Christmas Day 2023 Part I
Nick would be the first person to wake up in the street the next day, but Ethan was awake not long after him. He left Drew to carry on sleeping, and crept quietly along the hallway to the kitchen, closing the door behind him gently. He made himself coffee, then sat silently at the table, deep in thought. He felt different this morning to how he had felt 24 hours ago, and he knew exactly why. He was a father now, with a daughter, and with that great blessing came something else; responsibility. His life so far had been about keeping himself happy, and he had done more or less what he wanted when he wanted. He had needed to prove himself, to build a career away from his parents, and he had succeeded, showing them that he could make his own way in a competitive world…
Now he realised that the time had come to think about the future, and his place in the family business. His dad was already on the sidelines to an extent, thanks to his heart attack, and he realised that there was only so long his mother could continue to do all that she did without any familial support before her health potentially began to suffer too. Then there was Evie, and her official status in the family gave him all the more impetus to get involved. Mackenzie Inc was going to be her future now, just as much as it was his, and he needed to get involved, and learn how to navigate such a huge undertaking through the turbulent waters of the current economy, so that his daughter would still have a ship to take the helm of when her time came. He was going to tell his father and mother that he wanted to take his seat at the boardroom table, and start attending a few meetings, albeit still in a semi-informal capacity, in the new year. He would have a talk with them about it when he saw them in a few days time…
Ethan finished his coffee, then went to consult the instructions that Nick had given him as to when to start the cooking of the various items that would make up their festive meal. He had decided that he did not want to leave it all to Drew, even if he had much more experience at it. There was a large joint of prime beef in the fridge, which required to be roasted; it was a favourite of Evie's and he reckoned that it could not be any harder to cook than a chicken or a turkey. However, he also had to factor in the cooking of the 'pigs-in-blankets' that his newly adopted daughter insisted had to be part of the meal….
When Drew came into the kitchen half an hour later it was to the sight of his best friend peeling potatoes, getting them ready to be par-boiled and then roasted. His arrival went unnoticed and so he stood there in silence for a moment, smiling as he realised that Ethan was humming familiar Christmas tunes. It struck him just how domestic it all was, as if they were an old married couple, not two old friends living together, now sharing the parenting of a child, who no doubt would be awake very soon to see if Father Christmas had been. He stepped back out of the room, then returned making more noise, so that Ethan would notice him. "Well, I have you well trained, starting on the dinner already," he said jokingly.
"Well it isn't fair that you do all the work in the kitchen. We should share the tasks like this 50/50," replied Ethan.
"I don't know about that; I am the far superior cook," Drew replied with a wink.
"I will concede on that point, although let us never forget that the king of cookie testers judged mine to be superior to yours back at Dalton…"
"Oh, yes, back in our Senior year. Let us not forget, however, that Jeff's exact words were something on the lines of 'marginally less burnt and tasteless'. Since then, I have had a lot of practice…"
"Is that a challenge? Maybe we should both bake a batch and see what he says now!" Ethan replied with a grin as he finished peeling the final potato and after cutting it into two, placed it carefully into the waiting pan of salted water…
Drew did not get a chance to respond to the challenge as they both heard a door opening in the hallway, followed by the sound of small feet running down towards the kitchen. Then his daughter was there, smiling, and immediately went to hug him. "Merry Christmas, daddy! Merry Christmas Uncle Ethan! Did he come?
"Merry Christmas Evie," Drew replied, "and well, I don't know, as I have only just woken up and not had a chance to check under the tree yet."
"And I haven't checked either," continued Ethan. "However, I think that it might be a good idea for us to have some breakfast before we do go and look. Presents are always better opened on a full stomach I think."
Evie looked at him, then at her father, and nodded. "I am hungry, so maybe I could have some milk and cookies, instead of my usual cereal, seeing as it is a special day…"
Ethan headed for the cupboard, having anticipated this request, and whilst Drew poured his daughter a glass of milk, he took out the box of cookies that Nick had baked specially for her, and set them down in front of her. She immediately saw that the cookies were gift wrapped, and she opened them very carefully, her face lighting up when she saw the chocolate cookies with the large chunks of white chocolate baked in them before her. She placed the gift tag on the table, as she knew she would have to write Nick a thank you note later.
