Sam, December 2005
I wouldn't be home for Christmas this year, it was just too tight with my schedule but I managed to come home for a few days before, to give Veronica and I a chance to celebrate not only Christmas but also my birthday. We hadn't touched each other since her surprise visit, to Manchester, in October and I was missing her like crazy, our webcam dates didn't satisfy my growing need for her.
Walking out of arrivals, I didn't make it too far when I saw her bolting up to meet me, her whole face lit up the closer she got. I opened my arms and she ran right into them, jumping up and wrapping her legs around me, her arms secured around my neck and I protectively held her in place. Her sweet, cheery flavoured lips crash against mine, her tongue softly brushes against my own, her coconut scented perfume reminding me of everything I've been missing for the last two months, my gorgeous girl.
Breaking away from the kiss, I become aware of our surroundings, our private moment isn't so private when I spot a guy with a camera but when I focus back on the girl in my arms I no longer care who is watching us, I want to express my love for my girlfriend and I shouldn't have to feel that that has be hidden.
"I love you." She whispers for only me to hear, the brightest smile plastered on her face. I decide not to tell her we're being watched, I don't want to make her feel self conscious or that she has to hold back, I'll tell her later, when we're alone but right now I want her to feel like any other woman who is picking her boyfriend up from the airport.
"I love you too my girl." I whisper back, pressing my lips against hers. She unwraps her legs from around me and takes my hand in hers, intwining our fingers as she leads the way out of the airport and into the frosty, cold air, her cheeks turning red as the winds whip by.
She's underdressed, wearing only a red sweater, jeans, boots and her fuzzy white beanie. No scarf, no gloves, not even a jacket. She's lived in London for two years now, she knows how bitterly cold Winter is here. I shrug off my coat and wrap it around her, not wanting her to get sick.
"I left mine in the car." She giggles, slipping her arms through he holes, my coat swamps her but I feel a lot better knowing she's warm. "I was just too excited to see you that I forgot about the cold."
"I know how you feel, as soon as my plane landed I just wanted off because I couldn't wait to hold you in my arms." I tell her.
"I have you for three days right?" She asks, looking down at the huge suitcase I brought with me, she knows I usually pack light, considering I also have mostly everything I need already at our flat. "I didn't even know you owned a suitcase that big."
"It's full of presents. Most of them for you but there's one each for Bridge and Shay plus something for Nan too." I explain, our time together was going to be filled with social commitments, being Christmas and my birthday but I was hoping we'd be able to squeeze in a little bit of alone time, to celebrate privately by ourselves.
"I got your Nan a new mixer for the kitchen, I thought she might like it, I went to visit her a few weeks back and I saw how worn out hers was." Veronica tells me, I love how thoughtful she is and I also love that she makes time to go visit my Nan, it's sweet.
"If it's from you then I know she will love it." Nan adores Veronica and constantly questions me on when I'm going to propose, if I had my way, we'd already be married but Veronica doesn't want that yet and so I'll wait until I know she's ready.
"Full warning too, Bridge and Shay are back at the flat decorating, I was helping but left to come get you." Veronica says with a smile, my girl loves Christmas, she goes all out and with this being our first year living together, I couldn't wait to see our flat be turned into Santa's workshop.
We step off the elevator and I'm instantly hit with the smell of sweet, sugary infused cookies baking, since returning to London, Bridget had developed a passion for cooking, which she'd take along with her to the homeless shelter she'd volunteer at. She was going to be spending Christmas Day cooking up a feast for the shelter so today was going to be her Christmas to celebrate with us.
As we get closer I can hear the sound of Christmas carols coming from inside, the fun, upbeat music puts a smile on my face. I'd never really been one to get into Christmas music, I've always found it annoying and repetitive because its forced upon you everywhere you go from November, right up until Christmas Day but this year I had someone special I was celebrating with and it made everything I once considered corny about Christmas seem so much more exciting and fun.
Veronica opens the door and I'm taken aback by how much effort the three girls put into decorating the flat, there's tinsel lining the doorways and twinkly lights strung along the walls, a Santa in a sleigh with a giant, wooden Rudolf beside the sleigh and light up candy canes lining the walls but it was the magnificent fake Christmas tree that caught my eye. It was huge, with forrest green branches that spread out wide and colourful ornaments that sparkled when the lights hit them with a layer of white fleece around the base to represent snow.
"We've been waiting for you to get here so you could put the star on." Shayla announces, bouncing up to me, star in hand and pulling me in for a hug, with Bridget abandoning the cookies she just pulled out of the oven to squeeze herself in beside her girlfriend.
I'd grown up as an only child, I didn't know what it felt like to have siblings until this year, these two women were like sisters to me now. We'd developed our own urban family after the bombings, the four of us were closer than ever, constantly checking in and watching out for each other and I felt better knowing that Veronica had them here with her when I was so far away.
"Tell the truth, you only want me to put the star on the top of the tree because none of you can reach that high." I call all three of them out, making them laugh. I lower the shiny, silver star down onto the the top, making sure it's secured, giving the tree the perfect finishing touch.
Veronica put a huge order in for Chinese food, not exactly our traditional Christmas lunch but we all agreed that since it wasn't actually Christmas Day then it would be alright to go against tradition. We exchanged presents while we waited for the food to be delivered and just when I thought we were done handing out gifts, Bridget pulled a small package from her bag, handed it to Veronica and said it was for both of us with the label being made out to 'Baby Lions from Aunty Bridget and Aunty Shayla.'
Both Veronica and I had openly talked to Bridget and Shay about our plans to start trying for a baby, I'd also shared this information with Dad and Celeste who were equally thrilled and excited for us but I wasn't expecting anyone to give us a present until we actually had a child so this was a complete surprise.
"Thank you." Veronica says to the girls, tearing the paper off fast, inside was a set of tiny, yellow, knitted booties.
"They're so adorably cute." I say, picking the tiny booties up and slipping them onto my fingers, I couldn't wait to be a father and I knew Veronica would be the most amazing mother to our child.
"I'm so excited, this time next year you will have a brand new baby and Christmas will be so much more magical because Sam can dress up as Santa." Bridget says in a sing-song voice, getting herself carried away, this baby is going to be surrounded by people who love it so much.
"We still have to make the baby yet." Veronica points out, giving me a little nudge. The making part will be my favourite activity.
"Tonight Bunny." I say, leaning over and kissing Veronica on the cheek, making her blush.
"Eww." Bridget cries out, covering her eyes as if she's being forced to watch us. "Let me just continue to believe that the baby will be brought by the stork and not by you, getting it on with my own sister." She laughs.
"I'd like to remind you of how I used to live with you and Shay and how thin those walls were so consider this payback." Veronica says her sister.
"Well I'm going to need copious amounts of wine if we're going to discuss how babies are made." Shayla chuckles, grabbing a bottle of sauvignon blanc from the wine fridge in the kitchen while Veronica gets us four glasses. Shayla pours out the wine, we each grab a glass and clink them with each other as a cheers to our celebration.
