They went inside and Liv regaled them with tales from over the border where she frequently was the hero in the story. She realised a lot had happened in six days. And the more she talked the more tired she got.
‘So no men in kilts,’ concluded her mum.
‘Nope,’ said Liv. ‘The kilt thing is for formal occasions and apparently when they go into battle.’
‘Disappointing,’ said Charlotte. They all nodded.
When there were more yawns than words per sentence she conceded it was time for bed.
‘Come on,’ said her mum. ‘Santa will be on his way.’ Which received groans as a response. ‘I’ll see you at mine for present opening and a cheeky glass of fizz before we get the potatoes on.’
‘Okay,’ said Liv giving her mum a hug.
‘I’m so glad you’re home and I’m so proud of you for standing up to that horrid man.’
‘But I explained he wasn’t really horrid at all because it wasn’t him who ghosted me.’
‘Hmm,’ said Charlotte. ‘I reckon he’s gaslighting you.’
‘I’m too tired for this,’ said Liv and she kissed her mum and sister. ‘See you at Christmas,’ she joked and she went to bed.
Liv was woken on Christmas morning by her sister grumbling about being late. She’d not managed to get as much sleep as she’d hoped. For one thing she’d had to do some last-minute wrapping and then when she’d got into bed her tired mind had decided that was a good opportunity to go over things and try to sort them out. But sorting things out wasn’t that simple. She felt like she’d lost something, but if that was the Fraser from the dating app then she never had him in the first place. And if it was the Fraser she’d got to know in Scotland then he was juggling a wash load of baggage. Maybe some things just weren’t meant to be.
Liv popped in the shower and before getting dressed she decided to unpack the bag she’d been too exhausted to attempt the night before. She was making a pile for the washing machine when she discovered an envelope. She took it out and sat down on the bed to look at it. On the front was LIV in capitals along with neatly drawn holly and bells. At the bottom it said:‘Do Not Open Until 25 Dec’. Her heart gave a little flutter. Obviously someone in Scotland had put it in her bag, but who? She so wanted it to be Fraser but she couldn’t imagine him colouring in holly. She was about to rip open the envelope when her sister banged on the door.
‘Are you dressed yet? There’s a mince pie and a glass of fizz with my name on it at Mum’s.’
Liv looked at the envelope and then at the towel still wrapped around her damp body. ‘Give me five minutes,’ she called and she put the envelope in her handbag. She’d have to wait to open that later.
A few minutes later a damp-haired Liv dashed out of her bedroom pulling on her Christmas jumper whilst wrestling with her handbag and a big bag of presents. They were going to walk to their mum’s so that they could both have a drink.
‘At last,’ said Charlotte, waggling the door key at her. Charlotte was fully made up, with blow-dried waves, wearing a stylish knitted dress underneath a winter coat and had a bag of neatly wrapped presents at her feet. How could two sisters be so different?
‘You’re wearing that?’ Charlotte pointed at Liv’s jumper, which proudly displayed a large turkey in a party hat.
‘I am. And listen to this.’ Liv groped around near her left boob for the little push pad and once pressed it started to play ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer’.
‘It’s a turkey, not a reindeer,’ said Charlotte.
‘Don’t be picky. I got it at the market,’ said Liv as she tried to switch it off again. Charlotte was still shaking her head as they left the house and began the short walk to their mum’s.
‘You were up late,’ said Charlotte.
‘I had a few things still to wrap. Were you spying on me?’
‘I saw your light was still on when I went for a wee.’
‘Old age catching up with you already?’ quipped Liv. At least constant digs about her sister being older were a staple in their relationship.
‘Ha. As long as it was just presents. I do worry about you, you know,’ said Charlotte giving her an awkward one-armed hug as they walked along.
‘Yeah I know. And you’re all right too.’
‘High praise indeed. You’ll be fine – you know that don’t you?’
Liv gave her the side-eye.
‘I know I have a go sometimes but you’re my little sister and that’s kind of my job.’
