Chapter 10 – Charlotte's first Christmas
The next few weeks saw the arrival of Christmas which the kids all loved. They had already had the first Christmas as a family but this Christmas was special as it was the first of many with Charlotte. David was really showing what a great family man he could be.
"Hello kids. Give me a hand with this tree?" Called David as the kids rushed to help him
"Wow, it's huge" Said Billie
"Can we decorate it now? Please" Said Sonia to David as she admired the tree.
"After dinner" Said David with a wink signalling the kids to lay the table.
"David you didn't have to get that I would've just got a small one" Said Carol as she came to the living room to see the tree
"Hey this is Charlotte's first Christmas and the kids will love it" Said David
"Is she asleep then?" Said David as he cuddled Carol
"No she's in the kitchen driving me mad" said Carol
"Well I'll come and take control then" Said David flirtatiously as he kissed Carol tenderly
"Ewww get a room" Said Joe as he came in the lounge and turned on the TV
"Yeah all right Joe" Said David as he and Carol left to go in the kitchen
"Hey dad, nice tree" Said Joe
"Cheers Joe, dinner will be ready soon so don't go out" Said David
"Sonia don't you dare start paying that trumpet now I've only just calmed Charlotte down" Said Carol causing Sonia to storm off in a strop to sit with Joe
"Hello my baby. Are you going to help us decorate the tree later" Said David as he picked Charlotte up and made fuss of her
"You can deal with her whining now daddy" Said Carol smugly
"No worries. You wouldn't whine would you darling? Mmmm that's a lovely ruby murry sweetheart" Said David as he stuck his finger in Carol's curry she was cooking and tasted it.
"Oi! mitts off you. Charlotte needs changing. Off you go" Said Carol as she pushed David out of the kitchen and slapped his bum
"Carol Jackson I'll get you for that later" said David seductively as he went upstairs to change Charlotte leaving Carol chuckling
Carol was just dishing up her curry when David came back down with a freshly changed Charlotte
"DINNER EVERYONE" Shouted David and everyone within seconds rushed to the kitchen with even Robbie and Bianca arriving home
"It's like feeding time at the zoo" Said Carol
Everyone laughed and enjoyed the family dinner which had become a frequently enjoyable occasion. After dinner everyone went into the living room and began to decorate the Christmas tree. David was supervising whilst Carol cleared up. Carol then answered the door and let Pat, Roy and Janine in who had come to bring presents round as it was only a few days until Christmas
"Come in; we're just decorating the tree. Would you like a drink" Said Carol
"Yes please" Said Pat and Roy
"I'll open a bottle of wine and get some pop for the kids" Said Carol as she went to the kitchen and Pat, Roy and Janine entered the living room
"Hang on, have you put the lights on?" Said David looking at the half decorated tree
"No they are here. We can put them on at the end" Said Robbie
"You're meant to put the lights on first you plonkers" Said David chuckling as he held Charlotte
"Alright we'll put them on now" Said Robbie and Joe making a mess of the tree
David sat with the kids as they finished decorating the tree which looked the most mental Christmas tree he had ever seen. Pat was so proud to see David with the kids and even Janine who had joined in. David then brought out a box which had baubles each of which had everyone's names on.
"You can each put your own on if you like. Sonia can you put mine and your mum's on. Come on Charlotte we'll put yours on sweetheart" Said David as he held Charlotte up and helped her put hers on the tree.
"Right who's going to put the angel on top, Carol?" Said David
"I can't reach David" Said Carol laughing
"Oh yes you can, come here" Said David as he lifted Carol up so she could put the angel on top
"No David I'm too heavy" Said Carol giggling and yelping
"Go on mum put it on" Said Sonia and Bianca as Carol placed the angel on the tree
"There we go complete" Said David as he cuddled Carol and passionately kissed her
"Umm dad not in front of Charlotte" Said Bianca who was now holding Charlotte
"Christmas" Shouted Charlotte
"Yes my clever girl that's right its Christmas. I think it's time you went to bed" Said David proudly as he stroked Charlotte's cheek with pure love
"I'll take her up" Said Bianca
"Alright darling, goodnight poppet" Said David as he kissed Charlotte
"Goodnight sweetie" Said Carol as she also kissed Charlotte
It was after Bianca had put Charlotte to bed that everyone else soon followed up. Pat, Roy and Janine went home after agreeing to come over and have Christmas with David, Carol and the kids. David and Carol were looking forward to the first Christmas with Charlotte who they had bought loads of presents for. At that moment they heard a massive row coming from across the hall between Billie and Sonia. David rushed in and held Billie back just as he was about to hit Sonia.
