Home For The Holidays

But I was their age the first time I helped with the tree. I don’t have many memories of it, of course, except for the videos dad took, and the million and one photos mom still has in our family albums. But I know the joy I have and had as a child to be part of those magical moments.

These little girls are part of the Stone family; they have my blood running through their veins, and no mealy-mouthed man stealing slag of a twat is going to take this away from them. I was back in full bitch mode by the time we reached the front door. I could hear voices coming from the great room, and the holiday music was already going full blast. Perfect.

I walked into the room with no hesitation in my step. “Mom, I’m back, and look who I brought with me. Now that the whole family’s here let’s get started. Marley, Mindy, go say hi to grandma and grandpa, then we’ll take off your coats.” They toddled over to their grandparents while I looked at the room’s other occupants dead on. Game on bitches.

Samantha

So far, so good. The room was a bit tense, with everyone except dad not quite knowing what to do with themselves. Even I was a bit taken aback by the reaction of the two people I was hell-bent on shaking up. I expected a reaction, of course, but I can’t say I expected anything this strong, especially from my brother.

Tom looked torn, but it was the look of longing I saw on his face as he looked at the girls, his girls, that gave me hope. Tessa, on the other hand, was nothing less than seething. Yes bitch, stew in your own juices while I watch. This is just the beginning. I never knew I could find such joy in another person’s misery, but she deserved it, holiday or no holiday. Hateful witch!

Dad greeted his granddaughters with cheer as if the elephant in the room wasn’t about to blow a fit through its trumpet and mom looked flummoxed, to say the least. She would never have thought to bring them here even though she may have wished for it, just to keep the peace. Her eyes kept darting back and forth between the girls and Tom and me. Then dad asked the question I was dying for someone to ask.

“Where’s Deidre? Isn’t she going to be all alone tonight? Her parents left for Europe yesterday, didn’t they?”

“She’s fine; she has a date.” She didn’t, but the lie was part of my plan. If it were up to me, she’d have been on ten dates by now, but she’s hung up on my brother the heel.

I hid my smile at Tom’s reaction, the way he almost jumped out of his seat at my words and rolled my eyes at the way Tessa dragged him back down by his arm with a glare. “Tom, what’re you doing sitting there? This is family time. We always trim the tree together. You know this is one of mom’s favorite things to do for the holiday; let’s go.” I walked over and pulled him up from his seat, pushing him towards the others.

I turned my attention to Tessa, who was about to follow. “You stay where you are; you’re not a Stone yet.” I tacked on the ‘yet’ to soften the blow and keep her from making a stink in front of my nieces, but I have all hopes and aspirations on making this twit gone before too long.

She looked at me with all the hate she wished she could spew and then to mom, who was pretending to be deaf, dumb, and blind. Maybe dad had had a talk with her because she was acting right for once and not playing peacemaker. “Dad, break out the video camera; it’s the girls’ first Xmas trimming the tree. We have to add it to mine and their da… oh, I mean Tom’s collection.”

“You’re right; it’s a Stone family tradition. It was a bit cold outside when you walked them over, wasn’t it? Christine, why don’t you make your famous hot chocolate now instead of later so our grandbabies can get warmed up.”

Mom seemed to be catching on because of dad’s easy acceptance and rushed off to do just that while I helped the twins out of their coats, and Tom, well, he was too busy staring at his kids to notice the storm clouds gathering on the couch.

I was ready and waiting for anything she had, anything at all. I know she’s been comfortable here, using my mom’s easygoing nature against her and the fact that my parents didn’t want to rock the boat too much because of their son, whom they loved. At first, I was pissed that mom and dad hadn’t just cut him off completely.