Thank you for the support.

Well with my 2nd grading over and done with yesterday and my exam today, I now feel free to do other things... which is hopefully going to be filled with a bit of writing...

But in the meantime, enjoy this and I will see you Wednesday

TWO - Presents wrapped in colourful ribbons and bows

They had a system.

A production line type system, which played to both of their strengths.

Because while Eddie could cut the wrapping paper and wrap it around the present (no matter what shape) perfectly, his bow-tying ability left a lot to be desired. Which was where Rachel shone.

So Eddie cut and wrapped and Rachel sorted out the ribbons and bows.

There was Christmas music playing in the background but other than a handful of times, the task was being completed with silence from its participants.

A long silence used to worry Rachel. The dread would creep up on her and if it wasn't a problem to begin with, then it would be one. Silence, to her, marked the beginning of the end.

But silence with Eddie didn't mean that. And he had very quickly gotten her out of that way of thinking when he realised what was happening when she started to withdraw slightly, trying to save herself from the inevitable hurt that would follow.

But part of her never believed that she could find silence comforting. Yet that now was the case.

And she knew Eddie had finished when he stood up, leant down to place a kiss in her hair and left the room wordlessly. The sound of the kettle showed his intentions and Rachel couldn't have thought of anything better as she adjusted the bow on the last present before adding it to the pile.

She smiled at the large pile of very neatly and colourfully wrapped presents and thought about what everyone's reactions might be. She could imagine that the adults would appreciate their hard work more than the kids. In fact, she could see that all of her hard work would be seen as only a barrier to slow them down in getting a hold on what lies beneath the paper.

There were another couple of things to wrap but Rachel knew that would just have to be badly wrapped with a beautiful bow. Like Eddie might (as she didn't want to assume that he got her anything) have one or two beautifully wrapped presents with lopsided bows (if he bothered with a bow).

But it didn't matter to them.

Not truly.

Because maybe the kids did have it right and getting to the thoughtful gift was the most important part of it.

Because she knew that she had put a hell of a lot of thought into what she had bought Eddie. And she hoped that he had done the same for her.

And maybe the best part was that she knew that she didn't have to wait long to find out as Christmas was in a couple of days and she couldn't help but imagine Eddie's reaction to her presents.