The abundance of rich hot cocoa and cider gets everyone hopped up on sugar and talking. The Donaldsons announce a new pregnancy, a spelling bee winner, and a job promotion. Jay starts bragging about his beer maker, inviting every one to try his future brews while Ellie starts telling everyone of Quinn’s great success and future show in Tokyo. Monica notices that talk of Japan gets Frank and his buddy Dave in a conversation about traveling there. His eyes seem to light up at the prospect of a beloved country he hasn’t been to in decades.
Would Frank be going to his show if it weren’t for me? If they hadn’t fought today? Am I going to be another wedge between them?
Monica can tell the sugar is starting to wear off as she begins to feel sad and unsocial. A couple of rain drops wake her a bit and stir Dave to suggest they get going before the storm. After a few long good-byes and Happy New Year wishes they make their way back towards the house. Only a few drops sprinkle down at first as Frank takes the lead and walks ahead.
There’s a natural migration, and soon all the women are in a line together, and the men don’t speak more than a few choice words. Jay and Quinn snap at each other quietly. Quinn’s obviously pissed that he opened his mouth earlier. It’s easy to see they can’t stay mad though, as the two of them are one noogie away from forgiveness by the halfway point. Frank, on the other hand, stays silent far ahead of the family.
Ellie scurries ahead to join him, but no one can hear them.
“I hope she’s telling him he’s being an ass,” Quinn says.
“I think she’s asking about that brush-off he gave her when we got to the park,” Jay says.
When it’s clear they’re arguing, they slow their pace to give them space until Ellie freezes. She stands there staring away from her children as they get closer while Frank keeps getting further away.
When they get to their mom, her stoic tears fall along one cheek. The boys wrapped their arms around her, sandwiching her until she starts walking again. She doesn’t want to talk, which is probably best since no one really knows what to say or where to start. They just walk arm in arm quietly as the rain falls steadier and Frank disappears in the distance.
By the time they reach Jay and Megan’s street, the afternoon light barely filters through the dark clouds. They start jogging through the growing downpour and turn into the driveway where all eyes note that Frank has taken his car and left. In shock, they open the garage and look inside as if he’d be parked there. Ellie stands on the driveway and lowers the hood of her coat. She looks to the sky and closes her eyes to let the rain wash her face.
“Mom, come in out of the rain. I’ll get your clothes dry,” Megan says. But Ellie doesn’t budge.
“Mom, what did you say to dad?” Jay asks.
“I’m not discussing this with you kids today. It’s Christmas and I want you to enjoy the day. Enjoy this wintery weather. Go inside and play a game together. Have some laughs.”
“You’re coming inside too,” Quinn says.
Ellie wipes her face with her hand and looks towards her children. “No I would like Jay to take me home.”
“No. You should stay with us mom,” Jay says.
“We’ll play Scrabble Nana. You and me on a team,” Amber says.
Ellie looks at her granddaughter and smiles. “We’ll do that next time I’m here sweetheart, I promise.” Jay moves into the rain with an umbrella and covers her as Quinn links her arm into his. “Boys, it’s time. It’s well past time that your father and I have a real talk,” she says. “Please take me home right now.”
They all wonder what exactly she’s talking about, but it’s obvious that this is the last she’s willing to speak of it. Ellie kisses Amber and Megan, making sure not to get them too wet, then she approaches Monica. She runs her hands down her arms and smiles.
“You are so lovely and I couldn’t be happier that Quinn has found you. I can see how in love you two are and no matter what the circumstances, love and forgiveness are the cornerstone to everything.” She gives Monica a warm hug and whispers, “and never let things fester.” She lets her obscure advice linger as she moves to kiss and hug Quinn.
Jay loads her into his car and drives away while the rest of the family stand there in the empty garage, silent. Monica starts to cry, feeling this is all somehow her fault. Megan sees her and throws her arms around her before Quinn notices.
“I promise you this isn’t about you,” she says.
