by Jean Joachim
He tossed the underwear to her and brought over a pair of jeans and her teal blue cotton sweater.
"I wore that one up here…"
"It's my favorite. It matches your eyes."
Carrie smiled at him and slipped her underwear on under the covers, then her jeans. She threw back the covers and raced over to the dresser to smear on some deodorant, then pull the sweater over her head. A quick run-through with her hairbrush and they made their way down the hall to brush their teeth.
They were almost the last ones to arrive in the living room and Colin stood up and applauded when they entered.
"Hooray! The engaged couple finally gets out of bed!"
"Shut up, Colin," Grey snapped.
"Oohh, crabby brother. Didn't you get any last night?"
"I said shut up. Or do I need to do it for you?" Grey's hand fisted at his side.
John threw a stern glance at his younger son and Colin clammed up and sat down.
Jenna came into the room carrying a tray heavy with mugs of coffee.
"What can I do?" Carrie asked.
"There is a basket of fresh muffins on the table in the kitchen. Would you mind bringing that in? And the butter, too? And plates? Mom has the milk and sugar."
Carrie handed her mug to Grey and headed for the kitchen. Fran put the small tray bearing her antique porcelain milk and sugar set on the table.
****
Grey topped off his coffee with milk then sat back on the sofa. He had never felt better, despite the teasing from Colin. A smug smile curled his lips as he thought about exactly how very satisfied he was after their lovemaking of the night before. Who needs presents? Carrie gave me the greatest gift ever. What a night! Whew.
Grey picked up on his brother's stare and turned to face him.
"What?"
"Nothing. Nothing," Colin muttered.
"Come on, out with it. We don't usually hold back in this family."
"You're happy, aren't you?"
"Can't you tell?"
"I mean you're not settling or anything, getting anxious to have a family and stuff?"
"Are you kidding? Carrie is amazing. I've searched for a long time…finding her was a dream come true. I didn't know what happy was until I met her. Couldn't keep away from her almost as soon as I met her."
"Well, then…good luck, Grey. No hard feelings, eh?"
"We're cool, Col. I hope you find a woman like her. She'll change your life."
"Who's life is changing?" Carrie asked, carrying a basket of muffins in one hand and a butter dish in the other as she entered the living room.
"Mine."
"Oh?" She arched an eyebrow at him then set the basket down.
"Since I met you," he said, reaching for her hand. He put it to his lips.
Color came to Carrie's cheeks as he pulled her down on the sofa next to him. But she popped right up again.
"Plates." Carrie headed for the kitchen.
Grey glanced over at Colin.
"She's beautiful, Grey."
"Yeah, smart, funny…she can cook and do…everything."
"Sounds like love to me, little brother," Barbara put in.
Jenna flounced in, followed closely by Carrie. The women put out the rest of the food then took their seats next to their spouses.
"Colin's next, now that Grey's finally taken," Jenna said.
"I'm in no hurry," the younger man replied.
"Uh oh, do I detect another Casanova of the County in the making?" Barbara teased.
"Enough. Let's get this show on the road. Fran?" John Andrews said, reaching for a corn muffin.
Presents were distributed and opened. Carrie twisted a piece of wrapping paper in her hands as she watched Grey's family open the presents she picked out for them. Conservative gold earrings for Barbara for work, a silk blouse in aqua, Jenna's favorite color and plaid flannel shirts for Earl and Bill were well-received.
Grey watched Carrie's brow relax. He put his hand over hers. She stopped twisting the paper and looked up at him. He leaned over, placing his lips to her ear.
"Everyone loves everything. Your stuff is a hit," he whispered.
Barbara was the Master of Ceremonies this year, luck of the draw, so she handed out all the gifts. She picked up a small box from Grey and Carrie to Fran and John and put it in her mother's hands.
"Grey, you shouldn't have," Fran said, automatically.
"Different kind of gift this year. Carrie's idea," he responded.
