Categories > Celebrities > Fall Out Boy > I’m Two Quarters and a Heart Down
We slept late on Christmas Eve. We had been invited to a “Friends’Mas” held over at Patrick’s house. Andy wasn’t there because he was at home with his family and waiting for Ash to join him. She was going to head out to see him the day after Christmas. She was going to see her Mom and Dad in Green Bay for a few days and then go see Andy before going back to D.C. She didn’t have much time off to spend out there. He was going to go back with her and spend a few weeks at the house in D.C. They were trying to figure out the long distance thing too.
However, Joe and his girlfriend Marie were there. And a bunch of other people I didn’t know. But they all knew Pete and Patrick and Joe. Most of them were friendly, fun people and I had a good time. I met some really nice people and started some good friendships. I got a chance to visit some with Patrick. I hadn’t seen him since the day I spent with them in D.C. Marie was lovely, her and Joe were a great couple.
Pete and I stayed late and then headed back to the room. We had a quiet Christmas Eve night. It was different than any I had before, but I was with him and that was all that mattered to me.
We got up on the early side on Christmas morning. We wanted to spend most of the day with his family. We had been told that dinner would be at 2PM. But we were welcome as early as we wanted to get there. Gifts were going to be opened after dinner. I had a bag filled with wrapped gifts for his family. I had his gift in there too. He also had a bag of gifts for his family. We ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant before getting ready and going to his parents house.
Pete was in black jeans, a royal blue button down shirt and a black vest. I was in a green dress. We looked very festive.
Before we left Pete asked, “Would you like to open your gift here in private or at my family’s house?”
“I don’t know. Is it appropriate to open in front of your family?”
He grinned at me, “Yes it is.”
“Then I’ll open it there. I want you to open yours there.” I told him. He just nodded.
We got there a little after eleven in the morning. We were greeted at the front door by Mr. Wentz. His smile was warm and inviting.
“Pete, Sky, come in, come in! Merry Christmas!” He said as we entered. He had a hug for his son, and one for me too. This was a completely different man than the one I had met just two days before.
Peter ushered us into the living room. Pete put all of our gifts under the tree. Mrs. Wentz came in and greeted us with hugs. I offered my help in the kitchen. She said she didn’t need it, but if I wanted to keep her company she would be happy to have it. I did end up in the kitchen with Mrs. Werntz and Hilary helping where I could. Pete, Drew, and Peter all came and went from the kitchen. Sometimes just to see how much longer, sometimes to actually help if they could. Mrs. Werntz had them set the table for her. Hills and I helped bring all the food to the table. This time, Pete was allowed to sit next to me.
Dinner was a wonderful meal. So much nicer than the one we had just a few nights before. The food was delicious, and everyone enjoyed it. The mood was welcoming and friendly, not the cold judgmental one from before. I was asked more about myself and my life, but those were honest questions that didn’t feel intrusive. And I got a chance to ask a few of my own. I had a real chance to get to know them. And I liked them a lot.
When dinner was over, and no one wanted pie yet, I stood up and started to clear my plate. I nudged Pete and shot him a look that said, help me with this. He also grabbed his dishes and stood up. Mrs. Wentz started to fuss and tell us to stop.
“Mrs. Wentz, let us clean up. You cooked, we’ll clean.” I looked over at Drew and shot him the same look I had given Pete. He also started to gather up the plates and glasses.
“Yeah, Mom,” Hilary spoke up as she also started to pick up the table. “Let us do this. You and Dad go sit in the living room and have a glass of wine or something.”
“We’ve got this.” Drew flashed a smile at his mom. He had the same charisma his brother did.
“Mom, go sit. We’ll be done soon.” Pete said. He also flashed that Wentz smile at her.
“Oh, alright. But let me know if you need anything. Or don’t know where something goes.” Mrs. Wentz said as she and Mr. Wentz exchanged a look.
Hilary and Drew took their handful of dishes to the kitchen and Mr. and Mrs. Wentz exited through the hallway. Pete stood next to me and smiled, before saying, “Such a kind soul.” and then taking his dishes, headed to the kitchen.
As he walked away, I said, “No, just manners, Pete.” And then followed him as I took a stack of dishes to the kitchen.
