It was around 2:30 when Bobbie headed down the stairs. She caught her breath when she took in how magical the main floor looked. The caterers were in the kitchen and the place looked like a holiday café, with their comfy couches and chairs rearranged around small tables set with small winter centrepieces and a million Fairy lights. The dining room table was gone and the chairs were rearranged. There were three skinny banquet tables (one on each of the three walls in the dining room) two would be for food and one would be for desserts and coffee. The bar was set up on another wall in the living room. Johnny and his Aunt were already there and he had found a spot for a couple of stools beside the Christmas tree and an outlet for his guitar amp. His girlfriend Mitch was there too and she had a boy with her that looked to be around 12 years old.

Bobbie grabbed a treat bag and walked over to Mitch and her boy Sidney.

“Hi Mitch, Johnny has told me all about you, I’m so pleased to meet you and glad you could come.”

“I feel a little funny coming with no invite but I’m glad to meet you too.”

“No problem, you are more than welcome. Do you think Sidney would like a little treat bag?”

Sidney beamed, “Thank you!” and sat at a table an began playing with the small toys and eating the candy from the bag.

More people began to arrive and Bobbie was actually enjoying herself. Around 5 o’clock the chowder was served and Johnny stepped up to the mic. “I’d like to thank Bobbie and her Dr. Mum, they helped me sort out some health issues and I’ve never felt so good. So I have an announcement to make. I’ve asked my lovely girlfriend Michelle (Mitch) Purdy to be my wife and I’ve sold my apartment and business lock stock and barrel and my aunt Linda has agreed we can move in with her.”

Bobbie hung back while everyone congratulated them but in the end rushed over and told them how happy she was for them, even though she had her reservations at how fast these changes were happening and wondered about Johnny being a father.

That was about the time the Thurstons arrived. Dr. Thurston sat at a table and Greg ran around serving her as people cycled through the spare chair at her table talking to her. Around 7PM she leaned toward Bobbie and motioned her over. “I’m sorry to bother you dear,” she said quietly, “but could I trouble you for an escort to a private restroom?”

Bobbie took her arm, leading her up the 3 stairs to the bathroom off the den. Greg must have seen them go up because he was close behind. “Mum felt bad all Christmas but really she wanted to come tonight because she really likes your parents and you’ve lost a lot–we’ll probably leave now, I’ll go get our coats so we can be discreet.”

Right after he stepped away she heard a thump and a groan. Bobby hesitated then stepped into the bathroom where Dr. Thurston was slumped over on the toilet. There was a lot of blood, mostly from the cut on her forehead. Bobbie snapped into her emergency mode, grabbed a hand towel and soaked it in cool water. She calmly walked over and helped Dr. Thurston sit up and revived her with the cool towel. I’m so sorry, I believe you’ve hit your head Dr. T.”

She looked at Bobbie, straining to speak. At that moment Bobbie turned and saw a horrified Greg standing in the door.

“Hi Greg. Go get my mother and tell her to bring the first Aid Kit and call 911. I think your Mom has had a stroke.”

Greg turned around and as he walked away he said. “It’s not her first.” Bobbie managed to get Dr. Thurston put together and sitting on a couch in the den with a new clean cool facecloth by the time Florence arrived with a bandages for the head wound and immediately took over.

Bobbie and Greg stood together wringing their hands. Greg reached over and took her hand. Bobbie almost fainted and this is when Barb arrived. She took a beat but she read the room and guided Bobbie and Greg over to the other couch and sat them down. Greg still had Bobbie’s hand. The paramedics arrived (with no sirens) and Dr. Thurston was carried out with no fuss.

Greg released Bobbie’s hand and dropped his keys into it. “Can you take my car and follow us to the hospital?” And without waiting for a reply, he left.

A few minutes later Bobbie was outside in the cold, resentfully clicking his key fob around their neighbourhood trying to find his car. It was fancy car, more than she was used to driving, but she managed to get it to the hospital and made her way to emergency.

