‘Right, Jessie, you can go first,’ said Lottie. Jessie didn’t need telling twice; she was already in a paper ripping frenzy.
‘It’s a unicorn!’ she yelled, holding up a box with a large white fluffy toy inside. ‘Thanks Emily.’ The little girl threw her arms around Emily’s neck and kissed her. Lottie and Zach exchanged looks. Lottie had the distinct feeling Zach was trying to communicate something, but she couldn’t be sure. Perhaps she was reading too much into it. Jessie began reading labels and handing round presents. The room’s volume escalated in line with Jessie’s excitement, and before long they were drowning out Michael Bublé – Nana’s favourite.
After a few minutes, the months of shopping, buying and wrapping had been reduced to a sea of shredded wrapping paper, ribbons and bows. Lottie surveyed the devastation surrounding them. The Duchess had already found a bow she liked the look of and was batting it about happily under the watchful eye of Dave, who was held firm in Joe’s strong hands.
Jessie had a pile of stuff, as every child should – including a Hungry Hippos game, which Lottie was looking forward to playing. Aunt Nicola was cooing over the latest in robotic hoovers and Uncle Daniel was telling anyone who’d listen how much it had cost. Angie and Scott were giggling over the underwear they’d bought each other, and a pair of dinosaur socks. She was sure Zach wouldn’t miss the socks she’d originally bought for him. Scott seemed genuinely thrilled with them and she sawZach eye them appreciatively. Oh well, she could always get Zach a pair for his birthday.
Joe was looking like the little boy who Santa Claus forgot. She felt bad that he was the only one without something to open. If she’d realised he was going to be there for present opening, she would have hastily relabelled another of Zach’s presents. Despite everything that had happened between them, it was still Christmas. Perhaps there was something she could do instead.
‘Watcha get?’ asked Zach, leaning over her. Lottie was very pleased with her present haul.
‘Thanks for these,’ she said pointing at the newStar Warsslippers she so desperately needed. ‘Smellies, chocolates and gift cards mainly. I got this from Uncle Bernie.’ She held up a woolly hat with Yoda ears. ‘And a nice top from Fat Face.’
‘You shouldn’t call Mum that,’ he said in mock horror and she laughed.
Apart from her mother bundling up the extra-long hot water bottle Lottie had bought her and muttering something about Lottie trying to ruin her sex life, everyone seemed happy and that was all Lottie was really aiming for.
Emily had opened her things from her mum and dad in between watching Jessie open her presents.
‘Right,’ said Zach, drawing everyone’s attention. ‘Emily’s turn.’
Emily felt uncomfortable as all eyes turned on her. Something squirmed in her stomach as she wondered what he’d got her.
He handed her a beautifully wrapped box. ‘This isn’t your main present.’
‘Oh, okay. Thank you.’ She opened it hastily. ‘It’s that hand cream I liked.’ She smeared a little on – it smelled divine. ‘Thanks,’ she said leaning over to give him a kiss.
She waited for him to produce the second gift, but he was sitting there looking apprehensive.
‘Your other present is in the tree,’ he said, and they both looked at the large spruce. ‘You need to have a hunt to find it.’
‘O-kay,’ said Emily slowly. This was unusual. She had no idea what she was looking for, but she suspected some sort of joke present. She got up, smoothed down her dress – still feeling a bit conspicuous for not being in her pyjamas like most of the others – and knelt in front of the tree. She moved the ripped paper out of the way and looked about the base of the tree. Nothing. No more presents left. She gave Zach a questioning look.
‘Look in the branches,’ said Zach, moving to the edge of his seat.
Emily peered into the middle of the tree. Everyone was watching, so she didn’t want to snag her hair on the branches. She carefully leaned in. The smell of pine was more intense and the tiny lights flickered around her face. She blinked and traced methodically along the closest branches, with no idea what she was looking for. There was nothing there. She tilted her head up and scanned the higher branches. Still nothing.
‘Emily?’ asked Zach. ‘Have you found it?’
‘Nope.’ She stuck her head out from under the tree. ‘How big is it? Is the paper the same colour as the tree, by any chance? Because I can’t see anything.’
Zach gave a jaunty raise of his eyebrow. ‘It’s not wrapped. And it’s quite small.’
‘Oh, okay,’ said Emily, trying not to convey her disappointment that he’d not bothered to wrap this present. Apparently it was wrapped in a tree.
A couple more minutes passed, and people started to chat amongst themselves. Lottie joined Zach on the sofa. ‘I’m sure when you pictured this it was a lovely idea, but …’
‘I can’t find it, Zach,’ she said, pulling her head out and catching her hair in the branches. ‘Ow.’ Emily reversed from under the tree and sat on the floor.
‘I’ll help,’ said Zach, and he dived inside the Christmas tree.
Joe sat down in Zach’s vacated seat on the sofa. ‘Has charades started early?’ he asked, indicating Zach’s bum sticking out from under the Christmas tree.
‘Missing present,’ said Lottie.
Zach crawled out from under the tree. ‘I need a word,’ he said to Lottie, with a grimace, and they left the room together.
Emily felt like she was in a parallel universe. Nothing made sense. Christmas with her family was far more straightforward. She’d missed not having scrambled egg on toast in bed – that was one of their Christmas treats. And presents were a simple affair where people handed them to each other and unwrapped them one at a time. This was all rather strange.
