As the last few words of Auld Lang Syne were sung Jonny Maconie tapped his glass with a spoon to get everyone's attention. 'I not great at speeches' he began as everyone turned to look at him 'but as everyone knows this year is going to be a rather busy one for this family and its going to be amazing! We've got a house being brought and renovated, another house is in process of being built and of course there is the wedding to look forward too. Now maybe I've just had too much whisky but I just wanted to firstly say how proud of our wee girls Jac and I are.'
'Here, here' Guy called out in agreement, raising his glass to the two girls who were sat cringing on the sofa.
'Thanks Guy' Jonny chuckled. 'Secondly, how pleased we are to have alls of you lot, our slightly crazy adoptive family, to share all of this with. And finally our oldest wee miss turns 20 today! Officially no longer a teenager!' Julia groaned with embarrassment as Hattie grinned at her discomfort, putting a supportive arm around her girlfriends shoulders. 'Our family was only complete once she'd joined it. Nothing makes this old man prouder than hearing her calling me Dad and knowing that this magnificent young woman is truly my daughter. So please raise your glasses to wish us all a happy new year and Julia a very happy birthday!'
As the toast died down Jac gently kissed her husbands cheek and slipped out of the room into the kitchen. She busied herself with stacking the dishwasher wondering how much longer the guests would stay.
'I think I've definitely well and truly embarrassed our daughters.' Jonny chuckled as he brought in some empty glasses.
'As well you might, it is our privilege to embarrass our children' Jac laughed softly as she continued with her task.
'I promise this is the last party we'll hold here for while' he took hold of her hands to stop her from her task. She looked up at him and Jonny could see how weary she truly was. 'Thank you, for letting us host both Christmas and new year this year, I know its really not your thing. It'll be different next year; Mo and Sacha's kitchen won't be being remodelled for a start.'
'Next year will be different because both our children will have moved out' Jac spoke softly. 'You're saying thank you but really I've wanted to keep the girls here for as long as possible, to enjoy what will probably be our last family Christmas all together.'
'Och Jac' Jonny gathered his wife into his arms and held her closely 'as if they're not going to want to come over and spend Christmas with us! You're letting empty nest syndrome rule your head again woman' he kissed the top of her head affectionately.
'Its not just that' Jac mumbled her next confession against his chest 'I've really been missing Jasmine, all this wedding planning makes me remember her. I'm going over and over every conversation we ever had. She died 16 years ago today, and the one conversion I keep going back to, keep turning it over and over in my head is the one when she accused me of stealing Ava away from her.'
'She never meant those words Jac, you know she didn't, she told you as much' Jonny spoke gently.
'I know but I still feel guilty that you and I get to enjoy all the good stuff with Ava when by rights it should have been her.'
'I think you need is a little holiday, just you and me, away from everything. We could hire a wee cottage on the coast somewhere' Jonny spoke soothingly 'get some real rr. What do you say?'
'Maybe. I'll think about it.' Jac closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of being held safely in her husbands arms for a few seconds before she moved out of his embrace. She never was comfortable with affection, especially when they had a house full of people. She gave Jonny a small smile of gratitude, even though she knew he knew.
The guests cheered and applauded as Julia blew out her birthday candles.
'So do you have birthday cake every year at one AM or this a particularly special occasion?' Bernie Wolf asked as Julia handed her a plate with large slice of iced lemon cake upon it.
'Maybe not every year' Julia chuckled 'but there has to be some perks to being born on new years right?'
'Oh absolutely.' Bernie nodded, 'don't you agree Serena?' she looked to her right to find her partner had fallen asleep beside her. 'Honestly I can't take her anywhere' Bernie chuckled before nudging her awake. 'You're missing out on lemon birthday cake at the most unsuitable hour' she informed the brunette as she awoke with a start.
'Goodness, well that does look good.' Serena sat herself up straight as she accepted the plate from Julia. 'Markus better get here swiftly or there'll be none left' she joked.
'He's on his way' Amanda informed the room with a smile 'apparently the meteor shower was amazing and we should all be sorry we missed it.'
'Huh well not after the last time he conned me into standing in cold wet field with his nerdy friends.' Ava commented. 'It went cloudy about ten minutes after he'd set his telescope up and we didn't see a thing. He'd had a great night out though. Wouldn't shut up about it for weeks' Ava rolled her eyes.
'And yet you're still marrying him' Amanda laughed as she put her arm around Ava and gave her a quick hug. 'You can't say you're not fully forewarned of my son's various hobbies and interests.'
'It is a good job I fell in love with him before he became such a big physics freak really' Ava joked back 'I think you can forgive almost anything when you love someone.'
'True enough' Sacha spoke as he sat down next to them. 'Jac come and squeeze in here next to me' he called over to his best friend as she was instructing Mo to cut her the tiniest silver of cake. 'I want to hear all of your latest developments on the Amelia device.'
'Och get her started on that and you'll never get her to shut up' Jonny joked as he finished cramming the wrapping paper from Julia's birthday presents into a bin bag.
'Maybe its boring to those with limited intelligence' Jac retorted as she squeezed onto the end of the sofa 'but to medical geniuses like myself and Sacha it just doesn't get any more interesting.'
' I think that's the first compliment you've given me for over six months' Sacha chuckled. 'We must make a note of the time and date.'
'I would have thought Markus would be here by now' Amanda spoke anxiously as she checked her watch. Most of the guests had left and it was just Amanda and Guy remaining.
'He's probably just got caught up chatting to his friends' Jac spoke reassuringly from where she sat on on the sofa gently smoothing Avas auburn hair. The holiday season had clearly caught up the young redhead as she lay sleeping resting against her aunt. The doorbell rang just as Jac finished her sentence and she chuckled as Amanda's face relaxed.
'See that'll be him now' Jonny got to his feet to answer the door. 'Someone better get the kettle on for him, bet he's frozen.'
As Hattie went into the kitchen to put the kettle on they could hear muffled voices in the hall.
'That's not Markus' Amanda frowned. She was already on her feet before Jonny had calmly called out her name. As she stepped out into the hall she saw two uniformed police officers. She'd never know just how she knew in that moment but the words came out of her own mouth so matter of fact; 'my son is dead isn't he?'