"It's A Wonderful Love" A Quola Christmas Story. Part 1

Nola walked into the boarding house; threw her purse and herself down on the couch, completely and totally exhausted. It was Christmas Eve, and she had just spent the entire day doling out bowls of chili to what seemed to like the entire population of Springfield. She noticed now to her disgust that she even smelled like chili. Nola wanted nothing better than to grab a quick shower and then jump into bed, but it was Christmas Eve. She knew she had to get things ready for the dinner she was planning tomorrow. It would be nothing grand, nothing extraordinary. Certainly nothing like the Christmases she had known with the Chamberlain's. But those days were only a distant memory for her now.

It had been difficult, but Nola had finally accepted the fact that those days and that part of her life was now over, and that it had to be filed away, only to be thought of every now and then while reminiscing over yellowing photo albums. These days, ÔChamberlain' was just the name on her driver's license, and not much more, now that both Vanessa and Henry had died, and Quinton was off, god knows where.

And deep inside her, Nola knew she was still and always would be a Reardon. And that's who and what she planned to be this Christmas, Nola Reardon, nothing more and nothing less. And what she was determined to have this year, was a Reardon Christmas, nothing more and nothing less.

Of course, it wouldn't be quite like the happy ones she had known as a child, growing up in the boarding house with her mother and all those brothers and sisters. Maureen had been dead for almost three years now, and Bea was having Christmas with Tony and Annabelle, a thousand miles away. But J would still be there, and Matt and Bridget. And Stacey would even be coming home to visit this year. Of course, Quint wouldn't be there, but Nola's feelings about him were so mixed right now, she thought that was probably for the best.

Almost as soon, as Nola sat down and began to relax a little, before starting the preparations for her Reardon family Christmas, the phone rang. She was thrilled to hear Stacey's voice on the other end. "Hi, sweetheart. I was just thinking about you. I really can't wait for you to get here."

"Mom . . . about Christmas dinner . . . I'm going to spend it with Alex's parents in Boston."

"Boston?"

"You don't mind, do you? I really care about him, and it would be nice to spend Christmas with . . . "

"An intact family?".

"Speaking of that, where is dad?"

"Stacey, I don't know where your dad is. I'm not his keeper."

"I just thought. Oh, never mind, what I thought, Mom, are you okay with this, I mean about me not coming for Christmas dinner?"

Nola tried to fight back the crack she could hear forming in her own voice, "Yes, dear. I'm fine. As long, as you're happy."

"Oh, you're the best mom in the whole wide world."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"Goodbye Mom and Mom, I love you."

"I love you too, Stacey," Nola said hanging up the phone.

"At least I won't be completely childless this Christmas," Nola said as J then walked in the door. "And now that you're here, you can start peeling potatoes."

"Huh?"

"Potatoes. They're what mash potatoes are made of. Mash potatoes that I'm planning to have at Christmas Dinner."

"About Christmas Dinner, Mom."

"Why do I get the feeling, I don't want to hear the rest of it?"

"Mom, I've got the chance to go skiing in Aspen with some really cool kids. Dad gave me the money for the plane ticket before he left."

"J, I can't believe this. Stacey's not coming now. You want to skip out on me. Whatever happened to Christmas being about family togetherness?"

"Stacey, not coming? Bummer. But you'll still have family here. Bridget, and Petey, and Matt. And I'm sure Dad will be back. He wouldn't miss spending Christmas with you."

"He managed to miss last Christmas."

"Oh, Mom, you need to get over that. Dad loves you; you love Dad, and he belongs here with you."

"I'm glad someone has it all figured out."

"Mom, will you just say it's okay if I go. Come on, you were young once."

"Yes, I was, once."

"I didn't mean you weren't still young, just not . . . "

"Not young enough to remember that ski trips beat family dinners hands down, any day." And stop giving me that look."

"What look?"

"The same look you gave me when you were a boy, and you wanted a puppy."

"I got that puppy, didn't I?"

"Yes, yes you did. And I guess you can go on your ski trip with the really cool kids."

"Mom, you're the . . . "

"Best mom in the whole wide world, right? I get that a lot.

After J had gone upstairs to pack for his trip, and Nola had started peeling the potatoes herself, Bridget walked in.

"Where have you been? I could use some help here," Nola said, offering Bridget a potato and a knife."

