"Who is she?" asked Rose.
"This is Kirsty. My girlfriend."
Rose didn't know how to react; she was tired from sitting on trains all day, and being messed about by taxi drivers. Surely he would have told her if he'd got a girlfriend? It was rare for Kane to make friends, let alone form a relationship.
"And she's living here?"
"Yes, " said Kane taking a deep breath and clutching Kirsty's hand. "I need to tell you something?"
"Is this the girl you ran off with then, the girl who left you in hospital? The girl whose parents dislike you?"
"Yes."
"And now she's living here? What has she had an argument and run away again?"
Kirsty was beginning to feel increasingly awkward. Surely Rose wouldn't chuck her out, not on Christmas Eve. She had nowhere else to go.
"Yes she is living here. She's pregnant."
"I need to sit down." Rose sat down on the sofa, and stared viciously at Kirsty's midriff. She never would have imagined this would happen.
"I'll put the kettle on, " said Kirsty.
"I know you're angry Aunty, but we've got it all figured out. I've been working and saving and when she has the baby we're moving away so she can go back to school. We won't be here for long."
"That's not it Kane, " exclaimed Rose. "Your family always disappointed me, your father, your brother and now you. After that court case I would have thought that you'd stay away from her and her family. This is going to be hard for her, she's only young."
"I know, but we love each other."
"But you can't live on love alone. She's living away from her family, giving up her life to be here with you. That will take its toll."
"We'll make friends when we move away."
"Here's your tea, " said Kirsty entering the room. "Ms Phillips, I know what you must think, but Kane and I are serious about each other and this baby. Please don't chuck us out."
"I'm not going to chuck you out. Personally I don't think that would help the situation, but I would encourage you to speak to your family. Families should always stick together, and that's what I've done for Kane. You need to make decisions, this isn't just about you." Rose went into the kitchen.
"I'm going to bed, " said Kirsty.
"I'll come with you, " said Kane. Rose gave him a funny look.
"Somehow I get the impression that she doesn't like me, " said Kirsty and they went upstairs. "I've corrupted you or something."
"I doubt it. It is a lot to take in. Let her sleep on it. She'll come round."
"This is going to be the worst Christmas ever."
***
After a mainly sleepless night, Kirsty woke up feeling anything but the Christmas spirit. Last year, if anyone had told her she'd be pregnant and living with Kane Phillips by the next year, she would have hit them with anything that came to hand. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine this situation, it was almost like a dream, fast becoming a nightmare. She got up, dressed in a vaguely smart black top and jeans, and switched on her mobile phone. She needed to talk to someone, but the probability of Max picking up the phone in a house of people who hated her was one in a million. Kirsty sighed. It was difficult to get excited about the baby when so many people were against it.
"Hey, why didn't you wake me?" said Kane. "Merry Christmas."
"Yeah."
"Come here. You still wearing the ring?"
"Yeah, it's beautiful, " said Kirsty getting back into bed.
"Cheer up. This will be the best Christmas ever, well for me anyway, " said Kane putting his arms round her. They kissed, making Kirsty feel much better.
"I'd better go face Rose now, " said Kane. "Wish me luck."
***
'Take the chicken breasts, and engross them into your paprika jelly marinade, ' read Kirsty. Her marinade was hardly a jelly, more of a very runny red mixture. It looked nothing like the picture in the recipe book.
"Make sure you wash the lettuce, " said Rosy, standing behind Kirsty like a shadow. "It's very important, especially for you."
"Thanks."
"I normally cook a traditional dinner at Christmas."
"I prefer salads, " said Kirsty through gritted teeth, trying to 'engross' the chicken.
"Don't splash it on the cooker!" screeched Rose. "That's brand new."
"Listen, Ms Phillips, I am trying to cook for you so if you'd be so grateful not to criticize everything I do, then maybe I could concentrate."
"Hmmmph, " Rose left the room in a huff. Eventually Kirsty managed to prepare the salad, and the reluctant trio sat down to a melancholy Christmas dinner. Rosemary Phillips didn't like her home being invaded, her cushions being ruffled, her counters unwashed. Some might have said she had a disorder, as she kept everything meticulously tidy. She liked to be in control of her surroundings, and Kirsty didn't allow her to do that. Kirsty didn't dare show Rose the ring on her finger, fearing that she might get the wrong idea, or the right idea. Kane hadn't proposed to her yet, and Kirsty worried that he never intended to. His aunt would surely talk him out of any thoughts of marriage. This was by far one of Kirsty's worst Christmases.