"Oi Oi Billie What's going on mate?" Said David
"Leave me alone you're not my dad" Said Billie as he pushed David away and ran to his room
"What did you say Sonia?" Said Carol sternly
"Just that David is our dad now and that Alan doesn't give a toss about any of us" Said Sonia
"Sonia that's awful Alan is Billie's dad of course he loves him" Said Carol
"He said that to me once, that he'd be my dad no matter what. At least David doesn't pretend to be the perfect dad but at least he cares" Said Sonia upset
"Sonia darling, Alan does love you. It's David he hates and that's why he keeps away" Said Carol struggling to explain
"It's true Sonia. Alan thinks the world of you and you can love us both you know" Said David comforting Sonia
David then left Sonia with Carol and went to Billie's bedroom who he found crying on his bed. He sat down on the bed and gently tapped Billie's shoulder.
"It's alright mate. Alan loves you so much. I mean why wouldn't he? You're his son and a great kid" Said David
"I miss him" Said Billie
"I know mate and I'm sorry. How about we invite your dad over for Christmas day so you can spend Christmas with everyone" Said David bravely
"Mum won't like that" Said Billie
"You leave your mum to me. Would you like that?" Said David
"Yeah. Thank you" Said Billie as he hugged David
"No worries, now you come and make it up with Sonia" Said David
He followed Billie back to Sonia's room and made sure they made things up before they then went to bed. He then approached Carol about asking Alan round for Christmas who was particularly hostile
"No David this is Charlotte's first Christmas and he'll just start an argument" Said Carol
"I know you don't like it but we've got to do this for Billie. I've ripped his life apart enough. I promise I'll be civil" Said David
"Fine but you owe me" Said Carol
"Well that's no problem I'm sure I can find a way to make it up to you" Said David as he nibbled Carol's ear and carried her into bed for a passionate night
It was no sooner that Christmas Eve had arrived in Walford. The kids were so excited about about Santa coming. Carol was making pigs in blankets and getting everything ready for the Christmas dinner the next day. Bianca and Ricky were spending their first Christmas together as a married couple. The whole family were listening to Christmas songs in the living room all evening
"Right kids come on its 10:00o'clock; time for bed" Said David
"Oh but we want to stay up longer" Whined Sonia and Billie
"Well if you don't go to bed Santa won't be able to deliver your presents" Said David to the youngsters
"Santa isn't real" Said Sonia who was now old enough to know the truth
"He is, isn't he David?" Asked Billie worried
"Of course he is mate but you have to make sure you are fast asleep for him to come" Said David winking
"Come on then let's all go up" Said Bianca assuring David she would make sure the kids all went to sleep while David and Carol finished wrapping presents.
"This is nice" Said David smiling at Carol
"What? Wrapping up presents at 11o'clock on Christmas Eve" Said Carol
"Yeah, come here. Fancy unwrapping an early Christmas present?" Said David as he pulled Carol towards him and sat her on his knee
"Mmm sounds intriguing" Said Carol as she intimately kissed David
They began to make their way upstairs like teenagers who couldn't keep their hands off each other. David had made the bedroom all nice to surprise Carol as a romantic Christmas present for her. She was thrilled.
"Oh David it's beautiful. I've got a surprise for you as well "Said Carol as she pushed David onto the bed and showed him her sexy Christmas lingerie she was wearing underneath her dressing gown
"Wow. You look gorgeous. Come here" Said David as he pulled her on top of him and they hastily began to make love despite the presence of Charlotte who was fast asleep.
David and Carol were giggling away so happy they couldn't believe it. After they lay in each other's arms so lovingly and as the clock hit midnight David said
"Merry Christmas love of my life"
"Merry Christmas David" Said Carol as she kissed him and they fell asleep together
It was 6 o'clock in the morning and David and Carol were awoken by the thunder of feet
"And here we go, they are going to be so hyper today" Said David
"They are kids David; they're excited" Said Carol
"I know so am I. It's like you always say I never really grew up" Said David winking at Carol causing her to giggle
"Do I because I was say judging by last night and Bianca we grew up way too fast" Said Carol
"Nah we were just in love" Said David kissing Carol's neck tenderly
"No David we have got to go downstairs for the kids" Said Carol
"Alright I'll hold you to some loving later" Said David as he and Carol smiled
They both got up and quickly got dressed to join the kids downstairs. Carol went over to the cot to wake Charlotte up and realised that she wasn't there
"David Charlotte's not here" Said Carol worried
"Where is she then? She must be with the kids" Said David
"Let's go and see" Said Carol
She and David rushed downstairs to see the kids who were all gathered in the lounge. As they walked in the kids played merry Christmas Everybody by Slade which surprised them. The kids then gave David and Carol their presents which they had all jointly bought to make special. The kids bought David a gold watch engraved with his name and Carol a gold locket with a picture of her and David when they were 14.
