Family Ties

Chapter 14


"Leslie, wake up," BJ urged gently shaking her from side to side.

"Hmmm....." Leslie moaned fluttering her eyelashes. "It's time for lunch. Do you want anything?"

"Oh, no, I just want to sleep."

BJ lifted an eyebrow. "It's one in the afternoon, don't you think you've been sleeping enough?"

The fourteen-year-old stared in the opposite direction. "I'm still tired."

"Well, sleep if you want to, I guess. You will get up before I have to leave in a few hours, won't you?"

She yawned. "Okay."

*********


"Where's Leslie?" Aaron asked his sister as he set the table.

"She wanted to sleep."

Nick set down the spaghetti slowly. "You know, maybe Mom was right. Maybe Les does need to see a doctor."

BJ tossed the bread slices into a bowl. "Well, considering she falls asleep every three hours, it's not a bad idea."

"You two didn't act like that when you were her age," their mother commented turning her attention to her two eldest.

Angel poured the iced tea. "Well, she had mood changes at the cabin- that's normal."

"She wasn't the only one," Nick replied giving her 'the look'.

BJ sat down. "Well, the same thing has happened to me and I can't say that I blame her. Besides, if I was stuck in a cabin with you, I would be quite moody, too," his sister laughed in Angel's defense.

Mr.Carter entered carrying a small radio. "I thought we might want to listen to some music."

"Cool," Aaron stated flipping the switch.

The dj came for the airwaves. "Now, we have Donny Osmond with 'Angels We Have Heard On High.'

"Donny Osmond?" Nick repeated. "Yo, Aaron, change the channel!"

Aaron agreed changing the dial. "That was Barbara Mandrell, ladies and gentlemen. Next, for your listening pleasure, the sounds of Marie Osmond."

"Argh!" Nick groaned making his way to the machine. He began playing with the knob vigouriously. He paused. "Christmas Time, Time to share our love...." "Finally!" Nick shouted in happiness.

Mrs.Carter sat down. "Sweetie, I thought you hated listening to yourself on the radio."

"Well, I'll listen to this over any Osmond."

His father pulled out the silverware. "Do you hate the Osmond Family or something?"

Nick flashed Aaron a mischievious grin. "Something like that, Dad."

*******


"Now, BJ, you're positive you'll be warm enough?"

"Mom, I'm walking straight to the car, then straight to the plane. I won't get that cold. And we don't exactly live in a state known for the cold," her daughter laughed giving her a hug.

Mrs.Carter stroked the teen's rosy cheek. "Okay, now, your Uncle Steve will pick you up once you're in New York and you'll spend Christmas Day with his family, right?"

"Yes, Mom, everything is fine. Besides, you send Nick away all the time and never give him these lectures."

Her father pulled her into a hug. "Ah, yes, but that's because she's too busy reminding Nick he won't die on the plane."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Excuse me, for my dislike of flying objects."

Aaron lifted BJ's suitcase into his tiny arms. "I'll carry your bag to the car, BJ."

"He's trying to get in every extra minute he can with BJ," Angel explained to Nick.

"Oh. I thought it was some macho kick."

The pretty blonde stared down at the ground. "Well, I guess, this is goodbye for awhile."

Angel hugged her tightly. "Not goodbye, just 'see you later."

BJ smiled. "See 'ya later, Ang." She wrapped her arms around her mother. "I love you, Mommy, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, baby."

Nick came up to his sister gently lifting her off the ground in a hug. "Be careful out there. And don't talk to strangers."

"Okay, Nick."

BJ walked over to her middle sibling. "Bye, Leslie, you feel better." Leslie wiped away a tear. Her sister rubbed her cheek. "Why are you crying? That's Mom's job!" She hugged her again. "And besides," BJ beamed in a strong French accent, "you are a DIVA! Divas do not cry in public!"

Nick lifted his blue-eyed sister onto his back. "Cheer up, Leslie! You've got me!"

Mr.Carter shook his head. "Well, no wonder you were crying, Leslie!"

"Ha, ha, Dad."

BJ's father guided her to the door. "Come on, sweetie. Aaron, go on and put that stuff in the backseat."

The blonde waved. "Bye, guys, Merry Christmas!"

Chapter 15