North Meets South

Story: North Meets South: When Worlds Collide

Chapter: 23 A Memorial Night

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content

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Mitch, Tony take Sasha to the DMV and then take David, Sasha, and Alik for a night Alik won't ever forget and will cherish all his life.

A Memorial Night

Sasha came home with Alik who ran to Tony and me hugging us happily and asked us. "You are going yell at me again today?" Sasha's eyebrows rose slightly.

"You want them to yell at you?" Sasha asked. "Why?"

"Sure," Alik smiled looking at his father, "it's how they express love. They only yell for no reason with people they really love."

Sasha chuckled. "Okay. The znayesh, chto delat. Vy mozhete nasladitsya khoroshim russkim uzhinom, kogda papa David poluchit dome." You know what to do. You can enjoy a good Russian dinner when Daddy David gets home.

Alik smiled. "Ya chuvstvuyu borshcha." I smell borscht. "Yippy!" He nearly shouted and hurried upstairs.

Sasha chuckled. "It's one of his favorites." He grinned at us. "I get yelled for the same reason?"

"Sure, especially when you become that rodivshiysa Russky!!" I shot back. Stubborn Russian.

Sasha mocked surprise. "Me!? Never!"

"We can take care of the exchange of money now if you want?" Tony smiled. "It will be a digital check from your account to ours. At the DMV, they prefer proof...not always, but I prefer proof to present." He kissed me. "Back in a minute or two." He put his arm around Sasha and gave that manly one-armed squeeze that friends, chums, and family give man to man. "We love you, Stubborn Russian and all. You're one of our two favorite Russians." Their voices faded as they went into the computer room. There were six computers in the house now. Tony's computer had a bigger memory and ram for when he works. We had one in our bedroom, one in the family room, one in Sasha's room, one laptop David took to school, and even Alik's room...all connected in our own private network. I could send even a message when dinner's ready to all of them. Alik never needed the message. He was always down before anybody anxious to eat, whether Tony or I cooked. I was pleased we had settled into a happy and contented household. Alik was now a happy boy completely comfortable with us now. He was home! He spoke to his mother, Tasha, often once or twice a week. I hoped there weren't problems. Sasha hadn't said there were. I knew there were about ten million since the rise of the Soviet Government unit it fell apart. The Soviets made it difficult to do it, but it got it done. Now, they were not communist. It couldn't be that hard now, could it? Then I heard. "That's the price! Keep being a stubborn and I'll reduce it to a dollar!" Tony yelled.

Then Sasha's voice came loud. "I don't want to cheat you! Vy bolshoy dummia!!" Ya big dummy. "You've asked below that Blue Book in value!"

"It's my car, you want it, you pay my price!" Tony said louder.

"Why you so generous?" Sasha asked softer but still heard.

"I just am, and because you're family!" The tone was softer, but he was doing that light strangulation thing he did with Nick, Al, Mike...everyone. Even me when I wasn't comfortable with clothes and the price of what he bought him and I. It was more grabbing their neck and just shaking them lightly.

I looked down at what I wore. I was still a jeans and t-shirt guy. I still had my Levies, Wranglers, and t-shirt. Tennis shoes! I hurried in my room taking my clothes off and put them in the hamper. The clothes I got were designer, Armani from Milan. They made great jeans...and come on...they feel great and fit well. Easy to put on and they were never hung over a hanger but clipped by soft clips to save misshaped according to Tony. I got a shirt... "No wires ever!!!" Remember Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest? Tony wasn't anyway like that. It was hung on a hanger that would also not misshape the clothes. Now the shirt was...I remember the color, it was Mulberry. The reason I remembered was my chuckling was due to...we gay men were in the past called fruits. A fruit in a color of fruit. It was dark purple and not a t-shirt exactly, it had a small collar but not like a polo shirt. It was more comfortable than a t-shirt.

I came out as Tony and Sasha were still talking near the island where the stove and crockpots were.

"...will be taxes and registration and insurance..." Tony looked up and his eyes widened a little. "Jeans night?"

"Sure," I nodded.

"Anyway, I'll help you out with that. We'll get the insurance started now that you bought the car. The title transfer at the DMV, the registration and I need to talk to the men working on the house a message. You can see what we're doing there. We'll have to take your car. My roadster is cramped for three."

"They aren't really backseats, even if you fold up that thingy in the back the seats are this big!" I held my hands a foot apart. "Being the shortest one of the three of us, I'd have to sit there, there's no leg room." I then said with an exaggerated Southern accent. "I ain't a sittin' back there!"

Sasha chuckled. "No problem, I'll take you two anywhere you want to go!"

"We'll take care of the title and stuff first. Then we'll go to our island." Tony grinned at me. "Bessinger's twice in one week, is that too soon for you?"

"Hell, no!" I said happily. "I'd eat it every day if I could!"

"That sounds great!" Sasha grinned clapping his hands in anticipation.

"When we go to Manhattan...do you have a thick coat?" I asked.

"The ones I had in Russian were too bulky to bring on the ship or plane," Sasha shrugged.

"You'll also need a couple of nice suits, both you and David." Tony nodded. "And Alik!"

"Why?" Sasha asked.

"For one important reason, you'll be cold if you don't and the three of you will need if for the shows and Broadway," Tony said logically. "You want to sit still at a show on Broadway?"

"Has he ever seen The Lion King?" Tony asked.

"Sure! I sent Tasha and Alik a DVD player and money for her to buy some movies." Sasha chuckled. "Tasha asked if they could be worn out, he watched it so much. He's seen that."

I remembered the advertising for this new show when it came out...those props with the animals heard samples of the singing. "Not like this."

"Hey, Erin's bringing Peter," Tony said happily. "He's about the same age as Alik! We can take him, too!"

"First is the Rochettes' Holiday Show! They will be spellbound!" I promised.

Then the front door opened, and David came in. "One more day of class and I," he put briefcase and case for his laptop down, "will be here," he kissed Sasha, "a whole month!"

"Yeah!!" Sasha hugged him tightly.

"You won't mind getting new duds, will you?" I said to David.

David's face got a look, not understanding. So, we explained it again why. He looked sort of happy, but cautious.

Tony did the strangling thing to David shaking him slightly. "What is it with you three? Mitch was hard to come around, but he did it." He shook his head. "You and Sasha are millionaires!" He emphasized each syllable. "Mill...ion...aires." He shook his head again. "Your lives really didn't change after the money. Sasha still cooks and cleans...pretty damned well, I will add...took and got Alik...I assume you're still going to the Cordon Bleu still." He turned to David. "Your tuition is paid and books, law books are easily paid." Tony grinned. "Guys, when I last checked you had eight and a quarter million dollars...soon to be eight and a half million!" He raised a finger. "And! There is a new company about to go on the market, you'll make millions and millions of dollars!"

Sasha's and David's eyes grew. "What are they selling? What about this company tells you it will sell? What tells you this company reputable?" David asked.

Tony smiled and looked at me. "I think the Delkenzie Company is reputable."

I nodded. "I think we are."

"Your company!?" Sasha said surprised. "Selling what?"

"More of those devices, like we gave to you, the translators!" Tony said.

"We pretty well have Russian...and Ivan Belov is doing more input in Moscow!" I said proudly.

"The Raging Russian Bull!? He's investing!?" Sasha balked.

"The guy that gave Alik the poster and the mask!?" David asked.

"He's made a lot of money as the Raging Russian Bull. He will be a partner in this!" Tony chuckled. "Which you can be. He's the most sought out wrestler in Russia and all Eastern Europe!"

I smiled imitating his deep voice and loud a slightly gruff speech. "My ego khoroshive, dorogie yi luchshiye druzya seichha!!" We're his good, dearest and best friends now!

