by Lacey London
‘Before we all get a little crazy, this is just the start. There’s a long, hard road ahead of us to bring this company back to what it can be.’
‘We won’t let you down.’ Marc pushes himself to his feet and I notice he has a tear in his eye. ‘Thanks for believing in Suave.’
‘I don’t believe in Suave.’ Owen lets out a low laugh and looks down into his bubbles. ‘I actually have my doubts that this will ever be profitable again, but I do believe in you guys.’
A lump grows in my throat and I try my hardest to shake it off. He isn’t even aware of just how much this means to us, which makes it all the more magical.
Before I can melt into a blubbering mess, Gina grabs her glass and holds it high in the air. ‘To Owen!’
‘To Owen!’ We all shout, unable to contain ourselves.
‘Owen! Owen! Owen!’ Lianna starts to chant, jumping up and down on the spot and encouraging the rest of us to join in.
Owen’s cheeks flush violently as Eve laughs at his embarrassment.
Clapping our hands in time to the beat, we start to accrue strange looks from the other customers in the bar opposite. Not caring in the slightest, I stamp my feet and shout as loud as I possibly can.
‘Owen! Owen! Owen!’
‘That’s quite enough of that!’ Pleading for us to stop, Owen takes a sip of his drink and holds out his glass.
‘To the future! May it be prosperous, may it be happy and above all, may it be bloody profitable…’
Life is a snow globe, you shake it once and everything changes…
Chapter 18
It’s Christmas Eve! It’s finally here and after the enormity of yesterday, Oliver has been like Father Christmas himself. From singing along to the radio to building snowmen in the park with Noah, he is literally walking on air.
‘How’s that?’ He asks, holding up a wonky parcel and smiling.
‘Well…’ I tilt my head to one side and stick a silver bow on the front of the box. ‘It will do.’
Taking it from him, I place it under the tree and make a mental note to re-do it later.
‘Just leave them in the damn carrier bags.’ Janie grumbles, as she tries and fails to tie a ribbon around the neck of a wine bottle. ‘It’s only gonna get torn off anyway.’
I lock eyes with Oliver and try not to laugh. Today has been absolutely perfect in every single way. The snow has fallen, the turkey has been prepped for tomorrow and we have spent the entire day in our pyjamas wrapping gifts in front of the Christmas tree. With Noah in his room with Gina’s three children, the adults have been enjoying a cheeky glass of mulled wine.
‘So, it looks like Christmas came early for you guys, huh?’ Janie abandons her wrapping to stretch out on the carpet. ‘You must be pretty happy.’
‘Happy doesn’t cover it.’ Oliver leans over to stroke Pumpkin and drapes a string of ribbon on her head. ‘I couldn’t be happier if I tried.’
I feel my heart swell in my chest and I try not to let myself get emotional. At the Floral Fizz party last night, Owen made it pretty clear that he wanted to forget about Suave until after the Christmas period, but now we are alone it is all that we can talk about.
‘What percentage of the business will you own again?’ Janie asks, batting away Pumpkin who is trying to jump on her.
‘A very, very small one.’ Sticking a label on the last parcel, I take a gold pen and write out Noah’s name, quickly hiding it beneath the mountain of others that are guarding the tree. ‘I just can’t believe that we own Suave. All of us together.’
‘I know.’ Oliver shakes his head and smiles brightly. ‘I can’t stop thinking about it. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.’
I hold his gaze and try to stop myself from screaming out loud. Deep down I know that it’s true, but it just seems so outlandish, so impossibly unreachable that I won’t let myself believe it. Suave has always been close to our hearts and now we are able to nurture it back to the incredible success story that it once was.
A loud bang comes from Noah’s bedroom and I am snapped back to earth with a thud.
‘I don’t suppose you want to check in on the kids, do you?’ Turning to face Janie, I let out a giggle as she shoots me daggers.
‘I would rather walk across broken glass.’ She drawls, pushing herself to her feet. ‘I have done more than my fair share of gremlin duties, thank you very much.’
