Back to December

Ten

December 23rd, 2022

    "It's Christmas eve, eve," Skye cheers as soon as she walks through the front door. She'd been at a playdate this morning, meaning we had a later start to whatever our Christmas activity of the day was. I currently sat in the living room on the floor by Elliot and Iris while they did their tummy time. "We're behind schedule," She continues, waltzing into the living room. Mom and Nikki, who'd taken her to her playdate, both chuckle as they follow behind her.

     "Sometimes it scares me how much she's like Lizzie," James admits, walking into the living room with bottles for the twins.

    "Skye and I? Alike?" Lizzie questions following behind. We all nod, as if it's obvious how similar the two of them are, "hmm, I don't see it." Before any of us could say anything else, she yells, "Harper, get down here. We have things to do."

    I share a look with James, biting my lip to keep myself from laughing. While Lizzie and Skye both sigh in unison, impatient. "I'm coming," Harper yells back, walking down the stairs, "I've gotta go. Lizzie and Skye are bossing me around," I hear her say in a normal tone, most likely talking to Charlie.

    "We're not bossing you around. We're just-"Lizzie pauses before she finishes her sentence, her eyes landing on Skye, who's standing in the identical pose as her, her hands resting on hips. "Oh," She nods, looking over her husband as she chuckles, "I get what you mean now."

    "Alright," Harper walks in, shoving her phone into her back pocket, "what's the plan for today, Skye?"

    "We're having a gingerbread house competition." She declares, smiling proudly.

     "A contest?" I question. When we were little, we were never allowed to have contests; we were so competitive someone always ended up crying. We were still just as competitive now, and while our contests never ended in tears, someone usually did storm off annoyed.

    "Yup," Skye nods in confirmation, "we'll split into teams, and mommy, daddy, and miss Nikki will be the judges."

    "They can't know whose house is who's though," Lizzie declares, adding onto Skye's announcement. "They can't be biased."

    "Yes," Harper snaps her fingers, pointing at Lizzie in agreement, "I agree. I want to win because of my talent, not because I'm the favorite child."

    "Ha, ha," I fake laugh, making a face at her, "and also the funniest apparently."

     "James, you write everyone's names down," Lizzie instructs, "Harper, Skye, go set up the workstations. I am going to get the twins settled with mom and Nikki with their bottles and Marley, can you get Wyatt?"

    Right, Wyatt... how could I forget, he'd be involved in this competition too. I almost send Skye to get him until I remember mom and Nikki are in the room, listening in to our conversation, "Sure," I squint at Lizzie, letting her know I didn't want to go before pushing myself off the ground and walking out of the room.

    I can hear Wyatt speaking to someone as I approach the door to Lizzie's old room. The closer I get to the door, the clearer his words become, "I'll be back in the new year," he says to whoever he's talking to, his tone frustrated. It sounded like this was something he'd had to reiterate multiple times, "no, I can't come home early, London."

    London? As in London St. James, Wyatt's on and off again model girlfriend? I stay outside his door, waiting for him to say something else to her. It seems that she must be talking now, as he's silent, "Okay, okay," He sighs, irritated, "can we just talk about this later, please? Everything's up in the air right now."