Posted by Captain Calvin Marius (Captain) in Twas the night before Christmas - First Christmas Calvin and Vanessa

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Vanessa Slade (CNS) in Twas the night before Christmas - First Christmas Calvin and Vanessa
Vanessa looked out the window and let out a deep breath. Normally she would be in the front seat giving the cab driver specific directions overriding to get her home as fast as possible. Tonight she was taking it much slower allowing the driver to sit in the traffic of Boston. Vanessa randomly pointed out landmarks and answered the few questions Calvin tossed out but luckily the man next to her was his laconic self allowing Vanessa to be alone with her thoughts.

Cavlin just had a 50 yard stare on his face. He was absorbing all the information but was only a step away from falling asleep. It was a skill he had learned during combat operations. Any moment was a good moment to get some rest. It also was very relaxing, it was a zen like state.

It was not that she was concerned about her family meeting Calvin. Calvin was a great guy and they would love him. She was more concerned about Calvin meeting her family. To say they could be a bit much was an understatement. The original fourteen members she grew up with were overwhelming at times. Now that the group had swelled to almost forty with seventeen grandkids, five spouses, and three significant others. Biting her nail, she gave Calvin a side glance.

Turning in her seat to face him, Vanessa leaned forward and kissed him deeply but firmly. “Cal I like you,” she started pausing only to bite her lip as she began to measure the words coming out of her mouth.

“I’d assume so, or this visit is ill planned.”

“This is why we need to come up with a code word so that I know when you need to tap out for a bit. I say we go with Mistletoe. There is plenty around the house and when I hear you yelling it I will know to run interference.” It was clear that Vanessa meant every word she was saying as important and need-to-know information for Calvin.

“I don’t think I’ll need a code word. I’ve dealt with Jem’hadar on a swamp world. I think I can handle your mother and a brood of offspring.”

“I do admire your confidence,” she let out a small laugh. Most women might find the comparison of their mother and family to the latest enemy of the Federation off-putting; however, Vanessa could not deny that the analogy as being valid. Calvin was walking into a war zone with minimal intell and defenseless past his wits.

As the car stopped in front of her childhood home, Calvin would have his first taste of what she had been hinting at. Every light seemed to be on in the three-story structure making it appear more hotel than a home. In all of the windows, a wreath with a simple red bow was hung in the middle of each pane. The door was outlined in a thick mass of greenery twisted with colorful lights. The small front yard was a mass of inflatable decorations. It was slightly overpowering, and the nightly bill would probably be massive if they were not running on solar power.

“Are you two getting out or shall I run the block,” the driver asked, “or does the brunette want me to take another detour to run the meter up?”

Vanessa Slade

“We’re getting out.” Calvin said quickly. “It a lovely little home. It probably operates like a clown car, considering how many children came out of it.”

Marius.

Standing in front of her home, she could not help but smile. It had only been six months but felt like a lifetime. Controlling the urge to run up the steps, throw open the front door, and burst into the living room screaming I’m home, Vanessa came up with a less enthusiastic arrival. She led Calvin not to the front door but to the small alley next to the house. While it was not a bad part of the city, Jamaica Plains was in the heart of South Boston. The quiet crunching of the snow and ice under their feet ignited the klaxon-like barking of the neighbor’s dogs.

Reaching the side door she put her hand on the control panel and took a deep breath. The door opened to a small foyer with half a dozen steps to the right that went down to a cellar and half a dozen steps to the right leading up to another door. Behind the door, the sounds of activity could clearly be heard.

“Oh my God Marie when you see the turkey I got this year you are gonna freakin’ die,” Valerie’s thick accent carried as if it was next to Calvin and not half a fight above him and behind a door. “I have not seen this many sausages since I was a senior at St. Trininan’s but I am so nervous that there is not gonna be enough food.” The chuckle of laughter in the room filled the space. If Calvin ever wondered where Vanessa’s spunky side came from the apple was not falling far from the tree as evidenced by her mother’s conversation.

“Val,” a second voice added to the monology, “you have cleaned out every butcher in a five-block radius. You are fine as long as Calvin is not allergic to pork.” The lithe to tone showed whoever made the comment found a great deal of humor in her statement.

“You serious?” The incredulous tone seemed to hit even a higher pitch. “No…If Nessie did not tell me he was allergic to pork I swear I am gonna die.”

From their safe space in the landing, behind the door, Vanessa looked at Calvin and waved her hand. “She worries about everything no one thinks of and is going to die every ten minutes although it might be fun for you to tell her you are allergic to pork.”

As if the Slade’s were part Betazoid, one of Vanessa’s brothers echoed her sentiment from behind the kitchen door. “Okay, that would be funny as shi,” Dennis started before his last word was clipped short by a Gibs smack to the back of his head. “Owww,” echoed in the room as Dennis rubbed the spot. “What?”

“You know I don’t like freakin’ language like that. We need to look normal and refined. We don’t want this Calvin to think he showed up at the Rampoon’s from the North side,” Valerie reprimanded her son as she assumed her typical spot at the stove stirring some sort of sauce.

“Mah he is just a guy. Don’t get wrapped around the axle. Men eat anything,” he joked reaching for a perfectly stacked tray of pigs in a blanket before his grandmother wrapped his knuckles.

“That is lookin’ food until your sister shows up,” Gertie commented taking a big swallow of her wine. “Why don’t you go do something instead of standing there trying to fill your belly before it is time to eat.”

“Fine, what can I do,” he asked looking at all the food that was ready to be eaten but apparently off-limits past the snacks in the other room.

“You want to know how to help. Go fluff those pillows and tell Dallas to get his freakin’ feet off the coffee table. Go tell your brothers to make like Santa’s freakin’ elves and make this place spotless. I know you probably got beer cans all over my end tables. You only get one chance to make a good impression.” Pushing the hair off her brow, Valerie grabbed her glass of wine and downed it in a large gulp. Setting the glass down Valeria looked at the clock. “Go call your father. He said he was dropping off the Christmas check to charity but I know he stopped at Waples. I swear to god if that man makes me lie on Christmas eve because he is not here when your sister gets here I am gonna die.”

As the conversation raged behind the Christmas door a new voice appeared in the small foyer where Vanessa and Calvin were standing. “You gonna run interference for me Bean,” Doug Slade’s voice spoke from behind Calvin. “Your Mah sounds a little high-strung right now.”

“Dad,” Vanessa exclaimed shimmying around Calvin to hug her Dad. The space was not large and now with three adults in it, the landing felt like a pack turbo shaft as Calvin was pressed against the wall where the impact was lessened by the multitude of coats lining it on hooks.

He hugged her for a long second before they shuffled so that the three of them could look at each other. “So this is Captain Marius,” he extended his hand. “Nice to meet you and welcome to the insanity. It doesn’t get any better.” Douglas Slade seemed completely relaxed and at ease despite the cacophony of his wife behind the door threatening to end his life in a variety of ways if he was not in the house before Vanessa and Cavin showed up.

“So Cal you gonna do me a solid and run interference so I can sneak in behind you two and avoid the wrath of my wife for stopping off to have a wee nip with the boys at Waples?” Doug Slade already liked the man standing less than a foot before him. The guy seemed to be taking the chaos in stride.

Vanessa Slade.