Carrie's eyes clouded as her brow furrowed again. Grey patted her hand. When Fran opened the box, with John peeking over her shoulder, his curiosity piqued, she was speechless.
"Oh my God! Tickets to One Dark Night, the Broadway show I've wanted to see for ages! How wonderful!"
Fran's face lit up and Carrie's right afterward.
"You know how I hate to drive into New York, Grey…" his father put in.
"Take the bus. Laura and Barney said they'd take you to the bus and pick you up. I'll meet you in New York and drive you to the house. Carrie's redecorating the place and you'll have your very own room and bath. All the comforts of home."
John smiled at his son. "Okay. Your mother's wanted to see that show…"
"How did you get tickets? I heard it's been sold out for months," Fran asked.
"I've got a little pull."
"I can't wait to see what you are doing with that house, Carrie. It's been bugging me for years. Grey owns that great townhouse and has been living in only three rooms…with the rest going to waste."
"I hope it's going to have a nursery," John tossed out.
Uttered during a lull in the conversation, John's clumsy remark echoed through the room. Carrie's face got red and Grey didn't know where to look. The silence was deafening as the family members looked at each other then away.
"Leave it to dad to put his foot in it, as usual," Jenna piped up.
Everyone laughed and John leaned over to speak to Grey and Carrie.
"Is there something wrong with me wanting grandchildren?"
Carrie laughed and Grey, too, relieved she took it so well. Fran gave John a slap on the arm and made a face, but Grey knew she shared his sentiment. So they were looking to him to give them grandchildren since Barbara and Earl were having problems getting pregnant. He smiled to himself. Sure I want kids. Wait till I'm married!
"We're not getting any younger."
"John!"
"Nuts, Fran! Stop pretending you don't feel the same way."
Grey put his arm around Carrie's shoulders and eased her back on the sofa, anxious to avoid involvement in his parent's dispute. Carrie elbowed Grey as Barbara picked up one of their gifts next and passed the small box to Colin. Inside was one ticket to a Knicks game.
"One ticket?" He his hands balled up the wrapping paper, his eyebrows raised as he looked over at Grey.
"I've got the other ticket. We've got courtside seats, Col! The game is during your February break from school. Carrie and I want you to spend the week with us."
Colin's face clouded over. "That's our week to go to the Caribbean."
"Can't do that stuff anymore. I'm practically a married man. But…come to New York."
Colin's face became a mask. He jumped up and moved swiftly to the back door, grabbing a coat from the hook by the door then banging the door open. Silence fell on the group.
"I'll go," Barbara said quietly, pushing up from the floor.
Colin had always confided most in his oldest sibling, so no one argued when she got up and followed him outside.
****
Barbara zipped up her coat as she skipped along the hard path of tamped down snow across the backyard and down to the lake. Colin was ahead of her but she was catching up as he slowed his pace. Soon she was within shouting distance.
"Colin!"
He stopped ten yards from the lake and turned to face her but didn't say a word. His breath looked like the smoke from a cigarette hanging in the frigid air. He pulled up his collar
against the freezing wind blowing off the icy lake and waited for his sister to catch up. When she reached him, she put her hand on his arm while she caught her breath.
"Colin. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said, turning away from her.
"Bullshit! Something about Grey's Christmas present?"
"It was very generous. It's not that. Just…well…not what we used to do."
"What?"
"Every New Year's weekend we'd go skiing. Then in February, Grey and I would go to the Caribbean for a week. We'd wind surf, sail, drink and hunt chicks together."
"Hunt chicks?" Barbara gave him a stony look.
"It's a guy thing. Look, you don't understand so forget it."
Colin started to walk away but she detained him by tugging on his sleeve. "Give."
"I told you."
"Tell me again. In plain language this time."
