The elevator pings, letting me know I have reached their floor. I skip towards their front door, and once there I press the doorbell, instantly regretting it as I hear baby Mei cry out at the noise – Shit! I’m supposed to text Rob or Carlos first in-case she’s asleep – Double crap!
I’m definitely in trouble. Rob opens the door, looking happy but knackered. “Hi,” he says, with a warm but tired smile on his face.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, feeling guilty as hell. “I forgot to text!”
Rob starts chuckling at me. “Look at your face!” Evidently he is finding my expression amusing.
“Hey!” I protest.
“She’s not asleep,” he chuckles, ushering me inside, and then pulling me in for a kiss and a hug.
“But I heard her cry,” I whisper.
“Yeah...” he laughs, “because Carlos is trying to feed her pureed vegetables!”
“Well at least he’s trying to feed her something that’s good for her!” I retort.
“Would you want to eat pureed vegetables?” he snorts.
“No, maybe not,” I chuckle, “but he may have more luck if he adds some fruit,” I add as an afterthought. I’m sure Debs used to do that with Lily.
“Well you can tell Carlos that!” Rob laughs. “I’ve been watching this charade for almost half an hour. I keep telling him she doesn’t like it, and he should just quit. But will he listen to me? Oh no, Carlos knows best!” Rob snorts sarcastically.
“Glad to see you are being so helpful and supportive to Carlos in this endeavour,” I reply dryly, which just makes Rob laugh even harder. Poor Carlos!
I shake my head at him, and follow him into the kitchen, only to find Carlos sat on a chair that’s facing baby Mei (who’s in a high-chair) with a not so happy look on his face. I double take as I realise Carlos’ face is splattered in green slop, and it’s all down his t-shirt too.
Mei is giggling in delight.
“Kodak moment!” Rob laughs as he pulls out his mobile and takes the shot.
This makes Carlos glare at Rob. “It is not funny Rob!” He growls, but he can't help smiling.
“Hey Carlos,” I chuckle.
“Hello sunshine,” Carlos replies. “What brings you here?”
“Christmas!” I reply excitedly, and walk over and kiss him on top of his head, then do the same to Mei.
“God...don’t remind me,” he says.
“What? Not looking forward to it this year?” I ask.
“I just want to sleep through it to be honest with you,” he wearily says. “Parenting is hard work, and very tiring.” He turns to Mei, leans forward and kisses her chubby cheek. “But so worth it,” he adds with an unconditional look of love in his eyes. Then he tries to spoon feed her more green goop, but Mei is turning her face away in disgust.
“Try adding a banana Carlos, Debs used to do that,” I pipe up, suddenly remembering her saying that Bananas are a Mom’s best friend, which I didn’t get at the time. Now I understand!
“Really?” Without another word, he gets to his feet, adds what’s left of the pureed vegetables to the blender, peels a banana, and purees it up. Within a couple of minutes, he’s sat in front of Mei again.
“Ok little one, let’s try this one more time.” Adding a little puree to the spoon, he does the classic train coming into the station routine that parents tend to do so that it’s a game, and hopefully the baby will eat the slop. Mei gobbles down the first spoonful without a fight, and then thrashes her arms and legs about in joy.
“Oh my God!” Carlos seems shocked, but quickly regains his composure. “Ok...ok...let’s see if we can finish the whole bowl.” With more choo-choo noises he continues to feed Mei without any further splattering or complaint from her.
“Coral Freeman you are a God send,” Carlos tells me as he feeds her the last spoonful. “Want a job as a Nanny?” He chuckles.
I smile at him, but ignore that one. I’m still debating on whether or not I’ll make a good mother. The thought terrifies me if I’m honest. And now I’ve gone and promised Tristan that at some point in the future we will have all of this to contend with. Then I think back to the look on Gladys’ face earlier today, and I feel guilty again for some reason, that I haven’t provided her with a grandchild.
I quickly quash those thoughts, and smile warmly at Carlos as he cleans Mei’s fingers and face, then his face and t-shirt. I watch Mei reach her arms out to Carlos, scrunching her little fingers together. Carlos picks Mei up, and she stares adoringly up at him as he gently rocks her, she then yawns widely, and I watch in adoration as she falls safely asleep in his arms.