Tony laughed. "The point is you can be partners, too as investors! I guarantee these stocks are going to split and split again. You can use those dividends to buy more shares!"

"Wait, doesn't it work for just English and Russian?" David asked.

"Yours does." Tony nodded. "But we have people out there who speak several languages adding French, German, Spanish, even the Netherlands. Soon we will have Finnish, Norwegian and even Islandic! Even all the languages of China like Mandarin, Hunaness, Hakka, and the dozen languages! We want a translator and a database elsewhere that you select the language on the translator."

"Doesn't the new one for Russian have the scanner to translate written English to written Russian?" I asked Tony.

"Yes, it has a screen they can scan anything in English to whatever language they get the language they use." Tony nodded grinning.

"Wow," David said quietly. "We're getting in on the ground floor?"

"You're getting in as partners! It will be a company with all of us getting ownership." I corrected. "Which will increase if you put the money, you make back in! You can send one to Tasha or two for Egor and family!"

We heard a thud as Alik jumped the last three steps and raced over to David. "Daddy David!"

"Hi, Champ!" David scooped Alik up kissed him, hugging him tightly. He groaned a little. "You are getting heavy. You could skip a meal."

"Not tonight! Dad made one of my very favorite dishes. Borscht!" He said brightly.

"Never had it. Is it really good?" David asked.

"He makes the best!!" Alik said confidently.

"Alik, the znayesh, chto tebe nay nuzno begat yi prygat vie dome..." Alik, you know you shouldn't run and jump in the house. Sasha scolded softly.

Alik frowned. "Izvinite, pojaluista." I'm sorry.

(To save me from Carpal tunnel. We all spoke Russian for a while.)

"He loves me and excited to see me," David said as Alik nodded quickly

"Sure." He ruffled his son's hair. He glanced at his watch. "Well, dinner starts in about an hour. Set the table, energetic one, please?"

Alik was let down and he got the napkins, knives, and forks from the drawer. "Uncle Mitch, why is it that you set your forks on the left, you and Uncle Tony don't, but I see Daddy David, the teachers at school switch forks to theirs to right?"

"I think when the colonists came from England, they wanted to separate from England as much as possible so they switched to other customs including eating." I shrugged and smiled. "There's a great story about that called," I switched to English as I didn't know the Russian words, "Gulliver's Travels and one of the four stories and the most popular is about Lilliput and Blefuscu." I went back to Russian. "Those two countries were at war because one broke the eggs on the bottom and the other broke the eggs on the top." I chuckled.

"That's silly! Who cares?" Alik asked.

"It's supposed to be silly. It's a parody to show how silly people can be with for the silliest reasons."

Tony came over to me kissing me. "I'm glad Sasha's speaking Russian more now with Alik."

"To keep Alik Russian." I nodded.

"No! To keep me from losing what I've learned!" Tony chuckled.

It wasn't long before he got the bowls Alik knew we'd use and dished out the borscht steaming hot filling the room with the wonderful smell. He opened the other and the roast smelled like a roast. What was Russian about this roast? Then I saw the sour cream. Sasha put some on the slices of roast. They used sour cream in many dishes. Alik and David were putting the plates and bowls. Sasha looked at Alik who was already digging in the borscht and blowing it as he must have done many, many times.

"And know this, like I told Mitch. There's plenty of vegetables, carrots, peas, potatoes in this." He smiled. "Oh! The Olivie Salad!" He got up and went to the refrigerator and brought it to the table. "Created by Lucien Olivier. It does not have olives and favored in Russia and all of East Europe now." He brought the extra bowls and the salad. "Dig in!"

The borscht he made was really thicker than a stew, the slight purple shade was bit odd, but it smelled really good.

"Damn, Sasha!" David looked like he really was enjoying his. "This is delicious! You're in real trouble now."

"Why is that?" Sasha chuckled.

"You're going have to make it again! And again!" David claimed pulling Sasha toward him kissing him.

Dinner was great, but Alik went to bed as did David so he could take his last trip to school in the morning, again Sasha quickly followed.

In our room, we got ready for bed. We had somethings to do in the morning and we needed to get home so Sasha could pick up Alik and David got home. But we always made time to love.

In the morning, the usual departures. David at six, Alik at seven. Tony and I ate more of the Italian Breakfast Casserole.

"Normally, I don't eat leftovers if it's not good." Tony chuckled with his fork to his plate. "This is wonderful. You're still Scottish, but making yourself one hell of an Italian."

I chuckled. "Naturalmente, e grazie." Naturally and thank you. I said in Italian.

"Prego." You're welcome. Tony leaned toward me kissing me. "I don't want you to lose who you are becoming a Delveccio. It might hurt Dad." Tony went on quickly. "You are a Delveccio, never doubt that, but there will be hurt feelings. Think about it more? It's your decision. I'll fully accept and support what you decide."

I smiled at him and kissed him a little more intense. "You are my best friend, lover and my husband. I love you, Tony."

"And you are my best friend, lover and my husband. I love you, Mitch."

Sasha returned at about a quarter to eight. "Let's do this."

Tony had the proof of purchase and even the new insurance with policy number also paid for. We went to Charleston County Tax Office and paid the tax and for the registration, but were told they needed to see the title transfer.

"We have to get the transfer done and bring it back!?" Tony gaped. "How could this be a scam?? They don't do that in New York!!" He turned to me. "Do they do that in North Carolina?" I nodded.

"This is South Carolina!" She said a little smug. "Bring back the title change and you'll get the registration. Next!"

We walked out and as we were going to the car, I looked at Tony. "You bought my Bronco, didn't you have to do all this?"

Tony shook his head. "The Bronco Graveyard is a dealership. They verified the insurance, I paid the taxes were paid there, the registration...even my roadster was done at the dealership!" He shook his head. "You people don't have many valets, not many good authentic Italian Restaurants. Olive Garden." He spat, I mean really his spit and did that rapid spitting thing to ward off the evil in the air like a bad family member, dirtbag, or bad Italian restaurants apparently! I saw his Mama do it. His sister Kathy once.

I chuckled hugging him quickly as we got in the car.

"You know where the DMV is?" Tony asked.

"Yes," Sasha said dourly. "David took me to get my South Carolina Driver's License. It will be packed."

He was right, but he got the paper with his number and letter to tell him when he was up next. Fortunately, they had two rows where...whatever they were called...one side did the licenses for renewal, new and beginners' permits...the other did things like title transfers, so we didn't have to wait too long. The proof of sale given, the title changed and given. Then back to where he would get the registration.

The same woman smiled as we came up. She looked at the title and nodded. "Okay, now I need the previous owner's plate." She smiled. "If you just discard it could be used in a crime."

Tony's right eye narrowed. "You're doing this on purpose!"

She smiled sweetly. "Am I?" She said in mocking innocence.

I heard Tony growl a little.

"I'll get it." Sasha chuckled and patted Tony's arm.

"You know where the specialized tools..." Tony began to ask Sasha was leaving.

"I thought I needed to know..." he shrugged, "I even know where the special..." he paused, "Lughan remover to unlock to take the tire off!"

Tony looked at me. "Lughan? That has to be what I know it is."

"Lugnut. That's right." I smiled.

Tony gave his smirking frown. "Are you still saying you're not fluent!?"

"I'm getting there, I still have some words to go." I smiled at Tony." I've added words such as gaechny klucz, molotok. Wrench and hammer. You did fine with Ivan and Katya, and you spoke well last night!"

"You both speak Russian!?" The woman asked shocked.

"We have Russians in the family," I said pointing over my shoulder toward Sasha. "Sasha is one of them."