Declining the invitation, Bridget said, "Nola, I was over at Matt's and we did some talking. I just think it would be too hard on him to spend this Christmas in Springfield, his first Christmas without Vanessa. So we're going to go see Mom and Dad. We would invite you, but I know that my parents aren't exactly your favorite people."

"I see," Nola said, trying her best to sound calm.

"Are you going to be okay, with us not being here?"

"Sure, Stacey's not coming, J's going to Aspen, and now you and Matt are leaving town."

"We could cancel our plans."

"No. I won't hear of it. You two should really work on rebuilding a relationship with your parents. I know how important that is. Besides, I can just go over to the Bauer's. I know Ed's not there, but Rick is my step-nephew, and Michelle's my niece, and I really like Abby."

"About Rick and Abby . . . Rick told me he's taking Abby to Goshen to try to reconcile with her parents for Christmas, and they're taking Michelle with them. Are you still sure you don't want Matt and me to stay?"

"No. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I will."

"But you can't be alone for Christmas. Well, maybe Quinton will show back up in time, and then it would be just the two of you spending Christmas together. Wouldn't that be romantic?"

"Sure, Bridget. If you say so."

"Well, Nola, I need to get going. I'm going to grab a few things, and hurry back to Matt's. Petey's probably giving him a fit by now. Merry Christmas, Nola," Bridget says giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Bridget."

After grabbing an overnight bag, and some of Petey's toys, Bridget said, walking out the door, "Nola, you're the best . . . "

"Aunt in the whole wide world, right? I had a feeling you were going to say that."

After everyone had left, Nola took a steaming, hot shower; dried off, and put on her old, comfy bath robe. She then grabbed a blanket and her favorite fuzzy slippers, and went downstairs to the living room.

"Well, old girl, here you are. The best mom in the whole wide world. The best aunt in the whole wide world. And your family loves you so much they've left you all alone on Christmas Eve."

Fighting back the tears and forcing herself to smile, she said, "At least I won't have to peel those damn potatoes."

Trying to take her mind off the situation, Nola sat down on the couch, and picked up the TV guide. " Let's see Channel 3 is having a Christmas movie marathon. Be still, my heart."

Lying down, and covering herself with the blanket, she stared blankly at the screen as ÔMiracle on 34th Street' began.

Just then the doorbell rang.

As she went to answer it, Nola wondered out loud to herself, "Who the heck can that be? Mabye it's Santa stopping by for milk and cookies, or then again, maybe it's a reporter from WSPR coming to interview the best Mom and Aunt in the whole wide world, who just so happens to also be the loneliest woman in Springfield."

to be continued

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"It's A Wonderful Love" A Quola Christmas Story Part 2

Nola was not sure how much time has passed, or if she had fallen asleep, but she was suddenly sure of one thing. She was no longer alone. A handsome, dark-haired man was standing in her living room wearing nothing but a black, French-cut bikini.

"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed in a voice that would have been loud enough to wake everyone in the house, if there had been anyone else in the house.

"Calm down. Don't you remember who I am?"

"Of course I know who you are. But that doesn't make me feel any better. You're Gunther Lagosi and you've been dead for years. Though I have to admit, you do look very well preserved for a ....a corpse."

"Well, thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."

"Great, This is just great. I'm going through the ghost thing all over again."

"Nola, I'm not exactly a ghost. More like an angel, really. Here, does this help? With a quick flick of the wrist, Gunther changed into a white tuxedo. "There does that look more 'angelic'?"

"I don't know about angelic, but it is very GQ. By the way, what are you doing here, all the way from . . . the grave?"

"Isn't it obvious? I've come to grant you your wish."

"My wish?"

"You made a wish on Christmas Eve, and wishes made on Christmas Eve are taken very seriously."

"Okay, I'm game. What did I wish for?"

"Let's see your exact words were, I wish I had never married you, Quinton Chamberlain. I wished I had never even met you."

"So you can grant wishes, huh?"

"That's what they told me in Angel School."

"And what do you get in exchange for granting my wish? Your wings like that angel Clarence in 'It's a Wonderful Life'."

"No, actually I've already got my wings. I just don't like to wear them; they're a little overpowering, you know. What I want is a harp. All the really cool angels have them. And if I get my harp, then I can join the Heavenly Symphony Orchestra."

"Okay, so when does my wish begin?" Nola asked calmly. She was pretty sure, this was all a dream, perhaps more realistic than any she had ever had before, but still just a dream.

"Your wish has already been granted. As of right now, you never answered that ad in the paper, the one for an archaeological assistant. You never came to Thornway Road. You and Quinton never met, and never fell in love."