As she ate the first of her cookies, Drew looked at Ethan pointedly, and getting his meaning at once, he nodded in agreement. He got up and fetched the envelope that had arrived from the courts the previous day, and came to sit on the right hand side of Evie, her father on her left. She watched them both carefully as she finished her cookie, knowing that they had something important to tell her from the serious look on their faces…
When she had finished her last mouthful, Drew said simply, "We got a letter from the court yesterday, and it was about you, me and Ethan…"
"Did it say that Ethan could be my papa?" asked Evie, the excitement evident in her voice.
"It did, yes," replied Drew. "He is now officially your papa."
"That is the best Christmas present ever!" squealed Evie. "Does that mean that his mom and dad…"
"Are now officially your second set of grandparents, not that we have told them or my parents that yet. We thought that we would keep it our secret for today. Just the three of us, our little family," said Drew.
"I love you both so much, and I am also happy for papa too, because he is now officially a dad…"
Ethan sat silently for a moment, it only now really hitting home as she said it. He was now a dad in the eyes of the law, and it felt so good… "I guess that I am a dad now, and I am lucky because my daughter is the best little girl in the world. So, I think we should go and see if there are any presents underneath the tree from Father Christmas. I mean, I thought that I heard the sound of sleigh bells late last night, and you were a very good girl all last year…"
"Can we daddy?"
"I think that we should, yes," replied Drew, getting to his feet.
With Evie leading the way, they headed to the living room, where a pile of gifts had materialised around the tree overnight. Evie ran towards them, then looked at her father to see if it was okay for her to start opening them. He nodded, then wrapped his arm around Ethan's shoulders as he watched his - no, their daughter open her gifts, a mixture of dolls, clothes, books, games and other trinkets. He realised at that moment that he had not felt so happy since his schooldays, and that as far as he was concerned, life could not be any better…
Along the street, and Nick already had his turkey in the oven; it was of course far too big, but he also knew that he said that every year, and every year they managed as a family to consume all of it within a couple of days. With that main job done, he was now making a start on breakfast, a replica of the one from last year, when he had been preparing croissants in a borrowed kitchen in London… As he went about his tasks, he thought about all that had taken place since that Christmas Day, and just how eventful 2023 had been. Next year could be just as hectic he realised, particularly if his rumoured promotion came through. His trip to New Zealand, if that also took place, would only be for a week to ten days, so that would be a lot easier to deal with…
His thoughts were brought back to the present as he heard a chirrup like noise, then felt the furry body of a cat wrapping itself around his legs, no doubt wanting his first breakfast of the day… "Good morning, Caleb," said Nick without looking down. "I do have your breakfast ready, but I can't go and get it for you if you are tangled up in my legs, now can I?" As if he actually understood exactly what Nick had just said, the cat moved away to sit by the space where his dish should be, looking at him expectantly. Nick shook his head, wondering when he had become the butler to a cat, but still went to pick up the plate on which he had placed the giblets from the turkey. He knew that some people made a gravy for the bird from them, but the idea made him feel queasy, and when he had mentioned it to Jeff, his husband had actually started to retch at the very prospect…
Nick placed the giblets into Caleb's empty bowl, knowing that there were some smoked salmon trimmings to follow; the fish would be served up to his human guests with scrambled egg. Caleb watched as Nick filled his bowl, but did not head over until he stepped away. He headed over, and paused for a moment, then started to eat, enjoying the taste and flavour of something that his humans rejected. Nick headed over to the oven as the cat ate with his first batch of croissants, and as he placed them in, he wondered if history would repeat itself, and the smell of the cooking pastries filling the house would bring everyone to the table…
In the end, they had all appeared even before the smell began to permeate the house. His grandmother insisted on making the scrambled eggs for him, and he let her, as he cooked the bacon and fried a few little cakes made from the leftover mashed potato from last night's fish pie. Nick's croissants were still the star attraction though, and the chef patted himself on the back secretly for his decision to go to the extra expense of buying the expensive imported French butter from a local deli to give them the most authentic taste possible.
Wes ate his food at a reasonable pace, anxious to get to the point where they could all head back up the stairs to the Christmas tree, and the packages that were sitting underneath it, so that he could see if Father Christmas had read his letter and brought him at least a few of the things that he had requested. When the time came, Wes found that his papa was up the stairs much quicker than he was, just as eager to start opening his own gifts. Nick just smiled, having long ago accepted that his husband would never completely grow up, and if he was honest, he would not want Jeff to be any other way…
Of course, Wes had everything that he had wished for, from a set of Flash pyjamas to an apron and a proper chef's hat for when he helped his dad in the kitchen with the baking. That he had also asked for his own set of bowls, spoons and baking tins so that he could create bakes of his own had been a surprise, but they had managed to find some of a suitable size, and the smile on their son's face when he unwrapped them was more than enough thanks for his parents.
