Page 23 of Christmas at the Movies
Uh-oh,thought Sarah as her mother lunged at her father’s fiancée, clawing at her like a rabid animal.
‘YOU STOLE MY HUSBAND!’ screeched Geraldine.
‘YOU DIDN’T DESERVE HIM!’ yelled Tiffany, trying to push her off. ‘You were more interested in your research than in him!’
Sarah stood, mortified, as the two women tussled on the dance floor. She felt frozen in place, unsure how to intervene.
Quick as a flash, James saved the day.
‘Let’s dance, Geraldine,’ he said. Putting his strong arms around his mother-in-law, he steered her to the other side of the dance floor and stroked her back comfortingly as Geraldine wept on his shoulder.
‘I think we’d better head home,’ said Sarah’s dad, giving her a kiss goodbye. ‘It was a lovely day.’
Apart from the brawl,thought Sarah.
Soon, other guests began to say their goodbyes.
James handed Geraldine over to Meg, who took her mum up to her room.
‘Want to get out of here?’ James whispered in Sarah’s ear.
‘Yes, please.’ She couldn’t wait to be alone with her husband.
A few hours later, they were buckling their seat belts for their early-morning flight.
The captain made an announcement. ‘Welcome aboard this British Airways flight to Los Angeles. We have some newly-weds on board – congratulations to Sarah and James O’Hara!’
Everyone on the plane applauded.
‘How did they know?’ asked Sarah, turning to James.
He grinned. ‘A little birdie told them.’
Deciding where to go on honeymoon had been the easiest part of wedding planning: it had to be Hollywood.
‘What should we watch?’ asked Sarah, flicking through the in-flight magazine.
‘The new Steven Spielberg movie is supposed to be good,’ said James.
After take-off, they snuggled under their fleece blankets and watchedCatch Me If You Canon tiny screens on the back of their seats. Sarah’s head rested on James’s shoulder as they watched the movie. It was about a young con man, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who posed as an airplane pilot in the 1960s.
‘Wow, flying was a lot more glamorous back in the old days, wasn’t it?’ said James, taking off his headphones when the movie was over.
‘Poor guy. I felt sorry for him, even though he was stealing millions,’ said Sarah.
‘He was lonely,’ remarked James. ‘That’s why he phoned the FBI every Christmas Eve. Because he missed his family.’
Being surrounded by their friends and family on their wedding day had made Sarah realise how lucky she and James were. Her parents weren’t perfect, but they both loved her in their own way. And now, she and James were their own little family.
‘Complimentary champagne, Mr and Mrs O’Hara,’ said the flight attendant, bringing them two glasses of champagne from first class.
Sarah laughed. She still wasn’t used to being called Mrs.
‘What were you saying about travelling not being glamorous any more,’ said Sarah, clinking glasses with her husband.
‘To us,’ said James. ‘On our wedding day.’
‘But it’s not our wedding day any more,’ replied Sarah.