“Then what’s it about?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve known them for eighteen years and have never seen them fight, much less do something like this. We’ll figure this out, but she was right... we’re letting it ruin our Christmas and that’s just not acceptable.” Megan’s voice takes a singy upbeat tone. “Everyone needs to get out of wet clothes, I’ll throw stuff in the wash, and then we’ll get a fire and some wine going...”
“And Scrabble,” Amber adds.
“And Scrabble, and we’ll have a great dinner together.”
Quinn looks at Monica in Megan’s arms with shame and wipes her tears from her cheek. He hands her a tissue. “I’m up for some Scrabble and some letting go.”
Monica nods her head and follows him to get out of their wet clothes. When they return downstairs the Christmas soundtrack has returned and wine has been poured.
Megan hands Quinn a glass and looks at her daughter. “Amber, why don’t you and Uncle Quinn play a speed round until Daddy gets back and then we’ll all play?”
Quinn can see she’s up to something, but goes along with it. “I’m fast like lightening.”
“It’s on,” Amber says.
Megan hands a glass to Monica and motions for them to sit in the den next door. “I just wanted to apologize for Jay this morning. Sometimes he can’t contain himself.”
“Oh, I don’t blame him for reacting to Frank. I nearly passed out when he started with the marriage talk.”
“We haven’t passed any kind of judgment on the situation either I promise you. We could see you were conflicted in San Francisco and it broke my heart. It’s obvious how much you love Quinn.”
“I do, but this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I mean, this is the first Christmas I haven’t spent with Alex in eight years.”
“You know Ben and Misty? The couple you met today?” Monica nods. “They were separated for almost a year until last month. They have a business together and kids and watching them navigate through it was difficult.”
“But they’re back together.”
“They are, but I think it’s because Misty isn’t strong enough to imagine a Christmas without him. After seeing people fight over the same thing for a decade you know they aren’t going to change, or at least, they aren’t going to see what it is that needs to change. It makes me sad to see them too afraid to go after the things they want. I think you’re very brave for taking a leap with your heart.”
“Thank you. You know, I had a huge fight with my best friends last week when Quinn and I reconnected. Not sure if he told you?”
“Actually, we didn’t hear him speak of you until a couple of days ago.” Monica nods. “I just mean, we never brought it up. It seemed like you were a painful subject, so we just avoided it. Before the show, he talked about you every day.”
“It’s okay. I know what you meant. I haven’t had anyone to talk to since he and I...”
“Got back together?”
Monica smiles. “Yes. I guess that’s what this is.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I’m just trying to take one day at a time, and I’m really grateful you let me come.”
“Are you kidding? Prior to Jay’s gaff this was the happiest holiday we’ve ever had. I mean as far as Frank and Ellie go. There’s been so much bad blood between Frank and Quinn for so long, since I’ve known them. Jay has told me stories about when they were little and Quinn was Frank’s favorite, but I’ve never seen that. There are photos stashed away that show a very different family. A close one. Not sure if Quinn told you any of this. He’ll probably be mad that I’m blabbing.”
“No, he told me they used to travel all over the world, and that his dad was the center of his universe.”
Megan smiles with a sadness. “That’s right, you had that sketchbook made. That game they used to play was a big thing for Jay too. He talks about their boyhood adventures as if Frank were fuckin’ Indiana Jones. It’s so strange how things changed, but I think it’s between Ellie and Frank. They had some big fight, the only one I’ve heard of before today, and then their lives changed.” Megan snaps her fingers. “Just like that. It’s the big Matthews family mystery in my mind. Ellie and Frank are friendly with each other, but they don’t look at one another the way they did in those old photos.”
“I wouldn’t know how normal parents are supposed to look at each other. Mine were so messed up,” Monica says.
“Oh trust me when I say, I know messed up families. That’s why mine didn’t make an appearance today. I’m dreading tomorrow. We go over to my parent’s house the day after Christmas for Part II. It’s not the highlight of the season, but I want Amber to know her cousins and other grandparents. So you and Quinn will be on your own in the morning.”
