Blind Channel One Shot Stories

A Christmas Present - Tommi

Plot: It's Christmas Eve, you and Tommi are on your way home after a pleasant day with your families. What the drummer doesn't know is that you've prepared a sweet surprise for him...

Pov: You

"You weren't lying when you said your father loves to play chess, that's all he's done all day!" you laugh as you get into Tommi's car.

"Well, your father's not so bad either! He almost put mine in trouble!" says your boyfriend, reaching you.

"I think he practiced at home with my uncle, in 25 years I've never seen him play, he must have taken lessons!"

You spent the evening with your families at Tommi's parents' house in Oulu. It was your first time there, and the idea of wandering around the rooms where your boyfriend grew up filled your heart with joy. In every corner there are his photos, ranging from his first footsteps to his graduation day and some of his toys are scattered here and there, as if they were knick-knacks. In that house you can breathe a particular smell: a mixture of cinnamon, vanilla and lots of love, now you understand why Tommi is so attached to that place.

During the dinner your mothers have done nothing but tell anecdotes of your childhood and exchange recipes, while Tommi and your brother Jacob have spent all day chatting about music and technology, and that surprised you, considering Tommi's low regard for social media and electronic devices. Everyone started betting on the sex of the child: your mother and your father-in-law believe it will be a girl, while your father, brother and mother-in-law are convinced it will be a boy, Tommi instead abstained from discussion as usual. He says the only thing that matters to him is that the little one is healthy and strong, but you don't believe that much, you know that he has his preference, even if he doesn't want to admit it.

You still remember the look on his face when you told him you weren't gonna tell him the sex of the baby because you wanted to surprise him. At first he simply shrugged his shoulders, as if he didn't care much, but in the following days, he tried to unravel the precious information in every possible way: first he took you to a store of baby clothes, hoping to see what colors you focused on, then in a toy store, even checked the book of names, looking for some underlining or bookmark left here and there. And after he realized that as an investigator he was a little weak, he went on to direct questions, but he got nothing concrete from you, and then he ended up giving up.

While you chat, Tommi leans over and fastens your belt by placing it under your belly, which now begins to be pronounced. For a moment you are out of breath, surprised by his gesture, you still have to get used to all this attentions. Tommi with you has always been kind and loving, but since you got pregnant he has become more and more sweet and attentive, always ready to help you and be next to you. You feel protected and loved like you never been.

"What do you think of my family?" he asks as you reach your apartment.

"I love your mother, she is so kind and delicious! It's impossible not to love her! Although at some point I thought she'd fly the board down the window!" you laugh, stroking Tommi's hand on the gearbox.

"Nah, she's used to my dad and his endless games... although I have to admit that when he refused to stop the game to help her with the turkey I saw her falter" he laughs while keeping his eyes on the road.

"What do you think of mine?"

"Your parents are two lovely chatterers, as is your brother... About Jacob...you told me he was shy but he didn't shut up a second!"

"It was a surprise to me too, he's usually very shy" you open your purse, looking for something to eat: although you ate whatever you had on your plate during dinner, you're still hungry.