Trying to explain Christmas Day at the Pilkinses’ house was impossible. It was best you just sat and absorbed it all like the sponge in Donna’s trifle and when you’d drunk enough, you just joined in with the chaos, Eve had explained to Edward as they arrived at the house.
As welcoming as the Pilkinses were the first time he met them, Edward was still nervous about spending the day with Eve’s family.
‘Stop worrying about it,’ Eve told him repeatedly but he seemed more anxious than necessary. ‘Is there something else I should know about?’ she asked him before they set off for the drive to her parents’ in Leeds.
‘No, no,’ he had said but he kept checking his phone until they were on the road.
But as soon as they were driving his mood seemed to shift and he sang Christmas music loudly to the playlist Eve had plugged into the car from her phone.
Eve would turn occasionally to see Myles and Flora singing along and then she would look at Edward and wonder if this could go on forever. And now she was seeing her family. She reminded herself that sometimes things do work out for the best, even when you don’t think they have any possibility of sorting themselves out.
‘What sort of fare will we be partaking in at the Pilkinses’ today?’ asked Edward as they passed the snowy landscape.
Eve laughed. ‘I don’t know if I should tell you. It might be too much and you’ll head home to the leftovers at Cranberry Cross.’
‘Oh God, what are we talking here? Stuffed mushrooms and jellied eels?’
‘No, we’re not barbarians,’ she said. ‘Think Christmas and birthday combined.’
‘A Christmas pudding with birthday candles?’ he teased.
‘Just wait and find out, you impatient and impudent man.’
The Pilkinses’ house was lit up like Bond Street, with coloured lights on the house, the fence, the garage, the trees and a blow-up snowman on the roof. Edward parked the car and the children ran up the path to the front door as soon as the car stopped. Across the front of the house was a huge banner readingHappy Birthday to Eve, Gabe and Nick.
‘It’s astonishing you all have your birthdays on Christmas Eve, I mean what are the odds on that?’
‘One in five hundred thousand,’ she answered as she lifted a large sack of presents from the back of the car.
‘Really?’
‘Yes, we did the maths years ago.’ She laughed again as Edward took the sack from her and another from the car.
‘Wow,’ said Edward as he looked over the fence. Signs lined the path to the front door with slogans reading,Santa Stop Here,Elf Resting Place,Reindeer Parking Onlyand more.
‘I told you my family loved Christmas,’ she said as they walked up to the door.
‘I feel bad about you not spending last night with your family for your actual birthday,’ he said quietly.
She turned and looked at him. ‘I don’t. Spending it in your bed was a far nicer option.’
She could see Edward blush and she bit her lip from trying not to laugh at her shyness when she knew how he had been with her in bed. He was by far the best lover she’d ever had. There was more than just desire but, at times, she wondered if she loved him or if he loved her. But that wasn’t possible after such a short time, was it? This was real life, not a fairy tale.
‘Happy birthday.’ Eve heard and saw her mother on the top step by the front door.
‘And Merry Christmas to you,’ called out Eve as she and Edward walked up the path.
‘Hello, Edward,’ Donna said and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Pop those under the tree in the living room,’ she directed him.
As soon as Edward was inside the house, Donna hugged Eve.
‘You have a glow about you,’ she said and looked closely at Eve’s face. ‘Have you and Edward declared your undying love for each other and the printed word?’
Eve laughed but she knew she was turning red. ‘Mum, be quiet,’ she whispered.
Donna raised an eyebrow, something Eve had never been able to do and was jealous of. ‘Don’t show off with your curious eyebrow gymnastics and be all judgey.’
‘I’m not being judgey, I just think you two have a strong connection. A mother knows these things.’
