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Andrea signed her name with a flourish and stared at her sisters. “Anymore?”
Sharon pointed to Jim, who had disappeared to the bar. “Jim seems to
think not.”
“Good,” Andrea nodded, putting her pen down. “If anyone asks, I’m not
here.”
Caroline looked up curiously. “Where are you going?”
Andrea smiled mischeviously. “Steven saved a seat in a dark corner.”
Sharon rolled her eyes as Andrea disappeared around the corner. She
turned to Caroline. “Young love, eh?”
“Mhm,” Caroline replied, sipping her wine. “Speaking of which, where
is Gavin?”
Sharon pointed to the bar. “Over there.” She looked at her sister.
“Are you okay if I go sit with him?”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t I be?” She stopped for a
moment. “Ah. Because I’m the only unattached Corr sibling, right?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Sharon assured her.
Caroline smiled. “It’s okay. Go ahead. I’m quite happy here with my
wine.”
Sharon glanced at her for a moment longer and then made her way over
to the bar. Caroline sighed, and sipped again at her wine. She sensed a
shadow towering over her and reluctantly grabbed a pen and a photograph.
“Who to?”
“Pardon?”
Caroline’s gaze travelled upwards and she collided with a pair of dark
brown eyes. “The autograph. Who to?”
The man smiled. “No offence, but I don’t want an autograph. Actually,
I was thinking about asking you to marry me, but I figured that buying
you a drink would be a nice place to start.”
Caroline arched her eyebrow and sat back in the chair, folding her
arms. “You’re a bit of a cheeky bugger, aren’t you?”
His eyes twinkled as he laughed. “Yeah, you could say that.” He smiled
at her. “Can I buy you a drink?”
She gestured to her wine glass. He grinned.
“Excellent. That means we have even longer to get to know each other.
I still have to buy you a drink.” He held out his hand. “Frank Woods.”
She shook his hand. “Caroline Corr.”
“Would you like to join me?”
Caroline glanced back to where John was engrossed talking with another
manager. She nodded and followed Frank to a table.
*****************************************************************
Sharon’s sisterly eye roamed around the bar. She spied Andrea in a
dark corner with Steven, giggling over something he had said. Jim was chatting
to Nea in a booth near the door. She smiled wryly, knowing that they were
probably thinking of making a quick getaway. John was chatting with a musician
and Keith and Anto were having a drink together. Then the panic started.
Sharon couldn’t see Caroline anywhere. She frowned and excusing herself
from Gavin for a moment, headed over to Keith, who had been sitting with
Caroline when she had gone to the bar.
“Keith?”
“Mhm?”
“Have you seen Caroline.”
Keith smiled wryly and pointed to a booth not far from them. Sharon
was surprised. Caroline was sitting with a very good-looking man, and Sharon
couldn’t remember ever seeing her looking so happy.
***********************************************************************
“So, The Corrs, huh,” Frank said, after Caroline had told him about
their band.
She nodded. “Have you heard our music?”
He grinned. “Indeed I have. In fact, I saw the video clip for Runaway
the other day. I envied that wall.”
Caroline burst out laughing. “I’ll tell it you said that.”
Frank nodded. “Excellent. It’s important that he knows he has competition.”
He sipped his drink and smiled. “Hey, does your group sell t-shirts?”
Caroline narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Well, I just had the most brilliant idea. I could buy seven. Have
one for each day of the week. What do you think?”
Caroline laughed again. “I think,” she said, swirling the wine in her
glass, “that we should pick a different topic. I’m trying to remove the
visual of you in a pink Corrs t-shirt from my head.”
“Hey, I’d wear it if it made you smile,” he told her.
She blushed slightly and sipped her wine.
*****************************************************************
They had talked for hours. It wasn’t until the bar owner called closing
time that they realised how late it was. Caroline looked around, and discovered
her brother and sisters had left.
“Would you like to share a cab?” Frank asked, handing her her coat.
Caroline smiled. “That’d be nice.”
The cab ride was quite, and they pulled up outside the Corr home. Frank
got out as he held the cab and walked her to the door.
“I had a really great time tonight,” he smiled, they approached the
door.
“Me too,” she nodded.
“Would it be too forward if I asked if I could see you again?”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Forward? This from the man who earlier
this evening was going to ask me to marry him?”
Frank grinned. “Well, I was being a cheeky bugger, remember? Now I’m
being a gentleman.”
Caroline nodded. “You’re doing a good job of it.” She found a piece
of paper and wrote her number on it. “I would like to see you again.” She
handed him the paper.
Frank accepted it and held it tightly in his hand. “I shall guard it
with my life.”
“I’m sure it will appreciate that. I shall inform the wall of your
intentions.”
“Excellent,” Frank nodded. He leant across and kissed her on the cheek.
“Goodnight Caroline Corr. I can’t wait to see you again.”
************************************************************************
Caroline groaned and rubbed her eyes as she padded down to the front
door. Gerry had gone to work and Jean had taken Judy for a walk. Andrea
was still asleep. Lucky thing. She opened the door and narrowly missed
being smooshed by the door as Sharon stalked in.
“Who was he? And how late were you with him?”
Caroline gingerly closed the door, and turned to her sister. “Huh?”
“Last night. I saw you sitting with a guy. And you were still there
when Gavin and I left at midnight!”
“We were talking,” Caroline said, shuffling into the kitchen and putting
on the kettle.
“What was that crash?” Andrea asked, coming into the kitchen.
“Sharon,” Caroline replied, gesturing to their sister.
“What time is it?” Andrea glanced at the clock. “Sharon! It’s only
8 o’clock!”
“Andrea, do you know anything about the man that Caroline was with
last night?”
Caroline rolled her eyes.
“Oh yeah. That cute guy?” Andrea gave her sister the thumbs up. “Way
to go Caroline.”
“Andrea,” Sharon chastised.
“What! He was cute!”
“You better not have slept with him.”
“Okay, now that’s just crossing the boundary right there,” Caroline
warned her. “We talked, we came home in a cab, I gave him my number and
he left. End of story.”
“What’s his name?” Andrea said, taking her tea into the lounge.
“Frank Woods,” Caroline replied.
“I knew a Frank once,” Sharon mused. “The kids at school sung the cockroach
song about him.”
Caroline glared at her. “What’s the matter?” She folded her arms.
“I’m sorry,” Sharon sighed. “I just worry about you more now that we’re
a little more well known. I don’t want people taking advantage of you.”
“I can take care of myself,” Caroline reminded her. “Besides, he already
asked me to inform the wall of my intentions.”
“Huh?” Andrea and Sharon chorused.
“Private joke,” Caroline smirked.
They heard the front door shut and Judy came bounding into the room,
jumping all over the girls.
“Hello, Sharon,” Jean said, kissing her daughters in turn. “Morning
Andrea, Caroline.”
“Morning, Mammy,” Andrea replied, as the girls followed their mother
into the kitchen.
“So, did you girls have a nice time at the signing last night?”
“Caroline certainly did,” Sharon said, eyeing her sister.
Caroline poked her tongue out at Sharon.
“Really, Caroline? What happened?” Jean was getting the dog some breakfast
and couldn’t see what was going on behind her.
“She met a cute guy,” Andrea said, giggling.
“Tell me all about him,” Jean smiled.
Caroline sighed. “His name is Frank Woods. He works in property development
with his father.”
“Sounds very nice,” Jean nodded. She followed Judy outside and Caroline
turned triumphantly to her sisters.
“Anything else?”
