Counting Stars

The phone ringing in my bedroom wakes me up, “Hello?”

“Good Morning Miss Donahue and Happy Thanksgiving, we wanted to inform you that a bellboy will bringing up a package for you shortly,” the crisp voice on the phone startles me.

I don’t really comprehend, “Um yeah that’s fine.” Collapsing on the bed I finally remember that today is Thanksgiving. Immediately I sit up and brush my hair out of my face. When I check the clock I realize that I’m extremely late. I run to the kitchen to start making the dish for later today. In the middle of grabbing the ingredients I hear a knock on the door.

Unsurprisingly the bellboy is at the door, “These are for you Miss. Where can I put them?”

He is holding a rather large bouquet filled with red and flowers, it smells wonderful not to mention it looks beautiful, “Wow, right here on the table is fine.”

With a simple nod he places the bouquet on the table and I give him a large tip, since it is Thanksgiving, “Thank you really, have a great day.”

Once he leaves I inspect the bouquet and find a small card. I can’t help but smile when I read it, I wanted to remind you that you’re amazing and I’m sorry I had to leave in a rush last night, you are definitely the kind of girl that a guy should stay for. Have fun with your family today. It’s signed simply with his name. This man is too cute for his own good. Shaking my head I finish up my food and put in the oven. While it’s cooking I shower and get dressed. When I’m ready to go I finally send a text to Sidney, The flowers are nice touch, stud.

In the elevator my phone rings and I balance my pineapple bread carefully in my arms, “Hello?”

“Did you like them?” Sidney sounds concerned.

“Of course I did they are beautiful. You didn’t have to do this though, you know that right? I don’t expect grand romantic gestures.”

“I wanted to send them to you. And just because you don’t expect them doesn’t mean you don’t deserve romantic gestures,” Jesus, this guy is good. He is a dangerous combination of sexy and charming. “Are you still there?”

“Oh, yeah sorry,” I step out of the elevator and attempt to balance my small suitcase, purse, food and phone. The doorman notices and thankfully helps me maneuver to my car.

“I was wondering,” he coughs. “On the 11th we always have this party at Consol, for the families during the Christmas season. Everyone wears sweaters and Santa will be there. It’s usually pretty fun.”

“And?”

“If you’re in town I would love if you came with me,” judging by his hesitation and wording I can tell that this party is definitely important to him.

“I’m hosting SNL that Saturday, but I’m sure that I could swing it. I’ll let you know what Janet says.”

“Ah, my favorite person,” I have my things in my car now and pull out into traffic. “She probably won’t let you come if she knows I’m involved.”

I click my tongue, “Don’t be like that. I know the two of you didn’t have the greatest first impression, but she is a huge part of my life. Please give her another chance?”

Sidney groans on the other end, “Fine, fine.”

“Thank you, I have to go now, I’m in the car and Pittsburgh drivers terrify me.”

He laughs, “Be safe, talk to you later.”

In two short hours I pull up to my house and have to find a spot along the street. I grab my purse and the food, deciding that my suitcase can stay in the car for now. When I get to the front door I walk right in without knocking, “Is anyone home?”

My question is met by resounding affirmations and I follow the voices into the kitchen where I find my mother, grandmother and my aunt. Once I’m in the kitchen my mother instantly wraps me in a hug, “You look wonderful dear, happy thanksgiving!”

I pass out hugs and kisses and set my food on the counter, “Where is everyone else?”

My aunt waves her arm, “In the room with the TV of course, this family cares too much about football if you ask me. Really with you and your sister we should definitely start watching more hockey.”

“Speaking of which, where is Sidney?” my mom inquires as my cousin Dana walks in the room.

“Hey girl, how are you?”

I don’t get a chance to answer because my mom snaps her finger, “No, no. Where is your boyfriend?”

“He has family in town and they already had plans, he sends his regrets though,” I snack on some of the stuffing and judging by my mom’s silence she is satisfied with my answer.

Dana comes up next to me and hands me a full wine glass, “So, you have to see the guy that Brianna is dating. He has this accent, and he is a ginger just like her.”

“She isn’t that much of a ginger you know,” I roll my eyes. “How badly has Aunt Ruth terrorized him?”

“It couldn’t be much worse, but he is holding his own.”

I nod, “This should be good, let’s go.”

