‘Edward, what a great son you have.’ Donna hugged him and he laughed and turned to Myles.
‘He’s a good kid, I know.’
Myles rolled his eyes but didn’t seem so off-put, and not when the twins came running downstairs.
‘Come inside,’ said Donna taking Flora’s hand.
‘Would you like to see a new kitten I have?’ she asked the child who nodded vigorously.
‘Look but don’t bring it home,’ said Edward firmly, following them into the house.
If he expected a simple, humble home, he was mistaken. It was an ode to Christmas décor with lights, trees, decorations on every conceivable surface.
‘We really love Christmas,’ Eve whispered and he felt her nearness intoxicating.
‘I can see that,’ he whispered back.
‘I think it’s the combo birthday and Christmas energy that makes Mum hyped about this time of the year.’ She laughed.
‘We’re going to the garage,’ said Myles, Jimmi following him along with the other dogs in the house. ‘Sam is showing us a new set-up for the amp he did for the band.’
Flora was in the kitchen, looking into a box with Donna pointing out the new kitten.
Edward walked around the living room, looking at the photos of Eve and the twins through various stages of their lives.
‘You look like you had a happy childhood,’ he said to her.
She sat on the sofa. ‘Yes, we did. Simple but we were encouraged to follow our interests. Mum and Dad weren’t given the same opportunity. Mum should have been a vet, and Dad would have been an amazing teacher. But they both finished school early and worked because they had to. Met while driving buses and fell madly in love. Had me. Then had to wait thirteen years before Mum had the twins but here we are.’
Edward sat in an armchair and thought about his father. Upper-middle class, university-educated, banker, married a girl from his circle and that was it. No struggles really, but also not great happiness. He wondered, at times, if his parents should have stayed married, their emotional distance so apparent to him growing up.
Now they seemed to have a great companionship but he wouldn’t have ever said it was a grand love affair.
‘Daddy, can I stay here with Donna? She said I can feed the kitten his bottle.’
Edward looked at Eve who shrugged and threw her hands up. ‘How can we compete with giving a kitten a bottle?’ she asked.
‘We can’t,’ he said and looked at Donna who was in the doorway.
‘As long as it’s okay with you?’
Donna smiled at Flora. ‘It’s perfect. I love the company of little ones. I miss my lot being this age. And she can feed him while I fold the washing.’
Edward saw the joy in Flora’s face and wondered if he had ever seen her as happy as she was in that moment.
‘So, it’s you and me and the Christmas shopping?’ he said to Eve.
‘I guess it is.’
His stomach flipped again at the thought of having Eve all to himself for a few hours.
‘And you’re all coming for the birthdays and Christmas Day?’ Donna asked.
‘If that’s still fine with you?’
‘It’s more than fine; it’s perfect,’ said Donna as Sam came inside. ‘Isn’t it, Sam?’
‘What?’ Sam’s gruff voice answered.
