Let tomorrow come

Chapter 14.

When I go outside, I feel like a princess. Snow falls in large flakes. I spin around with the snowflakes, roll up a small ball and throw it into the pond. It melts. Tomorrow is Christmas, it is so wonderful! And we will have a small feast. The most fun will be in the New Year. We will be joined by Mr and Mrs Wilson and Peter, we have decided to celebrate together. In addition, we will give each other gifts. And the day before yesterday grandma Agnia arrived. I didn't have time to get to know her closely, because my grandmother immediately dragged her to her place, and they constantly spent time together. I only see them during lunch and dinner. They seem to be good friends. Grandmother Agnia is a big fashionista, unlike my grandmother, but this does not prevent them from finding a common language. And they both like chess and crosswords. This is all I managed to understand in these two days.

***

This is New year's night. We have two tables in our living room. Our parents and we are separate. I would love to sit with them, but the grandmothers are categorical on this issue. They have a tradition of making adult and children's tables. Mom dressed me in a soft purple dress. Toward the bottom, the satin flounces turned out to be a little fluffy, so it was not comfortable for me. But my straight hair turned into beautiful curls. Peter was in a suit and what seemed to me to be new fashionable glasses. They clearly suited him. John was also dressed in a suit. Although he resisted, his mother persuaded him to wear it anyway, citing the fact that Amber and I would also be dressed up. And Amber was wearing a pink tight knee-length dress and elbow-length gloves. Mabel made a high bun out of her curls, although it looked dubious because unruly hair was constantly trying to get out of it.

When we arrived, there was a lot of fruit and various juices, cookies and pudding on the tables. But most importantly, there were my favorite poultry pies. And then Marco brought us a stuffed turkey. Mmm, what a delicious treat it was. Meanwhile, grandmother and the others periodically made some toasts, joked, and discussed something. We finished eating. John and Amber immediately ran off to play, but Peter and I stayed because we knew that they would soon start giving gifts, and we wanted to be the first to receive them. I drew a portrait of my dad and mom. I can draw quite well, so they had to like it. And that's what happened in the end. And my mom and dad gave me an art set and an Imaginarium. So nice of them. They gave John a construction set. Peter received new books, some very old editions. I don't quite understand the difference between new and old. But if he likes it, I'm sincerely happy for him. Mom gave dad new cufflinks, and he gave her some handmade beads. It looked beautiful on her neck. Afterwards we parted ways, agreeing to meet again the next day.

However, something unpleasant happened at night. It always seemed to me that mom and dad loved each other very much, they were always together, and took care of us and each other so touchingly. When I went to bed, I heard someone on the stairs talking quietly. Out of curiosity, I decided to lean against the door and listen, although this is not in my rules. But my inner voice told me that today is possible. One of the speakers was dad, but the other one was not mom...

"I know, I'm sorry that it all turned out this way."

"Who and what did you want to prove, Jack?"

"I didn't prove it, you were too cold towards me, and I tried to forget about my feelings. I spent years on this. I met Jane and now we have wonderful children. So why are you and I standing here talking now?"

"Because you're a fool! I just wanted to be a little naughty, but I would have given up. You ruined your life and mine. But my husband died a couple of years ago. Therefore, I am not worried, but I still have a daughter, but I will raise her. And she will be as beautiful as I am, with good manners and always fashionably dressed. Compare what your wife and I are wearing. Provincial ugliness! Don't make me laugh, I know that you still love me, and I would not refuse you even now, although you are not free."

"Don't say anything bad about Jane, you don't even know her. She is a wonderful woman. It's all your own fault, your arrogance and contempt for others has no boundaries! I do not want to talk to you. You've already been visiting my mother for too long. Go back soon. Good night."

I decided that I could sleep, but then I heard my mother's voice:

"So what are you doing here? I knew it. You and I have been together for so many years. Did you decide to give a damn about everything now? You two are standing here, hugging each other, and even kissing, aren't you ashamed?"

I opened the door slightly.

"I don't even want to stand next to you!" - she continued and ran away, slamming the door.

"Wait, dear, let me explain everything!"

Jack wanted to rush after her, but Mabel held his hand.

"Do not dare!" he shouted and pulled his hand out of Mabel's. She swayed, and he urgently had to hug her so that she wouldn't start falling down the stairs.

Everyone else came running at the noise. Nanny Sophie took Amber and John back to bed. Meanwhile, the grandmothers tried to find out what happened. Mabel already had a ready version of what happened. She said that Jack wanted to give her a gift because they were childhood friends. The grandmothers took her side.

In the morning, my mother packed her clothes and left, although on my desk I found a piece of paper with my mother's phone number. She also wrote that she loved me very much, apologized. She said that she had urgent matters, and therefore she had to leave, but I could always call her if I wanted. Unfortunately, I understood what was going on. She was just trying to protect me from this information. Who knew that I became an unobtrusive witness to what happened.