"He speaks it much better than I can. We also speak Italian." Tony said casually.

"We're a trilingual family!" I said smiling.

Tony smiled. "You forgot one." He chuckled. "Mike, Louise, Drew, Erin speaks French!"

I nodded laughing a little. "I did forget, four languages. I've never had to speak it. They speak English fluently. Maybe I should do that language next."

"It's Canadian French. Does that miracle program have that?" Tony chuckled.

"I'm sure! There are millions that speak it. Celine Dion spoke that exclusively as a child and young adult." I muttered. "Many don't speak anything else."

"I guess we should send a few of the translators with them. Who better to get that language started!?" Tony asked seeing that logic. "I bet you learn it quicker than Italian! Probably in half the time!"

Sasha came back in a rapid walk. He waved the plate Tony had used at us. "Yest." Got it. He was excited.

I said. "Prekrasno!" Great.

"Choroso! Davay." Good! Come on. Tony said at the same time. He looked at the woman. "We go back and forth all the time. Sorry."

The woman took the plate shaking her head. "That's quite alright." She took the plate checked it on her computer. She turned and placed it somewhere below her desk. She handed Sasha one of those cardboard plates dealerships gave when a person buys a car. She handed Sasha the registration. "Your new permanent plate will be mailed to your address." She now smiled a little more genuine. "Have a good day."

We went to the car and Sasha put the temporary plate on then stood grabbing Tony in a tight hug. "Thank you, Tony." He kissed him on the temple. He turned to me and did the same to me. "I owe you two so much." We got into what was now Sasha's car. He patted the steering wheel lightly. "My car!" He said more to himself.

"Yes." Tony smiled and nodded at Sasha's jubilation. "Now, let's get this puppy going. I'll give you the directions."

Sasha turned with mock irritation. "You wonder why we have a problem learning your language!? Puppy? Incomplete sentences?"

"Just drive," Tony smirked.

"We don't refer to gays as pigeons as you do in Russia." I chuckled.

Sasha grunted and started the car. We guided him to James Island and to our island. They were still laying that trench for all those different things to go to the house, but they were much closer. That ugly structure was now flat and they were clearing that away quickly. A man approached looking at us, then smiled as Tony and I got out. Sasha had, too, but hadn't met yet.

James Matthews shook Tony's hand and mine. "Good to see you two again. I didn't recognize the car."

"That's because it's Sasha's car," Tony said. "James Matthews, this is a sometimes-crazy Russian marrying into our crazier family...really is a good friend and like a brother before he marries David. Then he will really be family, even if he is already to us. Sasha Lebedev."

James smiled shaking Sasha's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." Sasha smiled.

"I came to tell you, you have the extra week." Tony smiled.

James chuckled. "That pompous ass called me last night. He said like he decided to let us have the week. I didn't say I knew, but I knew it was you."

"I don't care who takes the credit, just that you have the time you deserve." Tony smiled. "This time of the year means a whole lot to us." He looked at his watch. "Okay, we have enough time to have a good lunch at Bessinger's, a stop at the Starbucks near home and you will have time to pick up Alik."

"We may even have time to start the foundation before the two weeks!" James told us. "Come back before those two weeks and you'll see." He shook our hands again and we got into the car.

They knew Tony and me at Bessinger's now. We got three Big Joe Porks and three orders of onion rings. There were five giant onion rings in each order. We'd share, of course, but why? We each had enough. We ate with gusto. We went to the Starbucks just a block from the condo. The city of North Charleston wanted to create a trendy, upper class of shops and restaurants on the land the naval base left here. "Hey, they have a new restaurant! Italian from Rome!" Written in Italian. Italian da Roma.

"Not a pizza place?" Tony asked looking back.

"Below that, it said Fine Italian Cuisine. I'm sure they do have pizza, but they should have macaroni and gravy, ziti and all those good foods from Italy." I chuckled.

"We'll just see about that," Tony said about every new Italian restaurant we went to.

He only liked Amici that Sunday we met and went often after that. Bocci's downtown.

We got back home and Sasha had an hour to go to get Alik. He hugged Tony and me again.

Alik returned with Sasha and he was about to run over but stopped and walked over to us. "Hi, Uncle Mitch! Uncle Tony!" Hugging us. "Dad said I could play Soccer this Spring and Summer!"

"Great." We both said smiling.

Sasha smiled. "The znayesh, chto tebe nuzno sdelat. Yi nachni too knigu, kotoruyu oni tebe dali." You know what you need to do. And start that book they gave you.

"Book? What book?" Tony asked.

"There were several to choose from, I got Twenty-One Balloons."

"Never read that." Tony shocked his head.

"I loved that book!" I said happily. "A man in this Explorer's Club, before they had airplanes and used hot air balloons to travel through the air. He decides to take one around the world and crashes on a very unique island with some different people that some unusual customs and practices."

"What island? How different are these people?" Alik asked.

"I'm not telling you that! Read the book and find out." I hugged him as he rolled his eyes and went upstairs to begin his homework.

Once when Alik was upstairs Tony turned to me. "I'm no longer surprised about what you know. I saw that bookshelf with hundreds of books. What Island and what sort of different people?" Even Sasha stepped closer to hear.

I chuckled and spoke quietly. "It's fiction, but a good story. He crashes on Krakatoa before it blew up sending the blast heard as far as England. He met these families, each from different countries who built unique houses reflecting their cultures. Grand mansions. One day a month they opened each house opened their house as a restaurant for the whole island. They had frequent earthquakes which they barely felt. Their foundations weren't rock, but diamonds! The island had them in abundance. The cavern they got the diamonds from had plenty, some the size of boulders! When the island blew up, they escaped on this platform giving the lift from a twenty balloons. Our main character one balloon and twenty on the platform. Twenty and one balloons. He'll love it!"

Sasha shook his head. "How did they get the houses built? Where did they get supplies? Where were the servants for their mansions..."

"Sasha, don't lose yourself in adult detail. No kid under ten would think about the logic of it. They'll just enjoy the story." I chuckled. "I have it on my bookcase in Morgan's Branch. I'll show you when we go there for the Fourth of July. I hate libraries because we have to give a good book back."

"Okay!" Tony smiled. "Any the roast left and great borscht and Olivier salad?"

Sasha smiled nodding. "I'll heat it up."

It was a couple of hours later when David came with arms outstretched in triumph. "I'm free!!" He nearly shouted putting his cases down and hugged Sasha and gave him a pretty intense, passionate kiss. David stopped resting on Sasha's cheek as they continued to hug. "Hi, guys."

"I'm glad you're home." Sasha kissed David again a couple of times. "Are you okay with roast, borscht and Olivier Salad again?"

"We're having borscht again!?" Alik said extremely pleased at the bottom of the stairs. "Hi, Daddy David!" He walked quickly to David getting his usual hug and kiss.

"Yes." Sasha nodded. "I would have put it in the freezer if anybody didn't eat it another day or two, it would start to go bad any longer."

We had a great night. Only it was Friday, but Alik went upstairs to begin his book. I smiled when he told David and Sasha what I'd told him, he wanted to read the book to find out.

"Thanks for giving him enough to motivate him." Sasha smiled.

"What do you say to picking out a Christmas Tree tomorrow?" Tony asked them happily.

"But we don't decorate until after St. Nicholas Day, even if it's your St. Nicholas Day, which is way too early." Sasha chuckled.

"If we waited for yours, Christmas Day is right behind it for us. St. Nicolas Day for you is the 19th, right?" Tony shook his head. "You'll be in New York then! Or do what you did for the last few years? Are telling Alik to wait!?" He nearly shouted.

Sasha and David chuckled. Sasha shook his head. "Oh, no."

