Christmas with the Gerard's

1

Chapter one  

December 2020 

I arrive at the school at 7.30am on the dot. I managed to get an urgent meeting with her after I rang her personal number last night. I enter my personal code at the gate and scan my staff card at the main reception doors, it’s a dark wet morning and I hate the fact that I have to go in there and beg her. I don’t like to depend on anyone, I don’t like asking for help or favours from anyone. I literally kills me what I am now about to do, but my pride means f**k all when my nan’s life is on the line. I knock softly on the door marked “Mrs. Dodington” and slowly open it when I hear a come in. Our school’s principal is seated behind her desk, her computer already on and her steaming cup of coffee sitting next to it. She looks at me and smiles, a genuine smile, I often wondered how she got to be so strict and ruthless, but being in charge of over nine hundred children and nearly sixty members of staff will do that to you. Mrs. Dodington is a very beautiful woman; her pale skin looks like porcelain and her short sharp blonde bob frames her face beautifully. Her eyes are like two exotic pools, the clearest blue eyes I have ever seen. She’s a lot taller than me and her figure is to die for. If I didn’t like men so much, I’d do my best to seduce the woman sitting across from me.  My eyes trail down her upper body, her black silk blouse is done all the way up to her neck, as the Head of an entire school she has to be professional, and she sure dresses the part, she clears her throat and my cheeks redden with embarrassment as I realize she just caught me checking her breasts out. Way to start Delia!  

“Ms. Gerard, you called this meeting so would you like to start?” She asks, her tone soft but straight to the point. What she really means is ‘Stop eye f*****g my t**s and get on with what you want, I have s**t to do!’ But she’s far too professional to actually utter those words, her eyes however, say exactly that. 

“Sorry, I know it is very short notice, but I need to take a leave of absence, indefinitely. My grandmother is dying and my family have asked me to come home.” I end my request with a long sigh and watch as her eyebrows furrow in thought. 

“I mean, Jesus Cordelia!” She exclaims, closing her eyes and leaning her head backwards on her chair. “What am I supposed to do? I haven’t the staff to cover you! How long do you need? Oh God! You’re not coming back are you?” She leans forward, panic clouding her eyes.  

“No! I mean, yes, I am coming back, I am not resigning, I have been here for six years Martha, I wouldn’t do that to you or my pupils. I just, I need until the new year.” She slowly nods and we sit silently for five minutes. Finally, she looks up at me and gives me a small smile. 

“Ok, here’s what we are going to do, you will give me this week, use all your spare time to prepare your lesson plans, activities, and any other things you may have had planned for your year. Your TA Miss. Dear is qualified enough to run the class in your place, I will ask Mr. Stevenson to help her out.” She exhales a long breath and I readily agree. We chat for a few minutes as I tell her I have not been home for fourteen years and soon it is time for me to go teach.  

*** 

I walk into my dark house just gone seven pm. Urgh this week is going to kill me and it’s only Tuesday. I throw my kitten heels off my feet and pad barefooted straight for the kitchen, I open the cupboard under the work top and take out a bottle of red wine. I grab a glass from the shelf and fill it to the top taking a long sip soon as the bottle is down. I turn around and watch as Smeagol rolls over onto his back in his comfy bed under our dining table.  

“Great guard dog you are!” I say at him with a chuckle, the only response I get is a long squeaky fart! I laugh, but soon the stench hits my nostrils and it makes my eyes water. 

“Good Lord, have you been stealing food from the bins again? Urgh, you stink Smegs!!” I grab my wine and exit the kitchen in a slow run before I barf everywhere. I turn the lading light on and head up to my room, in there I place my wine on my chest of drawers, I then walk into my en suit and turn the shower on hot!  

After my hot shower I finish my wine and order a pizza. Phoebe is on night shift this week so I will be alone most of the time, we usually manage to squeeze breakfast together if there’s no emergencies at work. I will have to let her know she will be alone for Christmas this year.  Last Christmas I volunteered and spend Christmas day in the unit cuddling a sweet little girl to sleep, she was born very poorly, and her mother didn’t survive the birth. The hospital couldn’t find any next of kin for the poor soul, the poor sweet baby was going to be placed into foster care, but Phoebe intervened, she spoke to a family at the unit who had lost their baby boy only a few days before and they jumped at the chance to have her. I don’t know they managed it, but they ended up fostering her and are moving forward with adoption. They keep Phoebe and the unit informed.  

