Marti's Story
"You're reading too much into this, Babe." Simon told me as I flitted round our home angrily grabbing things and pushing them into a holdall. Polly kept tottering towards me and then getting caught in my legs. Simon bent down and scooped our daughter up into his arms, holding her close whilst he remonstrated with me. I wasn't having any of it.
"Oh? Nora has room for us to stay overnight. If the whole family were coming, with Aunt Madge there, there wouldn't be enough bedrooms. Someone isn't coming."
My anger petered out as I got to the end of my sentence, and my voice deflated.
"You don't know that. Maybe one of them is staying in a hotel or something." Simon, as always, the calm voice of a doctor with a bedside manner which I loved!
"I suppose so. It's just…I hoped that we were getting close to a proper resolution. Derek and Casey have spent time together this year. They are talking again. If they are talking, surely they see."
"Smarti. I love you more than life itself but, really this is none of our business."
I stopped and stepped towards him.
"When I was ten, the person I loved most in the world came to me and told me he was in love. He asked me if I minded that it was my step-sister. He told me that he couldn't believe he had been such an idiot for so long, and he told me that it scared the life out of him because he was only nineteen and they were still so new, but he wanted to marry her. He laughed at himself. Said it was hormones and his body leading his brain, but his eyes told a different story. When Casey dumped Derek she broke my heart too. But I couldn't be angry with her, because I saw the same depth in her eyes, and the same pain when it was over. It took me so long to be able to speak to my step-mom when I realised why Casey broke it off. They thought I was being rebellious. Do you know how long it took Nora and Dad to realise the truth? Five years. Five effing years! Of Casey and Derek not talking; of them each in pain. And ten years after that, they are still apart."
Simon adjusted Polly so that he could raise a hand to brush the tears from my cheeks.
"I know. I love them both too. And even though I wasn't around for the break up, I can see how they still care about each other." My partner took a deep breath. "You do realise that Derek has been pumping me for information about Casey's life since I met you, don't you?"
"What?!" I looked at him in astonishment.
He smiled. "He couldn't ask the family, so he asks me. Over the years, I've had drinks with him where the main topic was Casey, written emails to him because there has been a Casey update, and sent him photos of her."
"Really?"
He nodded. "The worst times are when she is dating. I hate having to tell him about that. Fortunately, it's been a long time since that happened." He kissed Polly and placed her back on her feet. "Go play, honey, mommy and daddy will be ready to leave soon."
Our daughter ran off, leaving us in an awkward silence.
"Let's go and make the most of this holiday, Smarts."
I sighed. "Sure. Polly needs this."
He kissed my head.
"I hope you realise I'll be doing my usual post Christmas dinner stunt."
I smiled. "And I'll turn you down…"
Simon grinned broadly, confidently. "We'll see."
Christmas Eve.
When I was a child it was my favourite day of the year, better even than my birthday, because it was when everyone was together. There were a couple of bad Christmases where Dad and Mom weren't talking and everything felt forced, and then Nora arrived and with her the magic returned.
The years before Derek and Casey left for college were perfect. I had almost everyone I loved around me, and the missing link, in my mom, I always saw the following day.
The Christmas Derek and Casey came home in love was the best, and the hardest.
I loved seeing Derek with Casey, because they were so happy. That it didn't last…killed.
We arrived just before breakfast at my childhood home (by invitation), with a daughter who was desperate to see Grandma and Granddad. I was terrified of who I wouldn't see this year.
Simon pulled up outside, and I noticed Lizzie's car and Derek's car. Did that mean that it was Casey who had cried off?
Nora and Dad emerged from the house as soon as the car stopped and helped us unload. I wanted to ask then 'who isn't here?', but I didn't. I simply followed my partner and our family and made my way up the path to the house.
Inside, Aunt Madge was playing poker with Robbie which made me smile. Our family was so unconventional at times! I greeted them both and they were in such a good mood, I couldn't help but respond with equal enthusiasm.
The house was manic, especially with my little firecracker of a daughter who whizzed around the room kissing everyone, and, mindful of the fact I was carrying glass bottles of wine, I moved quickly to the kitchen to place them on the side.