"Well, if none of that ever happened, I guess it wasn't a very big deal, after all. Because here I am still stuck in the boarding house. Nothing changed."

"Au contraire, Nola. Many things have changed. Just look at your driver's license," Gunther said handing her wallet to her.

"Oh my, God! It says, Nola Parker. I married Floyd?"

"You got it."

"Well, Floyd did love me, and I'm sure he took good care of Stacey and me."

"He tried, but remember you never loved him. Eventually, It became painful for him to be at home. He turned to his music, spending most of his time on the road. And he also turned to the whole rock and roll lifestyle to help fill the emptiness. Drugs, booze, and wild parties. One night he was coming back from an all-night party, and he didn't quite make a turn."

"That's awful. Did he at least have life insurance?"

"Unfortunately, Floyd never thought that far ahead. But he had at least bought the boarding house and Company, and you and the kids had that to fall back on."

"The kids?"

"Yes, you still have Stacey, of course. And you now have FJ."

"FJ?"

"Floyd Jr."

"Well, at least I still have kids."

"Speaking of your kids, Nola, there's Stacey on the porch now."

"All I see is some girl with a purple mohawk."

"That's Stacey. She decided to follow in her father's foot steps; she's in a band, 'The Swollen Genitals' or something like that."

"Gunther, how am I going to introduce you to her?"

"Just say I'm an old friend of the family."

Stacey walked in, took a quick glance at Gunther and then said, "Mom, I need twenty bucks."

"Stacey, this is Gunther. He's an old friend of the family. Why don't you say hi to him?"

"Hi. Now can I have the twenty bucks or what?"

Trying to elicit some sort of response, Nola said, "Stacey, Gunther's been dead for more than thirteen years, and now he's an angel come to grant my Christmas Eve wish."

"Whatever. Now where's the money?"

"Do you need it for school?"

"Get real. I want to get my left nipple pierced. I don't know, just having the right one done, makes me look sort of unbalanced. Oh, come on, Mom. Cough up a twenty. I need to get going. Me and the girls are doing a gig tonight, and we're thinking about going topless for this one."

"That doesn't sound very safe. Why don't you take your brother with you?"

"Excuse me. Earth to Mom. Aren't you forgetting that FJ is in jail? If I told that boy once, I told him a thousand times, if you're going to steal a car, don't steal a police car.

"Bye Mom," Stacey said grabbing up Nola's purse and snatching two twenties out of it, before walking out.

After she had left, Nola said very seriously, "Things did turn out a little different. Maybe I need a few minutes to rethink this."

"Well, you don't have time right now. It's time for your shift at Company."

"I was hoping that would have been one of the things that would have changed. Well, let me get dressed."

"You are already dressed, Nola."

"All I have on is my robe."

"I think you'll find your costume underneath it."

Nola looked inside her robe and gasped. "Oh my god, I'm wearing a minuscule, two-piece, thong bikini. What on earth, exactly is it that I do at Company?"

"You're an exotic dancer. Oh, by the way it's not called Company. Now it's known as Easy Company."

Gunther took Nola by the hand and lead her across to Easy Company. She was shocked to see that her new place of business was darkly lit, smoke-filled and packed with nothing but men. Up front there was a stage, on which a spotlight shined on Bridget who wearing what looked more like a Band-Aid than a bikini, was swinging wantonly yet gracefully from a pole.

"Oh my God, Gunther. That's Bridget, up there," a shocked Nola said.

"I know. Isn't she great?" Gunther answered with an appreciative smile.

"Just what the hell is my niece doing working in a place like this?"

"Are you forgetting, this is 'your' place, Nola? Remember Floyd brought Company for you. Bridget was never able to buy it, and she had to have some way to support herself and Petey."

"That poor girl."

"Actually, Nola, Bridget is one of the few that are happy with the way things turned out. She still doesn't have Hart, but she has had almost every other man in town."

"Let me ask you something. All we do here is dance, right? I mean, I'm not the '7th Street Madame', am I?"

"No, it's nothing like that. Everything is very above board. Just a little pole swinging and of course, the lap dancing."

"The lap dancing?"

"That's where the real money is. Five dollars a shot, or so I've been told. Oh, look there's Hawk Shayne. He's one of your best customers."

Hawk waved at Nola, obviously very happy to see her.

"Gunther, I think I've seen enough of this," Nola said as she started to feel her stomach beginning to turn over.

