Page 48 of Christmas Chaos
‘Maybe I can grow it for next year. And find a Santa costume that actually fits.’
‘Ooh yes! And I’ll dress up as Mrs Claus and Shona can be an elf. We can do it in November – it can be our Christmas card.’
He shook his head but couldn’t stop the laugh from escaping. ‘I see you’ve rediscovered your love of Christmas.’
‘Yes, I think I have,’ she replied. ‘But now it’s even more exciting because we can make it special for Shona.’
That afternoon,sitting around the table in the dining room, Rory knew he’d made his peace with Christmas and being a father. He was wearing a paper hat and sharing cracker jokes with Brad as everyone else laughed at the terrible jokes. His mother’s sharp edges had been smoothed by copious amounts of Morag’s sloe gin, and she appeared besotted with her granddaughter. Shona didn’t seem fazed by the noise or being passed around for cuddles, and Zoe couldn’t stop smiling. He felt her happiness filling every part of him. They were full of good food and surrounded by their family and friends. Even his best mate, Charlie, had joined them for a chat from Columbia with the whole of Valentina’s family yelling in the background and demanding to see the baby.
After lunch, they relaxed in the library in front of a roaring fire. Brad wheeled in a massive TV, and they all watchedA Muppet Christmas Carol, which had just nudged ahead ofDie Hardin a vote they’d had earlier for the best Christmas film. Afterwards, Jamie got out his guitar and he and Sam took requests. It was perfect.
* * *
JANUARY 1st
RORY:Happy New Year everyone from all of us.
TABI: It’s not New Year yet.
RORY: It is on this side of the pond. You keep playing catch up, Aganos.
BEN: Happy New Year from me and Laurie in Somerset!
SABRINA: It could be news year I not sure as I have been drinking fpr a few hours.
TABI: It’s drunk Sabrina! I miss drunk Sabrina.
TRISTAN: I blame Sherilyn. She brought some kind of Kentucky home brew to the party. I’ve either lost the enamel on my teeth or the lining of my stomach.
SABRINA: Chicagooooo! It’s my kinda tooooooooooooown.
BEN: I can’t believe we’re going to see you all in seven months. Laurie’s never been to America before.
TRISTAN: It’s going to be the wedding of the year!
JONATHAN: Yay! And guess who’s going to be the best man?
JONATHAN: Me!
SABRINA: That’s so lovleeee! Tris, why dinn’t you tell me?
TRISTAN: We can actually talk, Bree. I’m only on the other side of the room.
RORY: Can someone remind me why I agreed to bring my wife and daughter to Kentucky for Tristan’s wedding?
JONATHAN: It’s because I have one of the most advanced tractors in the world - the John Deere 9RX 640 and you want a go.
RORY: Ah yes.
TABI: Jonathan, has your wife agreed to let Rory ride your tractor? I didn’t know you had an open marriage.
RORY: Sigh.
TABI: You’d better buckle up tight, Bagpipes. I’ve heard that Jonathan’s got a beast.
RORY: Right. I’m going to bugger off and spend time with the two most amazing women in the world. See you in July…
The end. Or is it…
