Work Text:
Wendy McCarey was out early afternoon when she saw a car drive by and waved to her.
She waved back.
It was one of her neighbors’ cars, and she had seen it several times before, so it’s not a new car.
The window opened.
“Hey, Wendy,” the man greeted her.
“Hi, Mark,” she returned.
Mark Anderson is one of her neighbors that she’s friendly with, and they had been spending lots of time together lately.
She and Mark both live alone, but she was wondering what they might do for Christmas together, but that might not happen.
Her cousin, Brandi and her family were planning to show up in a couple of days.
Brandi has two daughters, Allison and Marissa and her husband is Greg. When Brandi got married, she didn’t bother changing her last name to his, and he was fine with that.
“Need a ride?” Mark asked.
“I’ll still walk a bit longer, but thank you for the offer, Mark.”
“Anytime, Wendy.”
Her house wouldn’t be quiet this year since Brandi is coming out from Louisiana.
When Mark drove away, Wendy was getting excited about seeing her younger cousin again, since it’s been a while since they’d seen each other.
“I need to go shopping for them. I’ll do that when I get back from the walk,” Wendy told herself.
It was time to get the mail, so that’s why she was outside.
Today’s mail was mostly Christmas cards and packages. One of them came from somebody she didn’t except it to – cousin Jay McCarey.
“Jay? I didn’t hear anything about him sending me something. Maybe I should say something to Brandi later and see if she got anything from him.”
Once Wendy locked the mailbox, she went through the mail. Her friends had sent many cards for Christmas, which she already figured out.
When Wendy was looking at Jay’s gift, she looked and saw that he sent it from Germany.
“What’s Jay doing out in Germany?” Wendy asked herself.
She and Jay are pretty close since they met for the first time. She’s only in Michigan, so it was starting to snow a bit. She liked the snow anyway.
As Wendy unlocked her front door, she immediately opened Jay’s gift from Germany. It was one of his new CDs that just came out.
“And he sent it all the way from there? That’s a surprise.”
After Wendy opened Jay’s card, this is what she read:
Dear Wendy,
I know I’m surprising you by sending something from Germany. I am out here for a tour with Jay Wonder. I thought that you might like to have one of my CDs that recently came out and send it from Germany.
I know we have a lot to chat one of these days, but I should be back home soon. I also have a tour with Pittsburgh. That’s another long story, but you can still send me a text and we’ll be able to try talking on the phone if that’s fine with you.
I’m trying to picture what your reaction is to this from Germany.
Jay
“Germany and then Pittsburgh? I’ll have to see what I can find on his YouTube channel. I know his manager does that for him,” Wendy said as she reread the card a few more times.
Jay happens to be a rock ‘n’ roll singer.
Wendy decided to open the rest of the mail later. The only thing she cared about right now was calling her friends and see if they knew about Jay’s tour in Germany.
Brandi was the first one, and was able to pick up on the second ring.
“Hi, Wendy.”
“Brandi, listen to this.”
“What? You sound surprised.”
“Of course I am. Have you heard from Jay or know anything new lately?”
“Why?”
Wendy had already forgotten about Mark, which was okay with her.
Good thing she still has her landline, but and it works for her.
“Well, I just got the mail and something came from Jay.”
“I haven’t been to the mailbox today either, but I don’t expect anything from him.”
“Remember we first met him on my birthday in Hawaii?”
“Yes, Wendy. I still haven’t forgotten about it. What did Jay send this year?”
“Well, his gift was all the way from Germany.”
“Germany? What’s he doing there?” Brandi asked with interest.
“I have no idea. I’ll call him later and find out what the story is. All he said that he was on tour in Germany and Pittsburgh.”
“He’s been there tons of times,” Brandi pointed.
“I know. I’m not a fan of Pittsburgh.”
Wendy had been through there enough to know whether she liked it or not.
“Why don’t you call Jay now and see what he says about Germany?” Brandi asked.
“I plan to. I’ll show it to you and the girls when you come out for Christmas.”
“Can’t wait to see it unless he sent me the same thing.”
“Let me know what comes in the mail, Brandi.”
“You will know.”
Wendy had almost always been bored, but today was not one of those. Been awhile since she’d done that.
Wendy hung up with Brandi and then decided to see if Mark was still home. She needed to share this with him.
He knows about Jay since one of his nieces is a fan of her family.
Mark was still home, so they were able to talk, but this time she didn’t use her cell, and he had both numbers.
“Hi, Wendy.”
“Hi, Mark.”
“You sound excited about something. We can chat tonight if you’d like.”