I was used to Mom and George making out in front of the fridge. I had walked in on that so many times as a little girl I got to the point where I didn't notice. So it took me a couple of seconds to register the fact there were two people kissing in front of the fridge.
I put the wine down and coughed, loudly.
Edwin and Lizzie broke apart, guiltily.
"Whoops! Busted!" Ed said. But the sheer joy on his face made me smile.
"I guess you two have something to tell me?" I said, laughing.
"I got a cat?" Lizzie tried. I ran at them both and we all hugged.
"This is one of the best Christmas presents ever! I want to hear all about it!" I squealed.
Edwin kissed Lizzie on the temple. "Later. I promise. I think that there are plans for a story-telling session when the kids are in bed?"
"Kids? Robbie's going to love you for that!"
Edwin grinned. "Anyway, there isn't a reason for you to say no to Simon anymore. We're all here."
"ALL?" I couldn't believe it.
"Derek and Casey are upstairs."
"Together?" I couldn't help it, I had to ask. Before Edwin could answer, a piercing shriek came from upstairs.
"Der-ek!!!"
Edwin grinned at me. "That depends what you mean by 'together'."
It probably wasn't sensible to walk into a war zone, but god I had missed it so much! I turned on my tail and headed up the stairs.
I wondered what he had done this time: honey in her shampoo, mayo in her slippers or removed all her t-shirts in the night. I had seen them all before, and Derek had had fifteen years of no-pranking. Would he be rusty or would he have been planning?
I reached the top step and was about to step onto the landing when I saw that Derek was standing in the doorway to Casey's room, fully dressed and with that characteristic slouch and smirk that used to drive her crazy. I don't think he knew I was there, so I stayed hidden.
In my mind's eye, I was transported back fifteen-plus years and I was the little girl on the landing watching my big brother fight with our step-sister.
"You called?" he sing-songed.
I heard Casey's reply. "Derek, you Jerk!" Despite myself I grinned broadly.
"What have you done now that I'm going to get the blame for?" He asked and even I could tell he knew exactly what her problem was and it was totally his fault. It didn't worry me though, because this sounded, exactly like it had when they were fifteen, sixteen…et cetera.
You get the message.
Casey moved closer to the doorway, so I could hear her better than before.
"Hiding all my panties, Derek. Very grown up."
"Now why would I do that?"
"You mean apart from your underwear fetish?"
"Underwear fetish?"
"Yes. You'll probably sleep with them under your pillow tonight."
Derek shrugged. "Maybe you just forgot to pack any."
"That might be believable, Moron, but even the pair I wore yesterday have disappeared."
"Have you checked the light fitting?"
"Der-ek! This isn't funny. I am not spending Christmas Eve without panties."
Derek adjusted his stance.
"Why not?" His smirk had grown. "Live a little, Case. Go commando." He turned to walk away.
"Oh you'd just love that wouldn't you?" Casey followed him out of the room in her bathrobe, her voice lowered so that it wouldn't carry downstairs. I heard every word as she continued. "The thought of me, panty-less at the family breakfast. Forget the fetish. I understand now. This is about you and your perverse thoughts about me."
Derek laughed but he too kept his voice down. "Perverse? Since when has having dirty thoughts about my wife been perverse?"
"Since you want your wife to sit with her family with no underwear on."
Derek reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of black lace panties.
"These particular ones are my favourite. What will you give me if I return them to you?"
Casey stepped towards him, a very Derek-like smirk on her face. "How about I let you help me put them on?" She said, seductively. She turned around and walked back towards the bedroom, her finger beckoning over her shoulder. Derek chuckled and followed her back into the bedroom.
Which left me, standing on the top step in complete and utter shock.
Casey Again.
Derek closed the door behind us.
"Cool. Think she got the message?" He asked grabbing hold of me, and pulled open the robe I was wearing; his hands stroking the bare skin at my waist.
I smiled. "You should have seen the look of shock on her face when you called me your wife."
"I did." He was holding me tightly now, and pressing kisses against my neck.
"I don't see why we didn't just tell her." I questioned, trying to ignore the insistant way his body rubbed up against mine.
"I wanted an excuse to steal your panties." He said, only half-joking.
