Page 63 of Christmas Romance Galore!
“I’ll put the kettle on,” she shouted.
Ten minutes later and I was sitting at the table in Mum’s bright kitchen, her well-tended garden shivering through the window in the winter air. Freshly baked mince pies were cooling on wire trays, veg was prepped and floating in water, and a Christmas ham was glazed and steaming on a wooden board.
I sipped my tea and took in the familiar scene from my childhood. Everything was just the same, apart from one crucial missing person.
“What time did you get up this morning? This makes me look lazy.”
Mum smiled. “You know me — I’m an early bird. Plus, nothing excites me like Christmas morning, so I like to enjoy as much of it as I can!” She gave me a squeeze and a kiss. “This was always your dad’s favourite morning too, you know.”
“Dad loved every morning in December.”
She smiled. “He did, didn’t he?” A pause. “God, I miss him.”
I squeezed her back. Dad’s absence at this time of year was like an open wound, one that would never heal. We just had to patch it up the best way we knew how and make this the best Christmas ever in his honour. We wouldn’t ever forget him, so it seemed appropriate to include him in whatever we did.
“I know. I miss him too.” My mouth twitched. “But that’s why I love Christmas so much, Dad’s love of it was infectious. Which is why I hate that Holly has to have a sad one, on her birthday too. I wish there was something I could do.”
Mum shot me a sympathetic glance. “Families have to do their own traditions. You can make new ones soon for yourself, you’ll see. And have I told you how happy I am you’re with Holly?”
I smiled up at her. “I might have got that impression when you screamed down the phone.”
“Well I am. She’s wonderful. She’s everything I could ever have hoped for my darling daughter.”
I grinned up at her. “For once in our lives when it comes to my love life, we’re in total agreement.”
Mum brushed her hand across my cheek. “And you’re looking good on it too — glowing. I remember glowing when I first met your father, everybody said so.” She gave me a wistful smile. “Glowing is good, kiddo, so cherish it. Hold on to the person who makes you glow. They’re few and far between.”
I caught my mum’s hand and kissed it. “I intend to hold on to her,” I replied.
If Holly and I could be anything like my mum and dad, that would make us an incredible love story.
I already knew we stood a fighting chance.
The first eggnogs had been demolished, the turkey was resting and dinner was a mere half hour from being served. Gran and Aunty Ellen were busy peering at their new fitness trackers attached to their wrists — Mum’s present to them both.
“So it monitors your steps, your calorie intake and your sleep?” Gran was tapping it, and every time it lit up, her face went into delighted mode.
“It does,” I told her.
“But how does it know what I’ve eaten?” Gran held up her wrist and peered all around her present. “Does it have a camera on it recording me?”
Mum laughed. “You have to log your food in your iPhone, Mum. I gave you my old one, so you’ve got one of those.”
“Right.” Gran put her mouth to her wrist. “Hello?” she said.
Mum sighed. “It can’t hear you.”
Gran winked. “I’m having you on,” she replied. “So it’s called a Fitvit?” She paused. “What does the ‘VIT’ stand for, I wonder?”
“Very important person, Jill. Are you stupid?” That was Aunt Ellen chiming in.
“VIT, not VIP. And who are you calling stupid?” Gran nudged Ellen with her elbow.
“It’s FitBIT, not VIT,” Mum said. “Fitbit.”
“Aaah!” both sisters chorused.
I burst out laughing. “You should take this on the road, you know. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.”