"I think that boy is definitely going to be a chef when he grows up," Nick's grandfather remarked sagely, and they all had to agree that at the moment, that job seemed the most likely to grab his attention. Meanwhile, the gifts that his parents had bought for each other were small, but heartfelt. Jeff loved the new, lightweight drawing slope that would fit easily into his satchel. It was well made, sturdy, and had been marked as the property of Jeff Sterling-Duval OBE(Hon). The new briefcase that he had purchased for Nick, made of the best quality leather, with gold fittings and his initials marked on in the same, was exactly what his husband needed. After all, his old one, a gift from his parents when he started Dalton, had begun to fall apart…
The remainder of the day in the Sterling-Duval household was taken up in eating, playing games and generally enjoying each others company. They did all pause at 10am, to tune into the BBC Channel online so that they could watch the Queen make her speech at the same time as it was shown in the UK. Admittedly they only managed this after the concept of time zones was explained to Wes, as he had questioned why it was earlier here than it had been in London… Her Majesty was still dressed in more muted tones, and of course she reflected on the main event of her life that year, the passing of her beloved husband. It came as no real surprise to Niff that one of the clips shown during the speech was of the moment that she unveiled The Happy Couple, and that Jeff was visible at the side of his work. They had been advised by the palace just in case they had any objections. It still came as a huge surprise to Mrs Duval and her parents though, but it also served to remind them all that the older couple were the only people in the room that had not actually met her…
Then there had been a steady stream of phone calls to and from friends, and even one with Miss Frobisher in Kensington, exchanging greetings across the globe. They had been joined by Dexter and Lawrence for lunch, and they had both enjoyed it immensely, treated like family by everyone there. The two young ex-Warblers would watch, at first aghast and then bemused as Nick set fire to the dessert, but both agreed that the rich fruit pudding, smothered in the golden custard, ran a close second to the legendary toffee apple pudding at Dalton….
Over in New Jersey, Christmas was also going well in a house in Maplewood. For Isabelle, Christmas was the one holiday in which she ignored the stylings and trends suggested in the pages of Vogue and did things her own way. Her decorations were simple and homespun, the food traditional and wholesome, the gifts small and personal. Julian was only too happy to follow where his wife lead. Peter had of course returned home from Dalton, now in his Junior year and that fact made his father feel just a little old. He still had his young daughter of course, the double of his wife at that age, but his little boy was now a young man, matching him in height, and with stubble on his face by the evening. The fact that meant his son had, like him, half an inch on Sebastian, had made him smile at first, until his brother had taken great pleasure in pointing out that Peter would still be growing, and in the end would probably be taller than both of them…
Of course, with his son's increasing age came the hormonal mood swings of adolescence, but he was glad to see that the rude, snappy son of the summer seemed to have vanished, and the more polite, dapper, Dalton approved version had returned to the fore. He had helped his little sister to open her gifts that morning, agreeing with her as she talked excitedly of Santa Claus without any hint of sarcasm or irony. Julian was convinced that he probably owed Thad Harwood a personal thanks for that, and for his behaviour. Sebastian had of course observed his nephew's attitude that summer, and had been on the receiving end twice; he no doubt would have had a quiet word in the ear of the Head Warbler…
When the man in question had arrived, he was still addressed as Uncle Bazzy. Julian smiled as Peter took a seat and then took his newest cousin into his arms, cradling him gently. Then Elise came to sit beside him, chattering away, and Peter listened to her as she talked, replying when he needed to. Sebastian and Dave meanwhile settled down to talk with Mr Smythe senior and his two former wives, all now friendly in public, which astounded Julian still as he recalled all the fighting of a few years ago…
It was then that he noticed something else; he suddenly noticed the way that Paul Karofsky was looking at his son's nanny, and the way that she looked at him too when she caught his eye. It was quite plain to him that the two of them liked each other, and in fact, might even be in love… Of course, that in itself was not an issue, as her husband had passed away, and Mr Karofsky had long since divorced his wife, but there was the small issue of the miles between them day to day. There was no way that Paul was going to leave his highly successful business in Ohio, and from what he knew, she was devoted to her two young charges. Then there was the small issue of how Dave might react when he realised what was going on….