The four of us quickly put away the leftovers, loaded the dishwasher, washed the dishes that didn’t fit, and wiped down the counters and stove top. I made sure the kitchen was to Cloud’s standard before letting the siblings leave. Mrs. Wentz’s kitchen was spotless when we left it.
The four of us headed to the living room once we were done. The Wentzs were comfortable in their chairs, leaving the loveseat and couch open for us. With his hand on my back, Pete steered me to the loveseat sitting next to me.
“Who wants to play Santa this year?” Peter asked his kids.
“I will.” Hilary offered. She started handing out the gifts. I knew I would have Pete’s gift, but didn’t expect anything else. Mrs. Wentz had made sure I had a few things under the tree. As everyone started opening the wrapped boxes and bags, Hilary handed Pete my gift.
“Here Pete. Not sure who it’s from. Tag just says, To Pete.” She said as she handed him the box.
“That's from me.” I said. He looked at me and then down at the box in his hands.
“Open it,” I urged him with a grin.
Pete turned the small box over in his hands. It was about an inch deep and 5x5 inches square. He opened the wrapping with more care than was needed. Once it was free of its wrappings he took the lid off. What he saw inside wasn’t what he expected. He looked at the pocket watch resting in the box and then back up to me.
“This is beautiful,” he told me.
“What is it, Pete?” Asked his mother.
“A pocket watch,” he told her as he lifted it out of the box to show them.
“I think an explanation is needed.” I told Pete. “There’s a tradition in my family, on my fathers side, the ones still in Ireland, that the McCann woman follow. It started with my grandparents. You see, when they got married, my Grandad was starting his career with the embassy. He was getting assigned for short stays to different countries. A few weeks, a month or two, that kind of thing. Gran couldn’t always go with him. So, she bought him a pocket watch, a lot like this one, and told him to set it to Dublin time, so that he would always know what time it was at home. He carried that watch for 56 years. It was always set to Dublin time except when Gran and later the children could go with him. At those times, he set it to the time where they were. Because, wherever Gran was, was home.”
I smiled at him and then said, “Open it.”
He did, but a confused look passed over his face. “What does it say?”
“Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.” (guh nye-REE un BO-har lat) “It’s Gaelic. There are two translations for it. The most common is ‘May the road rise to meet you’. But the more literal translation is, ‘May the journey you are making be a safe one’. Gran had the same saying engraved in Grandad’s.”
“Both of my aunts, and one of my cousins, have continued this tradition with their now husbands. I wanted to do it with you. I know we’re going to be apart at times. More than either of us want. But when we have to be apart, you’ll have this to remember that I’m waiting for you. I have it set to Eastern time, D.C. time. But you can always change it if you want to.”
He hadn’t taken his eyes off mine as I explained this gift to him and what it actually meant to me to give it to him. The look he was giving me was one that I was starting to know. It was the look he had when he was realizing just how much I loved him, and just how much he loved me.
“Thank you. I love it. I’ll take it with me always.” He took a good look at it and then asked, “Mom, what time is it?”
“4:13,” Mrs. Wentz answered after a short pause.
Pete reset the time on the watch. Looking up at me with a soft smile, he said, “You’re not in D.C. You’re here with me.”
“Do you know how to wear one of these?” I asked him.
“No, not really.” He admitted.
I stood up, pulling him up with me and said, “Here, let me show you.” I took the watch from his hands. “When you have a vest on, like you do today, you wear it like this.” I dropped the watch into his pocket. “You put the watch in the pocket, and put the chain in through one of the buttonholes.” I unbuttoned the button in the middle of his vest. “This chain had a T-bar on it to hold it in place. See?” I showed him as I put the chain through the buttonhole, then rebuttoned the button. “There is another clip you can put on the chain if you aren’t wearing a vest that hooks it to your belt. I’ll show you that later.”
We were standing facing each other in front of the loveseat. He looked down at himself admiring his new watch.
He looked back up at me smiling. “Thank you so much.” Then he kissed me. He didn’t seem to care that his whole family was watching us. I didn’t either and kissed him back.
“Merry Christmas.”
