7
….
"Do we have everything?" I said to no one in particular, though everyone was nearby. Jellybean followed me around the house as I made the last-minute preparations for our Christmas Eve party.
Janet was usually nowhere in sight but today seemed to be in the Christmas spirit and played with Jellybean while we got everything ready. When people started arriving she would vanish, leaving people to wonder if we even had a cat.
"I think we're right on track," Ianto said, frowning over my party preparation list. He looked around the house, his hands on his hips.
"Relax, everything looks perfect."
"That's because it is perfect!" Eve said. She spun in her white dress, around and around, Jenny spinning with her. Jellybean tried to chase them at first and then gave up and laid down to watch them with a wary eye.
I surveyed the house with a new critical scrutiny. All the decorating was done. The tree looked perfect. Jellybean did not eat the popcorn or the cranberries. Ianto had candles absolutely everywhere. He said it was a tradition thing. Lots and lots and lots of candles, but it was too early to light them.
I'd learned the bloody song, so I was game to go along with whatever traditions he wanted to show me.
I picked up all the food we ordered, everything else we made. We had crackers, a cheese platter, nuts both shelled and unshelled with a nutcracker, if someone wanted a project. I'd ordered several large sandwich rings, shrimp on ice, and made meatballs. I mostly did logistics compared to Ianto who spent countless evening hours in the kitchen this week.
Ianto went crazy and made all kinds of treats: thin gingerbread cookies, sweet rolls flavoured with saffron, spiral sponge cakes, Bara Brith, oat rolled truffles and this mulled wine. We also had beer, hot chocolate, and ginger soda, a favourite with the kids.
We didn't go too fancy, just fun snacks and food.
Everyone would come, bring more food, and we'd hang out and have a fun party.
When Welsh people wish you 'Nadolig Llawen', they're not just thinking about ordinary festivities. They're thinking about horses' skulls, 3am hymn-singing, odd apples, mountain races and seaside swims too. Jude Rogers dips into the deep Welsh midwinter traditions
I am glad Ianto did not adhere to ALL the traditions of his heritage.
The unspoken tension stretched across the room between me and Ianto. Would his parents come? How would that be? His dad had already drawn up the paperwork showing intent to follow through, and that relaxed Ianto a lot.
Still it was going to be weird to have them here, in our home, with them not used to…well…us. But this was our home, our party, and they asked for entrance into our world. We set the terms, not them, and they'd asked to be allowed in. They asked to show they could respect our world.
So we were cautiously optimistic. Me, I wanted everything to be perfect. Not just for me, but really for Ianto. I had plans for later and wanted everything to be smooth for him so he could have a great Christmas.
I looked out the window to check the weather. The snow fell softly, and the sky was turning gray as night started to fall. It was time to turn on the playlist and light the candles.
Just then, the doorbell rang. It was 5:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the official start time.
"That would be Lisa," Ianto called from the kitchen. She'd cleared an early arrival so she could help out with the girls.
I opened the door, and Ianto's ex-wife Lisa stood on the porch next to a tall smiling guy with light brown hair and dimples. I remembered Ianto told me she was bringing someone she'd been dating. Lisa was all winter glam tonight. She wore a red puffy coat and red glittery boots that matched her red lips. Her long black hair cascaded down to impossible lengths, like she was some kind of Rapunzel and I am reminded that she is a hairdresser. Those extensions are to die for.. One glance at her with this guy, and I could tell they were in love. I don't think they knew it yet though.
"Hey Lisa!" I said, genuinely happy to see her. Ianto didn't have supportive parents but he sure lucked out when it came to the rest of his family, especially in his ex-wife.
"Hi Jack," she smiled at me. "This is Trent." She indicated him, and then looked up into his eyes and they both blushed.
"Come on in, you two." I extended a hand to Trent as he came in. "Nice to meet you man."
He shook my hand.
"Thanks," he said. He looked around cautiously.
"You can relax here," I said, clapping him on the back. "Can I offer you a drink?"
Trent burst into a relieved smile. "Sure," he said. "I know this is a family party…"
"Any guest of Lisa's is a guest of ours," I said, as I pulled her into my arms and gave her a big hug. Lisa got the big brother treatment from me, and that included impossibly strong Janet hugs.
"Oof, Jack," Lisa squeaked. "You're like a mountain! Don't break me."
I laughed, and let her go. "The girls are upstairs. They were sort of ready at one point, but you know how it is."
Lisa nodded and pursed her lips. "I'm up to the task."
She held up a bag full of who knows what — curling irons and tubes and bottles.
Ianto emerged from the kitchen and shook Trent's hand, and then gave Lisa a brief hug.
"Thanks for coming early. Keeping the girls put together is almost impossible, and we are at the level where I am out of my league," he said.
"That's what I'm here for," she said. "I have a little surprise for them too." She winked at us, and made her way upstairs.
"Where's my girls?" she called.
Eve and Jenny squealed and ran to the top of the stairs. "Mama!"
"Let's get you fancy," Lisa said, and they disappeared up the stairs.
I looked at Ianto and Trent and clapped my hands.
"Let's see about that drink," I said.
Before long Trent and Ianto were laughing in the kitchen like old friends. I went around lighting all the candles, and then I built up the fire so it could run untended for a while.
