Our three days together have been amazing. I'm trying and failing at hiding her gift from her. I've had to sneak around so many times to just make sure it stays alive and doesn't mess up my dad's office.

"Linds Baby!" I hear Stevie calling.

"In the study! Hey, come in here." I have three presents for her so giving her just one won't hurt.

"What?" Stevie asks

"I've had this Christmas gift for you for about a month now. I know Christmas is two days away, but since you're here..." I trail off.

"What are you getting at?" She asks crossing her arms, a kitchen towel in one of her hands.

"Meet our new family member." I smile ducking back into the study.

The small white fluff ball brightens up Stevie's eyes.

"Oh, Lindsey!" She gasps taking the puppy from my arms.

"She's a toy poodle." I smile

"She!! Oh, did you name her yet?" Stevie asks clutching the small dog to her chest. The dog licking her chin.

"I've been calling her girl for a month." I shrug.

"Ginny! I'm going to name you Ginny." Stevie kisses her little head.

"What were you looking for me for?" I chuckle as she repeatedly kisses the little poodle.

"Oh, what did you want for lunch. I'm making spaghetti Bolognese for dinner." She says.

"Well, what are my options?" I question.

"Hamburgers or macaroni and cheese. Homemade of course." Stevie places the dog on the floor.

"Hamburgers. A man needs meat." I flex causing a pixie laugh to bubble out of her.

***

We were doing last minute touches to the burgers when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," I say kissing her head.

"Alright." She smiles.

Ginny follows me and before I open the door I bend down and pick her up, so she doesn't escape.

"Oh, it's you," I say opening the door to the queen bitch.

"IS that any way to talk to your Aunt?" Martha spits.

She's walking like she has a stick up her ass in her bubblegum pink matching suit. Uncle Ralph left the bitch four years ago and now her two sons are feeling the brunt of it. Jimmy is dressed in a brown suit and Walter in a powder blue one.

"Baby who is it?" Great, Stevie was spotted. Sneaking her out the back way is not an option anymore. This is going to go over well.

"Lindsey...why do you have a young girl staying here with you while your parents are out of town." Martha squawks.

"My mother gave permission and I'm twenty-one. I think I can make my own life choices." I reply bitterly.

"Is there a problem?" Stevie comes into the family room wiping her hands on the same kitchen towel.

"No, Aunt Martha this is my girlfriend Stephanie. Everyone calls her Stevie though." I explain wrapping my free arm around her shoulders.

"Mrs.," Stevie trails off.

"Ms. Elliot. I refused to keep my ex-husbands last name." She barks.

"Ms. Elliot. I'm making burgers if you would like to join us." Stevie smiles sweetly.

"No, I think I shall go to the guest room and take a nap. Traveling exhausts, me, and I hate the Greyhound buses. They give me a crick in my neck. I always tell Morris plane tickets, but he never listens, but the boys can join you." Martha bends down to grab her stuff.

"Aunt Martha, Stevie's father is the president of Greyhound." I sigh looking between my aunt and my girlfriend.

"Figures." She huffs making her way to the staircase.

"Boys, you're sleeping in Greg's room," I say as they nod.

"Hi. I'm Walter." Walter raises his hand to her and gently shakes it.

"Stevie, nice suit." She says stifling a giggle.

"You think? My mom picked it out for me." He beams. The idiot is too daft to realize she's making fun of him.

"Jim." Jimmy shakes her hand.

"Well, those burgers aren't going to eat themselves. Will they?" Stevie leads us to the kitchen.

***

All through the day, Walter was making eyes at my Stevie and I didn't like it. My parents arrive just before eight and Stevie was finishing dinner.

"Ruth, I can't believe you let him have that child over for three days while you were gone." Here she goes, making her attack.

"Martha, they're both in their twenties. They're adults and I really like Stevie. She's like the daughter I never had. I honestly, like her better than any of the girls my other boys brought home." My mom replies, and we hear them come closer and we make eyes at each other.

"Stevie dear, you didn't have to cook." My mother says wrapping her in a hug.

"It's the least I could do." Stevie smiles.

"So why did you agree to stay with my nephew?" Martha questions.

"Well, I love him." Stevie shrugs.

"What kind of answer is that? Love. Love doesn't exist. You want to get pregnant and trap him. You've probably got several men trapped already. And your name is Stephanie, drop the Stevie. It makes you sound like a drag queen." Martha spits. Stevie throws her towel down.

"I'll have you know, I am getting a college degree in English, Psychology and Speech Therapy. I am going to be a teacher. And my father gave me that nickname." Stevie shoots back.

"He probably wanted a boy. Instead of a skanky girl like you." Martha yells.

"Lindsey! Take me home." She shouts bending down to pick the dog up.

"Martha!" My mother yells, I sigh and follow my sobbing Girlfriend out of the house.

***

The drive across town was painful having to listen to Stevie's cries. When we get to her house she runs in and races up the stairs.

"What happened?" Barbara asks drying her hands on her apron.

"My aunt said some very mean things to her. Can I?" I ask motioning to the staircase.

"Absolutely. First door on the left." Barbara smiles.

When I walk into her room I look around in shock. The walls are a deep purple. She has a dark red bedspread and blue Tiffany lamps with shawls draped over them.

"Baby," I say

She looks up at me and continues sobbing. I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her.

"Lindsey, am I really a skank?" She asks.

"No baby, she's just a bitch." I rub her back.

***

We fell asleep like that. In the morning, on Christmas Eve, Barbara came in and woke us up.

"Morning mother." Stevie nuzzles into me.

"I made French Toast and I want you two to come downstairs and explain what happened," Barbara says sternly.

"We get up and make our way downstairs hand in hand.

"Alright spill." Jess spits and I wince.

"My Aunt came for Christmas and my parents were still gone when she showed up. She was furious that we were there alone. When my parents got home my aunt called Steph a skank and accused her of trying to get pregnant and trapping me. She also said that Stevie probably had at least seven other men. We, of course, know none of this is true. She just really upset her." I explain.

"Teedee, do you still want to go over for Christmas?" Barbara questions.

"Yeah, I'm not going to give her the satisfaction," Stevie says biting the French toast off of her fork.

"Alright. Lindsey, when do you plan on going home?" Jess asks.

"About that. I really don't want to be there while Martha is there. Would it be okay if I stay here until she leaves? I'll go today and get my stuff. And I know it's Christmas, but I will still see them for dinner." I ask lacing my fingers with Stevie's.

Barbara and Jess exchange some looks then Barbara looks at us.

"I don't see why not." Jess smiles.

"Thanks." I smile as Stevie hugs my bicep.

"Next question...The dog?" Barbara looks over at the couch where Ginny is sleeping on the back cushion.

"Isn't she darling. Her name is Ginny. Lindsey got her for me. She's so sweet." Stevie cheers hopping up from the table and going to pick her up.

"She is quite cute." Barbara sighs petting her.

***

My mom was sad when I told her I would be spending Christmas over at the Nicks', but she understood. My dad wanted to come with me, but my mom put her foot down. Being with Stevie Christmas morning was the best thing ever, as she sat on the floor between my legs and we shared a mug of hot chocolate. And even on New Year's when we kissed at midnight and she whispered, 'it's going to be a good year." I almost saw what I hope my future is.