A Saviour

Thirteen

It was rather chilly in LA in the first week in December, and chilly meant Kate donned a jacket as opposed to being too hot to function like the rest of the year.

After their dinner date on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a dinner at Sweetzer on Tuesday and Johnny popping over Thursday evening after Belle had gone to bed it was now the weekend again, and Kate really didn't know what she had done with her time. She woke early on the Saturday as she had another busy day ahead, she always decorated for Christmas the first weekend in December and this year was no different. Although Belle was still too young to really know what was going on, Kate had always vowed to give her the best start in life, that meant magical Christmases.

Kate put on Christmas music and dragged all of the Christmas decorations out of the hallway closet, being neat and organised helped a lot when living in a two bedroom apartment. Everything was in neatly stacked boxes and she pulled out what she needed before grabbing Belle and heading out to buy a Christmas tree. It took a while to choose the right one, especially when there was a clear difference between the ones that Kate liked, and the ones that would actually fit in her apartment in the gap by the living room window but she got there in the end and paid the salesman to have it delivered that day before heading home to begin Belle's lunch.

The Christmas tree was delivered and placed in its spot mid afternoon, Kate had a chaotic time trying to decorate the tree and the rest of the apartment whilst keeping an eye on Belle and keeping her entertained. Finally she relented and put on the movie Frozen to try and keep the two year old at least in the same room as her. It worked, for a while anyway. After a good few hours of decorating, Kate declared the apartment finished by placing the wreath on the front door and turning on the Christmas lights. Although it was festive, it was elegant, just how she remembered her Christmas decorations from growing up. She carried Belle round the apartment showing it off to her, but all the toddler seemed interested in was the twinkling white lights on the Christmas tree. Not the advent candle, not the Christmas bedding sets, not the nativity scene, just the tree. On the tree, were many ornaments, but close to the star at the top were two glass robins that Kate felt represented her parents. There was also a large white snow globe bauble with Belle's full name engraved in it, and her date of birth. Kate had purchased that just weeks before Belle's first Christmas. She always helped Belle place it on the tree and hoped it would be a memory they would share for years to come.

As Frozen came to an end, Kate began to cook dinner for the two of them, she snapped a few photos of her tree whilst waiting for the meal to cook and posted them on her Instagram

Christmas has arrived at The Baxter's 🎄🎅🏻

The photo was instantly liked by Gina, and by Jessie who commented

JessieC123: Looks beautiful as always!

Kate was about to put her phone down when it rang it was Johnny.

"Hey Johnny,"
"Guess who has been ditched by his glorious children in favour of sleepovers and some festive film on at the theatres?"
"Ummm I'm sensing you?" Kate giggled.
"Yes would you believe it. They wanna hang with their buds rather than their old man."
"I guess that's what happens when they become teenagers. I wouldn't take it personally."
"I won't.. anyway.. I was wondering, perhaps you might want to pop over and then I thought maybe it was too late to sort Belle, so I can come to you?"
"Oh wow, umm that would be lovely. I have to warn you though it's a little chaotic here."
"I don't mind.."
"Ok well then come on over. We've pretty much just been in comfies all day, decorating for Christmas."
"Oh wow. Can't wait to see."
"It's like a grotto but she loves it so it's worth it."
"I'm sure. I'll be over before bedtime, unless you don't want me to?"
"Why would I not want that?"
"Well I know the more serious this gets the more weirder it might be."
"Belle is happy to have you in her life, whether you're her friend, her favourite rockstar, or the man that her mother has had three dates with."
"Thursday was not a date.. it was me bringing a bottle of wine over because you had a shit day because of my ex wife tipping press off with her location."
"If you say so! Anyway.. what I mean is, it doesn't matter. If you would like to see Belle come on over. If you would prefer to wait until she's in bed that's also fine."
"I'll see you in 30?"
"Sure. See you soon."

Kate served Belle her dinner without much trouble. The little girl enjoyed her food, and only ever tended to throw a strop when she was overtired or overwhelmed. The rug under Kate's dining area was extremely grateful for this, as it had seen more than it's fair share of stains and mess, and thankfully the mother was a proper domestic goddess when it came to chores like removing mess from places it shouldn't be. As the woman removed Belle from her high chair and placed her on the floor, there was a knock on the door. Kate speedily approached it and opened it, Johnny stood there with his cheeky smile and a bunch of mistletoe, "it's Christmas, I thought you might need some." "You think I need mistletoe to be kissed?" She questioned and he lent in and passionately kissed her. "No it was just an excuse." He chuckled before greeting Belle who dragged him into the living area to point out the large Christmas tree. "Oh wow!! You girls have been busy!! It looks wonderful in here." Belle span around in excitement, before running off to find her doll. "It really does look lovely Kate." "Thank you. It's taken a while and I'm sure by the 27th I'll want to rip it all down and give it all a good clean but it helps make it magical." "It sure does. She's a lucky girl." Kate smiled before leading him into the kitchen. "I don't have any wine I'm afraid. Coffee?" "Sounds good to me." The woman made the hot drinks before also making up a bottle of milk for her daughter, "Belle.. come here." The toddler approached with her doll and Kate knelt down. "Look Johnny has come to visit but you have to go to bed in a while ok? Especially after last night.." the two year old wasn't paying too much attention after hearing the word Johnny, and decided to launch herself at her new friend who happily scooped her up. "Maybe if you're really good and just stay with me, Mumma won't notice you staying up past your bedtime." Johnny said smirking. "Mumma will notice... she was up a lot in the night with a temperature, I don't know if she's coming down with something." "Oh no, is the little princess poorly?" Johnny said whispering in Belle's ear before tickling her making her giggle. "She can't be that bad, she's eaten all day and run around like normal." Kate continued as they made their way to the couch.