Page 7 of Christmas Romance Galore!
I was sitting in the staff lounge when my phone went — it was my mum. I turned down the radio, which was blaring out ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’, the original Band Aid version.
“Hey kiddo.” It was my mum’s standard greeting. “Just calling to make sure your December plans are in place.”
I smiled a sad smile — Mum did this call every year now. It used to be the province of my dad, the original Christmas enthusiast and the person who had pumped the festive season into an unmissable yearly excitement-fest for me.
Unfortunately, he’d also died on the same day seven years earlier, just a few months after my 20th birthday. An untimely heart attack on his second favourite day of the year, December 1st. Despite that though, Mum had carried on their traditions without missing a beat, even though I know how hard that must have been for her. And now, here she was, keeping the spirit alive.
“All good — I’ll be putting up the tree and the decorations later, like always,” I said.
“Did you get the Advent calendar?”
I swallowed down some tears that threatened. Even seven years on, they could take me by surprise. “I did, thanks. It arrived yesterday.”
Dad always bought us all individual calendars for the festive season, and this was another tradition that had continued even when I’d left home. Dad said he’d do it until I was married, then my wife could take over. For now, it was still Mum calling the Advent calendar shots.
“I got you a chocolate one — got myself a picture one, though. You’re still young enough, I’ve got to watch my waistline.”
I blinked as I pictured my dad with his chocolate calendar. He was always up first and he’d always eaten his chocolate before anyone else, like a naughty schoolboy. I always assumed he’d been hard done by as a child, but apparently not — he just loved Christmas and chocolate.
“How you doing?” My voice was shaky, but I knew Mum would understand.
“I’m okay,” she replied. “Some days are better than others.” A pause. “But I still love Christmas, still love all the memories we made over the years.” She rallied. “I bought your gran a calendar too. She told me I was mad, but I think she was secretly pleased.”
I chuckled down the phone. “Like every year?”
“Pretty much.” She paused. “So what’s new with you — job okay?”
I nodded, even though I knew she couldn’t see me. “Yep, all fine. Job’s good, and I’m on a dating marathon to find a girlfriend by Christmas. It’s not going too well so far.”
I could hear Mum frown down the phone.
“Stop frowning,” I said.
“How do you know I’m frowning?”
“I just do.”
A pause. “A dating marathon? Those two words don’t sound like they go together.”
“You might be right, but I’ll let you know after date two, which is tonight.”
Another pause — I could tell Mum wasn’t behind this plan. “Why the sudden rush to get a girlfriend?”
“I just thought it was time, you know.” I let the sentence hang, and so did my mum.
“And what does Holly have to say about this?” she asked eventually.
“About the same as you — she thinks I’m being ridiculous.”
My mum’s soft laugh landed in my ear. “Well, tell her hi from me, and tell her she’s welcome at Christmas too.”
“I will,” I said. “Listen, I have to go. Thanks for the calendar. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay, but just be careful,” Mum replied. “You’re my only daughter and I worry about your heart. Listen to what Holly says, I trust her.”
“More than you trust me?” There was a slight hint of indignation in my voice.
“Sometimes, yes.”