"Hi, Nola, You about ready to go on?" Bridget asked finishing her act, and coming over to them.

"Uh, Bridget, would you mind working for me tonight? I have some things I need to do."

Bridget took one look at Gunther, and said, "I can't say that I blame you. Okay, but Hawk is going to be very disappointed. "See you later, sailor," she said with a quick and instantly returned wink at Gunther.

After Bridget returned to the stage, Nola said weakly, "Gunther, can I just go back to the boardinghouse." I think I've seen all of my 'new life' that I can handle right now."

"Not yet. Nola, there's still someone else you need to see tonight. Someone that your wish affected very much."

"You mean . . ."

"Yes, Quinton Chamberlain, himself."

to be continued ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It's A Wonderful Love" A Quola Christmas Story Part 3

"Quinton still lives in Springfield?"

"No, he doesn't. But he does so happen to be in town for a book signing."

"A book signing? I don't remember Quinton ever having a book signing before."

"Nola, most best-selling authors do have them."

"A best-selling author? Great, Quint's a best-selling author and I'm lap-dancer."

"Need I remind you, it was your wish."

"Well, damn this wish anyway. Gunther, can't I just click my heels together, and go home."

"Wrong movie, Nola. Besides, you have to see Quinton first. Come on, he's at the book store right down the street."

"Can I at least change first? I don't want to meet the famous author Quinton Chamberlain in my bathrobe."

"Oh yes, yes of course. We'll stop at the boarding house first, so you can change into something more presentable. But one more thing, Nola. It's not Quinton Chamberlain. It's Quinton McCord. Remember he never met you, so you were never able to help him reconcile with his father, Henry."

"I never thought about that. About Henry, I mean. This is all getting so much more involved than I thought it would be."

"But Nola, all this was . . . "

"I know, my wish."

Back at the boarding house, Gunther waited downstairs, as Nola ran upstairs to get dressed. Minutes later she came down wearing a short black miniskirt, and a low-cut, red silk blouse, with an almost miraculous push-up bra underneath. "Believe it or not, this was the most conservative thing I could find. Is Reva my personal dresser now?"

"No, Nola, but you do have to keep up a certain image, being the owner of Easy Company."

"Great I'm doing the 'It's a Wonderful Life' thing, but I'm dressed like something out of 'Pretty Woman'."

Nola and Gunther left the boarding house and began to walk down 7th Street. Before they had walked more than a few feet, Nola almost stumbled on an old man sleeping on the sidewalk.

Gunther said to a startled Nola, "Just step over him. Believe me, it's something you're going to have to get used to."

"About that. I notice in the alleys, almost everywhere, there are . . . "

"Bums?"

"Well, I was going to say homeless people, but now that you mention it. I don't remember quite so many of them in Springfield before."

"Nola, do you remember the Thanksgiving that you and Quinton invited all those homeless people to dinner at the Chamberlains?"

"Yes."

"Well, one of those people, a lady by the name of Stella Powers, was so touched by your generosity that she vowed to rebuild her life. And she did, and then she began to help other people that were in similar situations. Eventually, she started a rehabilitation program that she runs out of a homeless shelter. Many of the people you now see lying in the streets, Stella Powers helped to start a new life. Well, before . . . "

"Before I made my wish?"

"Right. I know this might sound like a Frank Capra cliche, but every life touches so many others, Nola. But on the bright side, sometimes you do offer some of the homeless women work. That is, if they have good figures."

"Gee, I'm quite the humanitarian, aren't I?"

"Nola, over there is the book store," Gunther says pointing to a building with a large line of people standing in front of it.

"Look at that line. It must be a mile long. All these people read archaeological books?"

"Well, Quinton's new book is titled, 'Archaeological Proof that Aliens Exist, Bigfoot is Real, and Elvis is Alive'."

"Why, would my Quinton write junk like that?"

"Quinton is not the same man that you remember. Without your help, he never continued his quest for the Temple of Gold. He never found out the truth about Professor Renfield's death in Tanquir. He never reconciled with Henry. And he never dealt with the guilt he felt over Rebecca's accident."

"Gunther, if Quinton never went back to Tanquir, then how did you . . . "

"Die? Nola, Since I wasn't busy treasure-hunting with Quinton, I had more free time to pursue my other interests."

"Your other interests?"

"Show business."

"Show business?"

"Yes. I even went on 'Star Search' and won for Male Spokesmodel."

