Family Ties

Chapter 15


"Angel! Angel! Get up!" Aaron begged as he woke his sister. "It's Christmas morning!"

Angel stirred. "Aaron, we opened our presents yesterday morning."

"Only the ones we got for each other, not from Mom and Dad!"

"They gave us each a present."

Aaron cocked an eyebrow. "Do you really think we only got ONE present each?"

His sister smiled. "Race 'ya downstairs!"

Nick rose his head from the pillow as he heard his youngest siblings bouncing down the staircase. He turned to his alarm clock. "Seven! Agh!"

Leslie appeared in his doorframe. "If I have to get up and go through this, so do you..."

Nick shook his head. "Les, you're fourteen-years-old, aren't you suppose to like this holiday?"

She crossed her arms. "Not before noon."

Nick flinched as he heard the squeals come from the living room. "Point well taken."

*********


"Kids, make sure everything is cleaned up!" Mrs.Carter yelled. "Our guests are getting here in a few minutes!"

Leslie moped down the stairs. "Mom..."

"Yeah?"

"Don't set a plate for me. I just wanna' stay upstairs."

"Leslie, it's Christmas Day, don't you want to spend some time with the family?"

Mr.Carter entered clearing the counter. "What's the problem?"

"Leslie wants to hide in her room all day, again."

"What's wrong, honey?"

"Daddy, I don't feel good."

He placed his hand to her brow. "Go ahead upstairs. Why don't you take a nap then see how you feel? I'll have someone run some Tylenol up to you."

Leslie nodded. Her mother pressed her hand tp her forehead. "Oh, you've a fever, baby, I'm sorry.."

"It's okay, Mom, I just wanna' lie down."

"Of course, go ahead." Mrs.Carter turned her husband. "Now do you believe me? Bob, that girl needs to see a doctor. This isn't a typically flu bug."

"I agree, Jane. I'll get her to a doctor tomorrow. Let's just get through the holiday."

Nick joined them stealing a cookie from the table. "Who has to go to the doctor?"

His mother took the cookie from his grasp. "Leslie, she's feeling pretty sick, again."

The older man lifted a bottle of Tylenol as the doorbell rang. "Damn. Here, Nick," he said tossing him the bottle, "take that to Leslie."

Nick faced his mother beaming. "I'll take her the medicine if you give me my cookie back......."

She placed the item in his mouth. "You are very juvenile, Nickolas Gene Carter."

"Thank you, Mama, but I am also a business man- I got my cookie."

*********


"Les...Les...." Nick called as he stepped into her bedroom.

"Yeah?"

"Here. Dad told me to bring this up to you."

Leslie sat up to accept the pills and water. "Thanks, Nick."

Nick pushed her hair back. "Well, don't worry, Lestea, you'll go to the doctor tomorrow and find out what's going on."

Leslie winced as she swallowed. "I don't wanna' go to the damn doctor."

"Be reasonable, you've been sick for days. Do you honestly want this to continue?"

"No."

"Then take you're tiny little ass to the doctor and get better. You're a smart girl, and that's the smart thing to do."

She attempted to smile. "My ass is not tiny. I was the fat chick on the 'All That' tour."

"You are not fat! You need to get that through your head. You are a beautiful young woman. And I read the article on the Nickloden site about you. It said you were an idol for all normal-sized girls, proving you don't have to be a size 0 and a slut to be beautiful."

"It worked for Britney Spears."

"Don't go there. Listen, since you're so sensitive to the subject of medical attention- I'll take you to the doctor tomorrow."

"You? Um...Nick, is this your way of making up for lost time?"

"Well, it's me or Mom and Dad."

Leslie wrinkled her nose. "Are you sure BJ has already made it to New York?"

"You little smartass. Well, I'll take that as a 'yes.' Right?"

"Sure," his sibling yawned.

Nick patted her arm. "Get some sleep and try to get some color back in your face."

"Will do."

The 20-year-old paused at the door. "Hey, Les?"

"Yes?" she responded slipping into a deep slumber.

"Don't let Mom and Dad know I let you get away with cussing...."

Chapter 16