Together At Last
They’d waited a whole year for this special family celebration… but would the baby spoil it all?
Draping tinsel over the Christmas tree, Jolie rubbed her bump. Holly Cottage felt so festive with the wreath on the oak front door, the red felt stockings Nev had pinned around the mantelpiece where the log fire threw out some serious heat, and the aroma of his mince pies, browning in the oven.
“Is it OK?” she asked, biting her lip as he curled his arms around her.
“OK? It’s superb.” He kissed her. “You’ve worked really hard to create a proper winter wonderland for the girls.”
I just want Sophie and George to have the best Christmas.
“They will.”
Although Nev was trying to reassure her, Jolie felt nervous. Normally she got on well with her stepdaughters when they stayed alternate weekends, but this was their first Christmas together. A blended family, with their own baby on the way, she wanted the children to feel included and make some special memories.
“Better check the mince pies,” he smiled as she adjusted the lights.
Of course, she was delighted Sophie and George were spending Christmas here. Last year had been hard. Marcia, Nev’s ex-wife, had re-married in December, taking the girls to Fiji for the beachside ceremony.
Nev hadn’t seen them until New Year, but Marcia had promised, “Next Christmas you can have Sophie and George for the whole holiday.”
Naturally he’d wanted the girls to celebrate their mum’s wedding, but he’d missed them terribly. Excitedly, he’d spent all year planning the best Christmas ever.
“We’ll take them to Santa’s grotto, the Trail of Lights starts the night they arrive, and I’ll make all their favourite treats…”
Jolie loved his enthusiasm, but when she discovered she was pregnant she feared the girls would feel pushed out. Nev disagreed, but she wasn’t convinced. She had a younger brother and could remember feeling cross when her parents arrived home with the little bundle. She’d ignored Aaron until she realised he wasn’t going anywhere.
Of course, within days Aaron had enchanted her and now they were super close, but back then he’d felt like a cuckoo in her particularly happy and secure nest. And they were full siblings. How would Sophie and George feel about a half-sister or brother who they lived with only part-time?
Nev returned with coffee and hot mince pies. She smiled up at him.
“Love you, Mr Shaw.”
“And I love you, Mrs Shaw.”
Jolie prepared for her stepdaughters’ arrival, but nothing was big, clean or welcoming enough and she grew anxious.
“Don’t stress – it’s bad for the baby,” Nev soothed. “Sophie and George will love whatever we do.”
“I want it to be special.” She frowned, straightening the reindeer duvet covers.
“It will be, it’s Christmas,” he smiled.
Pleased with the children’s shared bedroom, they went downstairs. She started to prepare the girls’ favourite chilli as Nev left to collect them from school.
She was laying the table when the back door flew open.
“Hi girls, tea’s almost ready,” she greeted them as they ran in.
Almost immediately they stared at her baby bump. Although they’d been excited when they’d told them about the baby, she hadn’t seen them for a couple of weeks. In that time, she’d gone from squeezing into her jeans to wearing sloppy tops. Normally chatty, the children fell silent. Had the frost followed them indoors? Ignoring their unnatural silence, Jolie stirred the chilli and chatted away as Nev laid the table.
Dishing up, she noticed a strange aroma. Had she forgotten an ingredient? Mentally she checked her recipe. Maybe the smell was linked to her pregnancy? Many foods tasted weird. She hadn’t drunk tea for months.
“Enjoy,” she said brightly, placing their plates on the table.
“Thank you,” Sophie said politely, avoiding eye contact.
Even the early days of their relationship hadn’t been this awkward.
As Nev poured drinks, he chatted about the trip to the Trail of Lights planned for that evening.
“Last year’s was magical…”
“Yuk!” George gulped her water.
“George!” Nev said. “That’s rude. Jolie’s spent all afternoon cooking.”
But when she tasted her chilli, Jolie said, “George is right, Nev. It’s horrible.”
She guessed what she’d done and checked the larder.
Oh no – I’ve put cinnamon instead of chilli in the sauce. I’m sorry. Don’t eat it, girls.
“But I’m hungry,” Sophie wailed.
“Me, too.”
Nev swiftly took away the plates.
“Right,” he smiled. “The Shack in the park is open. Come on, grab your coats.”
Sophie and George cheered up. It was their favourite café.
“Thanks,” Jolie whispered. “Must be my baby brain again.”
“No, it’s my fault. I must’ve mixed up the spices when I made the mince pies. No harm done. We’ll have go and have double cheeseburgers instead.”
With full tummies, the girls became animated. The Trail of Lights was spectacular. Walking through a tunnel, covered in multi-coloured fairy lights, Jolie linked her arm through Nev’s.
“Wow! This is beautiful,” she breathed.
“Like you.” He kissed her cold nose.
“Yuk!” George said.
Jolie laughed. “Worse than my chilli?”
The children grinned and the mood became more relaxed.
“Come on,” Jolie said. “Let’s go to the scented fire garden.”
The children ran ahead as Nev squeezed her hand. “You OK?”
“Yes, but I’m worried. The children seem… withdrawn. Is it the baby?” Distractedly she rubbed her bump.