"We get the tree, put it in the stand to get Alik, Mitch, and I excited about what's coming!" Tony said happily. "We love Christmas!"

David laughed and looked at us. "We love Christmas."

"Really?" Tony said grinning. "We'll see. We can take Alik to the Omni to see their great display, and trees, all the companies and organizations that have trees up and compete to have the best tree and begin the spark of the Christmas Season. Tomorrow, we get a tree!"

The afternoon came and it was dinner time we took my Bronco. My Bronco had the roof for the tree. Don't worry about scratching the paint. We had a cloth to put down on the roof under the tree. The tree won't scratch the paint.

Before we left, I saw David putting Alik's jacket on. "Where we go last, it will be cold. You have your gloves in your pockets?"

Alik nodded and pulled each a little to show him.

"Good!" David kissed him on the forehead and rose. "The forecast is to be minus two degrees." He glanced at me. "That's in Celsius..."

"I know that's twenty-eight in Fahrenheit." I nodded smiling. "Most, if not all Europe and other countries use it. Now, kilometers and were kind difficult at first, calculating to miles to miles to figure out how long travel would be...that was hard at first. Now, I just..." I shrugged, "know!"

Sasha came down looking for the missing person. "Where's Tony?"

"Tony's making a statement when he goes out anywhere. It's important to him. First, it was the jeans, which he thought was too casual where we were dining and for where we are going after that." I grinned. "You know he wants perfection for himself, and me when he feels like he can."

"Sorry," Tony said as he trotted over, "I was just..."

"Creating the perfect look for you." I chuckled. "And blue, that's not surprising." I waved at his light blue sweater, dark blue pants with a matching jacket the same color as the pants. "I will say you did it, but you were always perfect to me. Now, you look it!"

Tony blushed a little. "You are, too." He kissed me. "Thank you. Now let's find out if they can make real Italian food."

Alik got in the backseat between Sasha and David, looking around the Bronco. "Wow, this is a nice truck!"

"This is new Bubba and yes, it is." I nodded looking at Alik who was still looking at the interior. "Buckle up."

I watched Sasha lean to him to help, but waved off his help.

"Ya ponyal, pap." I've got it, Dad. Alik said.

"Konieczno, vy vsegda budete moim otzom... nay rastut slishkom bystro. Pozvol mne byt papoy izredka." I know you do. You're my big boy now. Just...don't grow up too quickly. Let me be Dad occasionally. Sasha said.

Alik smiled nodding. "Konieczno, vy vsegda budete moim otzom." Sure, you will always be my Dad. Alik hugged Sasha while they were buckled in, but they were side by side. No problem. Then he hugged David. "You, too, Daddy David!"

I drove to the restaurant. I smiled seeing three jacketed men standing near a tall desk and another man dressed as they were walked over to the other three. "See!?" I said to Tony. "Valets!"

Tony chuckled. "Which you'll have use."

I drove up to the men. Getting out I handed my keys to the man who handed me a ticket. I held onto the keys making the man look at me puzzled. "I don't need to tell, but Bubba means a lot to me. Park carefully, please?"

The young man, in his mid-twenties, smiled. "If I had the sweet ride, I tell the valets that, too. What year is she?"

"He's 1992." I laughed. "Do you see anything feminine on him? He's a man truck!" I said that last sentences gruffly and pounded my chest once.

He chuckled. "No, nothing feminine." He took the keys. "It's a classic! He looks brand new! Believe me, I will be careful with this beaut!"

"You guys know it will below be freezing tonight?" David asked the valets.

They laughed. Then one spoke up. "We're prepared. Long johns, insulated pants, shirt, sweaters, the insulated jackets, and gloves."

The man parking Bubba put the window down. "And all this moving about, we'll be warm."

Tony looked at his watch. "We need to go in."

We walked into the restaurant and it was no pizza joint. The place did have pictures of the Colosseum in Rome and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice but they were large paintings in frames. The place was elegantly decorated, red carpet, upholstered red chairs, and red tablecloths! The murmur of quiet conversation the clicks of silverware touching china was heard. Almost no one was in jeans, most of the diners wore dress-casual up to suits and nice dresses, it was a place you took someone special on a date! There were families, too, but no kids were running around making noise. The parents wouldn't allow that here. We saw people waiting for a table to open.

Tony walked through some to get to the dark-suited host. "Delveccio, a table for five."

The host nodded. "Of course, sir. Right this way." He made a mark on something on the desk and took five menus.

I could smell wonderful aromas. I even spotted a few from our complex. We sat at a table next to a couple that lived two floors below us. Manuel and his wife Stacy. He was handsome Latino in his mid-forties and Stacy an American blonde in her late thirties. Beautiful. They both smiled at us. "Hello, neighbors!"

"Hi, Manual, Stacy!" Tony greeted shaking his hand. He thumbed back at us. "I know you know who these guys are."

Stacy laughed. "We do! Sasha has helped a few times getting the groceries out of my car and the time I thought I carry three bags up and dropped two all over the elevator. He entered from home he rode down and helped me get in our condo!" She looked at Alik. "Alik is one happy boy, always smiling and cheerful..."

I saw the host remove a card that said: "Reserved for the party of Mister Delveccio."

"Enjoy your meal. This is delicious." Manuel said smiling. "You're a real Italian, tell me what you think."

"I will," Tony assured him as we sat down.

"You made reservations!?" I asked Tony. "It just opened up!"

"You know I hardly ever go anywhere with no reservation." Tony chuckled. "It's only now getting dark an earlier reservation before seven. After that, it is date night." He leaned to me kissing me. "I looked it over online to see it."

"You might have to help me with this menu." Sasha smiled at David, Tony and me. "I will try it in English, but I still won't understand what it is."

David smiled. "They speak fluent Italian, ask them! They speak all three languages used in the house!"

"He does it better." Tony nudged me.

A young man came up. "Your server is behind me. I'm Josh. I refill glasses and pass bread."

I waggled my eyebrows at Sasha. "That reminds me of somewhere...a certain cruise Tony and I took?" Sasha looked up and smirked at me. The waiters all wore dark pants and red vests and red tie. Josh stepped away. A man in his mid-thirties stepped up. "My name's Clark and I'll be your waiter tonight. Can start you with a drink or appetizer and what you want to eat?"

Tony grinned. "Se ordino in Italiano, vuoi capire?" If I order in Italian, would you understand?

Clark looked surprised. "I got only the Italian word when you said Italiano."

I hit Tony in the head lightly with the menu. "Tony lascialo in pace. Non tutti quelli che lavorano qui parlano italiano, probabilmente. Non essere antipatico." Tony leave him alone. Not everyone working here speaks Italian, probably. Don't be obnoxious. I growled slightly. "It's rude to speak a language in front of them when they don't understand."

Tony smiled putting his arm around me. "My husband was just reminding me of that." He hugged me with that one arm.

I glanced over and saw David's eyes widen as he read the menu. "Stop it, David."

David looked up. "What?"

"You're looking with those McKenzie's eyes." I shook my head. "Hell, you could afford to buy every meal for everyone here and yet to come tonight and still that won't make a dent in your account!"

David smiled as he nodded. "You're right."

I was going to get the Chef's Choice sirloin with melted horseradish cream, broken bacon pieces, Golabki for Tony made from the Chef's Choice also. Stuffed cabbage rolls with sirloin steak chopped up, rice, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Sasha was getting Sealed Dill Salmon and David the Pollo del Diavolo Pasta. Devil's Chicken. Alik wanted pizza, David showed him the pizza and calzones were. They weren't round pies, but oblong with different sizes for big families.

