"So who are we meeting again?" I ask nervously as we drive up the snow-powdered lane, as the crystals dapple the windshield, seeming to fall from nowhere in the night sky.
"My Mother's family. My 2 aunts, 3 uncles, Grandmum, Grandad, my 9 cousins, my Mother's 5 cousins, my 4 great aunts and uncles and… I think that's it." Reels off Leo.
"Oh, dear. How will I manage to remember all their names?" I sigh, worry wrinkling my brow.
"You'll be fine. I'm sure they'll go easy on you. Plus, they're only here for three days, you'll be here for six." He reassures me with a smile.
"Alright. When will they arrive?"
"Tomorrow starting at noon, there's a lot of people and they're coming from all over."
"Alright. How much further?"
"Almost there. You should be able to see it as soon as we turn here."
He squints up the road, through the snow powdering the windshield.
As soon as we turn, a beautiful white house comes into view.
The pillars of the front porch have spirals of pine reaching up them, glowing lights illuminating the red ornaments that hang from it as well as the snow that has drifted upon it.
We slowly pull up and park in the driveway.
I pull on my earmuffs and wrap my scarf around my nose, prepared for the cold that'll bite at me as soon as the door opens.
Leo has already jumped out of the car, and ran around the front to open my door for me.
My bright smile hides behind my scarf as I take his gloved hand and get out of the car.
Shutting the door behind me, I walk to the boot and help Leo take our suitcases out.
We shut the boot with a bang and start the short walk through the falling snow over to his front door.
Before we even make it up the steps of the porch, the door flies open and a gust of warmth welcomes us, along with a gentle glow of light.
"Jemma! Leo! Welcome home! Happy Christmas!" says Mrs. Fitz.
She is a small, round woman, with a big, kind and sweet personality. Messy golden curls frame her permanently jolly face, and she always smells of peppermint.
"Happy Christmas Mum." Says Leo, giving her a hug and a kiss.
"Happy Christmas." I say, giving her a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.
"Come in, dears, I won't have you catching cold for Christmas." She says, matronly bustling us into the Foyer.
"You can just leave your shoes and coats in the closet, then head up to Leo's room, I've set up the guest bed in there for you, where you can leave your things and when you come back down, I'll have a fire, tea and biscuits ready so you can warm up." She says, hurrying off towards the kitchen.
Before I peel off my winter gear, I look around at the merry place.
The banister of the staircase is draped with pine, ribbons, holly and ornaments. There is a beautiful tree in one corner of the foyer and the glimpses I can see through the doorways of both the living room and parlor glow with lights strung about.
"It's beautiful Leo." I say, gazing around.
"Yeah. It's my favorite time of year, the happy lights, the bells, the scent of pine…."
He gazes around lost in thought for a moment, before starting to remove his winter gear.
I undo my scarf, earmuffs, gloves, and jacket.
I neatly hang them all up, before unfastening my winter boots.
"Ready Jems?" says Leo, waiting for me by the stairs as I put away my boots.
"Yes."
I go to take my luggage, but he grabs it first and starts lugging both of ours up the stairs.
"Oh, Leo! I can carry it!" I say, amused and flattered.
"I've got it Jems. Come on up." He puffs, already at the landing.
I just shake my head and follow him up the stairs.
As I reach the second floor, another tree glows happily.
I follow Leo down a short, softly lit hallway to his room.
When he opens the door, the first thing that hits me is the scent of pine.
"Mum always leaves pine branches in here because she knows I love the smell." He explains
I shut my eyes and take a deep breath, enjoying the scent.
"It's lovely." I say, before opening my eyes.
I look around the room and see the guest bed, where I will be sleeping and lay my things upon it.
"Do you want to go downstairs now, Leo?" I ask, turning around.
"Sure Jems."
We hurry downstairs.
Soft Christmas carols are playing and I can't help but feel happy when Leo and I sit, side by side upon the couch, wrapped in blankets with warm tea in our hands, a fire glowing beside us, laughter ringing as we talk, and soft snow falling as the night grows older, the day before Christmas eve.
