I just wanted to thank you all for your amazing support. I've just passed 200 hundred reviews on this story which is absolutely incredible. You are all amazing and really inspire me to keep writing. This chapter is for all of you!
On a side note, I realised after I had this written that I based the timeline on European school years. Students finish school in May/June for our summer so going by that, this timeline is correct. I'm really sorry about the discrepancy but if you could just take it as it is (or just think of this as a standalone chapter) I would be much obliged!
Chapter 34- Christmas with the Braxtons- Part 1
April tore off another strip of tape, placing it carefully along the line where two pieces of wrapping paper met. Once she was finished with that, she blissfully tied a ruby red ribbon around it and admired her work. Hearing a bustling, the teen cast her eyes up to see Heath entering the room. "Hey you," April beamed and puckered up as he bent down to give her a kiss.
"Hey babe. What are you up to?" he wondered as he sat down on the couch.
She arched an eyebrow and chuckled softly. "It's Christmas Eve, what do you think I'm doing?" April wondered good naturedly.
Heath nodded. "I know but you've been at it for about two hours now..."
"It takes time, Heath! I'm not going to give anyone a present if the wrapping doesn't look like I've put at least a bit of effort into it! Besides," she tucked the gift neatly into the pile and placed her hand on her bump, "I really like all this. It makes us relaxed."
The middle Braxton smiled. "Well anything that makes my two favourite people happy makes me happy too."
"Aw, look at you all warm and fuzzy with the Christmas spirit!" April teased and gestured for her boyfriend to get up off the couch and help her up off the cushion she was perched upon on the floor. Heath obliged, helping the pregnant woman to her feet.
Heath shrugged. "Well it is our first Christmas together and last before the baby comes," he reminded her, placing his hands on her bump and kissing her.
"Mmm," she hummed to herself, "that is true. I really can't wait for tomorrow; I have a feeling that it's going to be a nice quiet day-"
A humorless chuckled filled the air and the happy couple turned to see Brax exiting his room with his phone in his hand. "I would say that just yet..."
Both Heath and April groaned. Great, of course something would happen to disrupt their familial bliss. "What is it?" Surely it couldn't be that bad. Although, speaking from experience...
"Mum just called; she's invited herself over for dinner tomorrow- wants to spend Christmas with the family. We haven't been together for Christmas in years and she picks this year!" the eldest Braxton seemed torn between disbelief and slight fear.
His brother knew exactly what he was talking about. All of their love lives were, how would you say, dramatic at that moment in time. One son seeing a police officer, one with a pregnant girlfriend who was still a teenager and, best of all, one with a pregnant teacher. But could anything less be expected from a Braxton get together? "Well that's just great, isn't it? Is it too much to ask for a nice peaceful Christmas?"
April was shocked into silence. She had never met Cheryl before; meeting her when she was nearly six months pregnant for the first time on Christmas Day wouldn't be on her list of priorities. She'd heard from the boys that Heath was the favourite son and that meant that his mother would either love her or hate her. To be honest, it would most likely be the latter. April looked to her boyfriend for reassurance.
Heath placed his arm around her. "Don't worry. Let's look at it this way; there'll probably be bigger fish to fry..."
That did give her some comfort. Realistically, hers and Heath's relationship and pregnancy was hardly the most news worthy at the moment. Everything would be fine- at least, that's what she really wanted to believe.
Brax didn't look any less unnerved. "It's a good thing we're having it in the restaurant." That was definitely true. Along with the three brothers and their respective girlfriends, they were also being joined by Bianca and Liam as, understandably, April wanted to be with Heath and her sister for Christmas. Ruby was also invited but declined as her relationship with Casey was unsalvageable after he broke the news about Henri and the baby. They hadn't spoken since.
"It's still going to be awkward! Besides myself, there will be two of your exes there. Bianca is my sister. Your mother is going to have a field day with this," April pointed out, trying to think of the worst case scenario. She didn't want to freak out about it, she really didn't but it was inevitable. Didn't everyone freak out before meeting their boyfriend's mother for the first time? Especially when she was about to make said mother a grandmother….
Heath draped his arm around her waist and placed a soft kiss on her head. "Like I said, she probably won't get time to focus on you."
"Speaking of which," Brax began, "Who's going to tell Casey about this? He needs to be warned."
The middle Braxton scoffed. "I'm not telling him."
Both Brax and April exchanged a glance. Heath and Casey's relationship had been more than a bit strained since everything had transpired with Henri and the baby. They hoped that the two brothers would kiss and make up for everyone's sake. "Okay, I'll tell him. But you have to promise to be on your best behaviour tomorrow. Mum is probably going to go off at some point but keep your mouth shut. There's going to be enough drama without you contributing as well."
The younger Braxton thought about arguing but decided to let it go for the sake of peace. "Fine. But if he starts anything then I'll play ball."
"Then I'll make sure that he doesn't," the eldest of the Braxtons informed Heath and April while making for the front door. "Oh, and April? Heath's right. Don't worry too much. Mum's going to like you. Although I don't think the same can be said for Charlie and Henri…" was all he said before heading next door.
Heath smiled and kissed his girlfriend again. "See? We're going to be fine. Besides, we can always escape to Irene's if things start getting crazy."
His girlfriend chuckled. "Yeah, I think it's good to have a backup plan. Let's just try to enjoy the day."
"That sounds like a very good idea."