We ordered our drinks, appetizers, soups, salad. I insisted we get the calamari I loved and Tony was asked to order something we would love. He ordered these cheese puffs, not your bag of puffed Cheetos. They were hot and very cheesy.

"Have you got something to drink for this big son?" Sasha asked.

Clark smiled. "We do! If he doesn't like it, which no one hasn't, even adults like it." He chuckled. "Let me get this in and get those drinks."

We talked quietly until Manuel and Stacy rose from their table. "You can tell me your verdict about this place back where we live." He said to Tony. "Have a good night, gentlemen. My not having any Italian from my ancestors that I know of, I say what we ate was absolutely fabulous!" He shook hands with Tony.

Tony nodded. "I will!"

Clark came back with a tray of drinks. Beer for Sasha... not in a beer stein, they were in a tall glass that looked like crystal., sweet tea for David and I, Tony's predinner wine was in a shorter glass. Then he put the glass in front of Alik. I recognized it. The deep red color and the red cherry resting on the top of the drink. Alik looked at the drink.

"What is it?" Alik asked.

David smiled. "It's a drink named after a star that became a big movie star in the 1930s and in the 1940s who rose to stardom at five years old! She's still she's popular. Shirley Temple. She could sing and dance at five and made many movies for a decade or more and she's still alive. She elderly, but still alive."

Alik sipped some and smiled delighted. "This is good!"

Now Clark came with our appetizers, each of us got individual ramekins of sauce so we didn't double dip in one and a small fork was given to use with the appetizers.

"This is elegant," I said to Tony as he nodded smiling as he got some the cheese puffs and calamari, which wasn't tough, rubbery and overcooked like some places can do it sometimes. These were tender and crisp and absolutely delicious. Steam rose from both appetizers. Alik bit into a cheese puff and fanned his mouth to cool it off.

Nothing given to was just put on a plate. They had a good presentation. Placed attractively arranged, any sauce in ramekins. The whole restaurant said elegance. We were asked about desert. Not even Alik looked like he was interested. Clark handed Tony the bill. "You are a great restaurant here. We'll be back. Now, one thing might be needed."

"What's that, sir?" Clark asked puzzled.

"We might need help going to the car. I am stuffed." He looked at the rest. "Are you guys stuffed?" We all nodded.

Clark chuckled. "It's what we do. We will help you if needed." He took Tony's card and license which he read and handed back and went to pay the bill.

I knew Tony. I didn't even look. He handed back the receipt and Clark's eyes widened.

"I come to Italian restaurants often. I come with forty percent in mind. It can go up or down depending on how the service is." He got up. "You, my friend, earned much more. We will be back. I promise."

"Thank you, Mr. Delveccio!" Clark said happily. "We have an excellent lunch menu, too. Do come back!"

"You can count on it...and the name's Tony." He pointed at each of us. "Mitch, Sasha, Alik, and David."

We went to the coat room where he gave the ticket to the girl manning it. They didn't want coats to hang on the back of chairs. The girl nodded and went told us "just a sec." We put our coats on and went to the four valets we'd seen when we got there. I was pulling my ticket to the young man who parked my Bronco.

He shook his head. "I know where that sweet ride of yours is." He ran to get it taking my keys off the hook in that tall thing they put customers keys in.

We were on our way to our next stop.

David leaned forward and asked Tony. "If you will tell me, what did you tip Clark?"

"I paid for the meal twice." Tony simply shrugged.

"I saw the prices. How much was it?" David asked.

"Just over three hundred. I added with the total making it six hundred and fifty." Tony chuckled.

"What!?" Davis balked. "He was good, I admit it, but why?"

Tony turned more in the passenger seat. He smiled at David. "Do you think he'll forget us? And not be so pleased to see us? It's also an incentive to keep it going and do the best job. It's a win, win!"

"How does your money increase when you spend as you do?" David asked.

"I work," Tony chuckled. "I still earn a commission with those I do investing for. My own investments like those stocks split for you, split for Mitch and me."

"What about insider trading?" David asked.

"I never do that," Tony said seriously. "Insider trading is would be if I invest, based on insider information by given before made it goes public to make more profit. When it's public knowledge anyone can invest, even me. I don't do that for any client." Tony grinned again. "I buy the stocks early when I feel it will go up and get better profits. One I got at six. That split, split, and split again!"

"Oh, okay," David slid back in his seat.

We got to the Omni. All of downtown was decorated for Christmas. Lights lining the streets. Ribbons of red tied to lampposts with green garland giving all downtown a Christmas feeling.

"Why are we here?" Alik asked as we were getting out.

I handed my keys to the man that was one of the valets tonight. "You'll see." I looked at Tony. "See? More valets!"

Tony chuckled pulling me to him and squeezing me and left his arm around me.

Walking into the hotel lobby, Alik's mouth dropped open at what he saw and gasped. The giant Christmas tree in the center of the circular mosaic tile rose through the upstairs halfway through the second floor, but clearly seen up to the large star on top, the tree was decorated and sparkled. Lights I was sure, ornaments hung everywhere. Silver garland wrapped from bottom to top. There was green garland sparkling with tiny lights you couldn't see that looked to held by the red ribbons. It looked like a magical tree. There was the green garland that also spackled, the red ribbon seemed to hold it up. I, too, was feeling that swell feeling the holiday magic now.

"Ð'ау." Alik said almost reverently.

"You're right, it's wow." Sasha agreed also a little stunned.

"They even have a special station that has hot chocolate, hot apple cider and a special spiced hot tea they make once a year for Christmas." Tony pointed out to them.

We went and Alik's eyes widened again over to the left. He rushed over to the display set up. It was a little town all set up to celebrate Christmas with a miniature train and I mean tiny train, I forget what classification it was, everything matched to scale, making the town look bigger. Snow had fallen, the lake frozen and skaters were really moving in fancy moves of figure eights, spins, and just skating with that special one. Some holding hands or even alone. The snow coverage reflected in what was worn by the figures. The people were dressed in jackets, scarfs. The train stopped at the town's station. Then went around the town and went into a tunnel to go to the even tinier houses in the distance and came out another tunnel. The houses we could see were all decorated with lights and even a tiny Christmas tree and the large window in front. The people on the street were of course not moving, there were cars on the streets that didn't move one had a Christmas tree on the roof of the car. This was a Courier and Ives town moment somewhat frozen in time. It really added magic. Then a choral started singing "Christmas Bells" adding more magic. It was a fast song, diction was needed and they were good! Then Jingle Bells began.

"I'll say it," David said. "Wow."

"There's more," I said grinning.

"More?" Sasha asked.

"They've done it for many years before I was born and they improve it every year!" I said grinning. "It's a cultural event by everyone."

"The who, who are Jewish?" Sasha asked.

"And more!" Tony chuckled.

We got our hot drinks in cups that were sealed to prevent spilling. Even those paper cup covers to keep from burning our hands. We walked down the first floor where there a lot more trees arranged down the hall as people looked at admired what was there. We came upon one and both Alik and Sasha looked puzzled at the tree. There were a lot of seven candle thingies, each were the red on the left and green on the right and the single candle in the middle African masks, ornaments in different shades of brown that went from light brown to solid black.

"What's that?" Alik asked.

"It's a Kwanzaa tree," I said shrugging.

"But Kwanzaa isn't a holiday." David objected. "It's not even a religion!"

I turned to David. "But happens during the holidays." I smiled. "There is no Kwanzaa tree really." I pointed to the sign that told who put it up. The Charleston Kwanzaa Group. "You can't combine Kwanzaa and any religion. They'd have to have two separate trees."

"Huh," David grunted his understanding.

We moved on until we reached on elegantly decorated but had this old lady by the tree.

