Page 64 of Merlot Marriage

“Flip!”

I hear my brother before I see him, waving his arms overhead. We head toward them, waving and grinning as we weave through the press of bodies.

Mum and Dad are standing next to him, Mum’s curly hair finer than I remember, but otherwise, they look sun-kissed and healthy. Jono drags a hand down his face as we get close enough for him to take in our clothes. “Are you serious?”

Ophie and I laugh as Jono and Dad groan. Mum is too busy hugging Ophie to notice. I’m swept up in a hug as soon as she releases my wife. “Oh, Flip. Oh, my boy, I’m so glad to see you.” She babbles away as she squeezes my ribs. “And Ophelia, I can’t believe you’re here.”

Mum releases me so Jono can get in a hug. The two of us are passed between the three of them for multiple rounds of hugs before we manage to get sorted with bags and cases, and then Jono leads the way out of the terminal.

The car is filled with chatter as we drive back to Jono and Nicola’s house, where she and the boys are waiting for us. Ophie squeezes in the middle between Mum and me in the back, answering every question Mum throws her way with a tiredsmile. They let us go ahead when we arrive, insisting they can bring the bags inside for us.

I take Ophie’s hand as we walk up the front steps and knock on the door. “Ready?”

“Always.” She goes up on her toes and plants a minty-fresh kiss on my lips as the front door opens.

“Gross!”

“Ew!”

“Awww!”

My nephews and sister-in-law all exclaim at once as we separate. Ophie and I turn to face them at the same time, and Nicola bursts out laughing. Davy a second behind her, shrieking with laughter as he sees the shirts.

I can’t wait to see their faces when they open the matching ones we got for the whole family.

This is going to be the best Christmas ever.

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