"What exactly does a spokesmodel do?"

"Well, I did a few layouts in 'Playgirl' . . . a few mall openings here and there. I was even going to emcee the Miss Nude America Pageant."

"You were going to? What happened?"

"The producers thought it would be neat to stage the whole thing in Bermuda, so they were flying me and thirty girls in, and the plane crashed."

"And you died in the crash. That's horrible."

"No, actually, no one died in the crash. We all landed on a deserted island. The rescuers found us two months later, but by then, I had died of . . . exhaustion."

"Wow, Gunther, now that you're dead, I'm seeing a whole new side of you. A side I never knew existed before. You know, I've always wondered about something. That time in St. Croix, after the volcano had exploded on the island, and after Quinton took off with Helena. And we were alone together . .."

"Yes, Nola?"

"Well, you were a perfect gentleman with me, back then. And I've always wondered - Why?"

"Are you saying you wanted me to try to take advantage of the situation?"

"No, not at all. And nothing would have happened even if you had tried. But it would have been nice for my ego if you had. And I was pretty cute back then."

"And you still are, but Nola there's two types of women that I never get involved with - friends' girls and female postal employees. Both are definitely too risky, and too dangerous."

"Oh. Uh, speaking of dangerous, Gunther. Whatever happened to Silas Crocker?"

"Well, after Quinton gave up his quest for the Golden Temple, Silas began to find the whole evil mastermind thing boring. It's just no fun being bad if you don't have someone good to torment. So he gave it up, and went straight. He and Helena married and now they own a chicken farm in Tennessee."

"Silas and Helena on a chicken farm? This is getting more bizarre by the moment. I'm almost afraid to ask this, but what happened to Rebecca?"

"Nola, I'm sure you know that you are the only woman in the world that would let her boyfriend's ex-fiance live with them. Quinton never brought Rebecca back to Springfield; she never had any operations at Cedars, and she never spoke again. She is currently working as a mime at EuroDisney, annoying the hell out of everyone. Because . ..."

"I know. Everyone hates mimes. Hey, wait a minute. What do you mean, I'm the only woman? Did Quint have another woman living with him at Thornway Road?

"Well, Nola. That's where the tabloid style books come in at. They were his wife's idea, his young wife. She had to have the best of everything, and being rich was not enough either. She wanted a husband that was rich and famous."

"His young wife?" Nola asked shocked and enraged. Quinton married somebody else! Oh, when I get my hands on him, I'll kill him!"

"Nola, aren't you forgetting something? He never met you. And you married someone else too."

"Okay, just tell me, who did Quinton marry?"

"Now, you have to remember that Quinton didn't always have the best taste in women, well, before he met you that is."

"Yeah, yeah, it wasn't love it was more like a sickness. Been there. Done that. Now just tell me what deranged little tramp did he marry?"

"He married Morgan. Morgan Nelson."

"No! No!" Nola screamed, her face turning more scarlet than her blouse. "Kelly's Morgan? Don't tell me that pant-chasing, snot-nosed, little bimbo got her hands on my Quinton!"

"Nola, You have to remember he wasn't 'your' Quinton'. You never answered that classified ad. Morgan did. Remember back then, Quinton was lonely, and confused, and rich. Which made him absolutely perfect for Morgan. Now calm down. They've been divorced for years."

"But I just can't believe he fell for that teeny-bopper slut. And I can't believe Mrs. Renfield didn't kick her gold-digging butt."

"Morgan got rid of Mrs. Renfield the first week she was at Thornway Road."

"How on earth did she do that? Don't tell me. She scared her off with a cat."

"Worse than that. She kept playing her cassette tape of Kelly singing 'You Needed Me'.

"What about Kelly? He must have been devastated when Morgan threw him over for Quinton."

"He was. And after Morgan dumped him, in his distress he sought comfort in the arms of an older woman."

"Reva?"

"No, someone a little older. After his and Morgan's divorce, Kelly started spending a lot more time at the boarding house, and he and Bea began to grow closer."

"I don't like where this is going."

"Nola, Kelly Nelson is your stepfather."

"God, I can't take any more of this. My son is in jail; my daughter has purple hair. I"m lap-dancing for a living; Kelly Nelson is my stepfather, and my Quinton married Morgan. Gunther, you have to help me. I want my old life back. I want Quinton back."

