Chapter 41
Leaning back in my seat to take the moment in. Here I was this nerdy guy off at his first year of college and moments from now I was going to walk into house full of my family to introduce Ashely to everyone I knew.
Sighing "Well, looks like the coast is clear" (as I looked down) "Let me get you bag and lets head on in Nana ordered pizza, she always does on the first night and I bet it's Minneo's my favorite"
Ashely gives me a kiss on check as she unbuckles her seat belt.
"Well let's go in Daniel, I can't wait to meet everyone!"
I grab her bag and we walk hand and hand up the street and to my grandparent's house. We make our way to the front door and I sigh before opening it. I can hear all the commotion of conversation on the other side of the door. Opening it I see my mom almost bee lining it to the front door.
"Ooooooo..... you must be Ashely.... Hi I"m Debbie Daniel's mom (motioning to my father) ... and this is Daniel's father... ooo come in I'm so excited to see you.
I hear Thomas, say "So she's real after all! As he gives me a thumbs up of approval.
My grandparents made their way over to say hello and my grandfather in typical fashion always trying help me look like a gentleman.
"Daniel, why don't you show Ashely to her room and carry her bag."
Nodding I take off my shoes and jacket, grab Ashely's bag and head up the stairs. Having Ashley stay with us meant I would be sharing a room with Thomas and Paul got the sofa bed in the basement. I open the door to her room. She walks in and says
"Oh, it's so cute"
"It used to be my mom's she insisted that this be your room..." I said
Ashley interrupting "Oh, you mom is soooo sweet!"
Throwing her coat on the chair she sits on the bed and motioned for me to join. With both excitement and reluctance I join her. Sitting on the bed I brush the hair off her shoulder, I can smell her perfume, I look down at her amazing boobs in that pink cable-knit sweater just asking to be touched. I lean in for a kiss...
"Daniel....the pizza is here!" I hear Paul yell up the stairs.
I pull her chin in and give her a kiss. Pulling back I just feel this electricity. Looking at it now it was more likely lust. I stand up and we made our way down the hall and down the stairs. Thomas is the first one to want to introduce himself.
"Hi, I'm Thomas, Daniel's much cooler older brother... did he mention I'm an athlete... I play baseball..."
"Nice to meet you Thomas" Ashely says as I walk behind her and direct her to the kitchen.
My Nana ordered so many pizzas, she always got one just for me. Seeing how I was a vegetarian, I always got a Margherita pizza. I went on and on about it while Ashley and I waited in line. Still in somewhat of shock that this gorgeous women flew across the country to spend the holiday with me and my family and was not mere inches away listening to me talk about pizza. I grabbed a plate for me and one for her and we made our way down the line. Afterwards we chose to sit in the dining room, after all I was a college guy now, I couldn't sit at the kitchen table any more. At this point all of my mom's family had arrived. I had two uncles, and an aunt with spouses and their children in total there was about 25 of us all scattered across their house. I sat at a table with my uncle, grandfather, Ashley, Aunt Mona and my mom. My grandfather quizzed Ashely on all her religious upbringing and theology and my uncle finding out that Ashley was in school for business chose to give her more than enough unsolicited business school advice. Right on cue my Aunt Mona made a comment to the effect of how she wanted to know how the two of us ever managed to meet. I knew what she was getting at but I was also equally annoyed. I wanted to say something but Ashely must have felt the tension and responded for us in the most cordial way.
"Well, I meet Daniel through a friend at school and I'm glad I did, he's got a heart of gold...and well really I'm the lucky one!"
My head almost blew off my body. In my head I did the scene where I throw all the plates and cups off the table and do her right there. Equally I was a bit chocked up as people in my life never really stood up for me.
My Nana looking at the clock "Oh my... it's time for Christmas Carols!"
Which is when we'd gather around the living room and my overly pompous uncle (the business guy) would sit at the piano and play, his perfect wife sat facing us on the piano bench and we'd sing Christmas carols. There was a hot coco intermission and after everyone had enough we started to yawn and decided to call it a night. My family stayed and my Nana's house. My pompous uncle always stayed at Mona's who lived there and my other uncle and his family of much younger children stayed at a hotel. Those of us staying said our good byes to those leaving. I was late so my grandparents went to bed first. Leaving just us and Ashley. Paul headed down to the basement. Mom and dad were sitting in the living room. Thomas was watching ESPN in the family room.
"I think, umm. I'm going to bed to mom... it's been a long day and I'll show Ashley where everything is..."
This was my attempt to step away but in the guise of helping a guest. I walk in the family room to say good night to Thomas.
"yeah so hey roomie... come here (as he motions to me).... you and your lady friend need some ummm alone time... let me know and I can always distract mom and dad for you..."
At this point I'm pretty shocked, like why is Thomas helping? But I chose to go with it.
"Ummm... thanks Thomas... I may need that" Feeling a bit more brave "because honestly like, ummm well I'm all like worked up and well umm..."
Thomas interrupts "say no more little bro....I got you.."