To be fair, I’m not surprised one bit by her reaction. When we returned last night, we stumbled across a scene that wouldn’t look out of place in a disaster movie. Empty crisp packets littered the floor, the kids were battering one another with pillows and cartoons were blaring out of the television speakers. It actually took us a good five minutes to find Janie, but we finally located her in the bedroom wrestling with Pumpkin for her best bra. I think it’s safe to say that she won’t be high up on our babysitting list any time soon.
‘I’ll do it.’ Dusting down my jeans, I step over the mound of wrapping paper and make my way to Noah’s bedroom.
Slowly opening the door, I poke my head around the frame and smile at the four faces staring back at me.
‘What’s going on in here?’ I ask, slipping inside and closing the door behind me.
‘Madison said my monster isn’t real!’ Noah yells, folding his arms and frowning.
‘That’s because he isn’t.’ She shakes her head of black curls and laughs.
‘You don’t know that!’ He retorts angrily.
‘Yes I do, because I used to see him too.’ Sticking her tongue out, she crosses her legs smiles.
‘You did?’ I ask, genuinely intrigued.
Nodding in response, she holds out her hands to stroke Pumpkin, who has pushed her way inside. ‘I used to see him every night on my wall. He would only come out at night and in the morning, he was gone.’
‘She used to scream.’ MJ confirms, his eyes as wide as saucers.
I purse my lips as I try and fail to recall a time that Gina has mentioned this.
‘What happened to the monster?’ Taking a seat on the floor next to Noah, I run my hands through Pumpkin’s fur.
‘It turned out to be a tree!’ Madison claps her hands to her mouth and giggles.
‘A tree?’ I repeat, feeling completely flummoxed.
‘It was the shadow of the tree from across the street! MJ laughed at me for weeks and he told everyone at nursery.’ Her cheeks colour up as MJ starts to chant.
‘Madison’s scared of a tree! Madison’s scared of a tree!’
‘Shut up, loser!’ Hitting him on the arm, Madison scowls and proceeds to hide her face behind the bean bag.
‘That’s enough about trees, anyway.’ Pointing at the clock on the wall, I hold on to the door handle and pull myself up. ‘You guys need to get your shoes. Your mum will be here any minute.’
As the kids run past me, I flick off the light and wander across to Noah’s bed. It was the shadow from the tree. Surely Noah’s nightly screaming fits can’t be down to something as simple as a bloody shadow? Sitting down on his bed, I flick on the night light and scan the room. Absolutely nothing, not even a faint outline so much as touches the walls. Shaking my head in disappointment, I stretch out my legs and walk back into the living room.
‘What’s gonna be waiting under the tree for you tomorrow morning?’ Oliver teases MJ. ‘I heard it was going to be a Barbie doll.’
‘No way!’ MJ yells, running away from Oliver. ‘I’ve already told Santa what I want and he better bring it to me!’
The doorbell goes and I squeeze through the chaos to answer it.
‘Hello!’ Gina cries, pushing past me into the kitchen, her lips stretched into a giant smile.
Stepping aside for Marc to enter too, I find myself feeling rather teary again. Just like Oliver and myself, the Strokers have had the same crazy grin on their faces since Owen broke the news last night. I don’t want this feeling to ever go. I want it to be Christmas Eve over and over and over again.
‘Dadd
y!’ Melrose yells, firing herself at Marc’s legs. ‘Is it time to put the carrot out for Rudolph?’
‘It most certainly is!’ He throws Melrose onto his shoulders and pretends to topple her backwards. ‘It’s also time for you three monsters to go to bed or Santa might not come at all…’
A gasp escapes MJ’s lips and he makes a run for the door.
‘What are your plans for tomorrow?’ I ask, handing Madison’s coat to Gina.
‘We’re just going to kick back at the apartment. Both of our parents are away and we didn’t plan much else with our minds being so focused on Suave.’
‘You could come down here and join us.’ Oliver offers, playing fetch with Pumpkin. ‘Lianna and Vernon are coming by in the evening.’
‘Really?’ Marc exchanges glances with Gina, who is already nodding enthusiastically.
