The ugly vase
James made a face.
"Have you seen this thing, Harry? Merlin, it's ugly." He chuckled, picking up the vase on the wooden shelf. Worthy of the Horse and the Whale.
"James? What are you doing?" Lily asked, turning around to watch him. James gave her a grin, lifting Harry higher on his hip. The baby made a bubble with his mouth and grinned when it popped.
"Harry was just showing me the perfect Christmas gift for your sister and her gigantic husband." Lily pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. "I'm telling you, this kid has a real talent. This is exactly what you should buy, Lily." James continued, picking up the vase again to show it to her with a flourish. "Tadam !".
Lily opened her mouth to scold him but a laugh escaped.
"What is this?" She asked, taking the vase with her right hand, the other gently grasping Harry's ankle. He giggled, trying to free his small foot.
"Not sure. I think it's a vase."
"Merlin, it's ugly." She examined the vase. It was shaped like a V, a sickly green color at the bottom, a bright orange at the top. "It looks like someone barfed in there." She pointed out. James laughed; Harry followed suit, completely oblivious.
"I probably shouldn't take it." Lily smiled, and put the vase back on the shelf reluctantly. "I already know Christmas dinner is going to be terrifying. I don't think this will help." James opened his mouth to object but she cut him off. "I don't want my Dad to be stuck between us." James nodded. Her mum died of cancer last year and Christmas was going to be hard enough on her father. Harry looked up at his dad with a sad face and started crying before reaching out for the vase, trying to twist his body out of James' arms. Lily sighed and took him from James. "Come on Harry, it's not that bad." She smiled.
"Well, it seems like Harry is pretty sure of his gift. You can always give it to her right before we leave, and tell her to open it at home or something." He smirked. Harry wailed louder, giving his approval or disapproval, hard to know. Lily rolled her eyes at her husband, gently rocking Harry whose tears were soaking her shirt, but she didn't move. James put his hand on Harry's back and pushed his luck.
"Honestly, she's been treating you like crap for the past ten years. The least you can do is get her the ugliest Christmas gift you can find." She laughed again and nodded, kissing her son's cheek. Harry stopped crying, listening intently to the conversation before leaning into his mum, his wet face into the crook of her neck. James took the vase with a grin.
Harry clapped his small hands with a giggle.