All I Want For Christmas

Chapter 8 - Back Home.

Olivia's P.O.V.

Is it too late to change your mind about a possible life changing decision when you're over fifty thousand miles in the air?.

Trust me, I'm not the kind of person who flip flops when it comes to making decisions and once I've made my mind up then that's it, there's no changing it but right now, I really wish I was the type to flip flop because of the person in front of me.

Ever since I agreed to go back home to Colorado, Demi has been bouncing around like a toddler after eating a bag of skittles.

"She said yes, auntie, can you believe this? she actually said yes"

"I know, baby, I'm so happy, I'm such a proud momma right now"

"You guys are acting like we've just got engaged"

I say whilst rolling my eyes.

"This is better than an engagement, Ollie baby"

Whatever you say, mom.

"Anyway girls, when are you all planning to fly back to Boulder so that I can make preparations?"

"What kind of preparations, mom?"

I ask confused as my mom made a scoffing kind of sound.

"What kind of preparations? what kind of preparations? my daughter is coming home for Christmas for the first time in six years and you're asking me what kind of preparations I've gotta make, Olivia?...you clearly don't know your own momma"

My mom says and Demi giggles.

"But since you've asked, Ollie, I'll tell you, I've gotta get your room ready and prepared for you, I've gotta get all of your favourite snacks in, I've gotta get daddy to add your favourite movies to our annual Christmas movie night, oh and I've gotta get you a ticket to that lights show we go to every year"

My mom said and I looked at her confused not understanding the last two.

I looked over at Demi but she wasn't much help, if anything, the useless little imp just sat there with her infamous I don't know anything expression as her eyes danced with pure mischief.

"And I've also gotta buy you a nice Christmas jumper but one that looks cheap enough that we can pass it off as the one your nana Lucy likes to makes you when she's drunk and riding the Snoop Dogg unicorn, if you know what I mean"

Do I know what she means? is she being for real right now?.

The very first time I got the itch for baking is when I heard everyone in my parents close circle of friends talking about my nana's special homemade hash brownies.

I was only a kid at the time so I had absolutely no clue what hash was and when I asked my nana about it, she said it's a special ingredient that she had to keep secret because it wouldn't be as special if everyone knew what it was and this made me adore my nana even more because in my young, naïve head, I thought she was magical with her secret and special brownie ingredients.

Now as an adult, I know what hash is and that the brownies were just a way for my grandparents to get everyone in our close family circle high as f**k at parties, holidays or any day ending in Y.

"Oh and don't forget about the party next weekend, auntie"

Demi says with a smirk as I looked at her like what the f**k? what f*****g party b***h?.

"Demi"

My mom said in her scolding tone as I narrowed my eyes between my mom who was on facetime and Demi.

"What party? what's she talking about, mom?"

"Oh nothing, honey, it's just some little thing, it's nothing for you to worry about"

My mom said but I didn't believe her, especially when I saw how nervous my mom looked and how excited Demi was.

"Anyway, when are you girls coming home? I'm excited to see my baby again"

"What about me, auntie?"

"I saw your ass last night, Demi, now answer my damn question"

My mom said sounding annoyed and we both chuckled.

"I don't know, let me ask the pilot...hey John, how long have we got until we reach Boulder?"

"We've got approximately two hours and twenty seven minutes left until we reach our destination, Miss McKenzie"

Our pilot John who has got this really soothing and calming British accent said causing my mom to gasp and then squeal loudly.

"YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE PLANE!!"

My mom screamed and I had to cover my eyes, so did Demi, that's how loud she was.

"FRANK!!, FRANK!!, CALL NANA LUCY AND THE BOYS AND TELL THEM OUR GIRL IS ON HER WAY HOME!!"

"Mom, don't do that, I won't get in until late"

I plead with my mom who just shushed me as she held her hand up at me.

Uh, I beg your damn pardon, mother.

"Did she just do talk to the hand to me?"

I ask Demi feeling shocked and she nods her head.

"Don't lie, woman"

"I'm not man, Demi managed to convince our little girl to come home, they're on the jet as we speak"

"The lies you tell"

My father said as his handsome face appeared on the screen and I smiled at him.

"Hi, daddy"

"Well, I'll be goddammed...that's my princess on the McKenzie's jet"

My dad gasped.

