Crossing the Line

“We need to talk,” Jackie said her voice shaking slightly from nerves. “What’s up buttercup?” Dougie asked walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her. Jackie sighed leaning against the counter and tipped her head forward onto his chest. She had felt so confident when she called and asked him to come down but now she was nervous. “So Thanksgiving is next week and I know you said you would go with me the other night but we should really talk before that happens. We should talk about this,” Jackie said braving a glance up at him and gesturing between them. Dougie nodded and thought for a moment only causing Jackie’s anxiety to skyrocket. “Well I would say we’re more than bed buddies because we don’t just sleep together. That’s just an added bonus. I would say that we’re dating if you think about it,” Dougie said his tone showing that he thought they were on the same page. “Men are stupid,” Jackie muttered burying her face in his chest as relief flooded her body. Dougie chuckled pulling her tighter. “So why is this such a pressing matter right before Thanksgiving?” Dougie asked knowing there was an underlying motive. Jackie bit her lip, this was the part she was dreading the most. “Thanksgiving is a huge family affair. My brother, one of his best friends, Cam and my dad are all really protective of both Logan and I. Tuukka will be okay because Cam already filled them in on the weirdness of their relationship. You however are not so lucky. Logan did what she could, she called both my sisters and my mom begging them to talk sense into them to reduce the threats but I doubt that will happen,” Jackie said twisting her rings around on her fingers. “Hey, there’s no need to worry so much,” Dougie reassured her taking her hands in his and kissing her knuckles. Jackie took a deep breath trying to calm down and nodded her head. “My brother is going to eat you alive,” she chuckled with a small smile playing on her lips.

Jackie walked into Logan’s room to ask her a question but was distracted by Cam sprawled out on her bed whining. “He’s mad he’s the only one not bringing a person to Thanksgiving. Pat brings Johnny, I’m bringing Tuuks, you’re brining Dougie and that leaves Cam the only one coming home without someone,” Logan said when she saw Jackie’s confused face. “Oh poor baby,” Jackie cooed sitting down on the bed with Cam. “Fuck you both,” Cam said burying his face in the comforter and raising his middle finger. “I’m in a relationship and I don’t want to know about your incestuous relations,” Jackie said with a mock shudder. Logan laughed and Cam cursed at them again. “Jackie I don’t want to finish packing,” Logan complained falling down on the bed on top of her brother putting her head in Jackie’s lap. “Poor baby,” she repeated petting Logan on the head. Logan rolled her eyes as Cam laughed under her making her body shake. “Have you talked to Mama recently?” Cam asked out of nowhere. “Yeah last week. Why?” Logan asked at the same time Jackie answered yesterday. “She’s so excited you two are bringing boys home. I thought she was going to cry. Especially since we all know poor Dougie is going to be ripped to shreds and Tuukka is going to go into shock at finally meeting the family,” Cam laughed. Jackie and Logan made eye contact quickly before shifting so they were both sitting on Cam, Logan on his back and Jackie on his legs. “You’re going to help and defend them when Pat and Johnny try to kill them,” Jackie said her tone threatening. “Yeah or what?” Cam shot back. “Or we’ll beat you up!” Logan exclaimed smacking the back of his head. “Yeah!” Jackie agreed tazing his side. “We’ll get mean and nasty,” Logan continued, flicking his ear. “We’ll bite and pull hair,” Jackie tazed him again. “Oh I’m so scared,” Cam exclaimed in mock terror. “You’re gonna get it for that mister!” Logan cried grabbing a pillow from the top of her bed and starting to beat him with it. “Yeah get him Logan!” Jackie cheered holding down his legs to keep him from escaping. Laughing the three didn’t notice anyone enter the room while they continued to beat each other. “What the fuck are we getting ourselves into?” Dougie asked looking at Adam and Tuukka who just laughed, they knew this was a normal occurrence. “Don’t start with me Hamilton, we can take you!” Jackie said narrowing her eyes motioning to herself and Logan. Adam and Tuukka laughed, Dougie was on his own. When it came to fighting those girls played to win.

