I love it!” Alex gave her a kiss. “I’ll wear the damn things out.” He went to his stereo and put one of the CD’s in. “Summer Rain” blared from the speakers. Alex closed his eyes and hummed to the melody. He lay on the bed and Lauralee snuggled next to him. “I love this song.” “Me too. So…” she ran her fingers along his chest. “How long you have till you go to the airport?” “An hour,” Alex kissed her forehead. “That’s time enough,” Lauralee leaned on top of him and kissed him. ~*~ Christmas Day Lauralee opened the door to see Laura and Veronica. “Merry Christmas!” They both hugged her. “Merry Christmas!” They went inside and wished holiday greetings on Lauralee’s family. “So how are you guys doing? Did you get any calls?” “Kevin called me this morning,” Laura showed off the sapphire and diamond earrings Kevin gave her. “Howie did too,” Veronica was wearing the amethyst and diamond bracelet Howie gave her. "Kevin told me Nick called Bianca this morning too. You?” Lauralee looked at the phone. “Still waiting,” she sighed. “I keep picking up the phone and checking if it’s still working.” “Maybe he’s trying while you are picking it up stupid,” Laura laughed. “Don’t worry, he’ll call.” They all sat down to Christmas dinner, Lauralee still anxiously looking at the phone. Then they opened presents. “Laura, this sweater is beautiful!” Lauralee took it out of the box. “Well, I saw the shade of blue and thought it matched your eyes perfectly.” “Veronica, the songbook is great.” “You like it?” “I’ll be in my room tickling my keyboard until my hands go numb,” she laughed. She then noticed her mother walking outside. She went outside to join her. Her mother was staring out into the street, drinking eggnog. “I bet Daddy is drinking his eggnog too.” “I bet,” Sandy took a sip from her glass. “It’s times like this…” Lauralee put her hand on Sandy’s shoulder. “I know.” “Think he’ll like the decorations?” “You know this was Daddy’s holiday. I bet he’s looking down and smiling.” “Your father was so anal about Christmas. He wanted to make sure everything was perfect. And it was.” Sandy hugged Lauralee. “You know proud your father would be of you right now.” “I know,” a tear escaped her eyes. “I miss him.” “Me too,” they almost started a crying session, when they saw a truck pull up in front of the house. “What’s that?” her mother pointed to the truck. “Have no clue,” Lauralee looked dumbfounded. The two men went up to the porch. “Lauralee Deverson?” “Yes?” One of the men gave her a clipboard. “Sign here please.” Lauralee signed the clipboard. They went to the back of the truck and unloaded a massive item, covered in blankets. “Where do you want this?” “Um, I guess, in the living room.” They managed to put the thing along the wall and uncovered the blankets. It was something covered in wrapping paper, with a big red bow tied around the center, and a big card in an envelope that simply said on the front Merry Christmas. They left the house and drove their truck away. “What is this?” Sandy looked at the gift. “I don’t have a clue,” Lauralee shrugged her shoulders. “They said it was for you,” Catherine looked on. “Open it Lau! The suspense is killing me!” Lauralee pulled off the paper and shrieked in surprise. It was a Steinway piano in white lacquer. “Oh my God!” “Wow!” Sandy said. “Unbelievable!” “It’s beautiful!” Catherine put her hand to her mouth. Lauralee opened the card. “You need to get the phone,” she read aloud. “Huh?”All of a sudden the phone rang. Lauralee ran to the phone and answered it. “Hello?” “Ho, ho, ho!” Lauralee had tears running down her face. “Alex!” “Like it?” “Like it? Like it! It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!” “Now you won’t have to play in hotel rooms anymore.” “This is too extravagant.” “Now listen, I planned this weeks ago, so you can’t say no. It’s your passion, and I figured a keyboard can only take you so far.” Lauralee cried. “You are too much.” “Merry Christmas Lauralee.” “Merry Christmas Alex.” “Now go play your piano, sing a couple of Christmas songs, because I’m in the middle of a show here.” “As we speak?” “Yup. Howie’s doing his solo now, and we’re all up next. I wanted to plan this just right.” “Go and sing! And thank you.” “Only for you. I love you!” “I love you too! Bye.” “Bye.” Lauralee hung up the phone and leaned on it. “Told you he’d call,” Laura spoke up. “Did you know about this?” “Hell no! I was surprised as you.” Veronica came into the room. “We all were.” They gave each other a group hug. “Merry Christmas y’all!” “And God bless us everyone,” Laura spoke in an English accent. “So what are we waiting for?” Veronica broke the hug. “Let’s see how this puppy plays!” They all stood around Lauralee as she sat down on the bench and felt the keys. They were as smooth as silk. She ran her hands down the length of the keys to check the sound. “Nice,” Lauralee commented. “Play something Lau.” Catherine stood next to her. “I’ll play something we haven’t played in a while,” Lauralee started to play and looked at her mother. “Remember this?” Sandy nodded. “He played it every year.” “I think it’s time to start the tradition again.” She began to play the melody again. They all started to sing the same song they sang since Lauralee was a baby. I’ll be home for Christmas You can count on me Please have snow And mistletoe And presents under the tree Christmas Eve will find me Where the love light gleams I’ll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams Lauralee stroked the last key as they all applauded. “Wow, it feels good to play that again.” “Your Dad is happy,” Sandy nodded. “I bet he is.” Lauralee patted the piano. That song meant more to her than anyone, and only Laura and Veronica would understand. ~*~ Lauralee lay in her bed, think about how this Christmas was. Even though Alex wasn’t there, he felt so close, especially with her new piano in the living room. She remembered the last time they had a piano in the house… Lauralee would sit at the bench, and her father would sit with her, giving her the weekly piano lesson. It was a special time between them, one they looked forward to every Saturday afternoon. James had learned piano from his mother’s insistence, but he was thrilled to teach his daughter. She had a natural ear, right from when she was a baby. It was from when she was 3 and toddled over to the piano and began to bang the keys that James knew he must teach his daughter how to play. When James had died Lauralee and Sandy had gotten rid of the piano, thinking it would bring back too much pain. The first time she played a real piano was in the dance studio with Tommy Smith. She got up and looked at the picture of her and her father at the piano. She was 14, with her metal braces shining, and her father putting his arm around her. She looked out at the window. “Merry Christmas Daddy.” Chapter 28 Contents Chapter 26 |