“When are you seeing him again?” Sharon asked.
“Tomorrow night. He’s taking me to a fair.”
Andrea wrinkled her nose. “A fair? He’s taking you to a fair? That’s
the best he could come up with? A fair?”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
**************************************************************
Caroline opened the door the following evening. Frank was dressed in
a shirt and jeans.
“Wow,” he said, a smile forming on his face.
She wore black pants and a U2 t-shirt. Her hair was wound up in a clip.
She noted the car and smiled. “It’s a good thing we’re taking that.”
Frank looked slightly worried. “Why?”
She grinned and handed him a bright pink piece of folded fabric. He
unfolded it to reveal a Corrs t-shirt.
“I thought I better start your collection. And this one’s even signed.”
Frank burst out laughing and glanced behind her, into the house. “Would
you like me to wear it?”
“I think I’ll survive if you don’t,” she replied, as they went to the
car.
***********************************************************************
Frank watched in amusement as Caroline ate some of the pink fairy floss.
“What?” she asked, her eyes raising slightly.
“You like that stuff, huh?”
“Fairy floss? Of course! It’s one of the most essential parts of going
to a fair.”
“Really? Well, what are the other parts?”
“Ferris Wheel, baby animals, the clowns mouths, the ring toss, any
acts and of course, the most important thing of all.”
“And what is that? The roller coaster.”
Caroline looked at her feet. “Uh no. My sister Sharon took me on one
when I was six and let’s just say that I still haven’t gotten over the
experience.”
Frank chuckled. “Okay. So, what’s the other important part?”
She looked at him, blushing slightly. “Having someone to go with.”
************************************************************************
Caroline spun around triumphantly, excitement flashing in her eyes.
“I won!”
“Indeed you did,” Frank nodded, as the vendor handed Caroline a huge
stuffed dog. “Great coordination with getting that monkey thing up the
pole by throwing a ball on a piece of wood.”
“I think the drumming helps the coordination a bit,” she replied.
“Well, we’ve pretty much exhausted the games area. Would you like to
go on the Ferris Wheel?”
Caroline’s eyes lit up. “Absolutely.”
**********************************************************************
The Ferris Wheel stopped at the top of the cart and Caroline stared
out onto the lights, mesmerised by the view.
“God, it’s so beautiful,” she murmured.
“Yeah, it is,” Frank agreed. He took her hand. “You can’t keep me in
suspense any longer, Caroline. Who won?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”
“Out of me and the wall. Is there a proclaimed champion?”
She smiled and kissed him softly. “Yeah, I think we have a winner.”
***********************************************************************
4 MONTHS LATER
“I never want to leave home again,” Andrea groaned, as the four siblings
stepped off the plane.
“We’ve only been gone three weeks,” Jim told her.
“It feels like much longer,” Sharon said. She noticed Gavin and quickly
left her brother and sisters to greet him.
Caroline was scanning the crowd and Andrea smirked.
“Looking for someone special?”
“Shut up,” Caroline replied.
“When do we get to meet him?” Jim asked, following her gaze.
“When I’m ready to let him be corrupted by you lot,” Caroline told
him. Her eyes lit up as the familiar face was spotted. She walked briskly
over to him and he pulled her into a hug, kissing her.
“Okay, so next time, I want to come with you.”
“Deal,” she answered, hugging him again.
Andrea glanced at her sister and then back at Jim. “I guess it’s just
you and me.”
“Yep. Let’s go get our bags.”
**********************************************************************
“I was thinking,” Jean said, as she busied herself getting dinner that
evening, “about you yesterday, Caroline.”
Caroline’s head jerked up from where she was peeling potatoes…and having
the odd potato skin fight with Andrea. “Really?”
“Well, I was talking with Andrea yesterday on the phone and she was
talking about Steven. It occurred to me that perhaps it would be nice if
you brought your boyfriend to dinner.”
“Bring Frank? Here?”
“Oh is that his name? I wouldn’t know. My daughter doesn’t talk about
the man that monopolises all her time.”
Caroline sighed. “Point taken. I’ll uh…I’ll talk to him.”
******************************************************************
“Dinner?” Frank said, cutting his steak. They were at a fancy restaurant
in Dublin.
Caroline nodded. “Yeah. I know that meeting my parents doesn’t seem
the most wonderful thing to do together…but they’re curious. I also think
Andrea had something to do with it.”
“Really? Why?”
“I just know my little sister well. She’s up to something. Or she wants
something. Or she wants to know something. Or…”
“Caroline?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m happy to come to dinner at your house.”
“Really?”
Frank nodded. “Yeah. I’d kind of like to meet your family. They sound
really nice. Although at the moment you’re making your sister sound like
an evil schemer from the movies.”
Caroline smiled wryly. “Well…”
******************************************************************
The doorbell rang and Caroline jogged down the hallway, making sure
to answer the door before her sisters did. She ran a comb through her hair
and steeling herself, opened the door.
“Hey,” Frank said, holding a bottle of red wine. “Wine for milady.”
Caroline grinned and stepped outside, pulling the door to. She leaned
up and kissed him. “Hi.”
“Not that it’s not nice to see you, but why are we out here, instead
of in there?” Frank asked. “Are you spiriting me away?”
Caroline hugged him. “Just wanted to give you some last minute pointers
and tips.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Okay, so um…don’t let Andrea drag you into a discussion about anything.
Because no matter what it is, she will work it so that it ends up about
our relationship.”
“Right, so only participating in other ongoing discussions. Got it.”
“And uh, Sharon’s boyfriend is a barrister so uh, he’ll probably make
some joke about how he’ll look you up on his files. Don’t look surprised,
just laugh.”
“Gavin, laugh. Right.”
“And uh, if Daddy mentions something about looking you up on Gavin’s
files, don’t laugh. It’s probably not a joke. And don’t tell him you own
your own place…he’ll probably get worried.”
“Okay.”
“And Jim will…”
He placed a hand over her mouth. “Caroline. I am more than capable
with handling this, mhm?” He bent down and kissed her. “Don’t be so worried,
okay?”
“I just want everything to be perfect…”
“It’s going to be fine.”
They kissed again and it was precisely this state that Andrea found
them in. “Oh come on guys, are you going to do that all night?”
Caroline pulled away, blushing slightly. “Andrea, this is Frank. Frank,
this is my little sister Andrea.”
“Not that little, thanks very much,” Andrea replied, shaking Frank’s
hand. “Nice to meet you. Come on in.”
She held the door open and then went off down the hallway. Frank squeezed
Caroline’s hand. “Calm down.”
She smiled wanly at him and went inside.
*************************************************************
“So, Frank, what do you do?” Jean asked, handing him a plate.
“Thankyou. I work with my father in property development.”
“Really? That must be interesting.”
Frank nodded. “Yes, very.”
“So, Frank, I suppose Caroline’s told you all about the band,” Gavin
commented.
Frank smiled. “Yeah. I really enjoyed Runaway.” He winked at Caroline
who blushed slightly.
“I’m a barrister myself. Guess I’ll have to look you up in the files,
eh?”
The group laughed and Frank smiled at Caroline, who gave him a big
grin in return.
“Do you travel a lot with your job?” Andrea asked.
Caroline’s mind wandered. Where was her younger sister going with this?
“Sometimes,” Frank answered, figuring it was safe. He turned to Jean.
“This is very nice, Mrs Corr.”
“Please, call me Jean,” Jean smiled. She liked this young boy.
“So I suppose you stay in a lot of hotels,” Andrea said, continuing
her conversation.
