Nicolas had been right: his mom was a lot easier as a guest. Maybe it was because she’d participated in the preparations, or because she’d softened since becoming a grandmother, but this year, Solange seems much kinder. Not only has she been generous in helping us with all the shopping and around the house, but last night we heard her praise our new house and its decor to my mom, and she complimented us on our cooking many times! Of course, she still let out a snippy comment now and then, but well, all I had to do was look at her wonderful son, and let it snow…
And Solange wasn’t the only one I found more relaxed! It wasn’t easy to get everyone to agree to the change, but this Christmas feels completely different from last year’s, and I can’t help but marvel at the changes it’s brought to our loved ones.
For someone who had ranted again and again about not hosting Christmas, Mom seemed pleasantly surprised when she arrived at our house last night to find pretty much everything ready and a nice cup of mulled wine waiting for her. Of course, she offered to help, but the dinner table was set, Parveen, Nicolas, and I had the dinner well under control, and all she had to do was help take care of Ash, now an energetic toddler, or chat with my dad and Simon. It had taken all of an hour for her to start relaxing, bicker with Dad, and make silly faces at her grandson! And I have to admit, it’s been wonderful to see my mom getting to relax and enjoy herself after all the years she spent makingourChristmases magical.
Jordan, too, got to relax after driving them down to Boston. Our parents praised his driving skills, and for once, no one couldsay he didn’t contribute after he drove three hours to get them here! And right after they arrived, after being the perfect copilot, Rosie went straight to play with our nieces.
This year, we made sure to set up a playing space in the office, so my nephews and nieces can make all the noise they want and play to their heart’s content there! Nicolas and I even prepared little baskets of activities for my nephews and nieces to play with, and now that the last three have arrived, they’re all split between the living room and the office, filling coloring books or playing with their newly opened presents. Do we expect random dashes of crayon on the furniture and Christmas stickers all around the house? Yup!
And while showing her our living room decor, I can’t help but note that Courtney looks infinitely more relaxed than she did last year; she and Beckett keep trading soft smiles across the room, and their children keep running to them to show off their new toys and drawings. Even rambunctious Kenny seems a little more tame than usual!
“How was Christmas Eve?” I ask, a bit curious.
“It was… really nice,” she says with a happy sigh. “We just got whatever food they wanted, put the kids in pajamas, watched Christmas movies, and ate s’mores. And we chit-chatted a lot.”
“That sounds amazing,” I beam.
Courtney grins.
“It was.”
I smile back, so glad things worked out for everyone.
Courtney had taken a little while to admit she wanted Christmas Eve to be just the five of them, but honestly, I understood her completely now. Nicolas and I also worked hard to prioritize our relationship this past year. Buying a house together, moving in, and preparing to host the holidays certainly came with its own challenges! But each hurdle also taught us alot about our relationship. We each did our share to ensure we got some time dedicated just to each other, not just whatever life threw at us. We still went on dates, missed each other when we were apart, and bickered about how much money we spent on the cats. Now, instead of taking each other for granted or withholding our issues, we talk.
And we still choose each other, every time.
Feeling warm inside, I leave Courtney to catch up with Parveen and head to the kitchen, where I find Nicolas deeply focused on arranging the foie gras on the gingerbread toasts.
“Is everything going well, honey?” I rub his arm.
“It’s a bit too cold,” he frowns. “I need even slices, but it’s proving difficult.”
He’s so adorable when he’s concentrating.
“Try the cheese-wire slicer,” I suggest, already reaching for it.
Iloveour new house, and of course, the kitchen is my favorite room! It’s fully equipped for all our cooking dates and my baking adventures, with appliances that are cute and modern but quiet, another way Nicolas and I prioritize each other, even in the small details. All over our new home, we mixed and matched a lot of things we kept from our previous apartments, so it feels both familiar and new!
While Nicolas finishes the toasts and tops each off with a smidgeon of fig compote, I take the tray of snails out of the oven and the seafood platter out of the fridge.
“Have you seen the cats?” Nicolas asks, still frowning at his toasts.
“Muffin is napping on Dad’s lap,” I reply, “and Coconut was entertaining the girls last time I checked! Rosie is keeping an eye on them.”
“Their plates are ready too.”
I can’t help but smile.Of course, our kitties also get their own Christmas dinner!
Nicolas is still busy plating the foie gras when I suddenly feel the urge to hug him from behind. It’s not unusual enough that he’d stop his task, but I do feel him relax slightly under my hold.
“Sweetheart?” he eventually asks.
“I’m just so happy,” I confess, smiling into his blue snowman shirt.
Last night, we wore our Christmas pajamas, as we did most evenings in December.
Today, I’m wearing my penguin Christmas dress with pretty ribbons in my hair and comfortable tights. I got to wear my emerald dress on two dates and at the corporate Christmas party, but today, at home, I just felt like being comfortable, celebrating with our family.
