Finally, Christmas Eve rolled around and with it came an early morning wake up from a familiar brown owl. He pecked at the window for nearly five minutes before I got up and let the poor animal in. Over the night it must have snowed six inches or more. The top of the barn was covered with at least a foot of white powder, and the lake sparkled like crystal in the moonlight. I could get used to this view.
I untied the parchment from his leg as he sipped happily from a cup of water beside the bed.
Dear Ali,
I know this probably won't reach you until really late at night, but I just had to write you. Nothing bad has happened, I know that's the first thing you will think when you get this. Don't worry, we're fine.
I'm glad you took my expert advice and went with Oliver for Christmas. I can tell you right now that you would not be having any fun here. Regan and Mom have been hanging on each other like Sammy and Jordan always are. I miss the way Mom and dad used to secretly sneak to their special corner in the kitchen, it's not the same with Regan. To be honest, it's quite disgusting.
Speaking of disgusting, Brady's been really nice to me the past two days. Which is kind of suspicious, I know. Maybe Regan threatened to hex him if he didn't act right around Mom, who knows. Anyways, he has even promised to show me some special Quidditch plays that the Slytherin team have been practicing. Apparently, Flint has them doing some sort of speed run, I don't know. I'll learn more and report back.
Regan went out and got the biggest Christmas tree I had ever seen, and we all helped decorate it last night. He even made hot chocolate and charmed a guitar to play a whole bunch of Christmas songs. Mom brought out our old Christmas star and allowed me to put it on the top of the tree. I know it was always your job, so I hope you aren't too mad that I did it. The tree is so big, I had to fly on my broom to the top. Seriously, it's quite the sight.
Before I go, I just wanted to let you know that I miss you, and I'm pretty sure mom does too. She hasn't said it out loud, but I keep catching her looking at that photo of you and her that she always hung on the tree. You know, the one of you when you were just a baby with nothing but peach fuzz and two tiny teeth. Back when you used to be cute.
Anyways, Merry Christmas and I love you!
PS Don't you dare open that present until Christmas morning. Believe me, I'll know.
I re-read the letter a few times before the feeling of being homesick crept into my head, I know if I tried to lay down i would do nothing but worry about Alex and Mom. Christmas wasn't the same without them. So, I quietly tip toed out of the bedroom, through the hallway, and down the stairs until I was in the family sitting room. Their fireplace was still lit and there just happened to be a comfortable throw blanket folded neatly on the chair, as if someone put it there just for me. The Christmas tree was decorated like it was about to be photographed for a magazine. I sat down and began rocking in the chair and reading the letter over and over again. Something about the way the fire flickered and the rhythmic sound of the chair hitting the floor as I moved back and forth, was so relaxing. I found myself getting calmer with every movement and spark of the fire.
Just as the old grandfather clock beside the front door chimed, I was touched on the arm by Oliver's mother. "Alanis dear."
I blinked my eyes rapidly as I glared up at the older woman smiling. The way the lights flickered off her face made her look like some sort of Christmas angel. "Oh, Ruth." I sat up straight and forced back a yawn.
"What on earth are you doing down here at this time of morning?"
I grabbed hold of the folded letter and held it up "Early morning wake up call."
"Ah." She nodded "Good news I hope?"
A loud sigh escaped my tired mouth "News yes. Good news? Maybe to some."
"I hope nothing too terrible has happened."
"No." I faked a smile as I stood and folded the blanket. "Just feeling a little homesick, that's all."
She looked at me with that motherly expression that told me she knew something was up. "Why don't we talk about it while you help me with breakfast?" She took the blanket from my hands and placed it back on the rocking chair exactly where it was when I came down. "Unless you would rather go back up stairs and try to get some rest?"
There were too many emotions swirling in my brain for me to lay back down and sleep. "No, I'd love to help." I quickly followed her through the large home and into the kitchen. It amazed me just how comfortable I had gotten in this house over the past few days. I felt at home here, like I belonged with this family.
"So?" She glanced back at me as she reached up into her cupboard for the flour container. "Do you know how to make pancakes?"
