Page 97 of Just Say Christmas
“What happened?” Casey asked. “Is somebody mad?”
“No,” Hayden said. “Nobody’s mad.”
“I’mmad,” Tania said. “Because I saw some huge boxes outside, and they were too heavy for me to carry. Maybe Hayden and Luke will help Grandad carry them up, so we can find out what they are. Who do you think they could be for? Do you have a guess?” The words came out a little giddy, and there was a spot of color on each cheek that defied makeup.
“Is it a painting set?” Casey asked.
“I hope one of them isn’t a microscope,” Isaiah said, “because I already got a microscope.”
“I don’tthinkit’s a painting set,” Tania said as the three men headed downstairs. “I don’t know about a microscope. I think they’re both too big to be a microscope, though, or a painting set. What a beautiful tree you decorated, Casey, and what a pretty table Zora’s set outside. A red tablecloth and serviettes, and the gorgeous flowers in the middle. The anthurium, and renga renga and Christmas lilies and ferns and . . . what’s this spiky one, darling?”
“Red ginger,” Zora said, still reeling a bit from the lack of comment on her unsuitable diamonds.
“Lovely,” Tania said, and started pulling clingfilm off bowls of healthy salad as Rhys poured champagne and orange juice mixed with a bit of fizzy water for the fun of it and handed them around.
“And Christmas crackers,” Casey said, “except that they’re not crackers you eat. They’re like, surprise fireworks, but they don’t explode. They just make a sound, and you get a hat. I never heard of that before.”
“It’s a special thing for New Zealand,” Tania said, “and your hair’s very special, too, isn’t it? Your hair looks like a party.”
“It’s a half . . . half . . .” Casey looked at Rhys.
“A half-crown lace-braid bun,” Rhys said. “I worked hard.”
“I should just about say you did,” Tania said. “And I think I hear something else special now. It’s either sleigh bells, or . . . maybe Santa has some elves helping him.”
Casey said, “I know there isn’t really Santa, Nana Tania. I knew already, sort of, and then Isaiah explained.”
“Oh, dear,” Tania said. “Well, we can still pretend, can’t we?”
“Yes,” Casey said happily. “I like pretending best.” Then she stopped, her hands going to her mouth, and looked at the boxes. At the enormous one Hayden was carrying, which said “ISAIAH” on the oversized tag. And at the even biggerone that Luke and Craig were carrying between them. The one that said “CASEY.” They set both burdens under the tree, but Tania said, “I don’t think I can wait. It’s too exciting. Let’s open them right now.”
“Before tea?” Isaiah asked.
“Yes,” Tania said. “Right now. You go first, Isaiah, as you’re older.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. Rhys handed Zora her orange juice and put his arm around her waist, and she watched Isaiah rip the wrapping paper off, heedless of her mum’s usual professional-quality wrapping job, and utter something between a shout and a gasp.
“It’s a telescope!” he said. “Mum! Dad—I mean, Uncle Rhys! It’s a real telescope!”
“That was my choice,” Craig said. Still a bit gruffly, and he had his hand on her mum’s shoulder. What had happened between her parents? Something good, Zora thought. He went on, “Thought you could use that. Put it out on the deck, find the planets and so forth. I could give you a hand, if you like. Used to be quite a keen astronomer myself.”
Isaiah barreled forward and ran straight into his grandfather, and Craig put his arms around him and laughed. “Well,” he said, “seems I chose all right.”
“It’s the best presentever,”Isaiah said. “I’ve wanted a telescope since I was little.”
Casey was jumping up and down. Actuallyjumping.She also had her fingers crossed, and her eyes screwed shut. “What are you doing, Casey?” Isaiah asked her. “You look weird.”
“I’mwishing,”she said, still without opening her eyes. “I’m wishing andwishingfor my present.”
Isaiah said, “It’s going to be the same present no matter what you wish, though. It’s already chosen and wrapped and everything.”
“I don’t care,” Casey said. “I’m wishing anyway.”
“Do you want me to help you unwrap it?” Tania asked.
“Yes, please,” Casey said, “because I’m too excited.”
They did it together, and Zora slipped her hand into Rhys’s. And when Casey got all the wrapping off, she sat back on her heels and said, “It’s our one that we made! It’sourone!”