Sharon rolled her eyes and turned to Frank. “Ignore her. She talks
to herself sometimes.” She smiled. “I remember you from the bar that we
did the signing at. Are you a regular there?”
“No. It was by chance that I happened to be there the same night as
Caroline. I had just finished dinner with a client and then I noticed Caroline.
She’s pretty hard not to notice.”
Andrea and Sharon threw appreciative looks at their sister, who blushed
again.
“Do you usually meet clients in a bar?” Gerry asked, narrowing his
eyes.
A look of panic flashed across Caroline’s face.
“No, but it was a very good friend of my father’s. Unfortunately he
and my mother were out of town that day so I offered to meet his friend
for a drink.”
Gerry nodded. “Good. Good.”
“Do you follow music at all?” Jim asked.
“Some. I was never an obsessive follower, but I think I have a renewed
interest in it now.”
Jean and Gerry exchanged glances. He wasn’t too bad.
********************************************************************
After saying goodnight, Caroline walked Frank to the front door.
“See? No major disasters. I made it through the evening without succumbing
to Andrea’s discussions, I laughed at Gavin’s joke and I even complimented
your mother’s cooking. Which is actually really great by the way.” He nudged
her slightly. “And you made it through the night without a major breakdown.”
Caroline nodded. “Yeah. They were all pretty well behaved.”
He kissed her gently. “I had a great time tonight.”
“Me too. Surprisingly.”
“Oh, and by the way, tell your mother that next time, I expect to be
allowed to help wash up.”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Next time?”
“Yes, next time,” Frank nodded firmly.
She grinned. “I think the cheeky bugger is making a comeback.”
Frank chuckled. “Would that be a bad thing?”
“Not at all,” she replied.
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll call you, okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Night.”
He kissed her. “Sweet dreams, Caroline.”
************************************************************************
TWO YEARS LATER
Frank clicked “save” on the computer and leant back in his chair. It
was then he noticed the figure leaning in the doorway. He grinned. “I don’t
know. Walls, windows and now doorframes? Should I be worried about this
fascination with housing structures?”
Caroline smiled. “I wasn’t leaning on the window in ‘The Right Time’.”
“I stand corrected,” he replied, kissing her gently. “And to what do
I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
Caroline looked at his office chair. She grinned. “Can I sit in the
swivelly chair?”
Frank chuckled. “Of course you can.” He held out his arms and pulled
her into his lap. “There you go.”
She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I came to tell you that we’re off to
Japan.”
“Japan? I guess that means long-distance phone calls again.”
She nodded. “Perhaps. We’ve got a couple of gigs over there.” She fidgeted
slightly. “And I was wondering if you’d like to come.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Me?”
“Yeah. I mean, Sharon is bringing Gavin and Mammy and Daddy are coming
and I would like you to come too. If you’re not too busy.”
“Is Steven coming?”
“Uh…Steven and Andrea are…”
“Oh. Right. So he’s not.”
Caroline shook her head. “If you’re not too busy…I would really like
you to be there.”
“Of course I’ll come.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Absolutely.” Frank grinned. “Should I wear my pink t-shirt?”
Caroline groaned. “I can’t believe you still have that thing!”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
Getting up, Caroline rummaged around in her backpack and handed him
a ticket. “It’s an open-ended one…so you can stay as long as you like.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
***********************************************************
Gavin unbuckled his airplane belt and went over to sit beside Frank,
who was engrossed in a newspaper.
“Hey,” he said, sitting down.
Frank put down the paper. “Hey.”
“If you’re wondering what happened to Caroline, I think she, Sharon
and Andrea are discussing something in a huddle back there.”
Frank glanced back at the table and smiled. “That’s okay.”
“Have you been to Japan before?” Gavin asked.
Frank nodded. “Once, with my dad.” He smiled. “But don’t tell Caroline
that. I think she’s kind of excited that she can show me around.”
Gavin laughed. “I promise to keep the secret.”
Caroline appeared then and kissed Frank on the head. “What are you
fellows laughing about?”
Gavin looked at Frank. “The pronunciation of my Japanese.” He got up.
“I better go and check on Sharon.”
Caroline slid into the seat that Gavin had vacated. “Sorry about that.
I just had to go over some things with John.”
Frank took her hand. “Hey, don’t worry about me. This is work for you.
I’m happy just to be along for the ride. I like watching you work.”
Caroline smiled and squeezed his hand. “Thanks for coming.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
*****************************************************************
The plane landed in Tokyo and everyone got ready to leave. John had
decided to get Jean, Gerry, Gavin and Frank off first, then he could have
the security concentrate on getting the band through safely. The fans almost
had a moblike consistency to them, and the security was holding them back.
For the time being, anyway.
******************************************************************
Frank sat in his hotel room…slightly embarrassed. The fans had mobbed
the group…so much so that the tiny figures of the Corrs had disappeared
into the throng. He had got slightly upset and had to be restrained by
Gavin from trying to go and find his girlfriend. Frank still remembered
the glare he got from John. He got up to answer the knock at his daughter.
Caroline smiled at him from the other side.
“Hey,” he said, holding the door open for her to come in.
“Hey,” she replied, sitting down on the couch.
He sighed. “I’m sorry about today. And I’m sorry I embarrassed you.”
Caroline grinned and moved a bit closer. “You didn’t embarrass me.
Actually, I thought it was quite chivalric.”
“I appreciate the thought,” Frank nodded. “But John didn’t look too
pleased. And Gavin had to practically restrain me.”
“John will get over it. I think he may have thought that you were going
to attack people. And Gavin was probably happy to get a chance to show
Sharon his brute strength.” She snuggled up to him. “I’ve always wanted
to meet someone who would rescue me.”
“I’m glad I could fulfil that dream for you,” he replied, putting his
arm around her. “So, where have the rest of your family disappeared to?”
“They went out to dinner. They wanted Mammy and Daddy to try some authentic
Japanese food.”
“Made in Japan?”
“Exactly.”
“And you didn’t go?”
She shook her head. “No. I wanted to spend time with you.”
“I’m glad.” He kissed her gently. “Want to go out for dinner?”
“I would rather order in,” she replied. “But later.”
Frank raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”
She tugged his hand. “Come on, Mr Chivalry. It’s payback time.”
******************************************************
Sharon tuned her violin up and every so often glanced towards the stage
door. “She’s not here yet!” she called to her younger sister who was tapping
the microphone.
Andrea turned around. “She better hurry up. We need her for the soundcheck.”
Jim sauntered in, a bottle of water in his hands. “Here yet?”
Sharon shook her head.
A few minutes later a whirl of energy burst into the room, identified
as Caroline.
“Sorry I’m late!” she cried, bounding up to the drums and putting her
headphones on. “Let’s go.”
“Let’s go? You’re late and all you can say is let’s go?” Sharon inquired.
“Okay…I’m sorry. Now let’s go,” Caroline said fixing her hi-hats and
placing her foot on the bass pedal.
Andrea ran an eye over her sister. She smirked. Sharon watched Andrea,
bemused. “What?” Sharon asked her.
“Look at Caroline. What do you notice about her?”
“She’s late.”
“Apart from that. Look closely.”
Sharon folded her arms and looked at her sister again. She turned back
to Andrea. “What?”
Andrea felt like banging her head against a wall. “Think about all
the possible reasons Caroline could be late…and after what happened yesterday.”
Sharon looked at Caroline and then back at Andrea. “You think?”
Andrea nodded. “Mhm.”