I nodded quickly "My dad was a great writer, but an even better chef." I chuckled at the first memory I had of my dad teaching me how to cook. I swear there was more flour on the floor and in my hair than in the mixing bowl. "Pancakes were his specialty."
"How about you make the pancakes while I fry up the bacon and sausage?" She set the flour, sugar, baking powder and vanilla on the counter as I grabbed the eggs, milk and butter from the refrigerator. "Do you miss him?"
As she asked my heart sank. "Very much so."
"I lost my father when I was about your age. I'll never forget that awful day." She shook her head and then smiled "But, life went on without him." She stopped moving and looked at me. "I'm not saying that I don't miss him anymore, just that the hurt subsided and was replaced with the memories of him. I still cherish those memories to this day."
"The memories are all I have left." I took a deep breath as I measured out the flour. "He used to wake me up either really late on Christmas Eve or super early Christmas morning, and we would bake until everyone else got up. We would make pie's and cookies, and just talk. We could talk about anything and everything. I miss that."
"How about we talk about something happier?" She added in a few more ingredients to the pancake batter as I whisked "It is Christmas after all. No one needs to be sad during the holidays."
"Agreed." I nodded with a smile.
She cracked two eggs into the bowl "How about my son?"
I smiled as I stirred in the final ingredients to the bowl "What about him?"
"You two would make an awfully cute couple." She tapped a spoon on the counter and smirked
"Would make? We are already dating." I felt a little bad about lying to the woman.
"No your not." I narrowed my eyes as she sighed. "Oh please. A mother always knows."
I chuckled and felt a little relieved that she knew the truth. Not that I minded pretending to be Oliver's girlfriend. "How did you figure it out?"
"There's no doubt in my mind that the two of you like each other." Again I smiled "but you are a little too awkward around each other for a couple who've been together a few months now. Besides, I overheard you speaking last night in the bedroom."
sneaky old woman. "I do like him, but I'm not so sure that he likes me, like that." I shrugged "I mean. He's never made a move to indicate that he did...or does."
"He invited you here, didn't he?" She raised her eyebrows and grinned. We spoke for another five minutes before we we're interrupted by a familiar voice that made my heart jump a beat.
"Oh, I see. You'll get up early for my mom but not me?" Oliver stood against the door jam with his arms crossed and a smile on his face. He wore a pair of red and black pajama bottoms and a tight fitting black t-shirt.
"Yes, she asks nicely." I turned around, spatula in hand. "A trait you didn't inherit."
"Hey, I can ask nicely. I just choose not to." He Removes himself from the wall and strolls over to steal a piece of sausage. I take the spatula and smack his hand away. "Ow." His mother just chuckled.
"Oh please." I rolled my eyes dramatically. "You come barging in my room, with your broom in your hand and poke me until you get what you want." I shook my head and made an odd face. That sounded slightly perverted.
"For Quidditch…" Oliver coughed "I have to get her and the other girls up for practice."
"Exactly what I meant." I smiled at his mother knowing she knew everything.
"You're allowed in the girls dormitory?" Adam sat at the end of the table and winked at me. "How'd you manage that one? Doesn't McGonagall know you two are dating?"
Oliver and I share a glance "Yes, but she trusts us." He answers
"She would have never given me permission for that." Adam chuckled "Then again, she knew what I wanted to do."
I rolled my eyes "It's not like we can have any fun with my three roommates in the room all the time." Oliver shook his head and inhaled sharply.
"Ah." Adam stands and places his hand on Oliver's shoulder approvingly "So Oli does get some."
"That's not what she meant." Oliver stated rather quickly.
"Hey, that's something to be proud of. You're bagging the prettiest girl in the whole school." Adam winked at me again and slapped Oliver on the back "Here I was thinking we were nothing alike."
"You are nothing alike." I spat out in a disgusted tone.
His mother coughed loudly "I would like it very much if you wouldn't talk about your love lives around me. There are some things a mother should never hear, and talking sex with her grown children is one of them."
I turned around with a slight blush on my cheeks to flip the last of the pancakes.
After breakfast was over with, Oliver went with his dad to feed the chickens and sheep in the barn while I helped his mother clean up. We cleared the table, washed the dishes and scrubbed down the counters all within a fifteen minutes. Lastly, she handed me the trash bag and directed me to the back of the house where the trash containers were at.