“Sure. Where and what time?”
“You can come over and then we’ll talk about it.”
They hung up and Wendy decided to show up just then.
Once she did, she was still holding Jay’s CD in her hand when she knocked on the door.
So far, she hadn’t looked at the songs on the CD, but will do that after seeing Mark.
She’d known him since he moved in the neighborhood a few years ago, and they had gotten along just fine.
Mark opened the door to let her in, but he noticed she was holding a CD.
“Is that a CD you have with you?” Mark asked when he closed the door behind her.
“Yes. It’s one of the new CDs that my cousin sent me.”
“Which cousin is that? You have a ton of them.”
“I know. Are you a fan of Jay McCarey?”
“I’ve heard his stuff. He’s talented.”
“Yes, he is. I’m more into classical music instead of rock ‘n’ roll. Our family likes almost every genre in music. I prefer classical the best.”
“Classical’s good, but I’m a fan of jazz and the roaring twenties.”
“The music? I’ve heard some of that stuff myself. My cousin Brandi likes hip hop and country.”
“Hip hop, huh? That’s interesting.”
“She and her family are coming over in a few days from Louisiana.”
“That’s a long way.”
“It is, but they’re flying out.”
“With all of the snow coming in?”
“Yes, even with the snow.”
He shut the door after Wendy walked in.
She even thanked him for that.
“It’s Jay Wonder’s latest one, but just came in the mail all the way from Germany.”
“What was he doing out there?” Mark asked.
“On a tour. I don’t think I heard about it.”
“Neither have I,” he agreed.
“I thought there was something you wanted to talk with me about.”
“Yes. It has something to do with us.”
“What about us?” Wendy asked.
“I have a surprise for you, but it’ll have to wait for a while longer.”
“So that means you have a surprise for me that’s going to wait until Christmas?”
“Yes. I think you’ll like it.”
“You think so?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t wait to see what it’s going to be. What else do you have to say?”
“May I talk with your parents about it?”
Wendy shook her head.
“Sorry, Mark. They’ve been gone for a long time. I miss them every day.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“That’s okay. I knew them for my whole life too.”
“Is there somebody I could talk about it with before I show you?”
“My cousin I just mentioned.”
“When is she coming out with her family?”
“Late tomorrow afternoon. It’ll take a while for them to fly in from Louisiana.”
“I believe it. Maybe you can pass this over to her.”
“She knows about you since I mentioned you a few times.”
“Nice to know. My niece Donna will be here as well.”
Wendy remembered Mark’s niece.
“The one that I met a while back?”
“Yes. She’s asking if she could see you unless you’re busy with your cousin.”
“She’s always welcome to drop by.”
“Thank you. I knew you would appreciate seeing her.”
Just like all of the past generations of the McCarey family, they’ve always been friendly to people since the first one.
“This runs in the family, Mark. I can’t break a family belief.”
“I understand, Wendy. I don’t do well with living by them.”
“I believe you.”
She felt bad when he mentioned that.
“I’ll call Brandi when I get back home and then I’ll let you know what her reaction is when you wanted to talk with her about something.”
“Thank you.”
Wendy stayed for a while longer and then the two of them talked about what they’re doing the rest of the week.
What Mark had come up with was something Wendy wasn’t going to expect.
She stayed for another fifteen to twenty minutes and then decided to go home.
“I’m going out to eat tonight unless I change my mind at the last minute,” Wendy told him.
“I have other plans, but if you want me to come, maybe next time.”
“Maybe, but it doesn’t involve you this time. I might bring my notebook with me so I can work on my Christmas article.”
Wendy happens to be a news reporter. She doesn’t have her own show on the news, but just writes them up is all.
“I wish you luck on your article, Wendy. I’ll be sure to look out for it to see what you had to say.”
“I’ll let you know, Mark.”
Wendy isn’t the type of person who would go on the national or local news unless somebody invites her on, but it’s been a while since it happened. She would take whatever was available and never turned them down.
After Wendy left, she couldn’t stop thinking about what Mark was just saying about wanting to talk with Brandi and her parents.
They had died after she graduated from college, and looks at their pictures every once in a while.
If you ask people what she looks like, Wendy takes after her father on describing her.
Wendy didn’t bother unlocking her door when she was over at Mark’s house since she was coming straight home anyway.
She’s been in Michigan her entire life, so there’s no need for her to move on. All of her friends she’s grown up with are still here. This is why she has no plans to move to Louisiana with Brandi and her friends and family.
Wendy’s closest girlfriend was named Julie. They’ve been friends ever since kindergarten and have talked ever since.
