Closed The Mood is Right

[Cyndi Kingsley]

The stockings were hung on the chimney, the household smelled of apple pies and several other dishes continuing to cook, and holiday music filled the air. Cyndi Kingsley wouldn't call the gathering a party but she wouldn't not call it a party with all of the people invited. It was the holidays, after all, and the invitations just kept being extended to family, friends, and friends of her children. It had been a while since the home had been so full, and Cyndi was quite eager to enjoy the night. Of course, the potential for chaos was also there with some of the invites she'd extended but the woman was choosing to hope for the best.

Putting the finishing touches on her outfit, the woman headed downstairs to answer the doorbell by hand, a smile on her face.

Out of Character:

Any relatives or close friends are invited!

 

[Monty Pendleton]

There was nothing like the prospect of a Christmas party to remind Monty he was, in fact, still a very anxious man. Of course he was. All those fears and insecurities had never really gone away. They simply lurked at the edge of his comfort zone - a boundary he seldom dared approach, let alone cross. Still, there were very few circumstances under which Monty would decline to spend time with Cyndi and Ava, and it was good for him to push himself every now and then.

Ava walked with Monty now up the garden path. As he reached the front step and rang the bell, he turned to her, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. A most wonderful idea had come to him, possibly spurred by the glass of wine he'd had before leaving the house.

The door opened.

“-and I told him, well, if you're going to grease it up a bit, you might as well use both hands. Oh! Hello, Cyndi.”