I tossed the bag into the metal container and took a deep breath. The smell of firewood filled the air, along with the scent of fresh fallen snow. The smells of winter had always been my favorite. They were so comforting and always helped me relax. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeper.
"I just don't understand it." I opened my eyes to see Adam standing beside a tree a few feet in front of me, he had a cigarette in one hand and a silver flask in the other. How some women found him attractive, I had no clue.
"Excuse me?" I asked just to make sure he was talking to me.
He tossed the cigarette and set the flask on the ground "I just don't understand how a girl like you would settle for someone like Oliver. You could have any guy you want."
"I didn't settle." I said with an irritated tone. This guy had a way of getting on my nerves just by looking at me. "I chose him, there is a difference."
He walked quickly to me and stopped just inches away. He smelled heavily of smoke and alcohol, and it made me gag. So much for the amazing smells of winter. "You just don't know what you are missing out on. Oliver is a good guy…" He ran his fingers along the side of my cheek "But he can't give you what you really want. What all women crave."
"Aren't you married?" I smacked his hand away, but he immediately moved it to the back of my neck, intertwining his fingers in my long hair and yanking.
"Recently divorced." He breathed on me and I felt like gagging. "The bitch didn't know how good she had it."
"More like she realized how twisted you are. She's much better off now." I placed my hands on his chest and pushed my back away from him, but the more I pushed the more his hands pulled on my hair. I always hated hair pulling.
"You like that don't you?"
"You're disgusting." I spat.
He smirked and leaned down so his lips were touching my cheek. "Some women enjoy that." He whispered.
His other hand snaked around my hip to my back, then he pulled me close to his body. I gasped and tried to squirm out of his grip. I wasn't a little helpless girl that couldn't defend herself, but I was still too weak against him. Adam was a lot stronger than I remembered back in school. If only I had my wand on me, I would have hexed his balls off by now.
I pushed back again, but he didn't move. "Adam…" I shouted, "Let me go." I squirmed just enough to bring my hand up and smack him across the face.
That only seemed to turn him on even more. "I like a girl with spirit."
This guy is really disturbed.
"Then you're going to love me." I grit my teeth and brought my knee up between his legs, hard.
He let go of me and groaned. I stepped back towards the door, but he grabbed my hand just as I reached for the handle. "You're going to pay for that." The lust in his eyes was replaced by anger and his grip tightened on my wrist. This time my heart pounded, and my hands shook. He wanted to hurt me, and he could.
"Let her go." Oliver's voice came from the driveway. I turned to see him rushing toward us with a look that could kill. His jaw was clamped shut and his breathing was heavy like he had just been running. "I said, let her go."
"Oh, Oli." Adam chuckled as his hand slipped from my wrist. "We were just having a little bit of fun…" His body language completely changed from an angry bear to a friendly lion. Still dangerous, but not quite as hungry as he was.
"You call that fun?" I spat at him as I rubbed my wrist. "No wonder your wife left you."
"She doesn't want you." Oliver's voice lowered, and he straightened his back to make himself seem bigger. He was no small man, but compared to Adam he was.
"We both know you aren't man enough to give this…" Adam looked at me and the lust returned to his eyes. "woman…what she deserves."
"You are nowhere close to a Man." Oliver mocked "You're a filthy pervert."
Adam snarled. "I'm still more of a man that you will ever be. What kind of man stands around and lets another man make a move on their girl?" Oliver grit his teeth again as Adam poked him in the chest. "You're no M…"
Slam. Oliver punched Adam so hard that he fell back against the tree he was previously standing against. I had never seen Oliver so angry before in the seven years I'd known him. His face was red, and his back was tense. He raised his hand to punch Adam again, but was stopped by his father who had just stepped out the back door with Ruth to see what the commotion was.
"Oliver." He yelled. "What on earth is going on out here?"
Adam placed his hand on his freshly split lip and stood back up from the tree. He pulled his hand back to look at the blood and chuckled "Oli's putting me in my place."
"And I'll do it again if you lay another hand on her." Oliver replied.