I am awoken from my day dream when my phone shrills, I run down the stairs and manage to answer on the last ring, not paying any attention to who the caller was.  

“Hey sweet cheeks. You miss me?” I groan, frustrated with myself for not looking at the caller ID. 

“Nope. What do you want?”  

“Oh, is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?” 

“Boyfriend? Oh, please Marcus, we went on two dates, shitty ones at that, and you have harassing me since! It’s been six months man, give up!” I growl down the phone. 

“Now, hang on baby, they weren’t shitty dates and it’s not harassment. I like you; I like speaking to you. Maybe we can be friends?” 

“No Marcus, we tried that. You aren’t a good friend, you’re a jealous bastard!” 

“Baby? I have changed, give a chance, please?” I scoff 

“You’ve changed? Marcus, you attacked someone, an actual friend of mine, just because the poor sod gave me a hug. And we weren’t even together. I can’t begin to imagine what you would be like as an actual boyfriend!”  

“Fine, you want to be a b***h and reject me then go ahead, but I am not going anywhere. Mark my words, you will be mine.” He hangs up without letting me reply and I sigh defeated. I have no luck with the opposite s*x. Men are trash! I jump at the sound of the bell and as I open the door for the pizza, I get the shock of my life. Theo. 

  “Theo?” 

“Hey Delia,” I jump in his arms as he envelops me in a hug. “Hey, easy there tiger, you’ll knock me over” He laughs heartily and I let him go  

“What are you doing here?”  

“Mum sent me to get you.” He says rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Why? I texted her today, I told her I had to finish my week at work, I can’t just leave!” I shout frustrated. The call from Marcus and seeing Theo really making my emotions swirl inside my head.  

“Oi! Don’t be like that. She knows that, I know that! But I fancied coming here, I have never seen where you live before, I miss my sister, I wanted to spend time with you before everyone else hogs you, I was supposed to come pick you up Friday night but I thought, f**k it, I’ll go now. Looks like I am not wanted though.” He says sadly. Tears fill my eyes and I hug him again 

“I’m so sorry T. Urgh I am just so stressed right now. Work, and everything. Just, of course you’re wanted here. Stay.” I smile at him and the bastard smirks at me, he smirks and I know I have been played like a flute!  

“You fucker!” I growl as I punch his shoulder.” You guilt tripped me!” He roars with laughter and soon I am joining him, we are interrupted by the delivery guy who takes in my appearance and blushes, I suddenly remember I’m in nothing but a thin dressing gown and panties!  

Theo insists on paying for the pizza and we go inside to eat it. We spend a couple hours chatting on the sofa, laughing and mucking about like old times, around half ten I yawn, I am thoroughly exhausted, I get Theo some bedding and he crashes on my sofa while I go to bed, I lay down and grab my phone to set it on charge, when I notice a text.  

*w***e*  

I delete it and ignore it, probably a wrong number. I set my phone on charge and double check my alarm is on. I close my eyes and fall into a dreamless sleep. 

I wake to a loud thud and screaming, I jump out of bed and fly down the stairs, I rush into the kitchen to find Theo on his knees cradling his crotch while Phoebe stands in front of him, frying pan in hand. I can’t help it; I laugh and four sets of eyes snap to me. Phoebe is the first to talk 

“Delia call the police; I found this homeless man in here going through our cupboards!” 

At her words Theo’s eyes open wide and I howl with laughter! Oooops, guess I forgot to tell her my brother was staying with us! 

“Phoebe!” I say between laughter “That’s Theo, my brother!” I lean on the work top and try to catch my breath while she moves away from him, uttering a quiet sorry to him. He grunts at her and stands. They eye each other, her eyes taking him in properly for the first time, now that the fear isn’t there, her gaze lingers on his torse, his grey cotton shirt tight around his pecs and biceps. Her eyes trail lower, to his crotch and she blushes, I notice how his eyes move the same as hers, his gaze slowly eating up my roommate's appearance, her fiery red hair is loose and wild, her cheeks flushed and her eyes tired. I clear my throat and they snap out of their ogling contest.  

“f**k Delia you could have warned me you lived with a f*****g ninja! I didn’t even see her until her knee was in my f*****g crotch!”  I laugh again and this time Phoebe joins me.  

“It’s not funny at all. f**k you, you can cook your own breakfast!” He tries to stride past us, but fails miserably when he winces, his hand going to his crotch!  I look at Phoebe and we once more roar with laughter.  

Poor Theo, it’s going to be a long week for him!