“I’m back,” Jay says. “Where’s the alcohol?”
“There’s wine on the counter,” Megan says.
“I need something stronger than wine sweetie.” Jay goes to his wet bar and pulls out the new bottle of bourbon Monica got him.
Megan snuggles up behind him and wraps her arms around his waist. “Did she say anything?”
“Nope. She wouldn’t say a word all the way there and then after I carried all her presents inside she asked me to leave. Dad was like, ‘Hey son, let me know when you fire up the beer machine,’ if you can believe that? I’m so pissed at him. How could he just leave her?”
“Well, he left her with us. It’s not like she was alone on a highway.”
“Doesn’t matter. After thirty-nine years of marriage, you don’t leave your wife anywhere.”
“I take comfort knowing your stand on that.” Megan laughs and kisses his shoulder.
He gives a smirk and shakes his head at Quinn and Monica who are wrapped in every word. “So I see the word board is out?
Y’all
ready to get your butts kicked by a PHD?”
“Oh, you’re a psychiatrist? I thought you said psychologist?” Monica looks at Quinn who’s already laughing.
“I could’ve gotten my PHD there missy, but chose to focus on criminal law for my graduate studies.” Jay takes a sharp playful gulp of the bourbon and drags the bottle to the game table.
Quinn is cracking up in Monica’s ear. She looks at him and says, “Is he not a doctor? I’m confused?”
“He went to school for a very long time, but not med-school. But he likes to pretend he’s a doctor when we play smart games.”
She laughs at her unintentional ribbing and lets go of the day’s drama to settle into the comforts of this new family. She also wants to kick Jay’s ass.
He just begs for a whoopin’.
The rain washes the day into night, like a soundtrack under their laughter. When the time comes to nestle into bed, Quinn’s strong arms feel even more like home than the day before. She traces his smile lines and carved stubble, wanting to memorize every inch, aware that each day she falls deeper into him.
December 26th - Monday
Swoosht.
A dart lands inside the 18.
“I gotta go over there,” Quinn says, looking at the board.
Swoosht.
A dart lands on the outer bull.
“No fuckin’ way. You’ve been practicin’,” Jay says. “You’re gonna go alone right? She doesn’t need to hear his bullshit, old-world ideas of marriage.”
Swoosht
. The last dart lands in triple 20.
“Fuck. Nice one.” Jay laughs and fist bumps Quinn before he walks to the board to remove the darts.
“I gotta talk to him alone. She can spend a few minutes with mom. It won’t take long. She’d never just sit here while I go anyway.”
Jay smiles. “She’s holding up really well considering everything moving at Quinn-Speed.” Quinn gives him a dirty look hating that old nickname. “You know you’re moving too fast. One day you’re living in an attic like a gypsy and the next you’ve snatched up another guy’s wife and bought her two houses. When the guys ask what you’ve been up to, I gotta leave out like, half of the truth. Let their brains catch up. You’d come off as a little unstable if people knew your timeline.”
“You think I come off as unstable?”
“When we were little you had to have everything now. Right now. Then once we figured out what our life was gonna hold for us you shifted completely the other way.”
“It scared me. I didn’t ask for it or want it.”
“I know and you started to only make a move when you were absolutely 100% sure it was right which was so unlike you. It’s like you turned off your impulses. You turned into a guy who never had a problem waiting, and I mean waiting like longer than any normal person, for shit to fall in the right place, until her. Since you met her you’re back to being Mr. Instant Gratification Because I Gotta Have Her Right Now. And don’t get me wrong, she’s fantastic. She’s the one, but I’m a little blown away that you’re not waiting things out a little more now that you know that. You gotta find a middle ground Littleman.”
“I was. Her friend called me a couple of weeks ago to tell me she moved out and I didn’t call her. I knew she’d be a mess, but I wanted to let her have some time and see if she’d even contact me.”