"Who's that?" Alik asked frowning.

Tony chuckled. "That...is the Italian Santa."

"But she's a lady!" Alik said the obvious reason she couldn't be Santa.

"No, she isn't Santa. She's Bafana." Tony nodded seeing Alik's confusion. "She comes to the home bringing gifts of the baby Jesus presents because she was too busy cleaning the house to go with the Wise Men when they first came to her. We have a version of Santa now, but she, St, Nicholas, and Santa all come, but she is Christmas. Delivering candy and gifts to the good children and coal, onions, and garlic to naughty children. It sounds like what Santa does. She was Santa before Santa arrived in Italy."

We saw a silver tree with a Star of David at the top that was silver and blue in a line going through the star. There were little Stars all over the tree, blue dradles, there were blue ornaments and little blue lights. It was a beautiful tree. Then Alik ran over to one smiling large.

Alik pointed at the big figure like Bafana had been, life-sized. "That's Ded Moroz!"

"Sure, Father Frost," Tony said. Father Frost, is the English words for Ded Moroz. Unlike our view of Santa, this man was much thinner and worn blue, he did wear red sometimes, but even his long coat looked very different than Santa's red suit. "I think you know these people," I said to Sasha pointed at the sign that told who did the tree. Written in large letters in English, below that it was written in Russian in smaller letters, but you could read it. There were several churches listed that were Eastern Orthodox and that one in Summerville that was Russian.

"You and Alik are definitely not the not the only Russians in town," I said smiling at them.

Then it was time to go. We got refills of our coffees and hot chocolate. Where we were going, we'd be outside a few minutes to an hour. We each had to agree on the tree.

We got to this tree lot. They boasted the finest quality trees in Charleston. (With prices to verify that.) We'd gotten several from here since we found them. Alik got out and again, his eyes widened knowing what happened here.

"But it's not time to decorate!" Alik said surprised but enjoyed the warm breath that made his breath visible and exhaled to make more.

"Ah, but when it happens on the eighth, we'll already when it is!" Tony said happily.

"With the tree up, we'll be inspired to decorate when the day comes!" I said brightly. "Then we can enjoy my favorites! Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch, and many others!"

Alik smiled at that.

"You already know it's Mitch and my favorite season!" Tony said.

Sasha and David laughed, then leaned over and smiled at his son. "Now, I am going to be Daddy." He chuckled. "Put your gloves on and this." He pulled a thick red cap with a thick white border that would keep his ears warm. He slid the cap on to cover the ears.

"I'm warm now," Alik said.

"Now. When your ears get cold, it will hurt when I thump your ear if you don't." Sasha told him. "Obey your Dad." He said smiling.

"It's cold! Let's do this!" Tony said loud making Alik smile again.

A man in his late forties or early fifties, his thick fur-lined hat hid his dark and greying hair. He approached smiling holding his hand out to shake hands. "Delveccio, right?"

"We are, Kyle! It's Tony, remember?" Tony nodded shaking his hand. "We need another of those ten-foot trees."

"We have them," Kyle said smiling and walked us in further.

He showed us two, but Tony rejected them both.

"What was wrong with that tree?" David asked pointing as Kyle went to get another one. "It was fine!"

"Fine." Tony nodded with a frown. "Trees have a personality. The right one will speak to me saying, I'm your tree!!" He spread his arm to indicate the other trees.

Sasha leaned forward, smiled at me saying to me. "I know they have excellent medicine here. Can't he take something...even analysis?" He chuckled.

"He won't go," I said, then is a gruff voice I said. "I wouldn't let him go!" I put my arms around Tony and put his around me smiling. "I love Tony, especially this Tony now!" Tony chuckled at me.

Kyle came back with another tree. I swear, I almost heard the angelic chorus singing that long "aah" when something miraculous happened for Tony, and me, as well. No gaps or spaces, but a full tree with no occasional upper branch sticking out from the others.

"Tell me you don't hear the call from him saying, I'm your tree!" Tony waved at the tree.

"I sure do!" Alik spoke up quickly. "We're getting that one!"

"Tony grinned and shrugged. "Majority rules." He went for his wallet.

"No," Sasha said chuckling. "We'll get this."

"You can afford it," I said to them.

David grinned and handed his Platinum Express Card and license to the man. "How much is it?" He leaned next to me. "For the tip."

"Three hundred dollars," Kyle said.

That McKenzie training kicked in, I saw him push it down again and quickly said. "Run it for six hundred." He said like that because I knew, if he thought about it more, that training would surface again.

Kyle smiled. "Thank you..." he read the card and license, "Mr. McKenzie?" He asked a little surprised and looked at us. "You two are related, I noticed the resemblance when you got here. Pretty closely related, too."

I nodded. "Yes, we are!" I gave David a squeeze shaking him lightly. "Just breath." I smiled at David. "Or should Sasha use his?"

"His, mine, it's the same damned account!" David said exasperated.

I chuckled and waved at Kyle returned smiling. "It's too late now, Cuz."

Tony and Sasha went to put the cloth on the roof spreading it evenly.

Kyle smiled. "The same way as last year?"

"Absolutely." I nodded. He went to get the tree ready for transport.

"You're taking the tree on your Bronco!?" Alik asked me in disbelief. "That's a big tree!"

I chuckled patting him on the shoulder. "I did last year and the year before and before..."

It took a few minutes for Kyle to wrap the tree in. The man came back. "Oh, I remember what you want." He handed me the tree and raced off to get the needed items. Then trotted back with two seven or eight foot four by fours he used when bringing the trees in place and from tipping over. Damage with these trees would cost him. He didn't stack them on top of the other trees. He would transport them in two big cargo trucks standing the trees up and supported by these boards. This extra care allowed him to charge more. David and I helped him put the boards on the almost parallel close in front, just over the roof on the front passenger side but increase the space between them over the tail end on the passenger side behind my seat and extended four or five from the back of Bubba. The tree was placed gently and the happy man with us quickly strapped it securely and secured the lower part with a long stretchy belt that hooked on that curvy part above the tires. Not so strong it would hurt Bubba. He did again on the other side of that curvy part. Then over the rear of the window on Tony's and my on opposite sides and again on the front side. He bound the rest hanging over the back and securing the tree in place to help me see out the back window and causing the tree to bend or even break. He stapled two of those red strips warning other drivers we were hauling.

"Let's get our tree home," Tony said happily going to the passenger side as did Sasha to get in as David was about to help Alik in when this strange man with long stringy, unwashed hair came from behind Bubba, pushed David into me and pulled Alik to him and putting a knife to Alik's neck threateningly.

"Your money. Give it to me!" He said quickly.

My old instincts kicked in. I quickly bent his wrist with the knife away from Alik. I didn't use anything "nonviolent" with him. I used the pinch between his thumb and forefinger making him drop the knife. I did the kick to his right leg hearing the crack from his knee. His wrist still held. I used the heel of my hand to hit his nose. This time I felt break of his nose and heard the crack as he dropped to the ground which I held him in place as he nursed his broken nose and broken knee.

David pulled Alik to him as Sasha and Tony came around quickly.

"Shit, Mitch!" David said with wide eyes on me. "That was...incredible!"

Sasha hugged me quickly and went to Alik and David, hugging them both with Alik between them.

Tony had his phone and was calling 911.

"I know what you're jonesing for, your affect tells me what." I leaned closer, but he smelled so foul. I shouted. "How you can threaten a child...how dare you? He was getting excited about this time, but your need trumps all else. Well, you're going to jail, you can deal with your withdrawal in custody! They will send you to mandatory rehab!"

The sirens were heard getting louder as police got closer. Kyle came back quickly. "You guys okay?"