“I think I should give you my present next.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket. “I didn’t wrap it because it’s so small.” He handed me the box. It was the size of a ring box. “It’s not what you might think it is.”
I sat back down to open it. I opened it and saw a Claddagh ring there. “Oh, Pete,” I whispered. He sat back down next to me. I looked at him and asked, “Do you know what this is? What it means to me to give it to me?”
Pete only nodded as he smiled at me. “It’s a Claddagh ring.” I was shocked that he got the pronunciation right. “I know what it is and what it means. Grá Dílseacht Cairdeas. (Graw DeelShockt Karjas)” He said in Gaelic. Once again I was surprised that he pronounced it correctly. You could tell he had practiced it. “Love, loyalty, and friendship. That’s us, isn’t it? I also know that where and how you wear it means different things.”
“What’s a Claddagh ring?” Drew asked.
“It’s a traditional Irish ring. You might have heard of it as an Irish wedding ring. But it’s more than that.” I answered without thinking.
“Why does it matter how you wear it?” Hilary asked.
Pete answered her, “If it's worn on the right hand with the point of the heart pointing away from your heart it means you’re single. If you wear it on the right hand, point facing you, you’re in a relationship. If you wear it on the left hand, point facing away, you're engaged. On the left hand, point facing you, you're married.”
“How did you know?” I asked him.
“Cloud and Heather.” He said and smiled at me. “I saw hers and asked about it when I was out there. Cloud explained what it was. He also told me that you would want one, but would never ask for it.”
Gods, I love my brother.
“Which hand are you going to wear it on, Sky?” Mrs. Wentz asked. That’s when I realized his whole family was watching and listening to us.
“That’s up to Pete.” I said looking at him.
He picked up the ring and placed it on my right hand, point facing me. “It won’t stay there forever. But there’s no rush to move it to your left hand.”
“No, no rush at all.” I agreed with a sincere smile. “Thank you. I love it.” I slipped my hand into his and leaned in to say. “And, I love you.’
“Oh my God! You two are just too perfect! Well, at least your kids will be gorgeous. I mean, how can they not be? Just look at you two.” Hilary interjected.
Drew cracked up at that, and said, “Only if they look like Sky.” Then the mood shifted back to joy and holiday cheer.
I had given both Drew and Peter tickets to the Blackhawks/Capitals hockey game. We would be back in California by then, but I would have liked to gone to it. Hockey is the only sport I follow. Cloud had played for a few years as a kid, and we started watching the games back then. We both still watch it. And of course I was a Caps fan. Hometown team after all. The Blackhawks and the Caps played in different conferences so they only played each other once in a while as a special game. They were delighted with the gift. Both of them were hockey fans.
For Hilary, I gifted her a very nice eyeshadow pallet and a gift card to Ulta. Both of these things Pete had told me were on her wish list. And for Mrs. Wentz I gave her two things, one, a very nice necklace with the birthstones of all three of her kids. And the second thing was a year long subscription to a by-weekly flower delivery. She would receive two bouquets a month for a year. She’d have fresh flowers in her house all year.
After gifts, everyone was ready for pie and coffee. We spent most of the evening with his family, and I was happy about it. It felt nice to be in a family that was so happy on this holiday. If I had stayed home, I would have been alone in the house with the dog. I was invited to go to Heather’s with her and Cloud. But I wouldn’t have taken the offer.
When we were finally ready to leave for the night, his parents walked us to the door. Mr. Wentz once again held my coat to help me into it.
“Thank you, sir.” I said as he helped me.
“Sky, please call me Peter. No more sir or Mr. Wentz.” Peter said.
“And please call me Dale.” Mrs. Wentz said.
“You’re family now. No need for formalities.” Peter said. “And thank you. For the gifts, and for getting the kids to do the cleaning up. I’ve never seen either of the boys do that. You gave them one look and they scampered.” He chuckled at that. “You seem to know how to handle us Wentz men. You’re a good influence on Pete.” He smiled that familiar smile at me, then he patted my cheek. “And I’m sorry for the other night, I had to be sure you were the real deal.”
“Welcome to the family, Dear.” Dale said, smiling at me.
“Thank you Mrs. er.. Dale.” I corrected myself. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to calling my friends' parents by their first names. It goes against my upbringing. But I’ll try to remember.”