“Caroline!” Sharon cried, her eyes twinkling. “You naughty thing.”
Caroline took her headphones off and glanced at her sister. “Huh?”
*********************************************************************
The Corrs were about to go on and were standing in the wings with Gerry,
Jean, Frank and Gavin.
“Psst,” Frank said to Caroline.
“Mhm?” she asked, looking around.
“Guess what I’m wearing under this shirt.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is this one of those dirty questions? I don’t
know how appropriate it is around my parents.”
He chuckled. “No. This is a very clean question. And I’m insulted that
you would think I would ask dirty ones. Now guess.”
Caroline peered at the navy blue shirt. “I give up.”
Frank grinned and unbuttoned the top button. A flash of pink was there.
Caroline groaned.
“Do not take that shirt off, I am ordering you,” she warned him.
“I promise,” he replied. “Are you nervous?”
“A little bit,” she admitted. “I don’t want to make a fool of myself.”
“You could never do that,” he assured her, squeezing her hand. “Go
show everyone how great a drummer you are.” He kissed her lightly. “And
have fun.”
Caroline smiled. “Thanks.”
********************************************************************
Sharon rotated her arms around, trying to get the circulation pumping
again after playing her violin to the fans.
“You did fantastic,” Gerry told his kids, hugging them all.
Caroline and Andrea were bouncing off the stage, on a post-show high.
“That was fun!” Andrea smiled.
“Yeah. I particularly enjoyed your tin whistle out of time interpretation
of Secret Life,” Jim teased.
Andrea pouted. “The fans liked it.”
“That’s because they thought you did it on purpose,” Caroline told
her. She scanned the room and saw Frank leaning against the door, watching
her with a sly smile. “Copycat,” she said, bouncing over to him.
“You did great,” he told her, giving her a hug. “Best drumming I’ve
ever seen.”
“Thanks.” She tugged his hands. “Up for a post gig drink?”
He nodded. “Sure. Let’s go celebrate the phenomenon that is the Corrs…and
their amazing drummer.”
*******************************************************************
Caroline yawned and opened the hotel door to her younger sister. “What
on earth are you doing up this early?”
“Thought we should go shopping,” Andrea said, eagerly trying to peer
around her sister.
Caroline conveniently blocked the doorway, each side Andrea moved to.
“It’s very early to want to go shopping.”
Andrea tried to peer but Caroline still blocked her. She frowned. “Fine.
Is he in there?”
Caroline folded her arms, an amused look on her face. “He who?”
“You know who I mean.”
“I’m sure I don’t.”
“Frank,” Andrea hissed. “Is he in there?”
Caroline looked at her with a blank look on her face. “Why does it
matter?”
“Well, Sharon and I think we know why you were late to practice yesterday,
and let’s say it doesn’t involve going for a long walk.”
“Why would I want to go for a long walk in this heat?” Caroline asked,
confused.
Andrea whacked her head with the palm of her hand. “I swear, it’s like
talking to a politician. You answer a question with a question.”
“That’s because you’re not making sense,” Caroline pointed out.
Andrea sighed. “Okay, let’s try this again.” She enunciated each word,
making sure her lips corresponded with what she was saying. “Is…Frank…in…there?”
“Okay, I’ll reply,” Caroline nodded. She mimicked Andrea. “It…is…none…of…your…business.”
Andrea let the words digest and she frowned when she realised what
her sister had said. “Hey!”
“Now, did you just come here to snoop or are you really going shopping?”
Caroline asked, leaning against the doorway, figuring the threat of entry
was over. She was wrong.
Andrea whizzed past and perused the lounge room. “Hah!” She lifted
up Frank’s polo shirt. “Evidence!”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Geez! Is it a crime for him to have a shower
here?”
Andrea wiggled her eyebrows. “Is that all he was doing?”
“That’s none of your business,” Caroline repeated.
Andrea pouted. “But don’t we share everything?”
Caroline folded her arms. “Not this.”
Andrea raised an eyebrow. “You really like him, don’t you?”
Caroline looked at her hands. “Mhm.”
Andrea squealed with excitement. “Oh my gosh!” She rubbed her hands
together. “This calls for a major shopping spree.”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “If we must. Give me half an hour to get
ready, okay?”
Andrea nodded. She caught Caroline’s look. “Ah. Right. I’ll see you
in the lobby then.”
*******************************************************************
“Where are you going again?” Frank asked, rubbing his tired eyes.
Caroline did up the lace on her boot. “Andrea wants to go shopping.”
He yawned. “Okay. Have fun.”
She smiled slyly. “Do you want to come?”
His eyes widened in fear. “Uh, no thanks,” he stammered out.
She grinned and kissed him on the forehead. “Only joking.”
“That wasn’t funny,” Frank frowned.
“Your face was,” Caroline replied, kissing him again. “See you later.”
*****************************************************************
Caroline walked into the lobby, smiling slightly at a very bleary eyed
Sharon slumped in one of the armchairs.
“Good morning,” Caroline smiled, sitting down in the one opposite.
“Did the wake up fairy come and visit you too?”
“I swear, if she hadn’t mentioned shopping, she would not be alive,”
Sharon mumbled.
Caroline chuckled. “Typical of you, Sharon.”
Andrea bounced into the room, skidding to a stop in front of Sharon.
She frowned and turned to Caroline. “Is she alive?”
“Someone won’t be very soon,” Sharon muttered.
“I heard that,” Andrea pouted.
“How dare you be so perky this early in the morning. You were up late
with us last night!” Sharon told her.
Andrea smirked. “Caroline was probably up later than all of us.”
“Shut up, Andrea,” Caroline warned.
Sharon perked up slightly. “Did I miss something?”
“No,” Caroline told her.
“Perhaps,” Andrea chuckled. She tugged on her sister’s hands. “Let’s
go shopping!”
As Andrea plowed her way ahead, Sharon fell back and walked beside
Caroline.
“What’s Andrea on about?”
Caroline kept walking, keeping an eye on her younger sister as she
peered in shop windows. “Nothing.”
Sharon looked at her. “I’m your big sister. You can tell me anything.”
Caroline sighed. “Okay…Frank took a shower in my room last night.”
Sharon blinked. “That’s it? He took a shower in your bathroom last
night?” She frowned and jogged up to Andrea. “Andy! You got me all excited
for a shower?”
Caroline grinned and folded her arms. She was very happy.
****************************************************************
“How does this look?” Andrea asked, holding a shirt up to herself.
“Like a shirt,” Caroline replied, looking at a pair of jeans.
“Oh, you’re a regular riot,” Andrea told her. “Sharon?”
Sharon peeked out from a dressing room. “What?”
“Does this shirt look okay?”
“Fine.”
“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”
“Andrea, I have a stuck zipper. I’m not really into convincing right
this second.”
Andrea pouted and folded her arms. “Well, do you want some help?”
Sharon poked her head out again. “The colour’s wrong. Pick a different
colour, try it on.”
Andrea grinned.
**************************************************************
“Hi Daddy,” the girls cried, as they came back into the lobby. Their
father was sitting down, reading the newspaper.
“Hello, girls.” He eyed the shopping bags. “I can see you had fun.”
“Lots,” Andrea nodded, slumping into a chair near him. “Why are you
reading in the lobby, daddy?”
“Well, I came down here to get the paper and one of the gentlemen who
work down here brought me a pot of tea.”
The girls shared smiles.
“I’m going to take these bags upstairs,” Caroline said, picking her
shopping up. She kissed her father on the forehead. “See you later, Daddy.”