"Yes." David smiled at me. "With this he-man ex-cop, no problem. He scared Alik, but he's unhurt."

Kyle looked at the man. "Oh, him." He looked at me. "You did this? Remind me not to piss him off." He told Tony.

"You broke my leg and nose." The man groaned.

"Want me to break an elbow like your knee?" I growled. "I certainly can." The police pulled to a quick stop and got out, but not reaching for the holsters. Both police walked over.

"Tell us what happened." The policeman said.

"This perp assaulted us demanding money using a knife on Alik here to coerce our compliance. The knife is right there with only his prints." I looked around. "I don't suppose there are cameras watching this area."

"No." The cop driver in his late thirties and his partner who looked to be in his late twenties nodded smiling.

"You're a cop?" The partner asked smiling.

I stuck my hip out a little. "Until a perp shot me making me get a prosthetic ball and socket in my hip."

"Ouch." The first one said as his partner winced.

"But still can kick ass." The partner said.

"He broke my leg and nose!" The man on the groaned moaned.

"Cuff him." The first was a Sargent to his partner who wore only one strip, so a corporal.

"He really stinks. Put him somewhere well vented," I laughed. "I feel the need for a shower with my limited contact."

The corporal bent over to turn the man over and turned his head. "Peee...uw! Now, I need a shower." He pulled the man up and took him limping on his right leg. "I may have to burn this uniform. How long since your last shower, buddy? A month? October or September?"

The Sargent smiled his partner. "Put him back and let the window down a little in back and the front windows down. I'll get begin gathering statements." He smiled as I gave distance from the others.

"Where are you going?" Tony asked loud to be heard.

"Giving a statement!" I shouted back. "It's procedure!"

The Sargent nodded and brought up a clipboard he got from their squad car. He was a lefty but thought to the right side of his brain to write. His hand position told me that. He asked my full name, which was verified with my license and asked what, which I told him in detail. The Sargent smiled. "Nice to take a statement who understands the procedure." He walked back to the others as the corporal was taking a statement from David away from the others. He did the "come here" gesture to Tony which he did.

I walked over to Sasha who holding Alik who had been more startled than scared. It happened so fast he didn't register what happened. "I hope that man didn't ruin your Christmas feelings."

Alik looked at me smiling at me. "That was so COOL!" He said in perfect English. "You were like Alexi Morozov, the super-agent that really kicks ass!"

Sasha raised his eyebrows and looked down on his son. "Alik!" He said surprised.

"It's all of our faults. He hears all of us use that kind of language, he was bound to pick it up." I smiled and shrugged.

"Yes, with us...occasionally." He said to Alik smiling at him. "Two of the guys back in the restaurant would use bad language in every other sentence, if not every sentence!"

David chuckled as he came over with the corporal.

The corporal pointed at Sasha smiling. "You're next, big man!"

Sasha went with him kissed Alik on his forehead. Alik's cap came to just above his eyebrows.

"But you still feel the Christmas Spirit?" I asked. "Your Dad, Daddy David, Tony, and I won't let anything to harm you."

"Yes, I feel it." Alik waved that off.

"He didn't scare you?" David asked.

"He did, like when someone jumps out saying boo." He chuckled. "It takes more than someone stinky there to scare me. I only saw him after you put him on the ground, Uncle Mitch...you were just as tough as Alexi Morozov! The agent that no one can deny what he needs to do. He kicks..." then he paused and smiled, "butt, takes names and always wins in the end." He began throwing his fists straight out rapidly to show us.

The Sargent came over and pointed to Kyle. "Did you see what happen?"

"Not really," Kyle shook his head. "I saw they were still here, I came back thinking a strap had pulled loose. By the time I got here," he pointed at the car." He took his license out and gave it to the Sargent. "Here's my name and address. I'll give my number, but I'm here for another two and a half weeks. Or until my inventory runs out." He thumbed over his shoulder. "I have plenty of trees so I'll be here that two and a half weeks." He chuckled and pointed to the squad car. "We've this guy a lot since we came down the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He panhandles. He has the little cardboard sign that says help me. He also tells people he just wants to go home. No one wants to get close to him."

"Thank you, Mr. Walters." The Sargent wrote. "Actually, we've seen him with his sign in several parts of the city as we would patrol the areas, but your additional testimonial will help." He glanced at his partner who was finishing with Sasha. He looked at a Cadillac Escalade pulled in. "Another customer. Again, thank you, Mr. Walters."

Kyle shrugged, "I want to keep them as loyal customers." He pointed to us. "You come back."

"Absolutely," Tony swore as Kyle returned to his forest of trees. He turned a hugged me, but I kissed him, not quickly but a little deeper.

"They're trained to be observant, Tony." I placed my left hand next to his. "Our matching wedding rings." I hugged and kissed him quickly.

Tony chuckled. "Okay, now explain the procedure with taking us apart to question us."

"To keep us from influencing the other. They look for individual testimonies. Compare them to see different observations. Too different and inconsistencies raise flags. The same wording by all raises the flags, too, meaning it was rehearsed. Or conspiracies and all that."

Tony chuckled. "I've seen you in action once before." He put his mouth near my ear and said quietly. "You good. It's a shame you couldn't stay in. You are a real badass cop and ex-cop."

Sasha and the corporal came back.

"Mind if I speak briefly to your son?" The Sargent asked Sasha. "I'll do it right here, you, as his father needs to be here."

"Sure." As he stood next to David, Alik right up next to them both.

The Sargent stooped a little and first asked his name and age. When Alik answered, the Sargent's eyes widened in surprised saying he thought Alik was approaching nine! He asked if Alik was frightened or scared. Alik said it was exciting. How his Uncle Mitch was like Alexi Morozov, the super-agent he loved kicking Mr. Stinky's butt. "It was exciting!" He said excited, which we all heard. The Sargent laughed looking at Sasha. "I see where he gets the height from." He assured us. "This is really an open and shut case. We have your names and numbers. We'll take care of him now. We'll hose him down with some very strong soap. Enjoy your evening." They got back in the car. Sasha opened the door getting Alik in first and went around to get in. David got in next then Tony and me.

David leaned forward. "I didn't even catch their names! I want to send them a thank you note."

I chuckled. "Sargent Bernstein and Corporal Cooper. I even have their badge numbers in here." I tapped my head.

"What else did you observe?" Tony asked grinning.

"Well, Sargent Bernstein is married," I said and explained. "Sargent Bernstein removed his glove from his left hand to write. I saw his left finger had a wedding ring. Corporal Cooper was right-handed, so I didn't see. So, I don't know." I started Bubba.

"Damn," David said quietly. "You could be a private investigator now."

I shook my head. "No, I loved the hotel business." I took Tony's hand. "I really love my hunky Italian husband. I don't want to be shot again or leaving Tony." I kissed Tony quickly. "Police have a tough, often thankless job. I don't want to be one now."

"Let's get this bad boy home," Tony said happily.

"See? One moment it's a puppy and now a bad boy?" Sasha groused.

"When you taught me to cuss in Russian, you had many words for a certain word." I smiled at Sasha.

Sasha looked at Alik. "I had to! How would he know what it is when someone called him the words?" He asked Alik.

"Wow! My Christmas Tea from the Omni is still warm!" David said surprised.

"Insolated cups and holders. Everyone buckled up?" I said, glanced behind me at the one I knew had not.

Alik looked down. "Sorry, Uncle Mitch." He put his seatbelt on.

"Let's go home." I put Bubba in first gear and was off.