"Adam, what did you do?" Ruth gasped and grabbed hold of my shoulder gently.
Richard stepped toward Adam and I thought he was going to punch him too. Adam swallowed hard, he was obviously scared of his dad. "Get out of here." Richard pointed to the driveway. "And don't you dare come back until you've sobered up and are ready to apologize." Adam nodded and walked quickly to the front of the house, then disapparated away.
Oliver rushed up to me, placed the palm of his hand on my cheek and rubbed gently. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine Oli." I smiled and leaned into his hand. I couldn't help but smile at his concerned expression.
Ruth continued to rub my shoulder "I'm so sorry my dear. I hope Adam didn't harm you?"
"He didn't do anything…" I took a deep breath and tucked my hair behind my ear. "He was just a little drunk and decided to make a stupid move." Oliver tilted his head and questioned me with his eyes "Really. I'm completely fine." I looked down as he grabbed hold of my hand gently, then I noticed his knuckles were bleeding. "But you're not."
I brought his hand up, so his mother could see. "You should go clean up." She replied in a kind motherly tone.
Oliver's Pops and Nana showed up around supper time, completely unexpected, saying that they were planning on staying the night. Oliver originally gave up his room for them, but I couldn't allow him to do that. I volunteered to give up my room and sleep downstairs on the sofa. I felt more comfortable beside the fireplace anyway.
Seeing as it was Midnight which technically meant Christmas morning, I was free to open the gift Alex had given me before boarding the train. I dug through my bag and pulled out the tiny badly wrapped gift and quickly unwrapped it. I opened the lid to the box slowly and instantly smiled. Inside was a small heart shaped locket that was propped open. A tiny picture of me, dad and Alex was printed inside from our camping trip the summer before he passed. On the other side was the carved word "Love". This was the most amazing gift I had ever received. I quickly hooked the necklace around my neck and swore to never take it off again. I laid down on the sofa with the necklace in my hand, and drifted off to sleep.
I slept comfortably for nearly two hours before someone shook me awake. I opened my eyes just a crack to see Oliver standing above me with a goofy grin "Get up." He demanded.
"I didn't hear a please." I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep again.
He chuckled "Please!"
I opened my eyes and sat up on the edge of the sofa. "What's so important that you got me up at…" I squinted at the old grandfather clock "Two o'clock? I haven't even been asleep for two hours."
"I know."
"You better not be getting me up to go running or practice Quidditch." I glared at him.
He smiled and pulled his hands out from behind him. He held two aprons one red one green. "I thought we could do a little baking."
"How did you…?" A huge smile spread across my sleepy face as I stood from the sofa "Your mom told you."
"She thought you could use a little pick me up. I agreed." He slipped the green apron over my head then tied it in the back before he lead me into the kitchen. Sitting on the table was everything needed to make at least ten dozen cookies and a few different types of pies.
For the next three hours we whisked, poured batter and told stories about whatever was on our minds. We laughed so hard that we cried and then we laughed some more. I'm surprised we didn't wake everyone in the house. The way we moved together in the kitchen was like we had always worked together. He would hand me something I needed and never asked for, then I would do the same thing. It was magic in motion.
Oliver's apron was more white then red now, and his hair had a white streak going down the center from when he ran his flour covered hands through it earlier. "What's so funny?" He asked as he placed the final pie in the oven and joined me at the kitchen sink to rinse his hands off.
"You have more flour in your hair than what went in the pie." I chuckled.
"You aren't completely spotless yourself." I smiled as I watched him wash his hands then get them dirty again when he ran them through his hair. I was going to miss this side of him when we returned to school. Part of me never wanted to return. "Will this stuff ever go away. It's worse than when Clara got a hold of a glitter bomb and spread it all over the house."
"She didn't?" I chuckled as I helped him out of his apron.
"Yup." He untied mine "Dad was taking it with him on house calls for weeks."
"I'm sure he loved that." I rolled my eyes. "Let me guess. It was bright pink."
"Of course." He sarcastically replied as I leaned back into the corner of the counter. "Is there any other color of glitter?"
"I don't think so." I replied with a laugh.