“Who’s picking us up? Is it Mama? I hope its Mama. Actually I just don’t want it to be Papa Kaner because that would be an uncomfortable car ride,” Logan babbled nervously. Trying to calm her down Tuukka wrapped his arm around waist and placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Relax Logs. I can’t wait to meet your family, even if they’re all just like Jackie,” Tuukka teased. Jackie stuck her tongue out at him and looked down at her phone before seeing a familiar car pull up. “Mom!” Jackie cried running over to her mom and wrapping her in a hug. “Hi Jackie,” her mom laughed kissing her head. “Dougie, Tuukka this is my mom Donna. She’s also Cam and Logan’s mom but yeah different story,” Jackie trailed off not knowing how much each guy knew about Logan and Cam’s foster story. “There are my triplets,” Donna exclaimed pulling the three of them in for a hug. “Hi Mama,” Logan said clinging to her for an extra moment while Cam kissed her cheek. “Let’s get home. Your father went out with Jonathan and Patrick and I would assume you want these gentlemen to meet Jess and Erica before your brothers,” Donna said smiling at the group. Dougie and Tuukka exchanged a look both thinking the same thing. After carrying their bags to the car, bundled against the snow Dougie and Tuukka climbed into the third seat allowing the other three to catch up with Donna. “Jonathan and Patrick?” Dougie whispered to Tuukka his eyebrows furrowed while he considered the possibility. “Papa Kaner,” Tuukka replied trying to think of everything Logan and Cam had told him about their foster family. “You don’t think, I mean that’s something they would’ve mentioned,” Dougie tried to rationalize. Tuukka raised his eyebrows and snorted. “Yeah just like the Olympics?” Tuukka reminded him. Dougie groaned and rubbed his face with his hands. Their speculation was cut short when the car pulled into the driveway of a nice house. “Home sweet home,” Donna announced smiling brightly. “Your sisters are either here or out doing some last minute shopping. You can show the boys to your rooms. If you share a room no funny business,” Donna said giving Logan and Jackie a stern look, both girls rolled their eyes and headed up stairs. “I missed her,” Jackie sighed. Logan wrapped her arm around Jackie and smiled. “It’s hard not to. I love her,” Logan said walking passed a few rooms to hers. “This is us Tuuks, I just have to go take the sheets off Pat’s bed I’ll be right back. Are you helping?” Logan asked looking at Jackie who laughed and followed her. “They’ve been in a prank war since we were in high school,” Cam explained plopping down on Logan’s bed where they left the guys.

The three guys were still lounging on Logan’s bed when the two girls ran back into the room laughing at themselves. “Nice hair do Logs,” Tuukka commented pointing at a picture on Logan’s bedside table. Logan walked over to look at it and smiled picking it up. “That’s the day Mama told us they were going to foster us. We took a family picture,” Logan said her finger tracing over the faces of her family. “Logan,” Jackie said getting her attention. She held a finger up to her lips and pointed to the window. Creeping low Logan peaked out the window and confirmed what Jackie thought she heard: Pat and Jon were back. “Closet?” Logan asked looking around not sure where they should hide. Jackie shook her head, “No they won’t notice until later tonight so we’ll be safe. Plus I’m not leaving them to the wolves.” They were laughing when they heard footsteps running up the stairs and Donna yelling not to run in her house. “Hey baby sisters!” Pat yelled bursting into Logan’s room with Jon right behind him. “Pretty sure I’m not a sister,” Cam said glaring at Pat while Jackie jumped into his arms. “Hey Johnny,” Logan said as they all ignored her brother and pulled him in for a hug. “What no brotherly love for me?” Pat asked trying to sound dejected. “Well Pattycakes maybe if you called me once in a while there would be more love. Did you know I hear from Johnny more than I hear from you?” Logan teased laughing when he swept her off her feet for a hug. “And these are the poor souls you brought home for the holiday,” Jonathan said reaching his hand out to shake with Tuukka and Dougie. Pat laughed looking at their faces. “Did you not tell them you have a brother who plays them?” he asked looking between the girls. “They left them to figure everything out on their own,” Cam piped up making everyone laugh. “We had our suspicions but I thought Logan would would’ve warned me,” Tuukka said sending her a playful glare. “Sorry not sorry Tuuks,” Logan said walking over to him. “Are you two together?” Pat asked trying to clarify what Cam had told him. Logan groaned and leaned into his side. “No but everyone thinks that! They are though,” she said ratting out her best friend who sent her a look. Pat leveled Dougie with a look sizing him up. “We’ll have to talk at some point,” he said after a few minutes. Before they could talk anymore Jessica ran into the room. “You all have thirty seconds to get in the backyard for keep it up in the snow or you have to help Mom with the dishes tomorrow,” she said before running right back out. Everyone but Logan started to scramble looking for boots and coats, Tuukka and Dougie included. “I don’t know why you’re all freaking out, we all know I do the dishes with Mama every year,” she said rolling her eyes but no one listened to her, they were too busy trying to be the first person outside.