Dana and I leave the kitchen and walk into the family room, where my extended family has all cramped themselves around our TV. People are sitting on the floor and some have pulled some dining chairs over. Basically, it’s a mess. When we walk in everyone takes a moment to acknowledge me, but don’t get up. Once the game goes to a break my dad makes his way over to me and we hug, “Good to have you home.”

“Thanks, Dad. I hear Brianna has a guest?”

My dad pauses, “About that, you should know something.”

He doesn’t have a second to finish his thought because my sister comes up to me and pulls me into another hug, “We haven’t seen each other in forever. You look great.”

I smile and take a good look at her, she looks amazing as always, “Thanks sis. You look great too. But where is the boyfriend?”

“Oh right, he is behind me. Hun, come meet my sister, Brooklyn,” she taps her boyfriend on the shoulder and he turns around. “Brooklyn, this is Claude Giroux. Claude this is Brooklyn.”

I don’t say anything right away, I’m shocked. Brianna’s face is cautious and so is Claude’s. What are the odds, that Sidney’s archenemy would be dating my sister? I feel a nudge from Dana and I’m reminded that I have to acknowledge my sister’s statement. “Wow, um nice to meet you.”

To his credit he laughs a little and we shake hands, “Nice to meet you too. Small world huh?”

“The smallest. So how did you two meet?”

My sister leans into the captain of the Flyers, “He came and spoke at my school one day and we hit it off.”

I nod and hopefully smile, but I need a moment to breathe and just accept the absurdity of this situation, “Mom needs my help in the kitchen, we can talk more later.”

Immediately I pull out my phone and send a text to Sidney, You will never guess who I’m having dinner with.

I’m setting the table when my phone buzzes, Who?

Claude Giroux.

His response is instantaneous, You’re kidding right?

Nope, my sister is dating him.

Sidney doesn’t respond by the time we all sit down for dinner. It’s uneventful and pretty much what is expected from our family gatherings. It really gets interesting as the night starts to come to a close. Brianna and Claude have a flight back to Philly in the morning so they’re spending the evening at my parents’ house and I am as well. Eventually the only people still here are my parents and the three of us. We sit in the living room watching the first Christmas movie of the season when my mom and dad go upstairs. All that’s left is Claude, Brianna and I. The clock ticks by as we sit silently watching the Grinch steal the presents of the innocent children of Whoville. Our quiet if not awkward viewing party is interrupted by my phone ringing loudly. I quickly check and see that it’s Sidney and I excuse myself.

Outside of the room I answer, “Hey, how are you?”

“Fine, we just got to the hotel in Tampa. Now tell me all about Claude.”

I shrug, but I’m not surprised by Sidney’s line of questioning, “There really isn’t much to say. He is dating my sister, they seem happy really. He was polite, spoke some French. My family loves him.”

“Unbelievable, I can’t imagine him like that. Probably it’s just an act you know.”

“Sidney, don’t start. This isn’t a competition.”

He laughs, “You can’t tell me that you didn’t feel like your sister was one-uping you again when you saw him.”

I pause and consider Sidney’s words. To some extent he might be right, I mean Sidney’s life is pretty impressive and I’m definitely proud of him. Does that mean it’s a competition between my sister and I though? And then I remember that I was pissed at my sister for once again competing with me. I swear, “Damn, the two of us are too competitive for our own good. But I don’t want you to feel that my family is going to compare the two of you, okay?”

“I’ve been kicking Giroux’s ass for the last six years, there wouldn’t even be a competition.”

I roll my eyes, “Whatever you say Sidney. I should go though, good luck tomorrow!”

We hang up and I walk back into the family room and see that only Claude remains. He smiles gently when I sit back down on the couch, “Sidney calling?”

“Yeah, he was just checking in, that’s all.”

“You told him about me,” His voice is steady and he doesn’t turn away from the television.

“Of course. He says hi.”

Claude snorts loudly, “Sure he does. “ We are both silent for a moment. “Look, I really like your sister. And I couldn’t care less that this relationship somehow gives me a personal connection to the golden boy. I promise to be civil as long as he does the same.”

“Fair enough, we are all adults,” I look at him. “For the record, it seems like my sister is really happy. So I’m going to spare you most of the interrogation. Just one question though?”

“Shoot.”

“Your intentions are pure with my sister, correct?”

Claude doesn’t answer immediately, but when he does he looks me right in the eyes, “You don’t have anything to worry about in regards to that. Your sister is special, really special.”

Notes

Not my favorite chapter in the world, but the next one will be the Family Christmas Skate, so it will be fun!