‘That would be great!’ She exclaims, holding out her hand for MJ’s. ‘To be honest, we were actually going to order Indian food as I left it too late to get a bird.’
‘That’s settled then.’ I clap my hands together and mentally thank myself for ordering ten times as much as we needed. ‘Say, three o’clock?’
‘Three.’ Gina confirms, tearing Madison away from the chocolates on the Christmas tree.
‘Have a fabulous evening! I hope Santa brings you everything you wanted!’ I wave at the kids as they pile out into the lobby.
Marc smiles over his shoulder and I know that for us, Santa has already brought everything we wished for and more. Watching the five of them walk away, buzzing with festive fever, I allow the door to close and turn to face my own family.
‘Alright, Noah Morgan. It’s time to get you to bed…’
* * *
‘Why does Santa drink whiskey?’ Noah whispers, as we place a rather large glass of Jack Daniels by the front door.
‘Because it helps him to keep warm…’ Shooting Janie a discreet grin, I paste my serious face on and put a mince pie next to the glass. I’m sure Pumpkin will make nice work of that later.
‘I think I just heard his sleigh overhead…’ Oliver pretends to listen as Noah’s jaw drops open ‘You better get to bed.’
‘Goodnight, Gee-Gee.’ Noah lets out a yawn and rubs his tired eyes, signalling that it is most definitely bedtime.
Tearing herself away from her magazine, she blows him a kiss as she throws back the contents of her glass. ‘Sleep tight, Noah.’
With a final wave, I throw him onto my hip and slip into his bedroom.
‘Santa won’t forget to come, will he, Mummy?’
Flicking off the light, I pull back the duvet and drop him down onto his bed. ‘Of course not.’
‘But we don’t have a chimney?’ He mumbles, looking genuinely concerned.
‘Well, Santa has a magic key, which means he can enter any house in the world.’ I stretch across him and pull the curtains closed.
‘Wow.’ He breathes, cuddling up to his dinosaur as his eyes slowly shut.
Stroking his cheek, I am watching him drift off when a thought suddenly hits me.
‘Noah?’ I whisper, nudging him gently.
Peeling open an eye, he rolls onto his side and closes it again. ‘Do you think you could stay in here all night this time?’
Immediately springing to life, he shakes his head furiously and frowns. ‘No! The monster will get me in here!’
‘And why do you think the monster won’t get you in our bed?’ I snap, immediately regretting losing my cool.
He sticks out his bottom lip and looks around the room. ‘Because… because your bed is so big and warm.’
I purse my lips as I look at his little face. ‘Your bed is warm and nice too.’
‘No, it’s not. I hate my bed…’
‘You do not hate your bed, Noah.’ I let out a frustrated sigh and shake my head. ‘It’s a great bed. You picked it yourself, remember?’
‘I wish I had picked one like yours! Then I would stay in my room…’
My jaw drops open as I stare at him in shock. You have got to be kidding me! Has he been making the entire thing up?
‘Noah, have you been lying about this monster so you can sleep in our bed?’ Holding my breath, I wait for him to respond. ‘I won’t be angry, I promise.’
He looks down at his dinosaur and chooses to ignore me completely, which confirms my suspicions. I don’t believe it! All this time I have been so upset about him having horrific nightmares, when in reality the little devil has been spinning me a line!
‘Noah, you can’t stay in our bed! You’re a big boy now, you have to stay in your own bed.’ Half relieved at discovering the truth and half annoyed at learning he has been lying, I feel a weight lift from my shoulders.
‘I can be a big boy and sleep in your bed…’ He mumbles, covering his face with his dinosaur.
‘No, sweetheart, you can’t.’ Climbing onto his bed next to him, I slip under the covers and pull him closer to me. ‘How about we look at getting you a new bed? This one is getting a little small for you now anyway…’
‘One just like yours?’
I look around his room and try to picture our king-size bed in the relatively small space. ‘Not exactly like our bed…’
‘Do you think there’s time for Santa to bring me one tomorrow?’ He rubs his cheek and snuggles under my arm.
‘Well, you didn’t put it on your Christmas list, so how is he going to know?’
‘You could text him?’ He asks hopefully.