She thought of Julie too. Maybe she’ll take her to dinner and share with Mark’s news.
Julie does like boys herself, but like her, she didn’t bother having her own family.
Once Wendy picked up her cell, she immediately called Brandi and told he the news what Mark had just told her about.
“What do you mean your neighbor wants to talk with me about?” Brandi asked.
“I don’t know. He wanted to talk with Mom and Dad, but they’re not here to talk about it.”
“You know what I think?”
“What’s that?” Wendy asked.
“That he might actually propose to you.”
“Think so?”
“Yes, because from what you just said, it sounds like it to me. I’ll talk with him when we get to your house.”
“He has a niece that’s also a fan of the McCarey family. She went crazy over me since I’m one of them.”
“A lot of people do that here in Louisiana also. They know about us because of Jay.”
“I know. I get zillions of followers online where I post my articles. I guess a lot of them are from Jay’s fans.”
“Probably. Writing anything yet?”
“Thinking about writing about Christmas for a change. Not sure what to write about yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
“Maybe you can make it a big deal about saying what you just shared with me,” Brandi suggested.
“I thought of that, but will when it happens.”
“I know us McCareys aren’t supposed to brag about stuff,” Brandi reminded her.
“I know, but you know how it is when something happens like this. I still remember when we first met Jay in Hawaii on my birthday.”
“I haven’t forgotten about it either,” Brandi said, “but I’ll call you when we get to the airport tomorrow afternoon.”
“Sounds good. I still don’t have his phone number to add into my contacts.”
“I thought you would have it by now.”
“Me too, but if that’s what Mark wants, that’s what he gets.”
Brandi agreed.
“I’ll pass this over to Greg also. Call you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be happy to pick you up,” Wendy offered.
“Thank you. See you tomorrow.”
“Same with you, Coz.”
After Wendy got off the phone with Brandi, she didn’t see any reason to share this with her other friends yet. Their names were Sarah, Traci, Elly and Renee. They’ve all been good friends for a long time.
They haven’t talked in a while, but Wendy decided to wait until after Christmas so they could catch up. She decided to wait and share her news about whatever Mark wanted until then since it hasn’t happened quite yet.
“I could check in with the girls and share with them about Jay’s CD that came in the mail from Germany,” Wendy told herself.
She did just that.
Wendy decided on sending Elly the news first.
Elly wasn’t home, but would be able to return the call or send a text.
Wendy didn’t care when her friends would respond, but understood that she was busy herself.
While waiting to reach out to the other girls, she decided to listen to Jay’s latest CD. She hadn’t been following Jay lately, but didn’t forget about catching up with his music.
Maybe Jay’s Germany tour would be on YouTube, she told herself.
So she did just that and looked up Jay Wonder.
She was right – the tour was online. She looked at the hits and it showed over 100000 views. She was surprised on how many people had been watching that tour.
Before doing that, Wendy opened the CD and saw there were only 15 songs. Here’s what she saw that was on the list:
1: All Shook Up
2: Rhinestone Cowboy
3: A Certain Smile
4: Jailhouse Rock
5: Mandy
6: I’m Leaving It All Up to You
7: Midnight Train to Georgia
8: Garden Party
9: One Bad Apple
10: My Way
11: Walk the Line
12: Secret Lover
13: Detroit, Michigan
14: I Write the Songs
15: Stolen Game
Wendy remembered that Detroit, Michigan was his first hit song that had many hits. She remembered when it first came on the radio and then a few years later he found out there was another performer that also had the same last name as they did.
The other one was a Broadway actor and singer. “Stolen Game” was the last hit from that person. Wendy didn’t keep track of who Luke McCarey was, but knew a bit of his story.
No wonder Jay picked up “Stolen Game” from the person. Her guess was that he was able to perform and record it as a version of his own.
Wendy remembered Jay telling her about this one kid that came out that wanted to have his dream come true, so that’s why Jay added the song on the CD.
Wendy also guessed that the kid had probably got the same CD that she did.
Wendy put it in the CD player and pressed PLAY, and found out that the CD worked without any scratches or whatever.
The first song that she heard was All Shook Up since Elvis Presley was his all – time favorite.
She wasn’t so sure why he came up with the song “Stolen Game” was on there, but it was the first song that she played. There was no need to listen to the songs in order.
The CD just came out last year is what she saw on the back of it.
“Jay gets better and better every time when he comes out with something new,” she told herself.
Wendy sang along with the songs since she knew half of them, but wasn’t familiar with Barry Manilow very much.