"Nola, I'm sorry, but it's too late to take your wish back. It's too late for you and Quinton.

to be continued --------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's A Wonderful Love" A Quola Christmas Story Part 4

"But part of my wish was that I never met Quinton, right?"

"Right."

"But all I would have to do is to walk into that bookstore, and I would be face to face with him."

"So?"

"Well, Quinton once told me that he fell in love with me the first time he saw me. If I could get him to do the same thing now, wouldn't that prove we belong together?"

"Maybe, Nola. But do you really think you could fall in love with him, with the man he is now. Now there's no quest for the Golden Temple; no trips to romantic cities; no kidnappings to be rescued from; and no vows of undying love by hospital bedsides. It's just Quinton and you. Just a man and a woman. And remember you said that you two would have never come together, if Quinton hadn't been, and these are your own words, Nola, a 'Gothic Indiana Jones'."

"Okay, I said that, but I didn't mean it. I was just so mad. Come on, Gunther, you have to give Quinton and me this chance. For old time's sake."

"Well, it's probably against the rules, and it's probably going to get me in trouble with the big guy, but for you . . . okay. If you fall in love with Quinton all over again, and if you can get him to fall in love with you, I'll let you take back your wish. But Nola, Christmas Eve wishes become permanent at midnight, and it's already 10:45 now. That would only give you one hour, and fifteen minutes. One hour and fifteen minutes to fall in love again, and to get Quinton to confess his love for you. You do remember how long it took him to tell you that before?"

"Yes, I know. But I can do it. I know that I can. I have to."

Nola crossed the street; went in the book store, and found a copy of Quinton's latest book. She got in line with everyone else. She looked at her watch. It was already 10:50. She now only had an hour and ten minutes left.

Thankfully Quinton was being very quick with the signing, barely spending more than a second with each person. A quick smile, a quick scribbled signature, and he was on to the next person in line.

After what seemed like an eternity, Nola was finally at the front of the line. She handed over the book, and with her brightest smile she answered his question "to whom do you want this made out to" with "To Nola Chamberlain, no I mean Nola McCord. No, no. Nola Reardon. No, that's not right either. Nola Parker, that was it."

Quinton didn't even look up to see the woman that wasn't even sure of her own last name. Long ago, he had gotten used to the oddballs and assorted crazies that always attended his appearances. If you wrote books with pictures of ET, Bigfoot and Elvis on the cover, you had to expect some very unusual fans.

Nola panicked. He wasn't even looking at her. How could she make him fall in love with her, if he didn't even look at her? She tried to think. What was the quickest way to get a man's attention? Hadn't she learned something about romance from all those old movies she had watched?

And then it came to her. Nola fainted. Not a real faint, of course, but it was a dramatic enough swoon to make Quinton jump up from the table to assist her.

"My dear lady, are you all right?"

Still the perfect gentleman, maybe Morgan hasn't ruined him for good, Nola couldn't help thinking to herself.

"I'm fine," Nola answered. I just got a little dizzy, and why are you staring at me like that?"

"It's just that . . . you have the most beautiful brown eyes I've ever seen."

"Oh."

"Believe me, I don't usually do this, but would you like to join me for coffee later, after I finish the signing. If I remember correctly there is an all night diner next door."

"Yes, I would. I mean, I would like that very much. But you have to hurry. I only have until midnight."

"Sounds like Cinderella."

"Yeah, something like that."

"By the way, I'm sorry, but I've signed so many books today, that I . . . I don't remember your name."

"It's Nola."

"Well, I guess you already know mine is Quinton McCord, but please, call me Quinton."

"Okay, Quinton."

Nola looked at her watch. It was now 11:15. She only had forty-five minutes left. But she and Quinton were already on a first name basis.

And she knew for them that was an amazingly good start.

to be continued ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's A Wonderful Love" A Quola Christmas Story Part 6

Nola was already seated at a table in the diner, when Quinton walked in. Seeing her there, Quinton smiled a very familiar crooked smile directly at her, and she could almost feel that hard, cold place she had built inside her begin to collapse.

Quinton sat down at the table, just as the waiter appeared. "Nola, would you like something to eat?"

"No. Coffee's fine," Nola answered. She knew that she was positively too nervous to eat anything.

"Well, here we are," Quinton said, sounding as nervous as Nola felt.

"Well, here we are," she repeated not really sure of what else to say.

"So, how long have you been a fan of my books?"

"Your books?"

"Honestly, you've never read any of my books, have you?"

"Honestly, no."

