“I think that’s a sign we need to start.”
Eliza’s eyes were fixed on the pile of presents she knew was for her. I nodded at Claire; Eliza wasn’t going to last much longer before a meltdown ensued.
“Okay, everyone, let’s start.” I clapped my hands and managed to get most people’s attention.
“Little girls first – let’s see what Santa bought you.”
Killian sat on the floor next to his daughter, mainly because if Claire had, we’d have needed a crane to get her back up again.
Then the mountain of wrapping paper erupted.
It took almost two hours and six pots of coffee to get through the opening of everyone’s presents. Once Eliza had gone through all hers – and we discovered that unlike most children she liked to properly look at each after opening it and then say a big thank you to whoever gave it her – the adults’ presents were unwrapped simultaneously, much in the same way they’d done as children.
Max stopped to watch when Seph opened one from him, a coffee cup that was apparently impossible to knock over.
“You’ll need to get your money back when he proves it’s possible,” Eli said. “And you know he’ll prove it’s possible while he’s having a coffee at your desk.”
Max’s eyes went dark. “Seph shouldn’t be at my desk.”
There was a laugh which everyone joined in with, apart from Max, who did his usual growly glare thing.
Seph smiled and held the mug up to Max. “Cheers, bro. I’ll try it out near the photocopier. Probably wait until you’ve got a file going through it.”
“Stay away from the photocopier. Stay away from my desk.” Max’s eyes went from dark to light. He looked at Victoria. “Time to tell them?”
Victoria nodded and beamed, nodding at Payton. “Go ahead.”
“It’s early days but Vic’s pregnant.” He glanced at her and my heart swelled at the look he gave her. He was never a difficult child, but he did think he was undeserving of love.
There was a cacophony of congratulations, a couple of digs from Jackson about having finally learned what to do with it and hugs for Victoria.
“Jesus, three pregnant women in the same room.” Seph settled down with more of his presents. “I think we need body armour.” He peeled the wrapping off another and looked at Payton. It was a polaroid camera, complete with about a dozen cases of film. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
More presents were opened. The biggest shock was that Seph had managed to get everyone a present, which was probably a first. He basked in the thanks and praise and looked completely smug.
“Breakfast.” I looked at Grant. ‘Who’s cooking?”
He grinned. “We had children for a reason. Jackson and Avavolunteered.”
“I love it when you’re conniving.”
It was going to be an excellent Christmas day.
20
An axe throwing experience – From Max to Eli
Ava
“I have another present for you.”Eli murmured the words into my ear sometime after the third bacon sandwich. I loved Christmas. I loved us all being together. I loved presents. But most of all, I love that I could eat anything and didn’t need an excuse. Christmas dinner was planned for four, but we all knew it would be closer to six before we started eating. Everyone had been assigned bits to do that hadn’t been prepped already, and in theory, it should run like a well-lubricated machine.
In practice – we’d see.
“Is it a naked present?” We’d spent as much time as we could get away with remembering what it was like to just be together. We’d talked, discussed where our heads had been over the last couple of months. He’d told me more about his sister and his worries; the responsibility he felt given that his parents lived in France and I’d told him about us and how I no longer wanted to keep the brakes on what we were doing.
He didn’t either.
We were on the same page, possibly even the same line.
