I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Clause

Random headed out of Danny's old room - now the computer room.  The kids had been psyched when he'd purchased the cheapest computer on the market.  He kept telling them it was to track the finances at the club, not for them to fool around on!

He passed by the wall of photos, reminding him of his youth and all the good times he'd had.

He loved this family picture.  Danny had taken it before she moved out. 

Thankfully since business was doing so well, Random had been able to quit his job at the restaurant.  He pulled in more from one night at the club than he did in a full week of work.

And man, the Boolprop Bop was bopping! Especially after the newest renovation.

He added some space at the back of the place for snacks and bar.

It wasn't anything fancy, but it kept his customers from leaving in search of food.

 

He was killing it on the dj mix station.  That was a little something something he bought for himself. 

"How much longer is he going to take?" Buddy complained while Jill sipped her coffee and the girls played.   "Can we open presents yet?"

"HAPPY SNOWFLAKE DAY!" Random said, hopping out of the room with grin and a twinkle in his eye.

Buddy snickered while the girls cooed excitedly.  Everyone knew Santa was fake, he thought impatiently with teenage wisdom.

"I heard you were a good boy this year, Buddy," Random said in a fake, booming voice.  "I think you'll like what my little elves made for you in the workshop!"

"Seriously Dad? A Maxis Game Simluator?!" he asked with excitement as he tore through the wrapping paper.  "Awesome! Thanks!"

"And something special for little Miss Ollie.  There were many smiley faces next to your name, so the elves made you something special."

"An Orange-Creme Teddy Bear! I LOOOOOVE it!" she cried as she pulled the stuffed animal from the box.  She immediately sat down and started squeezing it tight.

"Here's something Santa picked out especially for you, Mrs. Boolprop," Random said with a lascivious grin.  "Just don't let your husband see it," he joked, pausing to glance around the room. 

"Dad!" Buddy called out, already deep into setting up his gaming system.  "Gross!"

Jill chuckled as she opened the small box.  "Random! It's beautiful!"  He'd splurged and bought her a gold necklace and earring set.  Nothing but the best for his babe!

"I've got a little something for Santa, too," Jill said, tugging his beard down and smooching him. 

"Mom! You're not supposed to be kissing Santa Clause in front of Orchid!" Ollie gasped.

Random set out Christmas cookies for the guests that would be arriving any moment.  He always liked getting friends and family together for the holidays.

Lyndsey brought her new husband.  At first, Random wasn't sure about him.  Lyndsey had met him on a Bachelor Challenge, after all! But by the end of the party, it was clear Holden was a pretty cool guy.

He'd invited Allyn Thomason since they were both into gardening.  It would be great if they bonded over plants!  Apparently they did not hit it off. 

Ollie hugged Danielle tight.  "Happy Snowflake Day, Mama! Come see the Orange Creme Teddy Daddy got me!" she said, dragging her mom up to her room.

Lyndsey wasn't quite ready to make her good news official.

Jill laughed when she found little Orchid playing with the wrapping paper and empty boxes.  So stinking cute!

As the guests left, Jill plopped down next to Random on the couch with a smile.  "Great party again," she told him, patting his knee.

 "Got any more kisses for Santa?" he asked, tugging her into his lap.  "I'll give you a Dream Date!"

Buddy spent a lot of time outdoors, hunting for bugs.  He was kinda becoming a bug nut.    Jill got mad when they ate her plants, but he begged her not to use pesticides. 

He even started collecting some of the cool ones.  He'd filled in 8 of the 30 spots in the bug box Dad bought him.

"Take me to your leeeeeeder," he told the ants with a laugh.  It was cool watching how they built their little colonies between the panes of glass.

 

Jill was always careful to spray the pesticides when Buddy was at school.  He was so passionate about the creepy little crawlers!  She didn't want them eating away at her prized tomatoes.

She couldn't believe it was already Orchid's birthday.  Time certainly flew by, season by season.

"Happy birthday!" the family cheered as Orchid blew out the candles on the cake.

Random knew he was in trouble because both of his daughters were beautiful!  He was worried about how he'd handle it when they were teenagers and wanted to date! 

But for now, he would just enjoy spending time with them and doting on them.

Random's fingers tapped at the keyboard.  He had a secret project that he was working on.  The computer wasn't just for finances.

Looking for Love - Day Six

Lyndsay woke up, refreshed and ready to face the day.  She was looking forward to her morning dates. 