"See, I told you"

My mom muttered to my dad who was still staring at me in shock.

"We need to call the boys, nana Lucy and the McKenzie's for a celebratory/welcome home dinner"

"Mom, I swear to god if you do that then I'll turn this jet around and I won't come home, it'll be hasta la vista instead of feliz navidad, I promise you, mom"

I say and she chuckles.

"Yeah because you can just turn a jet around, can't you?"

She says whilst rolling her eyes as she continued to laugh.

"It's a plane, not a car, Ollie"

My mom and dad then start to make plans for a family dinner tonight which I tried my hardest to get them to stop and listen to me because I wasn't ready for a big family meal yet but they just ignored me as they continued to make their plans.

I became increasingly frustrated as I tried to stop my parents from making these dinner plans and I was left shocked when they eventually cut the call which amused Demi but it annoyed me.

"Did they just button me?"

"Yeah, they did"

Demi said as she burst out laughing.

"It's not funny, Dem"

I was already feel anxious and on edge about going home but now these feelings have amplified thanks to my mom.

"Oh come on, Olls, cheer up, it's just a family dinner, what's the worst that can happen?"

I can think of a few things but I never expected in my wildest dreams that one of them would come true.

Several Hours Later...

"We're here, Madam Redwood, Madam McKenzie"

"Urgh!!, just call us Olivia and Demi, Roland for Christ's sake, you've known us ever since we were newborns"

"I've known you as a loyal servant of your family Madam McKenzie, not as your family or friend"

"Yeah, yeah whatever you say Jeeves"

Demi and Roland continued to go back and forth as I looked at my family home which is all lit up like a Christmas tree and it looks so stunningly beautiful and cosy which is to be expected from my mother who has always prided herself on having grand and beautiful Christmas decorations both in and outside of our home.

"Hey...hey Ollie"

"Hmm, yeah"

I answer Demi who looked at me worriedly.

"Are you ready?"

Demi asks me.

I then closed my eyes and take a deep inhale before slowly releasing it as I nod my head.

"Yeah, I'm ready...lets go"

I say with a smile which Demi reciprocated.

We then got out of the car and attempted to help Roland with our luggage but he just batted our hands away saying it would be his privilege which earned him a very mature response from my best friend who poked her tongue out at him.

Like I said very mature.

"Come on, Ollie, lets take you to your doom"

"Why am I still friends with you, Demi?"

"Because I'm your best friend/sister, Olivia"

She says with a huge cheeky smile.

"You may be my best friend, Dems but you're the enemy to my anxiety"

I say and we both laugh as we enter my family home.

I immediately felt overwhelmed as soon as I walked through the door because it felt like I had this assault on my senses from the scent of my home, to the smell of my mom and nana Lucy's homemade food and right down to the warm, cosy ambiance that is my family's home.

It was almost as if time had stood still and nothing had changed, well, except for the faces in the pictures which have obviously changed as do we all with time.

I absentmindedly walked over to the long side table behind the couch and my eyes were immediately drawn to two pictures.

One was of Colton, Tyler, Demi and I at our high school graduation and the other picture was one which should've mirrored this one after we had graduated college but instead it just featured Demi, Colton and Tyler with the latter two looking like shells of their former selves with hallow and empty smiles.

"Neither of them were ever the same after you left, especially Colton, it's like he had lost a huge part of himself"

Yeah, I doubt that, Dems.

"I never asked, Demi"

I say whilst placing the picture frame down on the table just as a loud gasp was heard coming from behind me.

"Ollie"

I turned around and smiled when I saw my beautiful mom looking at me with tears in her eyes.

"Hi, mom"

I said barely above a whisper.

My mom then stood there like she was in a trance before she let out this loud, cheerful noise as she came over and embraced me in quite possibly the best hug I've had in a very long time.

"I can't believe you're home, Ollie baby...I missed you so much"

"I missed you too, mom"

My mom's loud scream gained the attention of my dad, my nana Lucy, my older brothers minus my twin, my auntie and uncle as well as a few others who all embraced me in a hug and welcomed me home as we expressed just how much we've missed each other.

It was a beautiful Hallmark moment and I'm not gonna lie but I shed a tear or two as all of my loved ones showed me just how much I was loved and cared for by them and boy did I feel it.