Page 13 of We Three Kings

Leo takes a deep breath. ‘What I mean is that I spent a lot of time on the garlands, I don’t trust anyone else to put them up…and you’re too short, clearly.’

I laugh. ‘Well, get them toasties on too, yeah? I’ve got twenty metres of LEDs to get up.’

He gives me a thumbs up, festive tunes still playing in the background, and as I leave the room, possibly swaying to the music, I try to work out if it’s the Christmas lights or something else that is making me look at him differently.

FIVE

Three Weeks Later

19th December

‘AUNTY MAGGIE!’ two voices chime out of the front door as it opens. They both stand there in their Christmas pyjamas and onesies, arms in the air, jigging around to see my face. This may be because I’m carrying bags of gifts, but I do genuinely like how these girls always seem excited to see me. I bend down to cuddle each of them.

‘Paige! Bella!’ I hold them close, inhaling a whiff of Vicks and shampoo.

‘GIRLS, WHY IS THE FRONT DOOR OPEN? IS THAT THAT CHARITY MAN ASKING FOR MONEY FOR THE DOGS HOME AGAIN?’ a voice booms down from upstairs. I peer up through the gap to hear splashing and what sounds like someone wrestling a large marine animal.

‘It’s Aunty Maggie!’ Bella wails.

‘HEY, MAGGIE! CLOSE THE DOOR, COME STRAIGHT UP!’

I enter the house, closing the door behind me, without evena moment to take off my beanie as Paige and Bella drag me into the living room. ‘Come and see our tree!’ they chime. They lead me into the living room to see a wondrous festive flickering creation in the corner, which seems to possess every light of every feasible colour. None of the ornaments match, and on the top is a monkey puppet with tinsel wrapped around him.

‘It is possibly the best thing I’ve ever seen.’ They stand there beaming. I will assume they were given full creative control. ‘Let me leave my pressies here – no peeking – and we’ll go and see your mum, yeah?’

They both nod animatedly as I unlace my boots and take off my coat, scarf and hat.

‘And how are you both doing? How’s Harry doing?’

‘He’s always on Mummy’s boobies,’ Paige informs me.

‘Well, that’s good, isn’t it? If he’s eating that means he’ll grow big and strong.’

‘Mummy says she feels like a cow though,’ Paige continues. This makes Bella giggle and she moos as we walk upstairs. I always like this house. Some would say messy, but to me it shows signs of life, fun, family. It’s random Lego men next to lone socks, pasta art hanging off the walls. I get to the top of the stairs and pop my head around the bathroom door. ‘Gem?’

She kneels over the bath, the sleeves of her sweatshirt rolled up, messy bun on her head, trying to blow errant bits of her auburn hair out of her face. In the bath, baby Harry is all limbs like he’s fighting against the water but having the best time.

‘Pass me that towel, hun. Excuse the mess.’ I do as I’m told as she dangles Harry over the bath to drip-dry him while kicking dirty clothes into a pile with a foot. She then bundles him into a towel and sits down on the toilet. His little face peers out at me. He doesn’t quite know how to react to me yet but I’ll give him time.

‘And hello. How are you?’ she says, taking a breath.

‘I’m OK. You? Where’s Nate?’

‘Night shift, so I am a big hot mess.’

The thing is, I think she’s anything but. I met Gemma in my first year of university and since then she’s been a ride-or-die, the sort who’d ask you to text her to make sure you got home safely, the one who always sends a Christmas card, and messages if you haven’t met up in a while, just to check in. Since she married Nate and had her kids, she still checks in, she gets her girls to call me aunty; she thinks her life is a big hot mess, but really, I think she’s the most put-together person I know.

‘Girls, can you go and find me something for Harry to wear to bed?’ Paige lets go of my hand to run off as Gemma puts a hand in the bath to pull out the plug, urging me to follow her into her room.

‘So, you are after a fancy red dress?’ she asks me. ‘I hope that request comes with a story.’ She enters her room and places her naked baby in his towel nest on the bed, digging through a drawer to find a nappy and some talc.

‘Sort of. I’m a plus-one at a wedding and there’s a colour theme.’

Gemma stops for a moment, excitement filling her eyes. ‘MAGGIE!’ she squeals. The baby looks confused. I’d rather she focus on putting a nappy on him so he doesn’t pee everywhere. The girls run in, holding what looks like a swimming costume and a hoodie. ‘Why are you shouting, Mummy?’

‘I’m not. Hey, Harry can’t sleep in that, try again poppets.’ The girls scamper away. ‘I assumed it was for a work Christmas thing. You’re a plus-one? That’s huge. I didn’t even know you were dating! Have I been a mombie for so long that you told me you were dating and I forgot?’ she says, scolding me.

I put my hand to the air to calm her down. ‘Hold your horses. It’s not like that at all.’

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