It wasn't too long when I drove into our garage. We used that cart to bring stuff up, be it groceries, luggage or even our ten-foot Christmas tree. The cloth, too to be laundered. Getting it up we took the freight elevator where movers brought several appliances. Even a concert grand piano! We put the four by fours in the bin that fit. Every resident in this building put their garbage in it. Even with two garbage days in the week. Tuesday's and Friday's, it got pretty full. And no smelly city or county truck. We had our own! A special hauler took the bin outside where our garbage's own special garbage truck took it up and dumped it in with all the other buildings garbage. We had a recycling bin which was a little smaller. Not everyone here recycled. We did. We got the tree upstairs leaving it outside by our door to get the tree stand on. Sasha cleaned off the cart and David took it downstairs. Sasha smiled pointed at the front door. "You need to get in the house. It's cold outside." He told Alik.

"I want to help," Alik complained.

"You will if you want to," Tony said. "We bring it in, we take the ropes off, you can help get the rope to throw them in the garbage. That will be a great help."

Sasha opened the door and pushed Alik in. "I'll even make you another hot chocolate." He watched as Alik walked in. "And take your cap, gloves, and jacket off."

David returned and we got the stand we were using wide enough to keep the tree upright attached it to the truck on the bottom and the four of us carried in the house making sure to bring the wide stand slightly at angle avoiding any collision with the wall. Alik looked where we were going between the couch and the TV. He slid the coffee table away on the rug it was on.

We got it in the place away from the fireplace in front our balcony windows. Clipped the ropes hold it together tossing them to the side, which Alik picked them up. We did still have on gloves to raise it in place. Then our Russian Mr. Clean said he would be right back taking a broom and dustpan and cordless vacuum to catch those dust bunnies under things like a bed against the wall where they like to hide the dark there. Not in Sasha's house!!

Alik frowned. "It's doesn't look like the one we wanted." He moaned. "It's not the same tree."

Tony glanced at Alik. "He is! He was just traumatized with the ride on top of Bubba." He held up a finger. "Now we add the Delveccio's Magic Potion." Alik's eyebrow rose.

"I'm going to be eight, Uncle Tony." Alik said saying he wasn't gullible.

"Doubt me!?" Tony grinned. "You can watch me make it." He walked toward the counter but stopped him from getting too close. "Stand there. If I don't do it right, I can hurt you."

Alik looked surprised. "How?" He was about to come closer, but Tony stopped him with a raised finger of warning.

"Because, if I don't do it right, I make a gas that could make you sick." Tony smiled and got our two-gallon water pitcher and got what he needed. Filled the pitcher a less than halfway up and poured a little vinegar and lemon juice in the water. He took the pitcher and dumped it in the large bowl the tree stood in. "I'm not done if I added the next ingredient at the wrong time you may get lightheaded or dizzy. You know those words?"

Alik nodded quickly. "Sure. The school nurses asks everyone that falls especially if we hurt our heads."

"That's good," Tony smiled. "I have to say; your English is so good now! I'm very impressed!" He filled the pitcher so it would complete the gallon of water. Then he put enough he poured a little from a bottle of Clorox, didn't measure, he did it so often, he knew. He took a full bottle of corn syrup and poured the whole bottle in. He went to the cabinet and pulled a can of Sprite and poured that in and then stirred in together. "If I'd added the Clorox with the vinegar and lemon juice then there would be that toxic gas." They walked back when Sasha came back in.

"Okay," Sasha said. "Unless absolutely necessary, I am not going out there again tonight!" He took his jacket off and thumbed to the fireplace. "Fire anyone?"

"Of course." Tony smiled.

"Uncle Tony made a potion for the tree!" Alik said happily.

"Don't tell Uncle Tony, we have one very similar..." he looked at Tony, "in Russia!" He said loud.

Tony shrugged not bothered at all. "Great minds think alike." Tony poured the new pitcher in the water. "No dizziness?" He asked Alik who shook his head. "Whew!" He hugged Alik. "I did it right!" He looked with pride in our tree. "By tomorrow night or Monday morning, he'll recover and he will be the tree we saw!"

I walked to Tony and whispered. "That was a little dramatic."

"You saw his face," Tony smiled. "He loved it. He's had an exciting day!"

"All this excitement may make it hard for him to sleep," I said.

"We can help with that." David looked at his watch. "He gets a later bedtime on Friday and Saturday. We have time."

"I'll get the hot chocolate after I start the fire," Sasha looked at us. "How about joining David and me with a cup of Chamomile Tea?" He jutted quickly his eyes at Alik and looked pleading.

I loved Sasha trying to do. "Sure!" I said positively. Great minds did think alike.

"Alik," David said to Alik who was walking slowly around the tree, "you're a big boy now. Why not some adult drink instead? It's really good."

"Really?" Alik asked. "Dad let some his beer once, I didn't like that." He frowned. "I remember that."

"No," David chuckled. "Nothing like that." He gave a scrunched-up face to Alik and shook his head. "What was it you said about it, Mitch?"

I grinned, "That it smelled like horse piss and though I've never drunk horse piss, I think it's the same." Alik laughed quietly.

"This tea's sweet, delicious and warm," David said. "Would I lie?"

"No!!" Alik he bounced a little. "I'll try it!"

Sasha mouthed a thank you.

The fireplace had wood waiting. We never used those gas powered lighter. Our fireplace can use gas alone or provide fire to get a wood fire going more quickly. We loved that crackle and smell of a wood fire.

Sasha went to make the tea. I went with Sasha with a tsk, tsk shaking my head. "Drugging your son. For shame."

"Alik is a calm boy," Sasha said logically. "I watch his sugar intake, he's not hyperactive. With the excitement of the day, it will take a while for him to relax enough to go to sleep. I'm helping him do it faster and gently."

"You are a very good father, Sasha."

"I love him. I do it naturally." He got our big teapot out and filled it for four sizable and one regular mug of tea. Put the bags in and stood with his back to the fire sticking his backside closer and hands behind him. "Some things are still cold. This helps." He looked at Alik. "Other than being exciting, did you have a good day?"

"It was fun. I loved everything from our great dinner, the Omni, and getting the tree!" Alik smiled. "I had a great day." I could see he would have a hard time going to sleep.

The tea kettle whistled. Sasha poured the tea. He waved at our mugs. "There's honey, cinnamon sticks, lemon...you know what you like." He was working on Alik's mug adding a little sugar, honey, a cinnamon stick, and a little cream. "He takes after me a lot, it's how I like it!" He smirked at us.

We all made our teas and took the teas in the room and dimmed the lights. The windows let the night in a dark sky with that triangle of the tree casting a darker triangle on the sky. I turned on our sound system and turned to a soft station that was playing easy Christmas music. Yes, I was furthering the relaxation mood.

"I think you need to relax." Sasha smiled as we sat on the sofa that was long enough, he didn't crowd us. He patted the space between himself and me. "Drink this. You had a busy day." He handed Alik his mug. "This mug had silicon around the whole mug, but it is hot. Don't burn yourself." He got up and went to the kitchen and came back with an ice cube and dropped it in. "This will help, but don't stir it." It took about fifteen minutes, Alik began yawning. Fifteen minutes more and he was asleep against Sasha.

"What you both did today," Sasha whispered to Tony and me, "you didn't like being thanked at first, but I have to. You gave a day he will remember all his life! A good memory was made tonight. What you did, Mitch, thank you, thank you." He rose carefully, picking Alik up. "I'll clean that up in the morning. That tea is working on me." He smiled.

It was on us, too. We never left dirty dishes in the sink. We wash them or put them in the dishwasher. I took Tony's hand as we went to our room. "I love you, Tony," I said with a feeling I never had.

"I know. I love you." He looked puzzled a first. Married people can read the minds of each other. "Oh, thank God. I don't have the energy either."