Bittersweet

Try as she might, Helena couldn’t stay completely quiet through the whole gift giving process. She did get the leather jacket as a joint present between Phil and April, and she had to try it on, even over her t-shirt.

She smiled when everyone opened her presents and thanked her. Although now she was wishing that she had bought Raab a new bag of socks and some heavy duty soap.

When the last box was opened, when the floor was covered in ribbons and wrapping paper, everyone looked expectantly at Bam.

Lenny had stiffened, crossing her legs at the knee, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

Suddenly, Bam began to search frantically in his pockets. Interested, his girlfriend looked over at him. He genuinely seemed panic stricken now. Lenny bit her lip.

“Okay, maybe it slipped between the couch cushions. Hop up,” he told her. She obeyed, seeing how anxious he was. Bam searched the cushions and then knelt down in front of his girlfriend, reaching behind her to feel under the couch. When she tried to move out of his way, he reached up and grabbed her hand.

“Bam, what are you---?” before she could finish, he reached into his pocket again and pulled out another velvet domed box. She swallowed and felt herself begin to tremble.

“Helena, you know how much I love you. You’re the only girl who can put up with me; you’re the only girl you can forgive me when I’m a jackass. You’re the only girl who can stand to be with me, and you’re the only girl that I want to be with. I’m never going to find someone like you. So, I was wondering…” he was down on his knees in front of her, opening the box.

Inside, resting on a bed of silk was a platinum band set with small diamonds. Her mouth opened, and she felt tears stinging her eyes.

Wow, April thought, her heart pounding in her chest. I can’t believe he’s really going to ask her. It’s not like he could pick anyone better, though. He’s run off any other woman that’s expressed an interest in him.

“Helena Elisabeth Dawson, will you marry me?” everyone held their breath and looked at the twenty year old. Slowly, she shook her head.

“No, Bam. No. I can’t. I won’t. I’m sorry.” Before anyone could say anything or stop her, she turned and ran up the stairs. They heard her door slamming, and everyone knew that she had locked it as well.

“Bam---,” April reached out for her son’s shoulder. He shrugged her off and scrambled up, racing for the door. It slammed shut, and everyone heard the start of a car and him peeling out of the drive way.

“Well, Merry Christmas,” Ryan mumbled. No one said anything for a second. Suddenly the creaking of the stairs caught their attention. Who should be lumbering down but Don Vito?

“Christmas! Whydidncha wake me up? Openin’ Vulcan presents widdout me!”

“Vince, please, not right now.” April held up her hand. But of course he continued on. Finally, the woman had had enough. Her son had been rejected, the girl her son loved was hiding upstairs in her house, and Phil had-once again-gotten her the wrong size gloves.

“Christmas is for family, and here ya don’t even wake me up!” the fat man was continuing. Before she could stop herself, April stood up and threw a heavy box at her brother in law. Ignoring his indignant squawk, she stormed upstairs.