Will We Talk?

35- Gifts

Sam's POV:

Watching Evelyn open her last piece of jewellery, I felt my heart in my throat. But that soon cleared as a smile made its way onto her face and she cuddled her figure into mine.

"I love it." she hummed into my chest.

"There's more space on there for other pendants or engraving other stuff." I stuttered, pointing at the space on the pendant.

"Here man, stop panicking about it. Its gorgeous." she ordered, laughing as she did so.

The final present was a huge gamble. Since the night she told me about her love for ballet, its been a thought that's stuck in the forefront of my head, and to watch her dance at Catherine's house the other day, it made me slightly more confident to give her the present. Now that its down to me giving her the present, saying I was stressed was an understatement. My whole body sweated and felt like it was about to go into shutdown.

"Oh my fucking God." she murmured, "No way. No way. There's no fucking way."

"Shit sorry. I can take them back an-"

She interrupted me by bundling herself at me, offering a long and passionate kiss to my lips. My hands found their way to hips, like clockwork, and I returned the favour by deepening the kiss.

She held the pair of ballet shoes in her hand, observing them closely.

"The man in the shop also said you could book an appointment and get another pair fitted. In case they don't fit." I smiled.

"I don't have the right socks and stuff, they're all at mam's so I'll try them on there." she explained, "I'm in love with them, Sam. Thank you so much." she squealed, once again hugging me.

The two of us cleaned up the mess we had made and placed all of our presents underneath the tree in the corner of the room. Except for the fact I kept out one of the shirts to wear and the key to the new apartment to put in my wallet.

Opening the presents Evie had bought for me was great. I felt so much nostalgia in sitting down and opening presents, especially the ones she'd bought for me. But what was a better feeling was watching her open her presents, knowing I made her happy, watching that familiar smile appear on her face.

Once the mess was cleaned up, the clock read 7:39 and we were to leave and go to our parents' at 11 ish. So, we made some hot chocolates and sat watching Christmas films. Evie insisted on watching Nativity, and although I really wanted to say no, I gave into her. She has that effect on me, not just with films, I'd do anything to see that smile on her face and her eyes wrinkle up as she did so.

*****

"Right, I'll come and pick you up at what time?" Evie asked me as I unbuckled the seatbelt.

"Around 10 ish alreet?" I replied.

"Of course. Have a lovely day baby, Merry Christmas." she beamed, pecking my lips.

"You too darlin'. Love you." I smiled back, exiting the car and making my way up to mam's house that was sure to be full with my family.

I waved at her from the front door before she wizzed off down the road and to her Nana's house. A day without her was bound to feel strange after having almost a full month together, but I was grateful to be able to see my whole family again.

"Well if it isn't wor Sam." my nan announced as I walked into the living room, seeing my whole family had already arrived.

"Y'alreet nan?" I asked as I ducked to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Never better, son. How's everything with you? I feel like I've not saw you in ages." she commented.

To be fair, she wasn't wrong. Nowadays, I barely ever see my family due to my career of music, which can be extremely inhibiting. I felt a bit guilty as she said this, as though I'm replacing them all, but I'm doing everything in my power for us to not fall back into old financial ways. I wouldn't wish that situation on my worst enemy.

"Aye, everything's class. I've missed yous all though." I smiled before hugging my mam who appeared behind me.

"Merry Christmas, mam." I greeted her with a wide smile.

"Merry Christmas, son. Your presents are in your room if you want to open them now." she informed me after I'd pulled away from the hug.

Before I left to go and open my presents, I said hello to the rest of my family. All of them seemed to ask me about Evelyn and why she wasn't here, but they understood the situation. "I've waited forever for you to get a girlfriend and she's not even here." my Auntie remarked at one point. It's quite embarrassing how I haven't had a proper girlfriend, who I've actually shown off to my family yet, at the grand age of 24. But the wait for Evie is worth it, they'll all realise that when I introduce her to them.

As I walked into my childhood room, I saw my brother sat on my bed too. It seemed to be that we were opening them together as his stack of presents were placed next to him.

"Alreet." he greeted me, standing from the bed and embracing me.

"Well aye. Happy Christmas, mate." I responded.

*****

The two of us had opened our presents, leaving a pile of discarded wrapping paper in the corner of my room where the bin wasn't big enough to hold it all. All of the presents I had received were to remain on the bed until Evie came and I could dump them into the car.

Mam walked in not long after we finished opening them, smiling as she watched the two of us converse.

"My boys." she said, pulling us from talking, "Dinner's ready, bring down a CD or something, shut everyone up for a while. Me head's stotting."

"Have a rest then. You've been in the kitchen the whole morning man mam." Liam suggested.

"Don't be so silly." she scoffed, letting the two of us go.

"Nar man, it's Christmas. You deserve a rest." I butted in, hating how my mam likes to be in charge of everything when she knows she gets tired quick.

"Look at yous teaming up on is, never thought the day would come." she chuckled, heading back towards the kitchen/ dining room.

She's not wrong: Liam and I have always had a great relationship, don't get me wrong, but the age gap between us limited the time we got together. Especially after mam and dad's divorce, I rarely ever saw him all too often.

"Let's gan down there and get absolutely wasted." Liam offered.

"I'm not getting too pissed, Evie's coming to pick is up later." I explained, wishing I could get absolutely mortal with my brother.

"You're not staying over?" he questioned, genuinely confused.

"Not this year, I convinced Evie to come tomorrow though."

Then the two of us went downstairs to have our Christmas dinner, which was divine, thanks to my mother who's an absolute diamond.