Next came my sister Nicole and her son Owen. We had so much food and Nikki brought even more. She'd had a catering business and then ran the restaurant portion of the coffee shop Lisa ran with her dad.
"Hey Jack," she said, handing me armfuls of plates and bowls to relive some of her load. Her son Owen also held several dishes in his hands.
"Come on in," I said. "I don't think we'll starve to death tonight." I set what she'd given me on one of the buffet tables we'd set up and peeked under the lids. Delicious smells wafted up and my stomach growled.
"All this food, and you haven't been snacking?" Nikki teased. Arms free, she pulled herself to me in a big hug.
If Lisa got a sister hug, Nikki got an even tighter squeeze.
Owen had already found his way to the kitchen.
"Did you get ginger beer this year?" I heard him ask Ianto.
I went around and gathered up coats and hung them up on the long rack in the back hallway/mudroom. My stomach growled again. Maybe just one little bite to eat before we officially start the party… Like he could read my mind, Ianto appeared in front of me and put a saffron roll in my mouth. I bit down and then took the delectable bun from him.
"Mmmm," I said, as I chewed and swallowed. "How did you know?"
He laughed and patted my stomach. "You have rock hard abs, but I heard your stomach growling through them anyway."
"Aww, Ianto," I grinned, and pulled him in for a kiss.
"I take care of my Jack," he said. Then he pinched my nipples through my shirt and kissed me again. I groaned.
"I'm going to punish you for that later," I murmured in his ear.
"I'm counting on it," he laughed, and disappeared back into the kitchen.
The doorbell rang again. This time it was Sarah, Ianto's co-worker when he still worked at the vet clinic here in Torchwood, and the new vet Beckett.
"Welcome to Christmas!" I said, and welcomed them inside.
"I brought food," Sarah said, and then laughed when she saw the tables. "Though I'm not sure why!"
"More food is always better!" I said, and rearranged everything to make space for her offering.
Before long, the entryway was littered with boots, and the mitten/hat rack was a riot of squishy colours. Ianto kept anxiously popping into sight and looking out the window.
"It will be okay," I reassured him, as I made my way to the back hall hooks with an arm full of coats. "I'll handle the door, unless you would rather do it."
Ianto pressed his eyes closed tightly. "No, you do it, and then I'll come out. This way I can stay busy in the kitchen."
I pulled him close to me with my free arm and kissed him.
"We got this," I reminded him.
He looked up into my eyes with his anxious baby blues and nodded. "Okay," he said.
Not five minutes later the doorbell rang again. Ianto's parents stood on the porch with their arms full of gifts.
The paper on the packages reflected the twinkling Christmas lights on the porch, giving the whole scene an extra glow.
"Come on in, welcome, welcome." I flung the door open and ushered them in. "You can put the gifts under the tree, and we have entirely too much food, so help yourself."
"Jack," Ianto's dad said, giving me perfunctory smile as they came inside.
Ianto bustled in from the kitchen, his cheeks glowing and his eyes bright. He'd met with his parents a couple of times since the lunch, but he was still nervous to have them over for a social event.
It didn't help that everyone there knew what happened before and were trying not to stare. But we'd filled them all in beforehand so there wouldn't be any moments any more awkward than they needed to be.
Ianto helped them with their coats and boots and gave them a tour of the table.
"It's lovely," his mum said. She craned her head around the room. "Where are my granddaughters?"
They were our last guests to arrive and we had been waiting for them to start the show.
"Funny you should ask," Lisa said from the top of the stairs. She nodded at me, and that was my signal. I lowered the lights and switched the music to a sweet and ancient melody. A hush fell on the room. Ianto came and stood beside me, and I put my arm around him. The high clear voices of an all-girls choir filled the air.
Hark! through the darksome night
Sounds come a winging:
All eyes looked upstairs as Jenny and Eve's voices joined the music, singing along with the song. Both wore long white dresses with red sashes. They each had crowns of glowing (electric) candles and they came down the stairs, singing along with the song.
Lo! 'tis the Queen of Light
Joyfully singing.
Everyone stood transfixed as the little girls who looked very much like angels proceeded down the stairs, confidently singing as they went. Danelle came down behind them, also wearing red and white, hers in the form of a red skirt and a white fluffy sweater. She held a white candle in her hands. The music continued.
Clad in her garment white,
Wearing her crown of light,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
When they got to the bottom of the stairs they stood in front of the Christmas tree and sang the rest of the song for the guests.
Deep in the northern sky
Bright stars are beaming;
Christmas is drawing nigh
Candles are gleaming.
Welcome thou vision rare,
Lights glowing in thy hair
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
As soon as they were done the room exploded into applause. I squeezed Ianto's shoulders. He wiped his eye, and I noticed so did most of everyone else in the room. Nothing says cute like not one, but two, Santa Lucias for your Christmas party.
"Can I do that next year?" Avery asked, her eyes shining with the wonder of the spectacle. Toshiko looked at Ianto, questioning in her eyes.
"Absolutely," he said. "The only thing better than two girls for our show would be three." He looked at me, happiness in his eyes. I knew what he was thinking.
People wanted to come again next year.
We were making traditions together.