“Goodnight you two. Merry Christmas.” Dale said.
“Merry Christmas Mom and Dad. Love you.” Pete said as we left.
We eventually headed back to our hotel. I was tired and ready to relax for the evening.
However, Joe and his girlfriend Marie were there. And a bunch of other people I didn’t know. But they all knew Pete and Patrick and Joe. Most of them were friendly, fun people and I had a good time. I met some really nice people and started some good friendships. I got a chance to visit some with Patrick. I hadn’t seen him since the day I spent with them in D.C. Marie was lovely, her and Joe were a great couple.
Pete and I stayed late and then headed back to the room. We had a quiet Christmas Eve night. It was different than any I had before, but I was with him and that was all that mattered to me.
We got up on the early side on Christmas morning. We wanted to spend most of the day with his family. We had been told that dinner would be at 2PM. But we were welcome as early as we wanted to get there. Gifts were going to be opened after dinner. I had a bag filled with wrapped gifts for his family. I had his gift in there too. He also had a bag of gifts for his family. We ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant before getting ready and going to his parents house.
Pete was in black jeans, a royal blue button down shirt and a black vest. I was in a green dress. We looked very festive.
Before we left Pete asked, “Would you like to open your gift here in private or at my family’s house?”
“I don’t know. Is it appropriate to open in front of your family?”
He grinned at me, “Yes it is.”
“Then I’ll open it there. I want you to open yours there.” I told him. He just nodded.
We got there a little after eleven in the morning. We were greeted at the front door by Mr. Wentz. His smile was warm and inviting.
“Pete, Sky, come in, come in! Merry Christmas!” He said as we entered. He had a hug for his son, and one for me too. This was a completely different man than the one I had met just two days before.
Peter ushered us into the living room. Pete put all of our gifts under the tree. Mrs. Wentz came in and greeted us with hugs. I offered my help in the kitchen. She said she didn’t need it, but if I wanted to keep her company she would be happy to have it. I did end up in the kitchen with Mrs. Werntz and Hilary helping where I could. Pete, Drew, and Peter all came and went from the kitchen. Sometimes just to see how much longer, sometimes to actually help if they could. Mrs. Werntz had them set the table for her. Hills and I helped bring all the food to the table. This time, Pete was allowed to sit next to me.
Dinner was a wonderful meal. So much nicer than the one we had just a few nights before. The food was delicious, and everyone enjoyed it. The mood was welcoming and friendly, not the cold judgmental one from before. I was asked more about myself and my life, but those were honest questions that didn’t feel intrusive. And I got a chance to ask a few of my own. I had a real chance to get to know them. And I liked them a lot.
When dinner was over, and no one wanted pie yet, I stood up and started to clear my plate. I nudged Pete and shot him a look that said, help me with this. He also grabbed his dishes and stood up. Mrs. Wentz started to fuss and tell us to stop.
“Mrs. Wentz, let us clean up. You cooked, we’ll clean.” I looked over at Drew and shot him the same look I had given Pete. He also started to gather up the plates and glasses.
“Yeah, Mom,” Hilary spoke up as she also started to pick up the table. “Let us do this. You and Dad go sit in the living room and have a glass of wine or something.”
“We’ve got this.” Drew flashed a smile at his mom. He had the same charisma his brother did.
“Mom, go sit. We’ll be done soon.” Pete said. He also flashed that Wentz smile at her.
“Oh, alright. But let me know if you need anything. Or don’t know where something goes.” Mrs. Wentz said as she and Mr. Wentz exchanged a look.
Hilary and Drew took their handful of dishes to the kitchen and Mr. and Mrs. Wentz exited through the hallway. Pete stood next to me and smiled, before saying, “Such a kind soul.” and then taking his dishes, headed to the kitchen.
As he walked away, I said, “No, just manners, Pete.” And then followed him as I took a stack of dishes to the kitchen.
The four of us quickly put away the leftovers, loaded the dishwasher, washed the dishes that didn’t fit, and wiped down the counters and stove top. I made sure the kitchen was to Cloud’s standard before letting the siblings leave. Mrs. Wentz’s kitchen was spotless when we left it.