Then she listened to My Way after that. She decided to send Jay a message to let him know she enjoyed the new CD, so she did just that.
Then she heard the doorbell ring and found the mailman dropping off a package. She opened the door and thanked the mailman.
Since Wendy’s also well – known for her articles, this was probably something from one of her followers that the mailman just gave her.
She thanked the mailman and closed the door when he left.
She opened the package and found there was some books that the follower had sent. Wendy was never into reading, but would thank that follower anyway.
Jay’s music was still playing when she went through the books.
They were murder mysteries, but was surprised that somebody didn’t know she was never into books.
One of them she saw was familiar – Bill Thompson, who was Jay’s best friend.
“Time to reach out and say thank you.”
Wendy stayed up for a few more hours later. She decided to go to bed early so that way she’d be at the airport to meet Brandi and her family.
She also decided on bringing Jay’s new CD to listen to on the way to the airport as well.
When she finished listening to the whole CD, she decided to make herself some dinner.
Like Jay and the others, Wendy was never a fan of junk food. She liked to eat healthy.
Whatever Mark wanted to talk with Brandi about, it better be good.
She played the CD one more time while eating dinner and sang along with some of the songs that she already knew, including “Detroit, Michigan” and “Stolen Game” since they were favorites.
She wasn’t a fan of Barry Manilow since she never listened to his music before, but knew who he is.
The next day arrived before Wendy knew it. Late that morning, Brandi called and told her they would try to be in sometime after three if lucky.
She didn’t mind.
A few hours later, Brandi called her and said they were now at the airport the next afternoon like she said when they were on the phone the other day.
“I’ll be on my way. See you soon, Coz.”
“We’ll be sure to look for you,” Brandi replied as they hung up.
Wendy was all excited about seeing her younger cousin again.
Like her cousin, she didn’t have any brothers and sisters. She didn’t mind being an only child. A cousin was enough.
Wendy grabbed her keys and then locked the front door behind her and headed to the garage.
Once she unlocked the car and started the ignition, she had Jay’s new CD with her.
This time it was from the first song until whenever her trip to the airport would take.
Wendy wasn’t a fan of Ozzy Osborne, but understood that Jay did that for a reason from what he shared with her.
She thought the kid did a good job with the song and maybe have his own band when he gets older, but who knows.
She had no trouble finding a place at the airport when she got there to meet Brandi and her family by the luggage claim. She didn’t mind helping them carry their suitcases.
“Aunt Wendy!” both of her nieces greeted her with a hug.
“How are you girls?” Wendy asked.
“Fine. Just excited to see you,” Marissa answered.
“We’ll listen to some music on the way home. I just got a new CD not long ago and I decided to bring here.”
“What kind of CD is it?” Greg asked.
“I’ll tell you about it on the way to the car. It’s Jay’s latest.”
“Is it any good?” Greg asked.
“Is it a Christmas one?” Allison asked.
She and Marissa also love to listen to music.
“No, sweetheart. Mostly old time rock ‘n’ roll as usual.”
“How old?” Allison asked.
“Before our time. That’s all I can tell you,” Brandi said.
“There’s a surprise that Jay has for one of the songs.”
“What do you mean by a surprise?”
“You’ll see. Let’s start with that one if you want me to.”
“Did Jay say what his next CD would be after this one?”
“I don’t know how to answer that, Brandi. You can ask him yourself.”
“Maybe I will. He’s probably busy celebrating Christmas with his family.”
“Not this year. He’s somewhere else.”
“Where?”
“Long story, but I’ll give you the short one instead.”
“We have time for the long one,” Greg spoke up as she unlocked the car and Brandi got into the front seat.
Greg didn’t mind sitting in the back with his daughters.
“Let’s see what the songs are on this CD.”
Wendy handed it to her so that way Brandi could see for herself.
“What’s Ozzy Osborne doing on this CD?”
Brandi had listened to some of his music, so she was able to recognize the song.
Just like Wendy, she’s not a fan of his either.
“That’s the surprise. I don’t remember if I shared it or not with you, but this kid wanted to sing that song. He’s very good. I think he’ll have his own band when he gets older.”
“Let’s listen to him first.”
“That’s the plan.”
The song came on when Wendy pressed PLAY before driving away from the airport.
So they listened to the entire song without saying anything.
“You’re right, Wendy. This kid has talent.”
“I think so too.”
“Do you remember his name?” Allison asked.
“No, I don’t. All I remember is Jay mentioned it once.”
“Then I won’t bother asking anymore.”
“That’s all right. Here we are,” Wendy said twenty minutes later. She only parked in the driveway because of the luggage her family had brought with them. When they would finish, she would do that.