‘I don’t think Santa has a mobile phone, Noah.’ Pulling him closer to me, I let out a laugh and sigh. ‘How about I have a word with the elf on the shelf before he heads back to Lapland and see if he can pull some strings? It might take a while though for him to get the message back to Santa. Do you think you could stay in this bed until the elf gets back to Lapland and asks Santa to bring you one?’
He sticks out his bottom lip and looks deep in thought.
‘OK…’ He manages eventually. ‘But someone really needs to buy Santa a phone. Even Madison has a phone…’
The final snowflake dazzles as much as the first…
Chapter 19
‘Wow!’ Noah cheers, tearing off the shiny paper and holding up the action figure with both hands. ‘Santa really did get my letter!’
‘What do you say?’ I prompt, screwing up the gift wrap and tossing it into the recycling bin.
‘Thank you, Marc!’ Not letting go of his new toy, he runs across the rug and jumps into Marc’s arms.
‘Why is he getting the hug? I bought the damn thing!’ Gina laughs and covers her mouth as she realises what she’s just said.
Noah pauses with his arms around Marc’s neck and frowns. ‘I thought Santa bought this?’
I inhale sharply as Gina stammers to get her words out. ‘He did buy it, but he asked me what you wanted and I said you would like that.’
Seemingly unconvinced, Noah narrows his eyes and takes a step towards Gina. ‘Santa doesn’t need telling, I wrote him a list.’
‘Santa’s old!’ Janie clears her throat and motions for Noah to come over to her. ‘He forgets things now and then and needs a little reminder, you know what I’m saying?’
Noah shakes his head and looks down at his new toy dubiously.
‘Put it this way, you wouldn’t want him bringing you a damn Barbie doll would you, you little gremlin?’
‘He brought me Barbie dolls!’ Madison chants happily, dragging over a huge gift bag and pouring out her presents onto the carpet. ‘I even got Hawaii Barbie and I didn’t ask for that one!’
I take the doll from Madison and smooth down her blonde hair. This has been one of the best Christmas mornings I think I have ever had and it all started with a glorious night’s sleep. Almost unbelievably, Noah slept the entire night in his own bed. It was so unexpected that I actually had a mini panic attack when I peeled open my eyes and realised his little elbows weren’t digging in the back of my neck. A whole eight hours of sleep was a gift in itself, but seei
ng Noah tear open his presents in front of the twinkling Christmas tree is something I will never forget. This has been the first year that he has truly been able to understand the magic of Christmas and it was incredible to witness.
Leaving Marc and Gina to occupy the kids, I wander into the kitchen and wrap my arms around Oliver’s waist. For the past two hours, he and my parents have completely taken charge of the kitchen. Honey roasted vegetables bubble away in the oven, gravy simmers quietly on the hob and the most delicious smells imaginable fill the room. Yes, it could only be Christmas. I watch my dad toss the vegetables and catch a glimpse of his new rosebud tattoo. Much to my disappointment, they actually went through with the matching tattoo idea, although I must admit that after hearing of the whole skull and crossbones suggestion, flowers were quite a nice surprise.
‘Something smells good.’ I steal a roast potato from the steaming bowl and swoon at the taste.
‘It all smells good!’ My mum exclaims, carving away at the turkey with the world’s biggest knife. ‘We’re about ten minutes from being done, is the table set?’
‘I’m on it.’ Tearing myself away from the potatoes, I grab the snowflake themed swag and start to dress the table.
I am scattering glitter between the many plates and glasses, when a loud knocking grabs my attention. Wiping my hands on a tea towel, I narrowly avoid stepping on Noah’s new Lego set and throw open the door.
‘Merry Christmas!’ Eve yells, holding out a selection of beautifully wrapped presents.
‘Merry Christmas!’ Taking the boxes from her, I offer my cheek for a kiss. ‘Come in!’
‘The food smells incredible!’ Eve gushes, dashing over to Oliver and giving him a big hug.
‘You guys aren’t eating, are you?’ Owen whispers apologetically, taking a step back. ‘We don’t want to intrude…’