The four of us headed to the living room once we were done. The Wentzs were comfortable in their chairs, leaving the loveseat and couch open for us. With his hand on my back, Pete steered me to the loveseat sitting next to me.
“Who wants to play Santa this year?” Peter asked his kids.
“I will.” Hilary offered. She started handing out the gifts. I knew I would have Pete’s gift, but didn’t expect anything else. Mrs. Wentz had made sure I had a few things under the tree. As everyone started opening the wrapped boxes and bags, Hilary handed Pete my gift.
“Here Pete. Not sure who it’s from. Tag just says, To Pete.” She said as she handed him the box.
“That's from me.” I said. He looked at me and then down at the box in his hands.
“Open it,” I urged him with a grin.
Pete turned the small box over in his hands. It was about an inch deep and 5x5 inches square. He opened the wrapping with more care than was needed. Once it was free of its wrappings he took the lid off. What he saw inside wasn’t what he expected. He looked at the pocket watch resting in the box and then back up to me.
“This is beautiful,” he told me.
“What is it, Pete?” Asked his mother.
“A pocket watch,” he told her as he lifted it out of the box to show them.
“I think an explanation is needed.” I told Pete. “There’s a tradition in my family, on my fathers side, the ones still in Ireland, that the McCann woman follow. It started with my grandparents. You see, when they got married, my Grandad was starting his career with the embassy. He was getting assigned for short stays to different countries. A few weeks, a month or two, that kind of thing. Gran couldn’t always go with him. So, she bought him a pocket watch, a lot like this one, and told him to set it to Dublin time, so that he would always know what time it was at home. He carried that watch for 56 years. It was always set to Dublin time except when Gran and later the children could go with him. At those times, he set it to the time where they were. Because, wherever Gran was, was home.”
I smiled at him and then said, “Open it.”
He did, but a confused look passed over his face. “What does it say?”
“Go n-éirí an bóthar leat.” (guh nye-REE un BO-har lat) “It’s Gaelic. There are two translations for it. The most common is ‘May the road rise to meet you’. But the more literal translation is, ‘May the journey you are making be a safe one’. Gran had the same saying engraved in Grandad’s.”
“Both of my aunts, and one of my cousins, have continued this tradition with their now husbands. I wanted to do it with you. I know we’re going to be apart at times. More than either of us want. But when we have to be apart, you’ll have this to remember that I’m waiting for you. I have it set to Eastern time, D.C. time. But you can always change it if you want to.”
He hadn’t taken his eyes off mine as I explained this gift to him and what it actually meant to me to give it to him. The look he was giving me was one that I was starting to know. It was the look he had when he was realizing just how much I loved him, and just how much he loved me.
“Thank you. I love it. I’ll take it with me always.” He took a good look at it and then asked, “Mom, what time is it?”
“4:13,” Mrs. Wentz answered after a short pause.
Pete reset the time on the watch. Looking up at me with a soft smile, he said, “You’re not in D.C. You’re here with me.”
“Do you know how to wear one of these?” I asked him.
“No, not really.” He admitted.
I stood up, pulling him up with me and said, “Here, let me show you.” I took the watch from his hands. “When you have a vest on, like you do today, you wear it like this.” I dropped the watch into his pocket. “You put the watch in the pocket, and put the chain in through one of the buttonholes.” I unbuttoned the button in the middle of his vest. “This chain had a T-bar on it to hold it in place. See?” I showed him as I put the chain through the buttonhole, then rebuttoned the button. “There is another clip you can put on the chain if you aren’t wearing a vest that hooks it to your belt. I’ll show you that later.”
We were standing facing each other in front of the loveseat. He looked down at himself admiring his new watch.
He looked back up at me smiling. “Thank you so much.” Then he kissed me. He didn’t seem to care that his whole family was watching us. I didn’t either and kissed him back.
“Merry Christmas.”
“I think I should give you my present next.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket. “I didn’t wrap it because it’s so small.” He handed me the box. It was the size of a ring box. “It’s not what you might think it is.”
I sat back down to open it. I opened it and saw a Claddagh ring there. “Oh, Pete,” I whispered. He sat back down next to me. I looked at him and asked, “Do you know what this is? What it means to me to give it to me?”
