the trailer park / eddie munson

Chapter 45 - Merry Christmas

You wake up from a deep sleep, stretch your legs and sigh softly. You keep your eyes closed and enjoy this blissful moment of warm coziness around you, snuggled into your big blanket. Today's the day, you think to yourself as a small smile grows on your lips. It's Christmas. While opening your eyes, you turn your head to the right, following the soft snoring coming from Eddie, who's still sleeping peacefully, lying on his belly with his pillow squished between his arms and his long hair hanging in his face. You bite down a laugh when noticing the one curly strand of hair that's swinging in the rhythm of his snores, right in front of his lightly parted lips.
Although Eddie and you share a lot of interests and have many things in common, your love for Christmas definitely isn't a part of that. To his annoyance, you already started decorating your trailer weeks ago, with shiny light chains and festive garlands everywhere, scented candles and little christmassy figures. He did his best to hide what he was really thinking about all the trinkets and ornaments you bought, but since all of that made you so happy, he accepted his faith. And, as if that wasn't enough, you also persuaded him to buy a Christmas tree. His face said it all, when the two of you drove downtown two weeks ago to buy one. You loved every minute of it, how you strolled through the lines of trees that were put up for sale and had an attentive look at every one. It even began to snow, which made it even better. Eddie wasn't really a big help, he simply nodded every single time you asked him if he liked this particular tree while smoking one cigarette after the other. Until the point you rolled your eyes at him. He sighed deeply and helped you decide between the two trees that made it into your final round. And, he paid for it. "Anything for my girl, huh", he mumbled with his cigarette between his lips while grabbing his wallet from the backpocket of his jeans. Back at home, he put it up for you and leaned against the doorframe while watching you excitedly scurrying around, searching for all the ornaments and twinkly lights while wearing a very ugly Christmas sweater. And even though it isn't his favorite holiday, and all those decorations and traditions are way too much for him, a warmth grew in his chest when he saw the excited look on your face, and how your eyes sparkled that evening. "Look", you smirked at him widely while opening a small paper bag, "I bought this one especially for you". His brow rose in suspicion, but he couldn't help but laugh loudly when you pulled out a tree ornament in the shape of a guitar. It was so ugly, but he loved it. "I saw it at the mall, and I couldn't help myself", you chuckled as he searched for the perfect spot on your tree, a small smile on his lips.
Later that evening, when you finished decorating together, you sat down on the floor next to your shining Christmas tree, both of you with a big cup of hot chocolate in your hands and your backs leaned against your sofa. You started telling him about Christmas back when you were a kid. How your mom always tried to make the best out of it, even back then when you both were still living with your abusive and alcoholic dad, who definitely never gave a damn about Christmas or any holiday traditions. What a waste of money, you remember him yelling one time when your mom dared to just even look at some ornaments in a shop window. Every year, your mom patiently waited until your dad left the apartment to get drunk with his friends at a pub around the corner, which was never a waste or money, of course, and quickly put up some tiny Christmas decorations for you. You never had a tree, but with a small candle, some Santa figures and light chains, your mom managed to bring a small part of that Christmas spirit into your home as well.
Tears rolled down your cheeks when you told Eddie about those times, how she bought a present and some gingerbread for you and hid it from your dad for weeks, only to see your childish eyes light up with joy when the two of you cuddled up on your small sofa and you opened your gift. "She was the best", you whispered, before continuing how you started celebrating the holiday after your mom and you finally left your dad and it was finally just the two of you. You never had much, she worked two or three jobs to earn enough money to simply survive, but she always made sure Christmas  would be a special day for you. She put money to the side throughout the whole year to buy some presents and a small tree, and the memories of you loudly singing Christmas songs while baking cookies or gingerbread are the ones you'll cherish forever. You can still see her with her ugly apron on, flour sprinkled on her grinning face as she playfully slapped away your hand trying to steal some of the dough. Those weeks at the end of the year, when the streets were covered in snow and your small apartment was full of warm lights, music and the smell of cinnamon, those were your absolute favorite.