Andrea jumped out of her chair. “Wait for me, Caroline!” She squeezed
into the elevator just before it closed. “You could have held it for me.”
“Simple mistake,” Caroline replied, sitting her bags in a corner and
folding her arms. “And I know why you decided to come up just now.”
“Why is that?” Andrea challenged.
“Because you want to see if there’s anyone in my room.”
Andrea looked shocked. “Caroline Georgina Corr, I’m surprised that
you would think that your best friend, your baby, would use such covert
measures.” She stopped for a moment. “But if I were to use such covert
measures, would they work?”
Caroline picked her shopping up again, ready to make a quick dash to
her hotel room. “Not a chance.”
***********************************************************************
Caroline let out a satisfied sigh as she slid into the bubble bath.
Her aching body welcomed the heat and she closed her eyes. Moments later
she heard the door to her room open and shut again. “Andrea, if that’s
you, we’re not discussing it!”
“Not discussing what?” Frank asked, poking his head around the door.
She opened her eyes. “Oh, hi. Sorry. It’s just that the Corr family’s
very own Sherlock Holmes has been questioning me all day.”
“Yeah well, consider yourself lucky. Your brother just took me out
for the day. A nice look around the place, he says. Interrogation is what
I say.”
Caroline groaned. “Honestly! I’m living in a fishbowl!”
“Well, is it one of those nice, decorated fishbowls? Because that might
not be so bad.”
Her eyes flicked open again. “Huh?”
He grinned. “Never mind. Enjoy your bath.”
************************************************************************
The Corr family had just sat down to dinner in the hotel dining room,
when Caroline and Frank rushed in and took their places.
“Sorry,” Caroline said, sitting down. “We lost track of time.”
Andrea and Sharon raised an eyebrow each. Caroline caught them and
rolled her eyes.
“I was in the bath.”
“You’re not helping yourself,” Andrea smirked.
Caroline frowned at her.
“Your father said that you girls went shopping today,” Jean commented.
“I’ll say they went shopping. We’re going to have to buy a suitcase
to get Sharon’s purchases home!” Gavin teased.
“Not funny,” Sharon said.
“Warning you now, Gavin,” Andrea smiled. “Never come between Sharon
and shopping.”
“I heard you took Frank out today,” Caroline said, glaring at her brother.
“Don’t look at me like that!” Jim frowned back. “It was just a day
between two blokes.” He took a sip of his beer. “And I told him that if
he hurt you I’d kill him.”
“If you hurt him, I’ll kill you.”
Jim peered at his sister carefully. “Okay, deal.”
*******************************************************************
Caroline stood at the airport with her boyfriend, waiting for his flight
announcement. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”
He kissed her gently. “I know. But in a few weeks you’ll be home and
it will be Christmas. And I promise we will see each other as much as possible.”
He grinned. “Besides, your mum decided I absolutely HAD to come to Christmas
dinner.”
“Yeah, and I bet Andrea had something to do with it,” Caroline said.
Frank took her hand. “Will that be an entirely bad thing?”
She smiled. “No.” His flight was announced and she leaned up to kiss
him deeply. “I’ll see you soon.”
*********************************************************************
Andrea flopped onto the couch. “It’s so nice to be home.”
“Mhm,” Caroline replied absently, peering out the window at the snow.
Andrea watched her sister closely. “Waiting for someone?”
Caroline nodded. “Mhm.”
Sharon walked in and sat down. “What’s going on?”
“Our sister here has turned into a monosyllabic woman,” Andrea replied.
Sharon raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Over a certain someone,” Andrea whispered.
“Ah,” Sharon said, nodding.
Caroline turned around and glared at them.
“I think she heard you,” Sharon whispered back.
All of a sudden, Caroline jumped up from her position. “See you later.”
Her two sisters waited until the door had shut and then raced toward
the window.
*********************************************************************
“Welcome home,” Frank said, hugging her.
“It’s nice to be home,” she smiled, snuggling closer.
“How was the flight home?”
“Long.” She took his hand. “Do you want to come in?”
“You should probably spend time with your family.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “I’ve been touring with my family!” She looked
up at him. “Now I want to spend some time with you.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Frank nodded. He noticed she was shivering
slightly. “Jeez Caroline, you came out here barely rugged up.” He swatted
her. “Go on, get something warmer on.”
She smiled slightly and went inside.
*************************************************************
Andrea stared mournfully at Sharon. “Now?”
Sharon looked up from her magazine. “No.”
“Sharon!”
“Look, Andrea, the entire reason for you sitting at that chair near
the window is to tell me when Caroline gets home.”
“Yeah, but why am I the one that has to do it?”
“Because I’m older and it’s my sisterly right to boss you around.”
Andrea stuck her tongue out. “Meanie.”
**************************************************************
“Why do I feel incredibly naughty?” Frank said, as he and Caroline
kissed behind the house.
“Because my sisters think we’re going to be out the front of the house
and they can spy on us.”
“Fair enough,” he replied, kissing her again.
“I knew it!” came Andrea’s gleeful voice.
Caroline groaned and whacked her head against Frank’s chest. “I swear.”
“You deliberately came down here just so that Sharon and I wouldn’t
see you.”
“Gee, I wonder why,” Caroline replied.
Andrea stopped for a moment. “Hey! You were being sarcastic, weren’t
you?”
Caroline crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out. Andrea giggled
and made a funny face too.
“Come on you two, come inside. It’s cold out here!” Andrea told them.
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Or in your case…”
Caroline put a hand up. “Stop right there.”
Andrea giggled and went inside.
Caroline poked Frank in the chest. “You are so lucky that you don’t
have sisters.”
“Hey, it’s not like I get off any easier. I have brothers that are
just as nosy, if not more so!”
*********************************************************************
Two Days Later
Caroline looked at the books as Andrea threw a heap of chocolates into
the trolley. She frowned.
“Andy, who are they for? We’re never going to eat those.”
Andrea sighed. “They’re not for us, silly. They’re for Frank.”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Frank?”
“Yeah. None of us know what to get him, so I’ve got Roses, Sharon has
Dairy Milk, Jim has Cadbury, Mammy and Daddy have Baxters and I’ve got
Nestle.”
Caroline’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “You’re all giving him
chocolates!”
“Well, what else are we supposed to give him?”
“Andrea, he was on tour with us for a while! You could have asked me
even!”
“Well what are you getting him?”
“Never mind that,” Caroline replied. “But you can’t all get him chocolates.”
“Why not? Doesn’t he like chocolates?”
“Of course he does. But Andrea, it’s going to look terrible if the
first Christmas he spends with my family, all you give him is chocolates!”
“I wish someone would give me lots of chocolates,” Andrea replied huffily.
“Look, the point is, you can’t all do it.”
“You mean as well as buying for the rest of the family, we have to
stress over presents for Frank?” Andrea noticed a book in the trolley.
“What’s that?”
“A book,” Caroline replied, stating the painfully obvious.
“Who’s it for?”
“Frank.”
Andrea’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I thought
you just said you were getting a book for Frank for Christmas. I must get
a haircut because I’m not hearing properly.”
“You don’t think he’ll like it?”
Andrea frowned. “Caroline, giving a book to a guy for Christmas, particularly
that book, is like giving him a tie, or a pair of socks. It says, ‘Hey,
I have very little time on my hands so I just yanked something off the
shelf, got it wrapped at the free gift-wrapping service and threw it under
the tree. But hey, I still like you.’”
