Christmas with the Gerard's

10

14 days till Christmas.  

*Delia's POV*

I walked out of Phoebe’s room feeling exhausted. Can’t believe my nan is forcing us to go out and have family day without Theo. But at the same time, we do need to have some fun and relax. I send Theo a quick text asking him for his present list so I can get his presents for the family, but he replied SAYING Colton knows what to get for everyone so I grab my knee length grey cotton jacket and my black bag and run down the stairs to the kitchen where everyone is standing around getting ready. Everyone except the Avery and her family. They will meet us there in a bit. Our first stop is to be the shopping center where we will then split into ladies and men and go do what needs to be done before meeting at The Grill, the best steak house in town. When nan treats us, she goes all out.  

We start getting into cars and drive off. I got stuck with all the youngsters, having my nephews Lucas and Maddox in the back and Gabriel in the passenger seat. We chatted about some random stuff, mainly the boys asking me about my life since I was away, and me being awkward and evading some questions. Gabriel kept glancing at me and chuckling.  

“Why are you laughing at me?” I asked him annoyed 

“Because we are your family and you’re sitting there like you don’t know you can trust us!” He sighed “It’s sad and funny at the same time.” He said with a sad smile. I get his point. He’s my baby brother and here I am acting like the people in this car don’t have a right to be part of my life because of what some shithead did to me fourteen years ago. 

“I graduated top of my class at uni, mainly because I kept my head stuck in the books instead of partying. I finished high school online and did extra online courses to support my uni application. I owe it all to Mrs. Cook, she was the lady who took me in at her B&B and eventually gave me my first job.” I said loudly enough that the boys in the back could hear me. “I have been teaching for six years now, I love being a teacher.” Gabriel reached his hand over the gear stick and held mine, squeezing it.  

“I wish I had been there to see you graduate.” Gabriel said sadly, I squeezed his hand and he smiled. “Bet you looked like such a geek in that black gown!” He guffawed and the boys in the back giggled with him. Eventually I laughed too.  

“So, do you have a boyfriend?” Maddox asked from the back and I laughed.  

“Do I look like I want/need or have a boyfriend boy?” I replied sassily, trying to act like the fact that every time I saw a certain someone my heart didn’t go mental in my chest. 

“But you have had boyfriends, right? You’re not like SuBo Right?” Lucas asked and we all burst out laughing. 

“No, you rude little s**t, I am not like SuBo.” I said chuckling 

“Tell us more sis?!” Gabriel exclaimed 

“Urgh, you are worse than old wives!” I laughed “I dated Tomas obviously before I left here, then I dated a guy called Sam, he was nice but it didn’t work. Then I dated Marcus.” I shuddered at the thought “Like literally went on two shitty dates and he still acts like he owns me.” I looked at Gabe and his eyes were narrowed.  

“So, three guys?” He smirked 

“Yes, three guys Gabe, why does that upset you?” I asked annoyed again with his tone 

“I just, well, I thought you had left because, never mind. Enough about you s*x life." He said and I laughed 

“Boy, ain’t nobody said nothing about my s*x life!” I laughed, let’s make these boys uncomfortable as f**k. “You asked about boyfriends, you never mentioned s*x. s*x wise I’d probably say I’m somewhere in the double digits, less than fifty, but definitely over twenty guys. Some of them I don’t even remember their faces...” I smiled at Gabe’s open-mouthed expression and glanced at the mirror to see both boys in the back blushing and trying to hide their faces in their phones! Bingo! “Ha! Tossers! That’s what you get for sticking your noses in my business!” I laughed hysterical for a good five minutes while Gabe shook his head calling me evil.  

We arrived at the shopping mall and I parked next to Mallory’s car, they must already be inside, we got out of the car and watched as Avery pulled in her estate. A very grown-up teenaged boy got out the back and ran towards us. He looked like a mini version of Toby and my mind shuddered at that thought. Was he a d**k like his dad, the last time I saw my nephew Nathen he was a chubby two year old. Not even old enough to remember me.  

“Aunt Delia!” He shouted and ruby tackled me into a massive bear hug.  

“Nathan!” I squealed as I skidded backwards from the impact of his body colliding with mine. “Woah, you got big!” I said as I enveloped him in my arms.  

“Aunt Delia, I’m sixteen now, I’m basically a grown up.” He stated with a chuckle. I looked over his shoulder at my sister as she exited the car, Polly, her oldest daughter helping a young girl with a coat. They both looked like Avery, albeit, Polly had her father’s eyes and his smile, ever since she was a baby, those were her most prominent features, but now as she stood up and pulled the zip of her white puffy jacket up, I couldn’t help but note, how much she looked like Avery.  

“You must be Ada?” I said stretching my hand for a shake. She slapped it away and I gasped. Avery was about to scold her daughter when she spoke  

“Handshakes are for strangers auntie D. Hug me like you hugged that i***t!” She said pointing at her brother. So, I did as told, I bent my knees and hugged my niece for the first time ever in my life. I looked up at Avery to find her smiling, a small tear gathering in her eyes, while Polly stood next to her, a scowl on her face, I let go of Ada and went to hug Polly, but she just stuck out her hand. I shook it and she walked away when we were done.  

“She’ll come around Delia, you were her favourite aunt, and one day she woke up and you were gone.” Avery whispered in my ear, linking her arm with mine. 

“Where’s Toby?” Gabriel asked her and Avery shrugged. “Meeting, or something.” She mumbled. Or something is right. Probably out shagging some poor girl.  