He helped me clean up the kitchen, do the dishes and even straighten up a bit for his mom. Soon the counter top was filled with three different types of pies, four different types of cookies, and even a plate of cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
"You have a bit of..." He pointed to my cheek. I tried to wipe it off with the sleeve of my shirt but apparently missed, multiple times. This must be some sort of magic flour that never comes off.
He stared at me for a silent second before leaning forward to wipe the spot of flour off my cheek. He stepped forward until he was standing merely inches away from me. His warm breath touched my face and I felt my heart pounding. I closed my eyes as his warm palm gently touched my face then stayed there with his thumb caressing my cheek. After a moment I slowly reopened my eyes to him smiling at me. His deep brown eyes had a hint of gold that seemed to sparkle in the morning light. He swallowed and slowly began moving his hand away.
I couldn't help myself, I grabbed his hand stopping it from moving. "Don't stop." I practically whispered.
"Ali I…" I placed my hand on his chest and could feel his heart pounding in sync with mine. "I've been meaning to ask…or tell you…"
"Adorable. Simply adorable." Oliver's Nana and Pop's stood in the doorway to the kitchen staring at us. "Aren't they just the cutest couple?" Nana asked, and we jumped apart really fast.
"Let's leave the love birds alone." Pops replied with a wink at Oliver.
"They are hard pressed to get a moment alone in this house." Richard joined us in the kitchen along with Ruth.
Our cute, romantic moment had just been spoiled by a group of old people. I grumbled internally, and I swear Oliver did the same.
More and more people showed up as the day went on, including Amelia her husband Jeffery and their two year old Logan. Also, their Uncle, Aunt, their two children and a handful of cousins. It was nearly noon before Adam showed his face at the house, and two hours after that before he approached me to apologize. I didn't believe one word of the apology, but didn't cause a scene for the sake of his family. Oliver pulled me aside to see if I was alright with Adam being there, and that's when it happened.
"Ooooh." Clara pointed at us and laughed. The little girl was wearing an adorable red and white dress with a red matching bow in her hair.
"What's gotten into you?" Oliver asked her with a smile.
"Clara it's not nice to point." Ruth mumbled at the little girl.
"But mom." The girl groaned "They're standing under the mistletoe."
The rest of the room joined in on the laughing and watched us closely. Both Oliver and I gasped as we looked up to see that she was right. The branch of green with tiny red berried, hung above our heads.
Of course we had chosen the one spot in the entire house that has mistletoe to talk.
Suddenly there was a look of panic on Oliver's face and a panic in my chest. "You don't have to …" He began saying with a shaky voice.
"Oh yes she does." Amelia laughed. "Just kiss the poor girl and get it over with."
Oliver clearly swallowed, and his eyes were bugged out. Not at all as romantic as this morning was. He leaned down quickly and placed a swift peck on my cheek, leaving me underwhelmed.
"Not so fast." Richard spoke loudly as Oliver went to turn away. "What's the mistletoe rule in this house?"
"If you and your significant other is caught under the mistletoe…" Ruth laughed as she was the only one in the house to know that we weren't actually a couple.
"You guys have a mistletoe rule?" I chuckled loudly to try and hide the nervousness.
"Unfortunately…" Oliver said under his breath.
"It has to be a good…romantic…kiss." Amelia said loudly.
"Come on Oli…" Clara stood by our side staring up at us. "Just kiss her."
"You can do it." Pop's shouted "We practically saw you two making out in the kitchen this morning."
I shrugged as I looked up at him, waiting for him to make the first move. "I'm okay with it if you are." I whispered
He nodded with a slight blush. Then swallowed nervously before he leaned down, placing his soft lips on mine. It wasn't like one of those close-mouthed kisses like you do when you're young and you've never held hands with a guy before. It was a full on, open mouthed, almost sexual kiss. And I loved it. I loved the way my small body melted into his. The way our lips fit like two puzzle pieces. When we broke away after what seemed like ages, he looked at me, not moving his eyes. Then he sighed, like he'd been wanting to do that for a very long time.
"Merry Christmas." He whispered.
A Merry Christmas indeed. I definitely made the right decision in coming here.