“After that very confusing rant of yours, I’ll ask again. You don’t
think he’ll like it?”
“Caroline! Didn’t you hear a word I said?”
“I think I tuned out after my name.”
Andrea groaned. “Alright, we’re going to have to do some serious shopping.”
“I agree. And it starts with getting rid of all those chocolates.”
“Incorrect. It starts with getting rid of that book. I think you are
more desperate than we are.”
“I resent that comment!”
“First we’re going to the men’s department.”
“I’m getting him clothes? That’s as bad as a tie!”
Andrea wiggled her eyebrows. “It all depends on what type of ‘clothes’
you get him.”
“Andrea!!!”
*********************************************************
Sharon peered over at the shopping bags as Andrea and Caroline sat
down in the loungeroom.
“Did you get them?” Sharon asked.
Andrea shook her head. “I tried, but Caroline made me take them all
back except Mammy and Daddy’s. She said she’d help us pick presents for
Frank.”
“I don’t want to go shopping tomorrow! Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve and
all the crazy people are out!”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Be reasonable, Sharon. You can’t all get
him chocolates for Christmas. It’d look a bit strange.”
“What did you get him?”
“She was going to get him a book until I made her see reason,” Andrea
replied.
Sharon sighed. “I’m not even coming into that one.” She got up. “I’m
off home. Gavin and I will be back tomorrow night. Andrea…call me about
the present.”
Andrea nodded. “Not a problem.” She turned to Caroline and frowned.
“Now I’ve got to ring Jim, as well.”
“You won’t regret it,” Caroline assured her.
*****************************************************************
The morning of Christmas Eve found Caroline and Andrea playing Monopoly
on the living room floor. Jean and Gerry came into the room and sat down
on the couch.
“Want to play?” Andrea asked. She frowned. “Caroline’s winning. I think
she’s picked up a few property tips from Frank.”
“Very funny,” Caroline replied.
Andrea giggled and stuck her tongue out.
“Actually, we wanted to talk to you about something Caroline.”
“What did you do this time?” Andrea asked, reluctantly handing rent
for one of Caroline’s properties.
“It’s about Frank.”
Caroline’s ears pricked up. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course it is,” Jean assured her.
“Now, he’s arriving this afternoon, isn’t he?”
Caroline nodded.
Jean looked at Gerry and Gerry looked at Caroline.
“Now, Caroline, I’m as liberal as the next man and I don’t pry into
my children’s lives. But this is still my house and well…” He turned to
Jean in desperation.
“Well, Caroline, we don’t know what’s going on in your relationship
and we don’t like to ask. But we were wondering if you would be comfortable
to share your room with Andrea as usual, and Frank were to stay with Gavin
in the guest room?”
Caroline blushed slightly. “Sure, no problem.”
As her parents left the room, Andrea burst out laughing.
“They so know!”
“Know what?” Caroline asked innocently.
“That something’s going on between you and Frank.”
Caroline sent her a “duh” look. “Something is going on between Frank
and I. We’re dating.”
Andrea frowned. “You can tell me you know.”
“Tell you what?”
“Caroline!” Andrea whined.
“Andrea!” Caroline mimicked.
Andrea folded her arms and rolled the dice.
*****************************************************
The minute the doorbell rang, Caroline raced downstairs, determined
to get there before Andrea. She opened it.
“Hey,” she smiled.
“Hi,” Frank replied. He held up a bottle of champagne. “I thought this
might go nice with lunch tomorrow.”
Caroline nodded. “Absolutely.” She hugged him. “Want to come inside?”
He nodded. “Particularly if it’s warmer in there.”
As they walked inside, Andrea was attempting to bounce along the hallway
on a pogo stick, a legacy from her childhood that she had discovered in
the attic.
“Hi, Frank,” she smiled.
Frank looked slightly bemused by her bouncing but smiled back. “Uh,
hi Andrea.”
Andrea smiled slyly. “You and Caro have to stay in separate….ow!” Before
she finished her statement, the pogo stick launched itself into the wall,
Andrea still on board.
Caroline tugged on Frank’s arm to lead him upstairs. As she walked
past Andrea, she bent down and whispered. “Serves you right.”
*********************************************************
“This is your room,” Caroline said, opening the door. “You have to
share with Gavin, but he doesn’t snore or anything.”
Frank smiled at her. “It’s fine.”
“I’ll just go grab you a couple of towels, okay?”
Frank nodded and placed his bag on the bed. A few minutes later, Andrea
walked into the room, clutching what appeared to be a doll. He raised an
eyebrow. “The pogo stick gone?”
Andrea smiled. “I like going through our old toys in the attic. This
was my first doll that cried, wet and ate.”
Frank glanced at the doll. “Sounds uh…disgusting.”
Andrea nodded. “It was. Particularly when Jim and Sharon fed it too
much as a joke and it got…”
“I get it,” Frank said, holding a hand up.
“Want to hold it?” Andrea asked, holding the doll out.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” Frank asked, watching her.
“What? No. But if I was…well…wondering…what did you and Caroline do
that night in Japan when we all went out for dinner?”
Frank smirked. “Curiosity killed the cat, Andrea.”
“I’m not a cat,” Andrea replied simply.
“Do you want to know?”
Andrea nodded.
“Do you really want to know?”
“Don’t tease,” Andrea warned him.
“Okay. We played an excellent game of Scrabble.”
Andrea’s eyes widened. “Scrabble?”
“Yeah. Caroline’s a really good player. She won nearly all the time.”
Andrea frowned and saw Caroline leaning in the doorway. “Scrabble?
You had me curious for Scrabble?”
Caroline watched in amusement as Andrea carried the doll out. “Nice
save.”
“Thanks,” Frank grinned, accepting the towels. “I enjoyed the story
about that doll and you.”
Caroline groaned. “Trust Andrea.”
Frank took her hand. “You look beautiful.”
Just as they began to kiss, Andrea magically appeared at the doorway
again. She groaned.
“Yes, Andrea?” Caroline asked.
“You were supposed to come shopping with Sharon and I…remember?”
Caroline sighed. “I remember. Give me a minute.” She turned to Frank.
“I have to go. I know this is throwing you in the deep end…”
“That’s fine. I was thinking of taking a walk around Dundalk anyway.
I’d kind of like to look around the place where Little Caroline Corr grew
up.”
She chuckled slightly. “You have a very odd idea of what is fun to
do.”
Frank kissed her gently. “You’ve never complained.”
She smiled. “See you later.”
****************************************************************
10
“You know Caroline, if you weren’t so fussy, we wouldn’t be in the
overcrowded, overpriced and extremely overfreezing shops on Christmas Eve!”
Sharon complained, pulling her coat on.
“Fussy! You guys all wanted to give Frank the exact same present for
Christmas!”
“Not true,” Andrea pointed out. “We were giving him different brands.”
“Why is it so cold in here!?” Sharon groaned. “It’s supposed to be
heated!”
Andrea pointed to a sign that read ‘Heating broken. Apologies to customers.”
“Well ho ho ho,” Sharon grumbled.
Caroline frowned at her. “Why are you so crabby?”
“Because I’m cold,” Sharon replied.
Andrea turned to Sharon. “I thought Jim was coming?”
“He weaselled out. Said that he had important things to do and we were
just to get a present and give it to him when he comes home.”
“Chicken,” Andrea mumbled.
************************************************************
Caroline wandered down the hallway and let out a startled noise as
a hand pulled her into a room.
“Hey,” Frank grinned, kissing her.