“Finally!” My nan yelled when the lift doors opened and we all tumbled out of the small lift. “Come on, chop chop, we have s**t to do.” She said as she turned on her heels. As planned all the men would go one way and us women the other way. Polly and Lucas were in charge of all the teens and decided to head up to the fourth level of the shopping center, where the cinema and food courts are. After getting way too much money off their respective mother’s the kids headed off and we parted ways.  

*** 

“You should definitely die your hair Ave.” Mallory said. “A nice deep brown would look amazing on you.” She smiled at us and shook her head.  

“Toby likes the blonde.” She said, and immediately regretted it. “I like the blonde too” she quickly said.  

“Don’t lie child, your hair looks like dry straw, if it was straw, I wouldn’t feed it to a horse.” My nan pipped up from her reclining seat, she and my mum had decided for the luxury mani pedi and were currently relaxing with their feet in the spas, and their hands being massaged. I had opted for just having my hair washed and cut. Mallory was having the same as me, plus her nails done. Avery wasn’t having anything done. Soon enough, we kind of bullied her into having her hair coloured a darker shade and as the hours went by and everyone was done, Mum volunteered to stay with Ave till she was finished and we all headed off to meet the men folk by the steak house. As we got closer, I noticed Gabriel standing by himself.  

“Where’s James?” I asked as I approached him.  

“He went to get something from a shop on the high street but that was like two hours ago. I tried calling him but no answer. “He shrugged. Mmm, curious. I thought. No Toby, no James and still no aunt Heidi either.  

“Hello all.” Speak of the devil and it shall appear.  

“Heidi, you are late, you missed our pamper morning.” My nan chastised her as she hugged her. 

“So sorry, I had something to take care of this morning, but now I am all yours mother.” Urgh, I though, could she try any harder to sound posh.  

We rang James a few more times but gave up when mum and Avery joined us. 

“Woah, Ave, you look like you again!” Gabriel exclaimed when she sat down opposite him and I elbowed him in the ribs. He scowled at me and turned back to our sister. 

“You think?” She asked. A shy smile on her lips.  

“Yes.” We all practically shouted in unison, making us all erupt into a bout of laughter. Laughter that died as Toby reached us, James hot on his trail.  

“What’s so funny?” Toby asked looking around the table a frown covered his face “Where are Avery and my children?” He asked. Ok, I will give him a break, seeing as how his previously platinum blonde wife was seated with her back to him and now a brunette. 

“Avery, is right there.” Aunt Heidi pointed out and he followed her long finger with his eyes all the way to a stoic looking Avery.  

“Avery?” He asked his eyes wide and mouth open in shock. “What the hell have you done o yourself?” He asked angrily. I looked at Avery and she had shrunk herself in her chair.  

“Wait a minute...” I started but was interrupted by the sound of a chair scraping loudly, we all looked at my mother, who had stood up and was now face to face with Toby. 

“Who the flying f**k do you think you are speaking to in that tone and manner Tobias Otto? Cos, you sure as s**t aren’t speaking to your WIFE that way?” Oh, you could cut the tension in here with a knife... Everyone was silent, even my nan, who always has something to say.  James broke the silence by pulling a chair and sitting next to Avery.  

“You look like you again Ave.” He said with a smile and she smiled back, tears shinning in her eyes. I smiled at him and her and soon the tension dissipated a bit and we all sat comfortably to eat. We ordered steaks all around and wine and the conversation flowed like it always did with our big family. I looked around the table, missing Theo’s present and missing my Pheebs. I hope she has gone to see him and that they are able to sort through this baby drama. I have never seen anyone fall so quick. Although they both deny it, they are so caught up in each other it’s unreal. I jolt when I feel a hand on my shoulder and look left to find Gabe holding me. I smile at him and he squeezes my shoulder. The kids soon showed up, all laughing and pushing each other around, we pulled an extra table against ours and they joined us for dessert. I noticed how Polly gravitated towards her dad, she told him every detail of their trip to the cinema, like she reporting to a senior officer, I sneered at the interaction and Avery caught my attention, she was watching them closely, her eyes trained on her daughters lips as if she was reading them. Humm. Something isn’t right there. We split the bill and left. The men decided that they’d had enough of shopping and jumped into Toby’s jeep and left, Avery gave Polly her car keys after Polly whiney to her father that she wanted to go home and do uni work. She took the teens with her and then there was just us, the Gerard women. We soon ditched the shopping and headed to Patty’s Patisserie, according to Heidi, this was the best afternoon tea spot in town. Surprisingly enough, we had a blast, we talked and laughed for hours and soon it was time to head home. We bundled up into the cars and I drove home.  

Phoebe still wasn’t home so I decided to check my emails and check in on the school. After an hour of replying to emails and help with some last-minute changes to the curriculum, I texted Pheebs. She replied seconds later *Girl, you know we gon’ be watching both those films tonight. We have lots to talk about. * I texted her back, promising wine and popcorn and smiled to myself. My phone vibrated in my hands and I giggled thinking of what funny reply Pheebs as sent me, but my laughter died in my throat at the messages on my screen, one after the other, each worse than the one before. 

*I preferred her hair blonde, and I like yours straight w***e. * 

*I noticed you didn’t have your bodyguard today. Trouble in paradise already? * 

*How’s Theo? * 

*Theo’s w***e is next you know... Use tonight to say goodbye. You won’t be seeing her again after I’m done with her. * 

I have to do something about this. With tears clouding my eyes, I scrolled through my contacts and dialed the only person I knew could help me. The phone rang three times and he answered. 

“Delia? What’s up?” His voice was full of concern and worry. 

“James? Can you come home tonight?” I asked through the tears.