"Thanks you lot its great" Said David touched
"Thank you my darlings" Said Carol with tears coming to her eyes over the kids thoughtful gifts
"Nan helped us" Said Bianca
"I love you darling" Said Carol to an emotional Bianca
"Can we open our presents now" Said Billie who was desperate to see what Santa had bought him
"Yeah go on" Said David
David and Carol had bought all the presents as the kids couldn't afford to buy each other presents. They bought Billie a scalectric set, Sonia a music stand for her trumpet, Joe a designer jacket, Robbie some aftershave and Bianca a pair of gold earrings. Everyone helped Charlotte open her presents which were mostly toys that made her laugh. They all got little gifts from Pat and Roy. Alan then arrived with Billie's present which was a band new bike; a clear attempt to show David up. David took little notice of Alan and tried to let him enjoy the day with Billie. The kids all loved David now and Alan became incredibly jealous of his friendship with the kids and relationship with Carol. Lorraine was there with Peter with whom she had got back together with. Peter and David seemed to get on particularly since David was so grateful to Peter for looking after Karen and Joe when they were little. Christmas dinner was full of joy and the kids were all so happy. David was holding Charlotte and kissing Carol; they looked so happy.
"I told you to get a room" Said Sonia as she threw a potato and David's head and laughed
"Oi, I'm going to get you for that" Said David laughing
He ran over and tickled Sonia which made everyone laugh except Alan who flipped at David and punched him sending him crashing to the floor. Alan stood in disbelief as he couldn't believe what he had just done. Bianca and the kids looked so angry and disappointed which devastated Alan.
"I think you had better leave" Said Pat
"I hate you dad. You've ruined everything" Said Billie
"I'm sorry" Said Alan as he rushed out
Despite the commotion Carol gave David a bag of pea frozen peas for his eye which was now going black and everyone continued to enjoy the rest of the day. Lorraine, Peter and Joe left early as they were heading back to Bolton. Soon after Pat, Roy, Janine and Ricky left as Frank was coming to see them the next day but Bianca stayed to be with her family. Charlotte was getting so much attention with Robbie taking loads of pictures of her with the camera that David had bought for the family to share; she was growing up so fast. As it was getting late Charlotte was getting whiny as she was tired as were all the kids.
"Come on then. I think it's time we all went to bed" Said Carol
"Oh" Moaned the kids
"Up you go" Said Carol insistently marching them all upstairs
"I'll take Charlotte up" Said David quietly as Carol dealt with the kids and read Billie a story. David took Charlotte up and put her to bed. He read her a story and she was definitely turning into a pretty young girl with dark hair who was the spitting image of David. He watched her fall asleep and smiled on her as she was dreaming. Carol then walked in quietly and wrapped her arms around David who was still leaning over Charlotte's cot.
"Oooh hello" Said David as he turned and kissed her
"Is she asleep" Said Carol peering over the cot to see
"Yeah she's out to the count. It's been a great day for her" Said David sentimentally
"It's been lovely, thanks to you" Said Carol
"Eh?" Said David confused
"You've been amazing with the kids. I love you. Here you go" Said Carol as she passed David his gift
"Aww Carol we said weren't doing gifts" Said Avid as he opened it and saw a silver chain
"I know but you've made Christmas so special and I just knew it would look great on you. I couldn't resist. Shall I put it on for you" Said Carol intimately
"Yeah alright" Said David as he leant down towards her making their size difference evident
"Does it look good?" Said David
"Very sexy" Said Carol as she kissed his neck and they began to make love which they had both been dying to do since their moment earlier in the morning.
David and Carol had had such an awesome and loving Christmas as a family which they had often dreamed of as children. Both were neglected as children by their families but finally felt that together they had got their family Christmas which they had craved so badly.