She loved you so much. And she loved Christmas, which is probably why you're now just as a big fan of it as she was. Eddie sighed and pulled you in a warm hug, his lips pressed tiny kisses on your temple and he waited patiently until your tears dried. It still hurts, thinking back to those happy times you had with her and being reminded that they'll never come back, now that she passed away over a year ago. "You know", he then said in a quiet tone, "Christmas isn't such a happy memory for me, I guess, which is why I'm not the biggest fan of it. My father was probably as uninterested in this holiday as yours. We never celebrated it when I was still living with him. He never got me a present, put up a tree or what ever. He never cared. I saw other kids playing with their new toys, talking about their gifts and what they did with their parents during the holidays. But, well, the only fatherly attention I got was when he probably slapped me because I said something stupid again". You saw how his eyes changed when he told you about the abuse he received back then. Eddie never talks much about his father. The only thing you know is that his mother left them when he was still a baby, causing his father to drown his sadness in alcohol and blame Eddie for it. He neglected and abused him. Until one day, when Eddie was about six or seven years old, Wayne finally overtook custody and took him in. "It was Christmas Day when the authorities came to get me away from him", Eddie continued, "Even though he hurt me and probably never loved me, I wanted to stay with him. I remember crying and calling for him, but he was too drunk to even realize. He was my dad, the only parent I knew. I thought it was normal, how he treated me. I loved him. Unconditionally. And then they took me away, and while everyone else around me had a joyful Christmas holiday, I went through my own personal hell... Don't get me wrong, I loved Wayne back then, and I obviously still do, but it broke my heart to not be with my dad any longer. I just didn't understand what happened. And Christmas simply reminds me of those times. Every year".
His uncle Wayne did his best to give him a normal life after moving to the trailer park, but the memories made it hard for Eddie to enjoy Christmas, especially when he was younger. He was a difficult kid, afraid and aggressive due to how he grew up, not able to handle his feelings the right way, and Wayne was overstrained with him, not just once. They had hard times. But they became a family over the years, and when Eddie got older, he finally understood what Wayne did for him. He's more than thankful he saved him back then. But he never overcame the bad memories or trauma he received during that time of the year.
"Why didn't you tell me before I turned our trailer into a Christmas wonderland?", you asked, shocked and sad from his story. He shrugged and gave you a small smile, "Because it made you happy. That's all I want". "Do you want me to clear it up? We don't have to celebrate it if anything of that triggers you, baby". "No", he sighed deeply and looked right into your eyes. And for a split of a second, you looked right into the sad eyes of that little boy he was back then. "This holiday is about love, and being with your loved ones. You're my true love, baby, and maybe it's time someone shows me what Christmas should really feel like", he mumbled quietly. Tears stinged in your eyes as you nodded your head. And so, your mission started.
After Eddie finally opened up to you about what really bugged him, you two spent much time with making new, happy Christmas memories for him. And it was a blast. You baked cookies together, built gingerbread houses and annoyed each other with who has better presents planned while drinking hilarious amounts of hot chocolate. But, sadly, he never got a big fan of all your shimmery festive decorations. Which really is a shame. But, well... he's also just a man, so maybe that's the reason.
After a heavy snowfall last week, you and your friends started a challenge of which couple could build the best snowman, and Wayne, who just came home from work when all of you finished and started discussing who's the winner, took the decision in his own hands and chose Eddie's and yours for the first place. It was a metal-snowman, of course, and he looked badass. He had long hair made out of branches and tattoos on his white body that Eddie drew with the ashes of his cigarette butt. You really deserved that first place. You'll never forget Steve's annoyed groan and his quiet whispers when he accused Wayne of paternalism, what quickly led to a big snowball fight between all of you. Which, of course, Eddie and you won as well. Obviously.
Your boyfriend's heart got lighter during the last weeks, and you really managed to do what no one ever achieved before - Edward Munson somehow grew a soft spot for Christmas as well. Well... Christmas with you, especially.