“I’ll just go and put her down,” Carlos whispers.
I turn to Rob who’s watching Carlos walk down the hallway. “You just can't keep your eyes off him, can you?” I can't help teasing.
Rob turns to me, eyes filled with tears, taking me by complete surprise. “She’s just such a joy, such a happy little girl.”
“Oh,” I whisper, he’s never been this honest about Mei before.
“I thought it would be horrendous Coral, ‘ he says, keeping his voice low, ‘crying and poopie nappies and no sleep, admittedly we don't get as much sleep as we used to, but I never thought it would be like this. She mostly sleeps through the night, she rarely cries, and she laughs so much, ‘tis a joy to behold,” he tells me, his eyes shining brightly with love and happiness.
“Oh Rob, I’m so pleased for you both. And maybe she’s so happy because she’s picking up on the fact that you and Carlos are so happy? You know...she can feel it, so it makes her feel...happy and secure?”
Rob takes the couple of steps needed and crushes me into his arms. “You may be right sunshine.”
I laugh at him, pull back and stare up at my best friend. “Happy?”
“Very happy,” he replies. “And you - How’s things with the hunk?” Rob has taken to calling Tristan that name when it’s just us. And I think it’s because he knows it winds me up.
“Rob!” I scold.
“What?” he laughs innocently.
“You know I don't like that,” I playfully tell him.
“Yeah right,’ he retorts, ‘you know he is one, so why bother challenging it?” Ugh!
I lightly punch his arm for good measure. “He’s fine, and I’m fine and...well,’ I take a deep breath, ‘I wanted to invite you all over for Christmas.”
“Aren’t you going round to Gladys’? Actually, come to think of it, we haven’t had our invite yet?” He says his brows pulled together, completely ignoring my invite, but as I take a closer look, I’d say he looks a little preoccupied.
“Well no, and I don't think you’ll get one this year as she is spending Christmas shacked up in sunny Spain with Malcolm!” I tell him, with crossed arms – Ok, so I’m a little peeved about it.
“Yeah right...” Rob laughs. Not believing a word I am saying.
“Rob, I’m dead serious,” I retort.
“Oh! You-are-kidding-me!” He squeaks, enunciating each word, ‘what about us?” he adds.
I start laughing at his pissed off expression. He is not a happy bunny.
“Rob!” I laugh. Definitely did not hear my invite for the day!
“Oh! This is not happening! What about her famous Christmas dinner, she always gets everything spot on!’ He says, his hands are been thrown about as he rages, I want to interrupt him, but I decide to let him vent it all out. “And what about her Christmas pudding, and homemade brandy sauce?...Oh!...And what about the mince pies? You know they’re my favourite!” He stops venting, his nostrils still flaring and looks down at me in utter disgust.
“What?” I frown.
“This is your fault!” he says, his voice rising, ‘only reason she’s doing this is because you’ve gone and got shacked up with lover boy!”
“Rob!” I scold, frowning deeply at him for saying that – Jeez! “Chill out will you, it’s only Christmas dinner!” I add.
“I will not chill out!” he sh
outs.
I stare, gobsmacked for the second time today, at my best friend.
“I don't believe this!” he shouts again.
I finally find my voice. “Well believe it!” I snap, ‘and just so you know, I was going to invite you all over to have Christmas with me and Tristan, but now you’ve gone and thrown that in my face, you can stick it where the sun don't shine!” I add, my voice rising automatically as my temper fires up.
I turn, feeling thoroughly heartbroken by my friends words, and head towards the door – I can't quite believe he just said that to me!
“What’s going on in here?” Carlos hisses as he returns to the living room, and I can tell he’s about to tell us both off for shouting.
“Nothing!” I croak, trying to keep the tears at bay.
I cross my arms, feeling totally pissed at Rob. Carlos stares at us both, crosses his arms too, and narrows his eyes at Rob.
“What have you said?” he asks, his tone hushed.
“Ask her,” Rob hisses, and crosses his arms.