"Grey and I would take rooms in a resort, especially those all-inclusive places because they have the easiest women and a ton of free booze. Then we'd do stuff during the day…wind surfing, sailing. We went swimming and other stuff. At night we'd drink and hit on women. Sometimes it got competitive… Grey always won. Chicks went for him more than me. He'd get laid a lot more than…hey, why am I telling you this?"
Barbara could feel the heat rise in her face at her brother's candid confession. He stopped to stare at her.
"Go on."
"I'm embarrassing you, Barb…and myself, too."
"Look, Earl wasn't my first…I'm no virgin…continue."
The heat rose higher in her cheeks as she observed her baby brother's shocked reaction to her bold statement.
"Come on, Colin, give."
"That's it. No more details. Grey and I swore secrecy about…those trips. I'm not breaking it, even for you."
"So what are you are upset about?"
"Grey invited me to stay with him and Carrie during my February break. That means our Caribbean…uh…trips…are over."
"Grey's engaged. You can't expect him to go 'hunting for chicks' with you in the Caribbean anymore."
"I know!"
"Oh, oh, I see." Barbara stepped back as his words came at her like a blow.
"Those trips meant a lot to me. I learned a ton from Grey, not only about women, though I'd challenge him at a bar pick-up now. I was looking forward to going, taking him on, then he got engaged. Now he can't go because he's tied to some chick's apron strings. Used to be he'd love 'em and leave 'em, now he's hog-tied, ball-and-chained, whatever."
"You miss him, eh?" Barbara moved closer, her hand hovered over his forearm for a moment before settling there.
"Yeah," he said, looking at the ground.
"You'll have to adjust. Grey was bound to get married sooner or later…"
"Why couldn't it be later?" He turned to look at her, anger flashing in his eyes, wrenching his arm free from her.
"Don't you like Carrie?"
"She's fine. That's not the point." Colin picked pine needles off a nearby branch avoiding her eyes.
"You're losing him?" Barbara moved toward the same tree, her hands idly plucking at a branch.
"That's how it feels." His hands fell to his sides, his head bent slightly down.
"But he's so happy."
"I know. I feel like a rat. I didn't know he wanted to get married. I thought he still wanted to screw around." Colin lifted his head and slowly started to walk back toward the house.
"Didn't you know about his marriage list?"
"Jenna said something once, but I didn't pay attention. I thought she was kidding."
"Grey's wanted to settle down for a long time. You're not losing him, your relationship is changing, that's all. Carrie is part of the equation now."
"And she's already pissed at me…" He formed a small snowball and tossed it at a tree trunk, scoring a direct hit.
"Whose fault is that?" Barbara shrugged.
"Mine, I know. I was an idiot." Colin turned to face her.
"You're mad…"
"Maybe…maybe more…disappointed." His toe dug in the packed snow.
"He loves being your big brother. You'll never lose that. Give him a chance. Give Carrie a chance…"
"Like I need another sister, right?"
Barbara laughed. "If you're still 'hunting chicks' maybe you do!" Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at her brother.
Colin cracked a grin.
"So you'll give him a chance?" Barbara persisted.
"What choice do I have?"
"Things change, baby brother. At least you'll have plenty of memories of those wild days with Grey. Not like you didn't spend time with him." She patted his shoulder.
"I know. Didn't want it to end, though." He cast a rueful smile at her.
"Don't punish him for having a life. Show him you're okay with Carrie and his marriage or you might lose him." Barbara moved toward the house, tugging Colin's hand.
"I'll try." He followed her, leaving the lake behind.
"That's all I ask."
"What do you mean, lose him?" Colin stopped short and pulled on Barbara's arm, turning her around.
"Don't make him choose between you and his marriage." "Oh. Right. Yeah. I won't."
"Good." Barbara faced him squarely, putting both hands on his shoulders.
Barbara hugged him and he relaxed in her embrace for a moment, his eyes bright with unshed tears. After she let go, he turned away from her and blinked rapidly while he got his emotions under control.
"He loves you, you know."
"Leave it to a girl to end up talking about love."