"I didn't think so. You don't look like the kind of woman who's interested in what Elvis is up to these days. But you were at the book signing, so I take it you know the value of what you have?"

"Excuse me?"

"An autographed copy of a Quinton McCord best seller can be worth quite a bit."

"You say that name like it's not even you."

"You're very perceptive, and truthfully, sometimes I feel as if it isn't. Nola, once upon a time, I had dreams, and they didn't include writing this kind of trash. At one time, I even thought that I would be able to make a difference, to accomplish important things in my chosen field."

"What happened?"

"I guess I could blame it on my ex-wife, Morgan."

"I knew it. That little bitch," Nola said under her breath.

"Did you say something?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Well, as I was saying, Morgan wanted to live a certain kind of life - parties every night, hobnobbing with celebrities. She would have never been happy to be the wife of a simple scholar. But then again, I should have known better than marrying someone that young, that immature."

"Just tell me one thing. Did you love her?"

"No, I wouldn't call it love, it was more of a . . . "

"Sickness?"

"That's exactly what I was going to say. Nola, I know I just met you, and this might sound strange but . . . "

"But what?"

"For some reason, I feel like I've known you forever. I feel like I could tell you things, things I've never told another living soul."

"Really," Nola said with wide-eyed surprise. "You were telling me just now about your dreams. What kind of dreams did you have?"

"I'm not sure if I can still remember them. I just know that I wanted to do so much more and be so much more than the man you see before you now. And maybe I could have, if I had made better decisions. And if I had only had someone there beside me, to help me along, to be there for me, to . . . love me. But I never did find that person, and all my dreams were just scattered along the wayside. Nola, do you know how painful that is?"

"Yes, I think I do."

"Oh, look at me. Just talking about myself. I haven't even asked anything about your life."

"Well, there's really not much to tell. I'm a widow; I have two kids, a boy and a girl, but they're grown now."

"Now that is hard to believe."

"I started young. And I'm a . . . a . . . business woman. Oh, who am I trying to kid. I own a strip tease bar. And I dance there too," Nola said holding her head down.

"Oh."

"I guess you're shocked?"

"No, Nola, I'm not. I can't say that I've ever patronized such establishments myself, but my mother raised me on her own and I have only respect and admiration for any mother able to support herself and her children."

"You didn't know your father?"

"No, not when I was growing up. I did have a chance to meet him years later, when I myself, lived in Springfield. He was a very nice man, but I never did reveal to him that I was his son. And unfortunately he died before we ever had a chance to reconcile."

"That's so sad. I know your father loved you very much. I mean, he would have, if he had found out you were his son."

"Nola," Quinton began staring deeply into her eyes, "All my life I've always been haunted by a kind of melancholia, a loneliness that hung over me. Even when I was in a room full of people, I felt utterly and completely alone. But now sitting next to you, it's as if that veil of loneliness has suddenly been lifted away."

"Ah," Nola said totally mesmerized. But then she saw Gunther sitting at a nearby table. "Ah, will you excuse me for a second. I see an old friend."

"How goes it?" Gunther asked as she approached him.

"It goes very well. And Gunther, I realize now that it wasn't the mystery; it wasn't the glamor, it wasn't the adventure or the danger that brought Quinton and me together. We were just a man and a woman who fell in love. A man and a woman that would have fallen in love under any circumstances, because we belong together. So now, please can I take my wish back."

Gunther thought for a moment and then said simply, "No."

"I don't understand."

"Our bargain was that you had to fall in love with him, and he had to fall in love with you."

"But I have fallen in love with him all over again, and I know that he is falling in love with me. I just know it."

"He has to say it."

"You've got to be kidding."

"I'm not, and Nola, you're wasting time. You only have three minutes left."

Nola quickly ran back to the table.

"I was afraid you had deserted me," Quinton said getting up to pull out her chair.

"No, I would never do that. Uh, Quinton, can I ask you something."

"You can ask me anything."

"Good. Uh, ah, This might sound a little crazy, but do you think, maybe there's even a slight chance that you could love me?"

"Well, I . . . I . . . this is going to sound crazy too, but Nola, from the first moment I saw you there, lying on the floor of that bookstore, looking up at me with those big brown eyes, I knew that I could . . . I knew that I did love you."

"Oh, Quinton," Nola said, sighing deeply. "Uh, Quinton . . . "

"Yes, Nola?"

"Hold that thought. I'll be right back."

Running over to Gunther, she exclaimed with triumphantly joy, "He said it! He said it!"

