Christmas Eve
Nick rolled his eyes as he packed yet another bag into the car. “That has to be it now, surely.” He moaned. “Yep that’s just about it grumpy bum. I’ll put the baby bag in the front with me and Molly can have her bag in the back with her." Sarah faffed about a bit sorting the kids out before strapping them into their car seats and getting in herself. “ Right have you got everything Sarah because we are going away for 3 nights and I don’t recon forty bags is enough he giggled sarcastically. “ Nick Williams don’t be so sarky. We have two children and it's Christmas. So we need clothes for the four of us, a Moses basket, a baby carrier, coats and wellies and presents and stuff for Jem and the baby that isn’t a Christmas present and a hostess gift for Violet and Christmas presents for everybody and I happen to know that you have your laptop, a massive digital camera and stuff for you so don’t mock me." She laughed.”
The Williams family were heading up to spend Christmas in Winterbourne Kingston with Jemima, Mark and Violet. Sarah had refused to spend Christmas with her in-laws as baby Harry was only 3 weeks old. She wanted to be somewhere where she felt comfortable to slope off for an afternoon nap and where she wouldn’t have to continually supervise Molly because of the risk of damage to ghastly porcelain ornaments (who has those these days anyway). Her own parents were in Australia with her brother and his family so she was delighted to be going to Dorset. Violet was a wonderful host, Mark and Nick got on really well and Jemima was her dearest friend so it was perfect. Except of course they needed a lot of stuff but they had a Passat estate with a massive boot and it wasn’t that full. Another huge advantage to their destination was that they could send the boys to the pub when they got cabin fever.
In Dorset Violet and Jemima had been cooking up a storm and decorating the cottage for nearly a week. A six foot real Christmas tree stood regally in the living room with white lights and silver decorations. A stack of presents were wrapped in brown paper with festive ribbon. Violet was a bit of an eco-warrior at heart so she tried to avoid putting too much into land fill and wrapping paper was rarely recyclable.
Jemima and Mark had been living in a Swanage since June. Jem had resigned from the hospital after her three months of sick leave. She was doing some voluntary work with the local Homestart project that supported vulnerable families and she was really enjoying it. With everything that had happened at the beginning of the year the couple had decided that a career break would be a good idea. Jem had loved midwifery and didn’t rule out going back part time after the baby was born but for now she was taking care of herself, Mark and the bump, whist helping out in the community and making new friends, The lease had been extended on the rented cottage but they had sold the house in Paxton Close and now that Mark had a new job at a company based in Poole they were looking to buy, The new job involved a fifty/fifty split between being in the office and working from home. He rarely had to travel these days which meant he was much more laid back. They missed their friends in Plymouth but they needed a new start.
While Mark and Nick were in the kitchen starting the epic post-Christmas lunch clear up Violet was making thank you cards with Molly which seemed to involve an awful lot of glitter and glue. Sarah was thankful that Violet had a wooden floor in the dining room and was delighted to have someone else entertain her daughter. Baby Harry was dozing contentedly in his Moses basket having decided to feed for practically the entire duration of lunch which meant Sarah had to eat one handed but she was an old hand at breastfeeding and it was nice that her son was involved in the focal point of the day even if he would never remember it. So Jemima and Sarah were snuggled up in the living room with a roaring fire. In another lifetime they would have been drinking coffee and liquors on Christmas afternoon but they were both ridiculously happy with a cup of tea and a much needed catch up.
“I can’t believe what has happened this year.” Said Sarah.” New jobs, new houses, babies, major surgery. It’s all been going on, hadn’t it?” “God yes. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for sure. “What the hell was I thinking with Patrick? Jemima cringed at the memory.” “You mustn’t beat yourself about that. You were vulnerable and he took advantage and Mark became ridiculously focused on his job. Never ever tell anyone about your spring madness Jem. You have everything you need with Mark and the bump. By Valentine’s Day you’ll be a Mummy. How amazing is that? Our husbands are ordinary, hard working men who love us and family life. It might be a bit boring, but boring is good.”