“No, they can’t wait. Maybe they’re overwhelmed. Christmas is a big deal when you’re seven and nine.”
“And when you’re thirty-nine,” she grinned at him.
“OK, I admit I’m a big kid.”
Laughing, they followed the girls through a pathway of giant candles. Where was that intoxicating smell of pine, spices and smoke coming from?
“Look, Daddy!” George said, eyes alive with excitement. She pointed to a series of flaming torches – the source of the aromas.
Following the crowd, Jolie couldn’t remember being so happy until she overheard Sophie whispering to George.
Tears pricked. What did Sophie mean? She glanced at Nev, who was unaware of his daughter’s words. She chewed her lip. The girls did feel threatened by the baby…
After the laser show, they left the park through a flaming arch topped with a massive red bow. The attraction had been excellent, but Sophie’s words haunted Jolie. It’s a shame about the baby…
She sought a positive spin on her words, but could only interpret them negatively. Either Sophie dreaded the baby’s arrival, or she felt Jolie would be an awful mum.
“You OK?” Nev asked, as they walked home, pavements twinkling with frost.
She painted on a smile and nodded.
They huddled on a bench, sipping the welcome warmth of hot chocolate.
“That was the most fantastic evening ever,” Nev said. “And I spent it with my three special girls.”
Sophie and George laughed. Their drinks finished, they linked arms but Jolie noticed she was on the end of the line.
After the success of the Trail of Lights and the animated conversation on the way home, Jolie began to look forward to the holiday. Had she misheard Sophie? But getting ready for bed, the girls fell silent.
“Are they missing their mum?” she asked Nev in an undertone.
“Probably but they’ll soon phone Marcia to wish her goodnight and they’re used to splitting their time between us.”
Jolie sighed.
So, why are they so quiet? Almost… unhappy.
He ran his hands through his chestnut hair. “I’m sure they’re just settling in.”
“No, it’s more than that. Sophie told George she felt sorry for the baby.”
“Really?”
“She must think I’ll be a rotten mum.”
Saying the words aloud made her cry. She loved being married to Nev and delighted in the close bond she’d shared with her stepdaughters – until they’d announced their pregnancy. Had the news spoiled her relationship with them?
“Ah, don’t cry. Maybe you misheard?”
“I know what I heard, Nev.”
“Well, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. Young kids don’t express themselves well. Shall I ask her?”
Jolie blew her nose. “Not tonight. They’ve had a great time at the park.”
“OK,” Nev said, kissing her forehead.
Jolie couldn’t sleep. The baby was very active, kicking along with her thoughts, They don’t like me, they think I’ll be a bad mum, they feel sorry for the baby.
When she finally dozed, she dreamed she’d returned to Holly Cottage with the baby. Sophie and George were waiting in the kitchen, their arms crossed. As she approached, they turned their backs.
The next day, Jolie felt exhausted.
“Look, the weather’s rubbish. Rest, while we make cookies. You can watch a soppy movie,” Nev grinned.
“Not soppy – romantic,” she smiled.
Settling on the sofa, she put on Love Actually. Hearing laughter in the kitchen, she smiled. Maybe it was all working out.
Just as she was nodding off, there was a tug on her arm. Opening her eyes, she saw George standing beside her, flour dotting her nose. Smiling, she held out a plate with a misshapen Christmas tree biscuit.
Here, Jolie, we made this for you.
“Oh, thank you! It looks yummy.”
Maybe Nev was right; she’d misheard.
Eventually the big day arrived, and they awoke to squeals of laughter.
“Santa’s been!” Sophie ran in.
“Did he eat my mince pie?” Nev said.
“Yes. And he left crumbs on the floor.” George tugged his arm. “Get up, Daddy. We want to open our presents.”
Nev laughed as Jolie reached for her dressing gown. In the lounge, he put a log on the fire as the girls studied the impressive pile under the tree.
“I hope I’ve got the game I asked for,” Sophie said.
“And I really want that nail varnish set,” George shouted.
“And I hope I get that Lamborghini I ask for every year,” Nev laughed.
“Well, you might have some driving gloves,” Jolie giggled as she handed Sophie a glittery parcel.
Again, the little girl stared at her bump. “I do feel sorry for the baby,” she sighed.
Jolie felt her breath disappear.
“Why Soph?” Nev asked, quietly.
“Me and George feel so sad…”
Jolie swallowed the lump in her throat.
“For the baby… because she’s missing all this. She didn’t see the Trail of Lights or make biscuits or open any nice presents.”
Jolie sighed with relief. Reaching for the children’s hands, she said, “That’s so sweet of you. And although the baby’s not here to enjoy Christmas this year, she or he will be next year, and we’ll have so much fun.”
“But we’ll be with Mummy and Simon next year.”
“Yes, but we’ll go back to sharing the holidays, so we’ll have our own special Christmas with the baby, too.”
“Well, I’ll save my pocket money to buy the baby a great big present.”
“I think,” Jolie said, “having you and George as sisters is the best present any baby could have.”
And as she glanced at Nev she swore she saw tears glistening in his eyes. Now that really was a Christmas miracle!
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