Pete only nodded as he smiled at me. “It’s a Claddagh ring.” I was shocked that he got the pronunciation right. “I know what it is and what it means. Grá Dílseacht Cairdeas. (Graw DeelShockt Karjas)” He said in Gaelic. Once again I was surprised that he pronounced it correctly. You could tell he had practiced it. “Love, loyalty, and friendship. That’s us, isn’t it? I also know that where and how you wear it means different things.”
“What’s a Claddagh ring?” Drew asked.
“It’s a traditional Irish ring. You might have heard of it as an Irish wedding ring. But it’s more than that.” I answered without thinking.
“Why does it matter how you wear it?” Hilary asked.
Pete answered her, “If it's worn on the right hand with the point of the heart pointing away from your heart it means you’re single. If you wear it on the right hand, point facing you, you’re in a relationship. If you wear it on the left hand, point facing away, you're engaged. On the left hand, point facing you, you're married.”
“How did you know?” I asked him.
“Cloud and Heather.” He said and smiled at me. “I saw hers and asked about it when I was out there. Cloud explained what it was. He also told me that you would want one, but would never ask for it.”
Gods, I love my brother.
“Which hand are you going to wear it on, Sky?” Mrs. Wentz asked. That’s when I realized his whole family was watching and listening to us.
“That’s up to Pete.” I said looking at him.
He picked up the ring and placed it on my right hand, point facing me. “It won’t stay there forever. But there’s no rush to move it to your left hand.”
“No, no rush at all.” I agreed with a sincere smile. “Thank you. I love it.” I slipped my hand into his and leaned in to say. “And, I love you.’
“Oh my God! You two are just too perfect! Well, at least your kids will be gorgeous. I mean, how can they not be? Just look at you two.” Hilary interjected.
Drew cracked up at that, and said, “Only if they look like Sky.” Then the mood shifted back to joy and holiday cheer.
I had given both Drew and Peter tickets to the Blackhawks/Capitals hockey game. We would be back in California by then, but I would have liked to gone to it. Hockey is the only sport I follow. Cloud had played for a few years as a kid, and we started watching the games back then. We both still watch it. And of course I was a Caps fan. Hometown team after all. The Blackhawks and the Caps played in different conferences so they only played each other once in a while as a special game. They were delighted with the gift. Both of them were hockey fans.
For Hilary, I gifted her a very nice eyeshadow pallet and a gift card to Ulta. Both of these things Pete had told me were on her wish list. And for Mrs. Wentz I gave her two things, one, a very nice necklace with the birthstones of all three of her kids. And the second thing was a year long subscription to a by-weekly flower delivery. She would receive two bouquets a month for a year. She’d have fresh flowers in her house all year.
After gifts, everyone was ready for pie and coffee. We spent most of the evening with his family, and I was happy about it. It felt nice to be in a family that was so happy on this holiday. If I had stayed home, I would have been alone in the house with the dog. I was invited to go to Heather’s with her and Cloud. But I wouldn’t have taken the offer.
When we were finally ready to leave for the night, his parents walked us to the door. Mr. Wentz once again held my coat to help me into it.
“Thank you, sir.” I said as he helped me.
“Sky, please call me Peter. No more sir or Mr. Wentz.” Peter said.
“And please call me Dale.” Mrs. Wentz said.
“You’re family now. No need for formalities.” Peter said. “And thank you. For the gifts, and for getting the kids to do the cleaning up. I’ve never seen either of the boys do that. You gave them one look and they scampered.” He chuckled at that. “You seem to know how to handle us Wentz men. You’re a good influence on Pete.” He smiled that familiar smile at me, then he patted my cheek. “And I’m sorry for the other night, I had to be sure you were the real deal.”
“Welcome to the family, Dear.” Dale said, smiling at me.
“Thank you Mrs. er.. Dale.” I corrected myself. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to calling my friends' parents by their first names. It goes against my upbringing. But I’ll try to remember.”
“Goodnight you two. Merry Christmas.” Dale said.
“Merry Christmas Mom and Dad. Love you.” Pete said as we left.
We eventually headed back to our hotel. I was tired and ready to relax for the evening.
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