She was ushered though where she could see Greg alone in a waiting room. He looked relieved when he saw her and she was confused for a moment but realized his brother Keith and his wife Vanessa were behind her. Greg rushed over and hugged Keith, who used a cane. He sat in a chair while Vanessa sat beside him and Greg began whispering to them.

Bobbie waited around awkwardly not wanting to interrupt and finally handed him his keys and said, “Well I guess I’ll be going then.”

Greg said, “Nonsense, wait a moment and I’ll take you home. I can’t thank you enough. At least Mom went out at a good party.”

So Dr. Thurston was dead, realized Bobbie. That was so awful. Her head began to spin as her mind went back to Alex.

They didn’t talk as they walked out to the car. And the drive was silent as well. When they pulled up to Bobbie’s front door they could hear music inside. “I’m so sorry about your Mum and thanks for the drive. I don’t suppose you’d like to come in for a nightcap?”

Greg laughed wryly and said, “I’d love to but I’m afraid if I had one I’d never stop. I call you about the funeral this week. I know Mom would have wanted you and your mom there. I’m glad we can pick up where we left off in college.” Then he hugged her. She gave her condolences again and went into the house.

Bobbie walked slowly up the stairs. “What did he mean by where we left off in college. What I remember is hiding in a bathroom until the dance was over and never talking to him.” When she opened the door it was nearing 10 PM and the crowd had thinned out, but she saw Barb and Trixie were waiting expectantly.

Oh my God, I’m so glad to be back! It turns out Dr T. had a stroke and died. What a weird night! I’ve got to tell my mom, where is she?”

“Wow Bobbie that’s terrible! Your mom went to bed already.”

Bobbie ran upstairs and knocked on her mom’s door.

“You’re back, how’s Dina?”

“Oh God Mom, she’s gone, they couldn’t save her.”

“My heavens, Dina told me she was feeling poorly. I didn’t expect her to come. I guess she did have a chance to say good bye to everyone. You’ve had a rough night dear you should go back down and try to enjoy the party. Good night.”

She guessed her mom wanted to be alone. It must be so sad when you are at the age when your friends can die so suddenly. She went back down to the party and her sons were back.

“So you’re back. I guess you convinced Jen and June to let you come.”

“Yes, they are all safe at home. I could use a drink!”

Mitch took her son home and Johnny was in fine form and they all drank and sang until well past midnight. Before they left, Johnny approached her and said, “Mitch saw a pink dress in some thrift store and really wanted it for the wedding. I couldn’t believe our luck when the owner said you bought it. Can Mitch borrow it?”

“Sure thing,” said Bobbie smiling. She wondered if she still had feelings for Johnny because thinking about loaning his future bride her dress was bugging her.

Barb and Trixie crashed up in Bobbie’s old room and Eddy and Charlie made it up to Jamie’s old room. Jamie and Jarrod got the spare room where Bobbie had been sleeping. Johnny staggered home. Then Bobbie made up the fold away cot in the den and went to bed alone. “I have the people I love most in the world under my roof, how can I be so lonely?” she wondered.

Bobbie only slept a few hours and had to get up to get some water and aspirin. There was a soft knock at the bathroom door. It was Barb, and wordlessly Bobby handed her the aspirin. Barb blinked and turned, clutching the bottle. Bobby had to laugh. She went back to her cot and waited for the headache to go away. It didn’t . Resignedly, she got up and got dressed. She brushed her teeth and headed to the kitchen. She needed hydration and coffee and suspected her house guests did too. There were left over biscuits and Bobbie had one, realizing she was quite hungry.

Jamie came down and muttered, “Coffee.” He sat down clutching his mug. “That was a banging party Sis. You had the grim reaper and cherubs of love and everything!”

“Aww thanks Jamie but the chowder was good too. The biscuits were almost as good as Grandma’s .”

“Dad would have liked that party, Bobbie, even with all the pathos.”

“Alex would have liked it too.”