And in that moment, I don't know why, but I want to laugh. The three of us are all stood there, arms crossed, in a semi-circle, as though we are about to go into battle.
I start to smile.
“I dunno what you’re smiling at,” Rob huffs.
Which makes me stifle a laugh – And I know I shouldn’t be laughing. My best friend just went bonkers at me for something that a, isn’t even my fault, and b, I have no control over.
Robs lips twitch. “Stop laughing,” he titters.
Carlos is smiling too, so I look down at the floor, trying to hide the giggle that wants to burst out of me. “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” Carlos says.
I look up at Rob, who huffs grumpily at me. “Gladys is going to Spain for Christmas,” I say.
Carlos shrugs his shoulders. “So?”
“So...Robs pissed about it, and he seems to think it’s all my fault,” I hiss, feeling bruised again.
“Rob!” Carlos scolds, ‘what’s that got to do with Coral?”
Rob seems to deflate like a balloon. “Nothing,” he sighs, ‘I’m so sorry Coral, I didn’t mean what I said, it was such a shock that’s all, and I’m grumpy when I’m tired, you know that,” I nod, knowing full well it’s true. Rob pushes his bottom lip out, he almost looks childlike. “We always go to Gladys’ for Christmas’ – “I thought we were agreed,” Carlos interrupts.
“Well...” Rob replies, ‘I hadn’t really made my mind up,” he adds mulishly, and turns his face away from Carlos – What’s that all about?
“Rob!” Carlos scolds. He’s definitely in trouble with Carlos.
I am not having a good day!
“Agreed to what?” I ask, looking from Rob to Carlos.
Carlos turns to me. “To stay here this year, you know, stay in, as in no parties, no hangovers – trust me they are not worth it when you have a baby – but now it sounds like I’m the only one that came to the agreement.” Carlos sarcastically says, glaring unhappily at Rob.
Rob looks up at the ceiling. “Fine,’ he huffs, ‘if you want to stay in and be boring...” he lets the sentence linger in the air.
“I’m gonna fall out with you tonight!” Carlos snaps at Rob.
“Wait!” I pipe up, ‘are you telling me that you were serious Carlos, and that you guys have no intention of going anywhere this year, whether it was Gladys’, or mine?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at Rob.
“Yes, we mutually,’‘ Carlos emphasises that part to Rob, ‘agreed that we would stay in this year,” he states.
“Then why’ – I stop, not wanting to get into another argument with Rob. “Ok, so I don't put you guys down for Christmas Eve or Day, right?”
“Correct,’ Carlos says, ‘but thanks for the invite,” he adds.
“You’re welcome,” I reply. “Well, as that’s all sorted, I’ll be on my way.” I add, wanting to cry again.
Holy crap! – What I thought was going to be a lovely day out, minus the weather, seeing family and friends who gladly, and happily accept my invitation, has basically turned into a shit storm.
“I’m sorry Coral,” Rob whines, his arms held out for a hug. And although I’m still a feeling a little sore, I hug my best friend. “Forgive me?” he whispers in my ear.
“Yes,” I sigh, and kiss his cheek, then I head for the door.
Carlos is the one that follows me. “God he’s a bugger sometimes,” Carlos says.
I don't smile, or laugh, I just pull the door open.
“Hey,” Carlos stops me, his hand on my shoulder, ‘I’m sorry we’re not coming Coral.”
I shake my head at him. “It’s fine, I understand, things are different now. You have Mei,” I murmur, and try to leave.
“Then what’s wrong?” Carlos asks.
I turn, eyes watering and shake my head.
“Oh come on sunshine,” he says, and hugs me tightly. “If it means that much to you, we’ll come over,” he adds.
I sniff loudly. “No Carlos, it’s just that...it’s going to be so different you know...John is...gone,’ I swallow hard, ‘Joyce is in Florida, Mom and Dad are going to Spain, you guys are staying in...’ I shake my head again, and pull back from the hug. “I just wanted a big Christmas, that’s all,” I say, trying to calm myself down. “I guess...you can't always get what you want in life.” No god damn Christmas Wishes that’s for sure!
Carlos smiles sympathetically at me. “I’m sorry it hasn’t worked out for you,” he says.
