Saturday Dec 31 2018

New Years Eve, Bobbie and Florence agreed to take a break from party preparations and go to Eddy’s place to look after the grand kids. Charlie was bringing Niko and little Suzy and then the boys and Jen and June were all going out for New Year’s Eve. Eddy’s home was busy. All the children were excited to see each other and to see Bobbie and Florence. Their parents apologized as they headed out the door. Bobbie knew the relief they must feel, no little tykes complaining about socks or losing boots and mitts and dallying while you were trying to leave. Bobbie remembered one afternoon when a young Eddy and little Charlie had dragged their feet so much that she growled at them, “We are going out so YOU can play with friends, if you don’t straighten up we won’t go!” Eddy says it to his own kids now.

Bobbie made mini pizza crusts and prepared all the fixings at home so they unpacked their containers and each kid assembled their own pie. The little ones needed help but everyone got what they wanted.

Bobbie was thankful they had a double oven. Grampa Orlov made sure that Eddy and Charlie got their education and she and Alex had helped with the down payment for houses. Eddy had a beautiful home. Florence was going to sleep in their spare room and Bobbie set up a cot in the den.

They ate pizza and Christmas candy and streamed a rented move, as a treat and everyone looked pretty sleepy. Bobbie knew it was past their bedtime so she left the twins who were still lively but took Niko, Laura and little Suzi up to bed.

She came down and Florence was giving hot chocolate to the twins. She pushed a mug towards Bobbie, saying with a wink, “Our hot chocolate is special.”

Bobbie laughed.“Thanks, I need that.”

Clay and Walt Jr hung on until midnight when they all went outside and snuggled up in lawn chairs with sleeping bags. At midnight they heard voices from houses around them yelling, “Happy New Year!”, so they yelled it too. Then they settled down and watched the city’s New Year’s fireworks display off Eddy’s back deck.

Towards the end of the display, Clay who was sitting with Bobbie looked up at her and said, “This is great, I’ll never forget this night!”

New Year’s Day 2019

The next morning Bobbie and Florence both landed in the kitchen at the same time.

“Oh good, you’re up.”

“It’s no surprise mom, I got up at 5:45 every morning for 27 years when I worked.” It drove her mother crazy when she slept in as a teen and she just couldn’t forget it. “You leave a note and I’ll pack up and warm the car. Come out when your done, we’ve got a big day.”

“Great and we can pick up coffee on the way home.”

Bobbie smiled “I put some on for Eddie and Jen but we’re early birds and it’s not yet ready for us.” And waved her travel mug around.

They got home by 9, still sipping their fair trade coffee and saw that the caterers were already there. All that Bobbie and Florence had to do was assemble the fish chowder. They made and froze 2 big batches that were now in Mom’s old unheated office, almost thawed. It took 2 trips to bring them in and then a third to bring in the case of canned milk. The caterers had 2 large steam trays and a big pot so they were good to go. Not leaving anything to chance, Bobbie left printed instructions.

Around 11am, Bobbie answered the phone and it was for Florence. “Hello, this is Bobbie, her daughter. Can I take a message?”

“Hi Bobbie, Greg Thurston here. I’m calling for myself and my mother to confirm that you are still having a get together at your house this evening.”

“We are, you can come anytime after 3”.

“Thanks Bobbie. Mom and I will probably drop by, we’ll see you then,” and he hung up.

Bobbie sat back on the couch remembering her giant crush on Greg Thurston when she was in first year at Crow Harbour U. She remembered back to the first dance, the only time he ever tried to talk to her, when she panicked and ran into the bathroom and stayed there the rest of the night. She felt her face getting pink just at the memory. I hope he doesn’t remember that, she thought.

When Bobbie gave Florence the message, Florence said “Dina Thurston used to be Admiral of the Yacht Club as well as being the Former Chancellor of the university. She usually goes to the Levee at the Yacht club on New Year’s Day.”

“So I guess her coming to our party is a big deal.”

Bobbie’s phone rang and it was Barb, “Hi Bobbie, Jeremy took a turn for the worse last night and we moved him into palliative care. I know there’s not much I can do but I’m not sure if I should come to the party?”

“Oh Barb! Do what you need to do,” said Bobbie. Jeremy was sick but he seemed so healthy recently. “I’m sorry Jeremy is not doing well. About the party guests, a little bird told me that Greg Thurston was bringing his Mum.”

Barb remembered Greg Thurston. Bobbie was so easy to tease back then. Right then she decided to come to the party. “So can I bring anything?” replied Barb. She could tell Jeremy the whole story tomorrow and It would cheer them both up.

“Just bring your sweet self.”

She heard a text arrive and saw that Trixie was on her way from Cid City too.

This was going to be a great party!