"I know. I know. Nola, that was very good and very fast work."

"Wait a minute. That's why you came here, isn't it? Not to grant me my wish, but to show me that Quinton and I really belong together."

"Yes, Nola. Guilty as charged. And I think that I have accomplished my mission."

"Yes, you have," Nola said as she attempted to give Gunther a hug, but her arms grasped nothing but air, and the next thing she knew, she had fallen off the couch in the boardinghouse.

Picking herself up, she quickly grabbed her wallet and checked her driver's license. "Nola Chamberlain. It was all just a dream."

Just then the door bell rang, and Nola cautiously answered it. She was filled with relief and joy to see it was Quinton. "Oh, I'm so happy you came back," she said giving him a hug.

A very surprised Quinton asked, "Nola, are you saying you're glad to see me?"

"Don't be silly, of course I"m glad to see you Quinton, Quinton Chamberlain, right?"

"Yes."

"Just checking."

"Nola, are you feeling well?"

"I'm feeling great."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. Uh, Nola I wanted to come to apologize to you. I've been doing some thinking. Thinking and walking, actually. I was feeling very depressed, and then I noticed that I had walked all the way to the homeless center on Ninth Street. And it came to me, here I am feeling sorry for myself because I didn't have you, and the people there didn't have anything, not even a home. So I went in, and found the lady in charge of the place. I gave her a very large check. I guess I was thinking that although I had made a complete mess out of my own life, at least I could help others make something out of theirs."

"The lady in charge, by any chance was her name, Stella Powers?"

"Yes it was. Do you know her?"

Nola took a deep breath before saying, "Not really. But I think we both met her once, a long time ago."

"Oh, I almost forgot the other reason I came back. I forgot to give you your Christmas present. If you want, I can leave it under the tree by the others."

"Let me see that," Nola said taking the small wrapped package out of his hand. She noticed then, that instead of a bow, it had a sprig of heather on top. "Oh Quinton," she sighed as she tore off the paper. She found inside a beautiful, diamond and emerald necklace."

"I thought it would go nicely with the emerald engagement ring I gave you. That is if you ever wore it again."

"I will wear it again, I promise. And this necklace too. It's so beautiful. But Quinton, I didn't get you anything."

"That's fine. The only present I ever need is seeing you happy."

"That's so sweet. But you do deserve something. You know, I think that movie marathon is still on. I know. Why, don't we go watch it . . . upstairs."

"Do you mean what I think you mean?"

"Yes, Quinton, I've been reconsidering a lot of things. I was wrong about what I said. I think we would have fallen in love under any circumstances because we were . . . we were meant to be. And I don't want us to break up, not now, not ever. I don't want Stacey to have purple hair. I don't want my son to go to jail. I don't want to spend Christmas Eve lap dancing for Hawk Shayne. I don't want my mom to marry Kelly, and I sure as hell, don't want you to go anywhere near Morgan."

"Nola, are you sure you're okay? Was there something in that egg nog you were drinking?"

"Oh, I'm fine. And I'm perfectly sober and clear headed. Maybe more clear headed than I've been in a long time. Quinton, I just want you to know that if I could make one wish, it would be to spend the rest of my life with you."

"My Dear, I would make the same wish."

"Quinton, wishes made on Christmas Eve are very special."

"Is it still Christmas Eve?"

Just then the Grandfather clock in the hallway struck midnight.

"Not anymore dear. Uh, Quinton we could spend the rest of the night talking, or you could come upstairs and I can give you the present I have for you. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun unwrapping it."

He didn't need any more encouragement than that, and in a move that would have impressed Clark Gable, he swooped Nola up and carried her upstairs. At the head of the stairs, a beaming Nola said, "Merry Christmas, Quinton, darling."

"Merry Christmas, Nola. And what a wonderful Christmas it is."

"And what a wonderful love it is," Nola said hugging him tightly.

"Yes, my dear. A wonderful love it is, indeed."

And as Quinton carried her in the bedroom, and placed her gently on the bed, Nola said, "Did you hear that. It sounded like . . . "

"Harp music?"

"Exactly. Way to go, Gunther."

"What did you say?"

"I said . . . I said I love you, Quinton."

"And I love you too, Nola."

And as they began to make love as only two people truly in love can, Nola was certain of two things. First, that she was going to spend the rest of her life with this man. And second, that the Heavenly Symphony Orchestra had just gained a new member.

THE END Val