"Morning, bro," Holden greeted Griff.  Such friendly competition.

Lyndsay hummed as she washed her dirty dish and wondered what she should do for her dates this morning.  She thought she should perhaps take things up a notch.  She needed to make sure...

Her musing was interrupted when Holden strode into the room and pulled her into his arms.

OH JAYSUS!

Kampol and Griff were taken aback by the familiarity between Lyndsay and Holden.

An argument ensued as they made it crystal clear how they felt about her actions.  She tried to point out that it was Holden that had made the advance in front of them, but her defense fell of deaf ears.  They stormed from the room, leaving her alone with Holden.

"Don't worry," Holden said as she reached for his hands.  "They'll get over it soon."

"I can't believe you did that in front of the others," she giggled.  It was kinda funny when she thought back to the looks on their faces.  

Holden gave her a tender look.  "It's all fair in love and war," he told her.  He'd been determined to win Lyndsay's heart.  And if he had to send the competition packing to do it - so be it. 

"You rascal!" Lyndsay said, goosing him.  "Now I have to go see if I can smooth things over. "

"Or not," Holden suggested. "You can always stay in here with me!"

"That's not how the challenge goes!" she protested.

Holden just shrugged.

She found Kampol outside, and it looked like he was plotting her death with a cowplant.

"Hey," she attempted to wolf whistle him into good humor.  "Look who it is, my favorite red-head!"

"Don't! Just don't!" Kampol said angrily.  "Apparently the feelings I had with you weren't reciprocated because I would never do something like that to you!"

Lyndsay wasn't sure what to say to make things better.  He clearly wanted nothing else to do with her.  "I'm sorry," she said sadly.  "It's not how I thought this would go."

She'd had some hope that she'd be able to reason with Griff.  She attempted to charm him out of his bad mood, but he just shook his head and held up his hands, staving her off.

She was surprised by how much that hurt. 

She'd really felt something for him.

The gentlemen gathered for the Compatibility Ceremony, but before Lyndsay could say anything, Griff interrupted the proceedings.   "Look, after what we witnessed this morning, this ceremony is a joke.  You've already made your choice and you're just stringing us along," he said angrily. 

"Griff, that's not true! I was trying..." Lyndsay attempted to explain again how she was trying to test her feelings for each bachelor before making a decision.

 

"Kampol and I talked about it and we agreed. We forfeit. "

The two stormed off, leaving Lyndsay in tears. 

Holden flashed a quick thumbs up.  This went exactly as planned!

 

In retrospect, Kampol decided he didn't feel anything for Lyndsay.  He'd just gotten caught up in the dating fervor.  She may have liked redheads, but he certainly did not like brunettes!

"Turn it off," Griff said gruffly.  "I've got nothing say."  He buried his face in his hands, devastated by the turn of events.  He'd really loved her and losing her like that hurt something fierce. 

 

"I might have won by default, but I couldn't help the way I feel about you," Holden told her, pulling out the ring he'd brought with him, just in cases.  "You may have had a bunch of guys to pick from, but it was always you from the get go for me!"

 

The newly engaged couple snuggled in the interview room, eager for the pictures and questions to be over.  

"And how would you rate your experience?" the producer asked Lyndsay.  "Would you do it again?"

Lyndsay locked eyes with Holden and nodded quickly.  "In a heartbeat," she said tenderly, smiling when Holden reached for her hand and squeezed.

With the house to themselves, Holden and Lyndsay decided to make use of the love tub. 

It may have been too soon for some of the bachelors to return to the Grand Estate.  Kampol and Griff, in particular, did not seem too pleased to be back.

But, they'd contractually agreed to return and celebrate with the happy couple.

 

Griff stood in the back and refused to clap.  It hurt knowing that could've been him if not for that sneaky Holden.

Holden slipped the ring on Lyndsay's finger.

They'd looked and found love!

 

 

*BA HA HA HA - Holden totally threw Day 6 into chaos with his very public move.  Talk about making your relationship public!  Since neither Griff nor Kampol wanted anything to do with Lyndsay anymore, I decided to spare myself the fights and have them walk off.  Fun fact, while Kampol was crushing on Lyndsay, she felt nothing towards him.  He would've been the next to go.  It was super close between Griff and Holden - who knows who would've won if not for that morning fiasco!

 Hope you enjoyed watching Lyndsey's Bachelorette Challenge!  I can't wait for her and Holden to visit Random now!