Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 16

The chilly December air had a festive bite to it as Jasper and Casper woke up the day before Christmas Eve. The Harrison household was buzzing with energy, but something felt different. Jasper noticed it right away as he came down the stairs, still in his pyjamas, his hair tousled from sleep. His parents were in the kitchen, whispering excitedly, casting sly smiles at each other whenever one of the boys walked by.

"What's going on?" Jasper asked, eyeing his parents suspiciously.

Kirsty, his mom, glanced at Matthew, her husband, who nodded with a grin. "We've got a surprise for you boys," she said, her eyes twinkling.

Casper, who had just entered the kitchen, looked up from his phone. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"

Matthew chuckled, leaning against the counter. "We're taking a trip to Wales to see your grandparents. We're leaving today."

Jasper and Casper exchanged surprised looks. It had been a while since they'd seen their grandparents, and Wales was always a fun place to visit. But this time, there was an extra layer of excitement, a feeling that there was more to this surprise than just a visit to the grandparents.

"That's awesome!" Jasper said, grinning. "When are we leaving?"

"In a few hours," Kirsty replied. "But that's not the only surprise. There's more."

"More?" Casper echoed, his curiosity piqued.

Before Kirsty could answer, there was a knock on the front door. The sound echoed through the house, cutting through the holiday music that played softly in the background.

"I'll get it," Jasper offered, already moving toward the door. He pulled it open and was met with a sight that left him momentarily speechless.

Standing on the front steps, bundled up in winter coats and scarves, were Alessia and her family. Alessia stood in the centre, her cheeks flushed from the cold, a wide smile spreading across her face as she saw Jasper's expression.

"Surprise!" Alessia said, her voice warm and cheerful.

"Wait—what?" Jasper stammered, glancing back at his parents, who had followed him to the door. "You're coming with us?"

Kirsty nodded, beaming. "That's right. We thought it would be a nice idea for both our families to spend Christmas together. So we invited the Russo family to join us in Wales."

Alessia's dad, Mario, stepped forward, clapping Jasper on the shoulder. "Hope you don't mind us tagging along, Jasper," he said with a wink.

"Mind? This is awesome!" Jasper exclaimed, feeling a rush of excitement. He turned to Alessia, who was trying to hide a giggle. "You knew about this?"

She nodded, still grinning. "My parents told me yesterday. I've been dying to tell you, but I had to keep it a secret."

Jasper pulled her into a quick hug. "This is gonna be the best Christmas ever."

"Alright, boys," Matthew said, clapping his hands together. "Let's not waste any time. We've got a long drive ahead of us, so let's finish packing."

The Harrison household erupted into a flurry of activity as everyone hurried to make sure they had everything they needed for the trip. Jasper dashed to his bedroom to get his bag and Casper rushed upstairs to grab his bags, while their parents coordinated with the Russos to ensure that everything was packed into the minibus Matthew had rented for the journey.

Downstairs, in the hallway, Alessia and her family were chatting with Kirsty and Matthew, the atmosphere already filled with the warmth of shared anticipation.