Of course, Julian said nothing, and the whole day carried on as perfectly as anyone could have wished - it was almost a modern day version of The Waltons. Peter was the model eldest child at the dinner table, declining the offer of a glass of champagne when it came, instead sticking to the sparkling grape juice that his sister and indeed his uncle, the designated driver for his little party, were having. That he might have an ulterior motive there did cross Julian's mind moments later when his own father started to ask Peter how he was doing in his driver's ed classes at Dalton. Peter swiftly produced his driver's license, and that was when he was offered the chance to drive his grandfather's brand new, all electric, sports car. As he accepted, Julian saw his brother wink conspiratorially at his nephew…. The meal was simple and delicious, no fancy fare that left them hungry in an hour. Julian felt sorry for the rich and deluded that would be tucking into the designer meals seen in the pages of the fashion magazines…
Later, once Peter had driven off slowly on his test drive, and the majority of the household were settling down to watch a classic Disney film, Sebastian discretely indicated to his brother that he wanted a one on one chat. They stole away, leaving their respective spouses occupied with mothers and children. "Well, Peter is definitely a Smythe," said Sebastian as they settled down in Julian's home office. "The way that he chose not to have that drink just so he could get behind the wheel of that car. I would wager that dad will be asked to take a few snaps of him behind the wheel so that he can impress his school friends, and of course, the girls at Crawford County Day…"
Julian laughed, and responded, "Yes, that was definitely the kind of smooth move we might both have played in our time. Anyway, I am guessing that my son's Smythe traits are not the reason why you wanted to sneak out and talk to me? I mean, have you developed an aversion to Beauty and the Beast?"
"Certainly not… No, I just thought that I should let you know that Peter spoke to Thad, and the issues that had him behaving like a version of me at my very worst this summer have been talked through and dealt with. Thad of course told him that he should speak to you; maybe he will, maybe he won't…" Julian nodded, grateful for the fact that his brother's friend was able to take an interest and get through to his son. "On another note, I think that you noticed earlier on what I have noticed a few times myself; the way that my father-in-law and Mrs Carr act around each other. Dave is, of course, completely oblivious to it all, but I think that the time might have come for me to have a chat with Paul about it. I will have the opportunity when Dave is at the stadium, and his father and I are heading to watch him play…"
"Hmm, I would tread very carefully when you do, Bazzy. I mean, we might both have got the situation totally wrong, and the cringe factor from telling your father-in-law that you think he is in love with the nanny, when he isn't…" cautioned Julian.
"Tell me about it! However, all of those little signs are only adding up to one thing, and well, I might have overheard them on the phone to each other…"
"Please tell me that you weren't listening in to the call on an extension, because that would be just a little creepy…"
"Err, no… It was the last time that Paul was here. It was her day off, and with Dave out, it was my responsibility to change a diaper. When the phone rang, Paul answered it. I then heard a lot of laughter, and then heard him say how much he was looking forward to seeing the person at the other end of the call, and that it was going to be the highlight of his trip. By the time I got back to him he had ended the call, and when I asked who it had been, he told me it had been a work colleague of his. Given what I overheard, that did not ring true at all, so when he left the room, I checked what number had called last, and well…"
"Okay, that might be real evidence that something is going on, the fact that he lied about who was on the phone, as I am assuming it was definitely Mrs Carr."
Sebastian nodded, then said, "On a positive note, if anything comes of it, it would mean that she would stay in the lives of Elise and Francis, which is ideal because they have bonded well. If I am right, and they have fallen for each other, then it is no issue at all for me; Dave on the other hand might be an entirely different proposition. He saw how bad things were for his father after he split from his mom, and as a result he can be very protective of him. He also has quite a thing about hating secrets; he has first hand knowledge of the damage that they can cause after all…"
"Well, however things play out, all I would like to say is that I think you are being very mature here. There are a lot of people in this situation whose first thought would be that they could be about to lose their nanny to Ohio…"
"Oh, that does concern me, but it's the least of my worries though; we can always find a new nanny, but Dave can't find a new father…"
"Do you really think it could come to that? That they could fall out and end up as distant as we once were with dad?"
Sebastian said nothing, but the look on his face told Julian all that he needed to know. Thinking about it, he realised that his brother could be right; if he and Sebastian had interfered in their father's romantic affairs, then they would never have been forgiven. Glancing at the time, Julian realised that they had been out of the room for an hour; he indicated the clock to his brother, and he smiled. Without a word the two of them headed back to the lounge, where it appeared nobody had even noticed their absence. In no time, they had put the conversation to the back of their minds, and concentrated on enjoying the holiday…