The 14 Days of Christmas

Twenty-Seven

Sebastian

It was Christmas morning and I’d just woken up, but I could tell, even though the lights were off and Celia had her back to me in bed, that something was wrong. I reached for her and pulled her against me. “What is it?”

She sighed in my arms. “I haven’t made a stocking for you. I don’t have a single present.”

Relief jettisoned through my body. “I don’t need anything. And anyway, you weren’t expecting me. Don’t get hung up on this, Celia. Today is perfect because we’re together, not because we’ve bought each other gifts.”

“But I want to do gifts. They’re important to me.”

“We have plenty of Christmases ahead of us for gifts. Let’s just enjoy today.”

She bolted upright. “And I’ve said yes to Christmas lunch at the Manor. I can’t leave Lemon on her own, but I don’t want to leave you here?”

I groaned and turned onto my back. “I called Granny last night. She’s expecting me for lunch too.”

She snapped her head back to look at me. “You did? That’s even better. We can spend the day together, but with everyone.”

“I told you. You and I overcome obstacles. We figure it out. You don’t need to worry.”

She fell back onto the mattress. “I think you might be right.” She turned to me and kissed me on the lips. I pulled her closer.

“Holy shit,” she screamed, pulling out of my arms and leaping out of bed. “It’s half past eleven.”

Now it was my turn to bolt out of bed. “We’re due at the Manor at twelve. We have time.”

“I don’t want to miss the pre-dinner charades,” she said.

I chuckled. “Yep, definitely don’t want to miss that.”

She shoved me playfully as she passed me to go to the bathroom. “I mean it. This is going to be part of our annual traditions. Maybe Lemon being here will be one as well.” She reached for my face. “You are my favorite person on earth for bringing her here.”

“Griffin too. I invited him on my way back to Snowsly last night. He’s arriving by helicopter, so we should hear him when he gets here.”

Celia froze, then slowly turned toward me with eyes wide as Christmas baubles.

“What?” I asked. “You’re going to love Griffin. He’s a bit flash but he’s got a great heart.”

She nodded and I could tell she was cycling through ideas in her head. “Do you think Lemon will like Griffin?”

I chuckled. Oh, that’s what she was thinking. I shrugged. “I’ve never met Lemon. And neither has Griffin. Shall we give it twenty-four hours before you start matchmaking? Especially when we have twenty-five minutes to get up to the Manor.”

She squealed and bolted for the bathroom.

I caught her wrist and pulled her back to me. “Are you sure you don’t want to start a tradition where we just stay in bed all day?”

She pulled free. “Absolutely not, but we can talk about starting some kind of Boxing Day tradition that involves a lot of sex. But Christmas Day? We’re going to play games, eat and drink too much and watch the Queen’s speech with our friends and Snowsly family.”

And with that declaration, she stomped into the bathroom.

We got to the Manor at exactly midday, a box of crackers under my arm, ready for proceedings to begin. I wasn’t exactly nervous, but I wasn’t exactly not nervous either. This was it. My first Snowsly Christmas. I’d waited a hell of a long time for this and there was still a part of me reluctant to live the reality. Perhaps I was concerned I’d be disappointed or worse, I’d realize how much I’d lost all these years. It hadn’t happened so far, but there was still time.

“Sebastian and Celia,” Granny said, beaming up at the two of us as we entered the living room. On the sofas, Barbara, Howard, Keely, and Jim were all settled with what looked like sherry in their hands. Carols played in the background and the fire was crackling in the fireplace, filling the room with the scent of pine. The tree by the window seemed to have more lights on it than usual. So this was what Christmas Day was meant to be like. I had no idea why I’d stayed away so long.

“We brought crackers.” Celia nudged me and I handed them over. “I made them,” she said.

“Thank you,” Granny said. “Everyone has to contribute if you come to my Christmas Day at the Manor. Howard has made sure the firewood is well stocked. Barbara has cooked her infamous Christmas pudding, Jim provided the music and Keely brought her stuffing, Celia brought the crackers and I’ve tried to perfect the tablescape.” I glanced across at Granny’s dining table over by the tree, which had been transformed into a Christmas village, complete with ski slope and miniature figures creakily moving downhill. “I got so carried away, I think we’ll have to eat in the Manor dining room. But that’s by the by.” Granny fixed me with a warm look. “Oh yes, and Lemon is in the kitchen making . . .” A concerned expression crossed her face. “Something involving sweet potatoes and marshmallow.” She lowered her voice. “Sounds utterly disgusting but I’m trying to remain open-minded.”