Chapter Four- A Full House for Christmas

Fast forward a few days, and it was Christmas Eve. Joy and Bria had been home for a while now, and everyone was getting used to having a new-born around the house. Bria was as good as gold. She slept most of the time. Joy kept remarking on the difference between Kai and Bria, saying that Kai had refused to sleep, he always seemed to be awake. But Bria could cry when she wanted too!

Dad had taken over preparing Christmas dinner. We had decided to have it on Christmas Eve and just spend Christmas Day as a family, unwrapping presents and playing games. It was going to be a chilled couple of days. Dad and I were going to church tonight and Joy had agreed to let me sleep on the sofa so that I didn't wake Kai and so that he didn't wake me too early.

I spent Christmas Eve morning down the beach with Kai and Mom trying to keep him out the house while Dad was preparing dinner. I didn't mind. It was nice to be out the house and in the fresh air. We built sandcastles and ran in the sea. Mom sat and watched her youngest daughter and adoptive grandson chase each other round the beach. We then walked back up to the house. Dad was doing dinner for about four that evening, give or take half an hour.

When we got back to the house, the living room and dining room were transformed. All the presents that had been up in Mom and Dad's room had been brought down and arranged under the tree. The table had been extended and set for dinner. A candle in a holly wreath was in the middle and crackers had been placed at each table setting. Joy and Shawn were curled up on the sofa watching A Muppet Christmas Carol and Dad was in the kitchen.

"I was just going to call you, bella." Dad smiled at Mom. "Dinner's almost ready!"

"Kai, let's go wash our hands!" I said, smiling.

"Jess, can you bring Bria down with you please?" asked Joy.

"Of course!"

Kai and I ran upstairs and washed our hands. I sent him back down to the others as I went in the nursey and got little Bria. I was expecting her to be fast asleep, but she was on her back, looking up at me with her big beautiful brown eyes.

"Hello, Bri!" I said softly, "Aunty Jessie has come to bring you down for Christmas dinner." I scooped her up and held her close as I slowly made my way back downstairs.

"You're a natural Jessie!" smiled Shawn.

"Don't say that!" groaned Mom, "It's bad enough that Amber and Jason have children. I do not need Jessie becoming a mom anytime soon!"

Everyone laughed and I rolled my eyes as I placed Bria into her Moses basket that was next to where Joy was sitting at the table. Kai then launched himself at me and I threw him in the air.

"Kai, who are you sitting next to at dinner?" asked Shawn

"Aunty Jessie!" he shouted, excitedly, "And Grandpa on the other side!"

We assembled ourselves round the table. I sat next to Kai, Dad was at the top of the table, Shawn at the other end and Joy and Mom were sat together.

"Dad, this looks amazing!" Joy said, smiling.

"You're more than welcome, I couldn't expect you to cook, not after having this Bellissima bambina!" he looked at Bria in her Moses basket.

"Well still, I propose a toast to the chef!" Joy said, raising her glass in the air, "To the worlds best Dad and Grandpa!"

"To Dad" I said, smiling.

Dad didn't say anything but he looked pretty emotional and smiled as he passed out plates with meat on them. We helped ourselves to the veg that was on the table and tucked in.

Hours later, Kai, Shawn and Joy had all gone to bed and it was just Dad, Mom and I enjoying some non-alcoholic eggnog in front of Nutcracker and the Four Realms. We were waiting until eleven and then the three of us were going to church. It was something that I was looking forward to. Dad had his arm round Mom and I was curled into Dad. I must have nodded off cause when I woke up, my head was in Dad's lap and my cup had been placed on the floor.

"What time is it?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"A little before eleven." Mom smiled, "Time to put your shoes on sweet girl."

I shoved on my Ugg boots and a jacket, sorted my hair in the mirror and then it was time to go. The service was lovely and we made it home just before one that morning. I whispered goodnight to my parents and curled up on the sofa.

The next thing I knew, it was morning and Kai was jumping on me.

"Woah, jumping man, what time is it?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"Just after eight." Said Dad coming in after his grandson. Shawn, Joy and Bria, and Mom followed.

"Happy Christmas Jess!" Shawn smiled, "We kept him upstairs as long as we could.

"Can we do presents? Can we do presents?" asked Kai, excited.

"We can do presents!" said Shawn, scooping his son up under his arms and swinging him about. Kai giggled like mad and Shawn put him down. He made a beeline for his stocking which he had adamantly placed at the foot of my "bed"

"Aunty Jessie can look after it for me!" he had said.

So, I had been very careful not to displace it when I got into bed and hoped that I didn't move much when I slept. But it hadn't, it was still in the same place when I woke up. I shifted the blankets and made space on the sofa. Kai climbed up and started opening the presents from Santa.

We had an amazing morning opening presents and playing games. We had turkey sandwiches for lunch and Dad made some of his famous hot cocoa. Joy and Bria went for a nap after lunch and I curled into Mom watching Shawn and Dad attempt to build Lego with Kai. It was very entertaining.

"Thanks for a lovely Christmas, Mom!" I said sleepily

"You're welcome, sweet girl." She said, playing with my hair, "I remember Christmas when you were this small. You were just as excited as Kai was. Wouldn't stop bouncing until you sat down and opened your presents and then we would go out and play in the snow…" she paused, "Jess, are you listening to me?" she looked down and chuckled. She pulled a blanket round me and held me close.

THE END