For the Love of Christmas by Kate Forster

Author:Kate Forster [Forster, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781474035637
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2015-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Oscar

Sofie didn’t stop talking all the way home, much to Oscar’s chagrin.

‘Shut up, Sofie,’ he said for the twentieth time.

‘Dad, tell him not to say shut up.’

‘Maybe you should keep some stories and questions in your head,’ Jamie had said, ‘so you have some things to think about for yourself.’

But Oscar knew this was impossible. Sofie liked the sound of her own voice.

Jamie was quiet on the drive back, and Oscar wondered if it was because of Mum and her coming back home.

That would make sense, since his father shovelled snow all morning, and then didn’t even pack the bags properly, just throwing all their stuff into the boot of the car.

Sofie had asked to stop at McDonald’s for a wee but Oscar knew it was really to get some chips and drink.

Jamie had said no, and to hang on, which Oscar thought was odd, because Dad liked McDonald’s sundaes and always got one, although he would never admit it to their mum, who said she hated any sort of food that came through the window, covered in exhaust fumes.

When they pulled up to the house the first thing Sofie said was, ‘The Red Wreath,’ and Oscar started to laugh because she couldn’t really say her ‘th’s’ properly, so it sounded like ‘The Red Reef’.

‘The red reef,’ he repeated, mimicking her, but Sofie was already out of the car.

‘Mummy’s home, Mummy’s home.’ Sofie was jumping on the step.

‘Careful, it’s icy,’ said Jamie, his voice sounding tight, as he opened the boot of the car. ‘Come and get your things.’

Reluctantly Oscar and Sofie got their higgledy-piggledy belongings, and with their arms full, waited by the front door.

As Jamie opened the door, Sofie tripped on Oscar’s foot and dropped most of her things on the floor.

‘Don’t, Oscar,’ she cried.

‘Shut up, Sophie,’ he said, wondering if his mum had put the wreath up or Dad had done it before they left.

‘Be quiet, both of you,’ Jamie said, but Oscar didn’t hear him.

His eyes were drawn by the lights above his head, strung from each side of the hallway. His eyes followed them down the stairs and into the living room, where he stepped in and saw the stockings hung over the fireplace.

A Christmas tree stood in the corner, heavily laden with every ornament that they owned, and a flicker of excitement sparked in his stomach.

Christmas was coming, he thought, as he turned to see his mother in the doorway from the kitchen.

‘Mum,’ was all he said, and then he was enveloped in her arms, his head against her chest, hearing her heart beat almost as fast as his.

‘Mummy,’ Sofie screamed and he felt a hand leave his back and draw Sofie into the hug. He didn’t mind; this was what he and Sofie needed.

He felt her kisses on his head as she whispered to them, ‘I missed you two monkeys so much. I am so very glad to be home.’

Oscar wondered if he might cry, but he didn’t, although his eyes stung like they were going to betray him.

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