"I'm not a girl…I'm your sister."
"As soon as you say 'love' it's the same thing."
"Cynic!"
"Pollyanna!"
"What have you got against love?"
"I'm like Grey. Haven't experienced it yet." Colin started back up the path with Barbara at his side.
"What about Angela?" Barbara kept her gaze on the path, her arms folded.
"Angela's off to the Peace Corps for two years. Can't say I'm sorry either."
"I thought you two were altar bound."
"Marriage? Me with Angela? No way!" Colin put up his gloved hands as if to ward off the dreaded Goddess of Love.
"I'm relieved. Thought you could do better than Angela. So, you're free again?"
"Yeah, in time for that trip I'm not going to be taking with Grey."
"I see. Angela's departure was timed perfectly." Barbara looked up, straight into Colin's hazel eyes.
A wicked grin spread across his handsome face. "You know me too well,"
Barbara laughed as she shook her head. "There was hope for Grey…I guess there's hope for you, too."
****
Grey checked the back door from time to time, waiting for Colin to return. He tried to smile as his family members laughed and gasped in surprise at the gifts they received but he couldn't. He was worried about Colin. What did I do wrong this time?
"What is it?" Carrie asked him, her hand tugging lightly at his sleeve urging him to face her.
He turned and smiled when he saw the concerned look on her face.
"What's up? You look edgy."
"It's Colin. He's disappeared."
"Barbara is with him, right?"
"I know. Still...it has something to do with me. Sometimes he can be such a…"
Before he could finish, a wave of cold air interrupted him, drawing his attention to the back door. Colin and Barbara had returned. They were smiling and chatting though Grey couldn't hear what they were saying. When the door closed behind him, Colin brought his gaze up directly to Grey's.
He walked to the rapidly shrinking pile of gifts under the tree and pulled out an envelope before plopping down on the sofa next to Grey.
"I'll come to New York for the week if you'll attend this," he said, pushing his gift into Grey's hand.
Grey slid his finger under the flap and ripped open the envelope. He pulled out two homemade tickets to the Je
fferson County wrestling tournament to be held in Oak Bend in April.
"We have a couple of contenders this year…one at 116, our heavyweight guy and one at 140 and one at 160. Can you come?"
Grey handed the tickets to Carrie.
"Colin coaches the wrestling team at Pine Grove High."
He looked at her and raised his eyebrows. After a quick glance at the papers in her hand she smiled and nodded.
"We'll be there. But you're buying the victory dinner!" Grey said, turning back to Colin and pushing a finger into his brother's chest.
"Deal. Dinner at Homer's is on me."
Colin extended his hand to Grey, who looked down at the hand then grabbed his brother by the shoulders, pulling him into a brief hug.
"We're good?" Grey asked.
"Yeah. We're good."
Colin smiled at Carrie and got up from the sofa, heading toward the kitchen.
"Oh, Mom…you didn't?"
He smacked his forehead with his hand as he left the room.
"I told you not to!"
Grey looked at Barbara and Jenna who were giggling, holding matching teal blue and green plaid flannel shirts. Bill tossed one soft package to Grey and one to Carrie. They opened them to find the exact same shirts.
"The entire Andrews family will be putting on these shirts and posing for a picture when Emma arrives," Fran announced.
Carrie put her hand in front of her mouth but couldn't completely stifle a giggle as she looked first at Grey then at Jenna.
"Oh my God…"Grey exclaimed as he unfolded his plaid shirt and held it up.
"Colin did tell me this wasn't a good idea, but I did it anyway. Any objections?"
Her tone of voice silenced the room and one by one they all shook their heads, avoiding eye contact with each other, repressed laughter punctuating the silence from time to time.
"Fran, you've outdone yourself this year," John said as he burst into laughter.
His pronouncement was followed by gales of laughter from all the siblings and spouses. Fran smiled and Colin returned with a glass of eggnog. He raised his glass.