“How is Louisiana these days?”
“You’re not missing anything, Wendy. There’s nothing to share.”
“That’s what I thought. Maybe I’ll come out sometime next year.”
“That’ll be great, Aunt Wendy,” Marissa told her.
When Wendy got out of the driver’s seat. She brought the CD in with them.
“You forgot the CD?”
“Yes, Allison. That way we all can listen to it anytime we want.”
“Nice.”
It didn’t take long to bring the luggage to the guestrooms, so there wasn’t much Wendy could do about it, and didn’t mind.
“Should we go out to dinner tonight?”
“Wrong time to go, Greg. The parking lots are full anyway. Maybe next time when we don’t have the holidays. By the way, Brandi, my neighbor wants to meet you at some point. I’ll go over in a few minutes.”
“You don’t have his phone number?”
“He won’t give it to me, even though I asked for it. I understand about privacy.”
“Agreed. Have you been writing lately?”
“Not for a while. I don’t check my email very often to see what’s new from my readers.”
“You’ll find something.
“Yes, Coz.”
Wendy walked out of the front door and it was a good thing that she still had her keys with her to put the car back in the garage.
Before she did that, she saw Mark heading over.
“There you are, Wendy. Want to have another chat about us?”
“What chat? I thought we talked about it a few times already.”
“Yes, I know we have. I just want to make sure you’re still okay with it on whatever it is that I ask you.”
“Thank you. I can’t wait to see what you have planned. By the way, my family’s here if you want to come in now.”
“That’ll be great. How long have they been here?”
“Just came home from the airport. I’ll go tell my cousin you want to chat.”
“Thank you. Mind if I come in?”
“Not a problem, Mark. You’ll like my cousin and her family. Just let me put the car back in the garage and then you can follow me inside.”
He stood right in the driveway when he saw her.
Once her car was back in the garage and the door shut, Wendy rejoined him.
“Follow me.”
He didn’t say anything after that, and there wasn’t any reason to.
Wendy opened the door, but Mark let her come in first.
“Brandi!”
“Aunt Wendy’s calling you, Mom.”
“I know, Allison. We’re coming.”
When Brandi, Marissa, and Allison came down from the guestroom, Greg was already chatting with Mark since he introduced himself.
“Mark, meet my cousin, Brandi McCarey.”
Greg and Mark then looked to see that Brandi was there with the girls.
“You called, Wendy.”
“I did. Brandi, this is my next – door neighbor, Mark Anderson.”
“Nice to meet you finally, Mark. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have? Same here with me, Brandi. I hope you enjoy your visit this Christmas.”
“We will.”
Greg stopped talking with Mark before, but she didn’t care either way on who was introduced first. Since Greg was closest, he was able to have a short conversation.
“Brandi, Greg, mind if we have a conversation? It’s something that’s been on my mind for a while.”
“All right. Do you want Wendy to be involved?” Greg asked.
“Soon.”
“I don’t mind staying with Allison and Marissa. You all can chat about what your idea is, Mark.”
“You’ll find out soon what the idea I came up with was.”
“I can’t wait. I have a hard time trying to guess what it is.”
“Whatever it is, Wendy, you’ll be wrong anyway.”
“Think so?”
“Yes.”
Once the three of them disappeared into the kitchen, Wendy asked Allison and Marissa if they wanted to watch TV or a movie.
“What kind of movie? It better be a Christmas one.”
“Let’s go see what we can find.”
“Even if it’s the Grinch?”
“Yes, Marissa. Even if it’s the Grinch.”
Allison and Marissa had always loved the Grinch movie and watch it every year.
They probably have memorized it by now, Wendy told herself.
She caught a bit of the conversation between Brandi, Greg and Mark, but not the whole thing. No wonder he didn’t want her involved in the conversation.
They talked for a while longer so that way they could get to know each other.
Maybe tonight Wendy will get the surprise that he has planned for her. Or does she have to wait for a while longer for what it was?
That she’ll have to find out.
“Wendy’s a good person, Mark. Of course we’ll accept.”
Wendy heard those words and pretended she didn’t hear those when the three of them returned to the living room.
She was able to find the Grinch, but before that, they were able to chat with her.
“Wendy, there’s something I would like to ask you.”
“What is it, Mark?”
“I don’t have it with me right now, but would you marry me?”
Wendy couldn’t believe her reaction to what he just asked.
Was she dreaming or pretending on not to hear him ask that question after almost ten years?
They had known each other well enough for him to propose like that.
“Yes. I’ll marry you, Mark.”