It’s so nice to be back inside the house. I didn’t realise how cold it was outside. I finish helping Mark place the food onto the table, re-arranging everything to make space. I set out the plates and send Mark to get everyone. The best thing about Christmas Day tea is you just have what you want, where you want it. I just want onions. Yes, I’m weird, but onions and cheeses on a cocktail stick are the best, or as I always call them, things on sticks. Some have pineapple on a stick as well, but I don’t like them. I place the tins of mince pies and muffins on the side. I even open the Christmas cake and cut a couple of slices.

“That cake looks amazing,” Mark says.

“Thank you.”

“You’re amazing, baby.” He pauses. “Warren, she handmade it with no machines at all.”

“That’s how you get the love into it,” I say, lifting my shoulder.

Sitting on the sofa in the lounge, I look around at everyone as they eat and chat. They are laughing and looking relaxed. Kate is feeding her dolly in her high chair. Lucy is trying to throw food from her high chair; she is turning into a right monkey. I’m very impressed that she hasn’t needed a nap today. I can feel the love in the room. I don’t need anyone else. 

I lean over to Mark. “Kate called me mummy earlier,” I whisper.

“Aw, bless her.”

“Have you managed to sort the custody stuff for Connor?” I ask.

“The paperwork should be here in the next few days.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Don’t thank me.” He kisses me on the forehead.

“Read to me,” Kate says, running to me with one of her new books. I shuffle back in the chair and start to read, getting Kate to help me by pointing at the pictures to fill in the blanks. Mark sneaks out to take Daisy outside for a wee. Bless her. It’s too cold to be out there. Warren stands up, taking Lucy from her chair and places her onto the floor. She uses her new toy from Luke to stand up and starts walking towards me with nothing in front of her.

I sit there watching her, not saying a word because I’m totally speechless. My baby did it. My baby is finally walking.

“Hello, Lucy,” I say as she grasps hold of my knees. “You did it.”

I turn her around and she walks again, but loses her balance and falls to her knees. She crawls to the toy, stands up and does it again. Mark stands in the doorway, pulling out his phone to record her.

“Call Annabella,” he says.

“Okay, I don’t want to ruin her day.”

“She will want to know.” I do as he says and ring her.

“Hi, Annabella, Merry Christmas. Lucy just walked all on her own.” I place her on the loud speaker so everyone can hear.

“Oh wow! That’s amazing.”

“Isn’t it just?”

“Congratulations, Lucy.”

Mark sits and tells her all about the amazing day he has had and all the presents and games everyone has received.

I place the phone on loudspeaker. "Annabelle, you’re on loudspeaker."

"Oh, great! Hi, everyone."

"Hi, Annabelle," Jenny says.

"How are you all doing?" Annabelle asks in an ecstatic tone.

"We are great. Bump is getting bigger," Jenny says. They met a few weeks ago and clicked right away. I knew they would, no question about it.

"That's wonderful. How is that sexy bar man of yours doing?"

"I'm doing well," Warren speaks up.

"Oh, crap! I didn't know you were there," she says, giggling.

"It's okay," he replies, amused.

"Did Kate like her present?"

"What present?" Kate says, jumping up and down.

"The one behind the door," I answer, pointing at the door. "I thought it would be more special for you to hear her reaction."

Kate grabs it and unwraps it very quickly. "A princess!" she shouts.

"Yes, open it," I say.

"Her face is a picture," Connor chimes in.

Inside the princess carrying case are loads of all different coloured paper, crayons, and everything else she needs to do drawings.

"What do you say?" 

 "Thank you!" she yells in a high-pitched voice. 

"Have you had a good day?" Mark asks.

 Annabelle tells us about her day. Even though she says it has been mostly uneventful and quiet, she has enjoyed lots of food.