“Yeah...me too, but maybe it’s meant to be,” I say, feeling a little lighter.
“There are always other things to be grateful for,” Carlos says.
I nod in complete agreement, and then smile widely. “I guess Tristan and I are going to have a sexy Christmas alone after all,” I say, making Carlos chuckle. “Well...that’s if everyone else says no,” I add with a frown. I decide in that moment to call Debs from the car – I don’t want to travel all the way over there, just for her to say no – I shake that thought away, I’m sure she’ll say yes!
“Oh by the way,” I say to Carlos, ‘tell Rob Gladys gave me all her recipes today, and I’ll be doing some practice runs next week, so I’ll bring him some mince pies round and he can give me his very honest opinion,” I say, purposely adding in a little sarcastic humour.
“You’re too good to him,” Carlos says, ‘I’d have kicked him in the butt for saying that to me.”
I laugh at Carlos. “Yeah well...I haven’t always been the friend I should have been, I know I’ve hurt him in the past too,” I say, knowing full well that’s true.
“Friends!” Carlos laughs, “Can't live with them’ – “Can't live without them,” we both say, and laugh together. “I’ll see you Carlos.”
“Bye sunshine, be safe in the rain.”
I wave as he closes the door, and head solemnly towards the elevator.
Five
AS I SIT IN THE CAR waiting for Debs to answer her mobile, I think back to the strange day I’ve had. It does seem a little odd that no one seems to be interested in gathering together this year, but I quickly shrug it off, knowing it’s probably just me.
“Hello?” Debs finally answers.
“Hey, it’s me,” I say.
“Hey sis – what’s up?”
Debs - my loveable, always bubbly big sister.
“Well...I wanted to invite you guys over for Christmas,” I say, with crossed fingers.
“Really?” Debs scoffs.
Seriously, why do I get the feeling that Gladys and Debs seem to think this is the last thing in the world that I am capable of doing? Then I remember that it’s most likely because I have never cooked a meal for them – I never had the room in my tiny studio to invite people over.
“Yes, really, I can cook Debs!” I say, laughing a little.
“Oh! – hold on, aren’t you going to Mom’s?” she asks – “Is that aunty Coral?” I hear Lily say.
“Yes darling, but Mom
my is having a grown up conversation, you can talk to her in a minute.”
“Mom is not doing Christmas this year Debs, I just found out,” I say, it still feels weird.
“She’s not doing Christmas?” Debs repeats.
“That’s what I said,” I say lightly.
“Well...what’s she doing?” Debs asks, sounding shocked.
“Spain – she and Malcolm are ditching the holiday and going away, just the two of them.”
“You are kidding me!” Debs shouts – a bit like Rob did actually.
“No,” I sigh, this is the second time I have been shouted at today.
“Oh my God – Scott, you’ll never guess what!” She shouts.
I sigh inwardly. I just want an answer so I can go home to Tristan and have a hug because I’m feeling pretty crap at this very moment. “Debs, can you just let me know if you want to come’ – “No, you daft cow, don't you remember me telling you last month when we had the cocktail night about Scott’s Mom?”
I shake my head and then frown – not recalling any conversation about Scott’s Mom – I do however remember Debs and I killing ourselves laughing, at what I still don't know, and I remember Tristan helping me to bed, and then nursing my hangover the following day.
“No,” I reply.
“We’re going up to them,” she says.
“To Scotland!” I gasp, “But you never go up there, Scott hates it,” I argue – thinking how weird this is.
“I know,” she sighs, ‘not looking forward to it either. We’re flying up Christmas Eve, then flying back Christmas Day evening, less time spent there the better, she’s such a miserable cow! We were both looking forward to dinner again at Moms on Boxing Day – That’s pissed me right off that has! - Mom can't go away Coral, she just can't!” Debs wails.
And so it is that Debs, Scott and Lily will not be excepting my invitation either. Why oh why did I think this was a good idea?
“Yeah...I guess it’s their choice,” I murmur.
A Christmas Wish--A Contemporary Erotic Feel Good Christmas Romance (Darkest Fears Christmas Special, Book Four) Page 6