“Can I talk to you boys for a moment?” Patrick Sr. asked. He had waited until the girls disappeared to get changed out of their wet clothes after having a snowball fight. Tuukka and Dougie nodded, noticing that it was just three of them in the living room. “Jackie and Logan have never brought people home before so this is new. Well they brought people home in high school but not since they graduated high school. That being said, Jackie is my little girl and Logan is just as much my daughter as Jackie, Jessica and Erica are so you two had better treat them right. You boys must mean a lot to them in order for you to be here right now and I hope it remains that way,” Patrick said. “But so help me God, if you ever harm them I will harm you,” he continued and the two understood where Jackie and Logan got their scary intenseness from. “Yes sir,” they both answered nodding their heads. “It’s just Patrick, none of that sir stuff,” he said cracking a smile. They both laughed and smiled back before heading down stairs to join Pat, Jon, and Cam playing NHL 15. “Cam I thought we were friends, why are you playing as Buffalo?” Dougie asked shaking his head. “Hometown team, sorry man,” he said shrugging and scoring on virtual Corey Crawford. Patrick cursed and vowed that he was going to fight Cam until he got the whole team thrown out. “Don’t you dare get me thrown out Kaner,” Jon warned. “I’m not supposed to tell you think and Logan’s going to kill me even though it’s Jackie I’m scared of, but they named their dog after you,” Tuukka said to Jonathan who choked on his beer. Pat laughed when he realized they were serious. “Why would they name a dog after him?” he asked still laughing as he challenged Cam’s player to a fight. “They claim that you have similar personalities. Something about being different around a lot of people compared to a small group. They’re convinced that you and the dog are both goof balls in the same way when it’s just the three of them,” Tuukka said watching the videogame. Pat paused the game because he was laughing so hard he couldn’t play. “I can’t believe they put that much thought into the dog’s name,” Jon said shaking his head. “They wouldn’t name him after a Bruins player and the Hawks are the only other team they can agree on so the were picking from your team,” Cam said unpausing the game to take advantage of Pat being distracted. “Cheater! Cameron is a cheater!” Pat accused throwing a tantrum. “Shut up Pattycakes,” Logan yelled down the stairs before closing the door hard.

“Mom we’ll be back for Christmas in a few weeks and we’ll call you when we get home,” Jackie said trying to comfort her mom. “I know but I just miss you so much. I never seen any of triplets,” Donna said trying to cry pulling Cam, Logan, and Jackie into one last hug. “Mom they’re going to miss their train. Besides you have Johnny and me for another day, who needs these losers?” Pat teased winking at his sisters. “Mama I’m not even leaving today, I’m just driving them to the station,” Cam laughed reminding Donna she still had time with him. Donna laughed and waved them off telling them to get in the car before they missed their train. Tuukka had a small smile on his face the whole way to the station than erupted into a grin once he and Logan were settled in their seats. “Why are you looking at me like that? Why don’t you want to eat me alive? I didn’t tell you anything, you should be doubtful and untrusting not looking like I’m fucking Santa Clause,” Logan said addressing the gleeful look she was getting. “Logan I’ve known you for about four years and you barely even talk about your family to me. I know the painful details but not all the happy stuff and you showed me the happy stuff. So yeah that’s like you being Santa Clause,” he laughed wrapping an arm around her. Logan smiled curling into his side. “I’m glad you liked them. They seemed to really like you. Especially Mama, she almost cried when you lot were playing video games and we were having wine and girl talk,” Logan said feeling herself tear up a little. “Now just think, you get to sleep in your bed with me and Tazer tonight and tomorrow you’re going to the game and Saturday we’re going dancing, you won’t even have time to miss them,” he said brushing away the first tear to fall. Closing her eyes against the emotions Logan nodded her head and decided to nap on the train ride back to Boston.

Alex smiled as he drove home from his mom’s after Thanksgiving dinner. She had asked him if he had a girlfriend and he told her all about Logan. He told her about her dog, her work, her infectious laugh, her bright smile, and her love of all things ‘sunshiney’ as she called it, her foster family, and her best friend. He told his mom everything he knew about Logan and she seemed to love her almost as much as he did. When he showed her the picture on his phone of her laughing and dancing around in her living room she nearly cried proclaiming Logan was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen and couldn’t wait to meet her. His mom wanted to meet her and begged Alex to invite her for Christmas if her family could spare her. “I’m sure she would love to Mom. I’ll ask her and let you know,” he had promised not missing the tears glistening in her eyes when she hugged him goodbye. Nearing his apartment Alex started to brainstorm all the different ways he could get Logan to come to Christmas to meet his mother. It wouldn’t be easy but it would be worth it to have the two women he loved together for the holidays.

Notes