We spent last night at home, waiting for Jenny to come and join us before we sent the Christmas letters up the chimney. It’s a little tradition that Mark did as a child on Christmas Eve, so I thought it would be nice to do it with Kate. Maybe that little bit of magic will help her. I would love for her to believe in Christmas magic. This Christmas needs to be special for all of us, including the children.
“Hi, everyone,” Jenny says as she walks into the room with her boyfriend, Warren, standing beside her and holding her hand.
A smile spreads across my face. The old Jenny, the one who was carefree and fun has been brought back. I am so happy that she is here and not alone. She has a spark now because of Warren. The pregnancy glow is unmistakable as well. I’m looking forward to next year with two little ones here for Christmas. It will be doubly special. I want everything to work out for her, because the pregnancy is still early. With just over three months left, anything can happen, so we are on our toes. She finally went for a scan last week to check everything. The doctors are keeping a close eye on her this time, so she has more scheduled regular appointments to ensure nothing goes wrong. I think that is on everyone’s mind at the moment. We want both Jenny and the baby safe and healthy. I’m scared that something will go wrong. I love Jenny, and I don’t want her to go through the pain of losing another child. She is lucky to have Warren; he tries to go to every appointment with her. If he can’t, he gets me to go and rings five minutes after the visit. At her twenty-week scan, they couldn’t determine the baby’s sex.
Finally, the little monkey let them find out, and I’m so excited Jenny shared her secret with me. I remember the day she told me.
“Megan?” Jenny bellowed as she ran into my kitchen.
“Yes?” I paused. “What’s up?”
“It’s a boy. I’m having a boy!” she squealed.
“Oh, I am so happy for you.”
We spent days messaging each other boy’s names we like. She has chosen to keep the baby’s surname as Wright, the same as hers. She doesn’t want to know who the father is. She is scared it will be Rich’s baby. He refused to have anything to do with her or the baby when she told him. By keeping the baby’s name as Wright, she saves her job. The only thing she’s decided for sure is the baby’s middle name is going to be her baby brother’s name. Jenny knows her mum will be okay with it, but she is worried about what her dad will say, if he says anything at all. He had a go at her when she first told the family about her pregnancy. He called her a slut, so she hasn’t spoken to him since. She hasn’t told her family what she is having. She wants to keep it a surprise, but she can’t keep everything from me. She never has been able to.
“How are you and bump?” I enquire as Jenny takes a seat on the sofa behind me.
“We are both good.” She pauses. “How are you all?”
“Good. We have been waiting for you to come, so we can send these letters up,” I reply.
“Oh, I can’t wait.”
“Kate, are you ready to send your letter to Santa?” Jenny asks.
Kate sits there and nods. She doesn’t talk to strangers. She hasn’t spent enough time around Jenny yet. Kate runs off into the kitchen and comes back with all the letters she made us write— hers, Lucy’s, Connor’s, Mark’s and mine.
Kate comes over to me, whispering into my ear. “Does Jenny have a letter for him?” she questions.
“I think she does. Why don’t you ask her?” I ask.
“I’m scared.” She grabs hold of my top.
“I’ll come with you.” I turn around to face Jenny. “Kate has a question for you.”
“Do you have a letter for him?”
“I do and so does Warren. Are you going to send them all up?” Jenny asks, taking the letters from her bag and passing them to Kate.
Mark takes Kate’s hand. Leading her to the fireplace, he helps her send the letters up before running out of the house to watch them float into the sky. I sit there watching her giggle. It is so amazing; I love it.
“Jenny, I’m going to make mince pies tomorrow with Kate,” I inform her.
“I can’t wait. You know I love them, and I love watching you make things.”
“I know you do. I thought Kate could help.”
“That’s a good idea. I hope she relaxes soon. She seems so scared of me,” Jenny states.
“Hopefully, she will settle soon. Since you’ll be around for the next few days, she will get to know you some more. I’m just hoping she likes her present,” I say as I glance over to the tree that has only a few presents under it.
We have left the rest of the presents upstairs in my attic room behind the bookcases so that no one can see them, even if they go up there. I don’t trust the boys from shaking the packages to find out what’s inside. Annabella warned me that she found both Connor and Mark doing it last year only hours after finding Mark’s siblings doing it. Mia had unwrapped the presents and re-taped them so no one could tell that she had opened them. I remember doing that when I was younger, not that I would ever admit it. I hate surprises, but love them at the same time. I’m excited to see Kate’s face, because I know Lucy will understand Christmas more and be able to open her presents next year. This year is more for me, and I have been good.
“I love the new hairdo, Megan.”
“Thanks, I decided to treat myself. I love the blonde tips, and I think it’s a nice change. I just might keep it like this.”
“I love it. It suits you, and you seem happy with it,” Jenny replies.
“I do love it. I enjoyed a full-on pampering session. I even had a manicure and a pedicure; my toenails are now an icy blue. Mark took Lucy for me, so Kate and I could have some girlie time. Her grandma cuts her hair. I thought it would be a nice treat for her to have her hair cut by a professional.”
“It looks good. She has such long, wavy, blonde hair, and she will either love it or hate it when she is older.” Jenny points out.
“Don’t we know it?”