She groaned. “You gave me a fright!”
“I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow’s Christmas.”
“I know. I was kind of wondering, if instead of exchanging our presents
in front of your entire family, since it’s our first Christmas, we could
do it alone?”
Caroline smiled. “I’d like that.”
He stood there watching for a moment, and Caroline’s face turned quizzical.
“What?”
“Has anyone ever told you that when you smile, your entire face lights
up?”
She blushed. “You’re sweet.”
He kissed her. “You make me that way.”
They heard a groan outside the door and Caroline frowned. Leaving Frank,
she threw open the door, almost bashing Andrea in the head.
“What are you doing?” Caroline asked.
“Wandering down the hallway,” Andrea replied.
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “You know, you never were any good at lying
but this attempt is pretty pathetic.”
Andrea frowned. “Hey! Don’t take it out on me! Sharon’s the one that’s
been making me spy on you. She’s the one that made me stare out of the
front window for you when you sneaked around the back!”
Caroline sighed. “Don’t you have something better to do?”
Andrea thought for a moment. “Actually, yeah I do.” She wandered back
downstairs with a smile.
Caroline began to worry.
**********************************************************************
Gavin shook the slush off his coat as he stepped through the door.
Noticing the mistletoe and then Andrea coming down the hallway, he carefully
sidestepped it.
“Your doing, I guess?” he asked.
Andrea grinned. “Any opportunity to embarrass my sisters or Jim is
just a Christmas bonus to me.”
Gavin smiled slightly. “Uh, where’s Sharon?”
“She’s dethawing in the shower.”
“Right. Well, I’ll just s…”
“Mammy and Daddy are home.”
“As I was saying, I’ll just say hello to them,” Gavin said, reddening
slightly an disappearing down the hallway.
Just as Andrea turned Jim appeared at the front door.
“No hug for me?”
Andrea frowned at him. “Not after you got out of today. You should
thank your lucky stars that Sharon isn’t here you weasel.”
Jim grinned and enveloped Andrea in a bear hug, shaking the slush on
her.
“AHHH! Jim!!!” She wriggled out of his grasp and took the steps two
at a time to go upstairs. “You are so immature!”
Jim chuckled and headed into the kitchen.
*******************************************************************
The moment Jean called ‘Dinner’, it was like the house was full of
children again. Andrea was downstairs first, followed by Sharon and Gavin.
Jim slid down on the banister and received a clip on the ear from his father.
Caroline and Frank also came down and they all sat at the table and bowed
their heads.
“Dear Lord, Thankyou for letting us all be safe here together. Thankyou
for bringing Frank and Gavin here to spend Christmas with our family. Thankyou
for this food you have brought us…” Gerry watched as Jim and Andrea made
faces across the table at each other and Caroline placed her spoon strategically
by her peas ready to make a scene. “And most of all, Thankyou for letting
our children grow up into the mature, courteous and well behaved adults
they are here tonight. Amen.” He glanced at his wife and she smiled.
“Caroline, if you even lift that spoon at any of your family, no stocking
for you. Andrea, Jim, stop making faces or the wind will change and they’ll
stay like that. Potatoes, Frank?” Jean asked, offering the plate.
****************************************************************
Caroline padded downstairs in her dressing gown and noticed Andrea
sitting on the chair in the loungeroom. She grinned.
“Baby, I thought we had the Santa discussion a few years ago?” she
asked.
She frowned. “I’m not waiting for Santa!”
“Sure Andy, I believe you.” Caroline sat down on the couch beside her
and put her feet up next to Andy’s. “So why are you down here then?”
Andrea shrugged. “Just couldn’t sleep.”
“Why?”
Andrea sighed. “Are you going to marry Frank?”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Uh, not tomorrow.”
“I know not tomorrow but…” She looked at her sister. “Everything’s
changing.”
“Yes Andrea, that’s what generally happens as people get older.”
“Sharon’s living with Gavin now and you’re going to move away and I’ll
be all alone!”
Caroline put an arm around her younger sister. “I’m not going anywhere.
And when I do go somewhere, you’re coming too. Remember, we’re going to
buy a house together and put cute guys all on the walls.”
Andrea grinned. “Like Orlando Bloom?”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “If we must.”
Andrea began counting off posters that she wanted on her fingers. Caroline
yawned and leant her head back. It was going to be a long night.
**************************************************************
11
Sharon tiptoed downstairs to take a look at the tree. She frowned when
she saw Andrea and Caroline cuddled together and asleep on the couch.
“You cheats! You know you’re not allowed to be down here before six
in the morning! That was always the rule!”
Still half asleep, the two rub their eyes.
“What are you on about?” Caroline asked her sister.
“You waited down here to snoop around the presents, didn’t you?!”
“Uh, no,” Andrea said replied.
Sharon folded her arms. “I’m telling Mammy and Daddy.”
Caroline smirked. “What were you doing down here all by your lonesome
self, Sharon?”
Sharon reddened slightly. “Checking the time. The clock in our room
broke.”
The two younger girls exchanged glances.
“I’m going upstairs to see if anyone else is awake,” Caroline said,
watching Sharon oddly. “I fear you.”
Andrea looked at Sharon. “I do too. Especially when you haven’t brushed
your hair in the morning.”
Sharon glared at her and then threw a pillow.
“Hey!” Andrea cried.
*****************************************************************
Caroline knocked on the door to the room where Gavin and Frank were
staying. A muffled, “Come in,” replied and she opened the door. Gavin was
missing, presumably having gone to visit Sharon. Frank sat up as soon as
he saw her.
“Hey,” he smiled. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” she replied, and sat down next to him on the bed.
They kissed briefly before Andrea barrelled in.
“Hey Caro, you’re lucky Mammy and Daddy didn’t come in,” Andrea winked.
“Now come on! We’re going to open presents!”
Caroline rolled her eyes and took Frank’s hand. “Come on, weren’t not
going to get any peace until she’s opened her presents.”
********************************************************************
Andrea sat happily with her new Disney Monopoly set and asked sweetly
if anyone wanted to play with her.
“Andrea, we have to get things ready for Christmas lunch,” Jean reminded
her.
Frank watched her give a mournful look to everyone in the room and
conceded.
“I’ll play with you, Andrea.”
Andrea’s eyes lit up. “Excellent!”
“Be careful, Andy,” Caroline warned her. “He’s an expert in property.”
“Although I must admit I’ve never dealt with Disney property,” Frank
admitted.
Caroline kissed him on the cheek. “Be careful. She sometimes cheats.”
Andrea glared at her older sister. “You’re mean.”
******************************************************************
Frank knocked on the door to Caroline and Andrea’s room.
“Come in!”
He opened the door and smiled at Caroline, who was sitting on her bed
reading a book.
Caroline glanced at Andrea. “Go.”
Andrea frowned. “And where am I supposed to go to? I went to MY room
because Gavin and Sharon are downstairs canoodling, Jim’s in his room and
Mammy and Daddy went to bed precisely because of all of this!”
Caroline smiled. “If Gavin’s downstairs, that mean’s the boys room
is free.”
Andrea folded her arms. “You seriously think I’m going to do that!
You go in there!”
Caroline shrugged at Frank and got up off the bed. “I’ll meet you there.”
****************************************************************
“Go into the boys room my foot, I mean really, what does she think
I am?” Andrea muttered to herself, as she wandered downstairs. “Aw man!”
Andrea was confronted with the sight of Gavin and Sharon snuggling on the
couch. “I can’t catch a break, honestly. I go upstairs, I’m confronted
with June and Ward Cleaver, two of the most nauseating people on earth,
and if I’m down here I’m stuck with their on screen counterparts Mike and
Carol Brady!” She frowned. “No wonder Jim and Mammy and Daddy have already
gone to bed.”
***********************************************************************
“Let’s try again,” Caroline smiled, as she came into Frank’s room.
“Merry Christmas, Caroline,” he told her, kissing her gently.
“Merry Christmas,” she replied. She handed him a brightly wrapped present.
“This is for you.”
He sat on the bed, opening the paper. He grinned as he pulled out a
“Scrabble” game.
“I thought you might want to get some practice in,” she smiled, sitting
next to him. “Andrea tried to take me through all the menswear section
and showed me everything I should be getting you.”
Frank made a face.
“Exactly,” Caroline nodded. “I originally was going to get you a book,
but apparently that’s a bad present to give your boyfriend.”
“That’s too confusing for me,” he replied and handed her a box. “This
is for you.”
Caroline’s eyes widened as she looked at the cross inside. “It’s beautiful.”
“It said Caroline,” he replied. Taking it from her he fixed the clasp
behind her neck. “I’m glad I could spend Christmas with you. It was fun.”
“Even though Andrea thrashed you at Disney Monopoly?”
Frank laughed. “If she ever gives up singing, she could go into property.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “Sure, if things like Goofy Drive and Mickey
Lane existed!”
He hugged her. “I love you.”
Caroline’s eyes widened….
***********************************************
12
“Wow,” she said. “I…”
“Hey guys, guess what!” Andrea said, poking her head in.
Caroline let out a strangled cry. “I swear Andrea, if you don’t get
out right now…”
Andrea frowned. “Fine. Sheesh. Everyone’s so touchy lately. I was just
going to tell…”
“Andrea!” Caroline cried, and pointed at the door.
“I’m not a dog you know,” Andrea replied, heading towards the door.
“You need one,” Caroline muttered.
“No, I need…”
“Out!”
She closed the door and Caroline smiled apologetically at her boyfriend.
“That’s something you’re going to have to get used to.”
Frank smiled. “I’ll take you anyway I can get you, Caroline.” He took
her hand. “Are you going to finish what you were saying?”
She nodded and leaned in close. “I love you,” she whispered.
Taking advantage of their close proximity and the silence of the house,
they shared a kiss and were quite into it when Gerry walked in.
“Caroline, Andrea told me you were in here and…oh…” He hurriedly left
and shut the door.
“Oh God,” Caroline said, jumping up from the bed and blushing hotly.
“Daddy just saw me making out. This is not good.”
“You’re telling me,” Frank agreed. “I’m the one he’s going to hate.”
“No…uh…God…uh, you stay here. I’ll talk to Daddy and kill Andrea.”
**************************************************************
Caroline tiptoed downstairs and ran into Sharon, who was on her way
up.
“What’s going on? Daddy just came out of the boys room looking embarrassed
and now you’re…oh,” Sharon realised.
“Andrea’s dead,” Caroline told her.
“Andrea told Daddy?”
“She needs a pet.”
“Uh, no, I think Andrea needs to get laid.”
“SHARON!!”
“What?”
Caroline clapped her hand to her forehead. “I think I’m getting a headache.
I’m going to talk to Daddy.”
Sharon smirked. “Have fun.”
****************************************************************
Jean looked up with a knowing smile as Caroline entered her parent’s
room.
“Is everything alright, Caroline?” she asked.
“Uh, sure.” She looked at her father. “Uh, Daddy, what you saw earlier,
wasn’t what you think it was. I mean, it might have looked as though it
was what you thought it was but it wasn’t. See, we just told each other
that we love each other and we were making out but we weren’t doing anything
we shouldn’t, I mean, especially since Gavin could return at anytime, and
why pick on me anyway when Sharon is probably doing worse and Andrea probably
grassed on me anyway and…”
“Caroline,” Gerry said, smiling slightly.
“Yes, Daddy?”
“Your young man told you he loved you?”
She blushed again. “Yes.”
Before Gerry could speak again, Andrea burst in.
“Okay, I just have to know what’s going on!”
Caroline looked at her parents. “She needs a pet.”
******************************************************************
Caroline waited around the corner till her younger sister came out
of their parent’s room and clamped a hand over Andrea’s mouth and took
her into the nearest room.
Andrea nipped slightly and Caroline yelped.
“I thought you’d grown out of that,” Caroline said, rubbing her hand
on her jeans.
“Says the person who abducted me into a linen closet.”
“You deserved it. Since when did you grass on me to Mammy and Daddy?”
“I didn’t! I swear! Daddy wanted to know where you were. How was I
supposed to know that you and Frank would be doing the dirty!”
“Frank and I were not…Ugh! Never mind.”
**************************************************************
Sharon and Caroline took an arm each of Andrea’s and attempted to haul
her out of bed. When she tried to protest, Sharon clamped a hand over her
mouth and took her arms and Caroline took her legs. They took her into
the bathroom and Caroline turned the shower on.
“I’m being kidnapped! I’m being kidnapped!” Andrea cried as Sharon
took her hand off her mouth.
Sharon clamped it back on. “You can’t be kidnapped into the bathroom
you eedjit. Now stop squealing or I’ll tell Mammy and Daddy about what’s
under your bed.”
Andrea was immediately silent and Caroline looked curious.
“What is under her bed?”
“Tell you later,” Sharon replied. “Now, Andrea, the time has come.”
“What time?” Andrea asked.
“The time that action has to be taken,” Caroline told her.
“Do Mammy and Daddy know about this? Is what you’re going to do to
me legal?”
“It can be,” Sharon smiled.
“I don’t like the way you said that,” Andrea said, squirming in their
grasp.
“Here’s the deal, Andrea,” Caroline told her. “I think you need a pet
and Sharon thinks you need to get laid.”
Andrea yelped. “Hey!”
“Well you do,” Sharon nodded.
“There’s nothing wrong with a little celibacy here people!” Andrea
cried. “And are you going to let me go?”
“You either listen or we throw you in there,” Caroline said, pointing
to the cold water tap.
“You’ve got two minutes before I scream. And you know I can scream.”
“Anyway, the point is, that Caroline won the bet, so today we’re all
going on an outing to get you a pet.”
“I don’t need a pet! I need to…”
“Get laid, I know,” Sharon replied.
“No! Get your mind out of the gutter! I was going to say that I need
to be let out of your grip!”
“Why?”
“Because I have a phone call to make.”
Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Who to?”
Andrea smirked. “Are you going to be nice to me now?”
Sharon turned on the cold water tap. “Who to?”
“A guy.”
In shock, the two girls let go of their sister and Andrea quickly scampered
out of the bathroom and into her bedroom, locking the door.
“Damn,” Sharon said, heading back to her room.
Caroline shrugged. She was done torturing her sister’s for the day.
Heading back to her room, she let out a startled cry as she was pulled
into the linen closet. “Andrea, I swear…”
“I love you,” came a quiet voice.
Caroline narrowed her eyes. “Well, that’s definitely not Andrea.”
Frank kissed her gently.
“And I really hope that wasn’t Andrea.”
“So do I, because I don’t really want to know about you kissing your
sister.”
Caroline wrinkled her nose. “Okay, let’s change the topic.”
“Good idea,” Frank replied.
“Why are we in the linen closet?”
“Because I’m scared of your father.”
Caroline chuckled and kissed him. “I love you.”
The End.