Crossing Hearts- A Maidstone Love Story

Chapter 18

Christmas morning arrived at the Harrison household with a cold, crispness in the air and a thick blanket of snow covering the Welsh countryside. The sun had barely begun to peak over the horizon when the twins, Jasper and Casper, sprang out of bed, their faces alight with excitement. It was a Harrison family tradition that the twins would wake everyone up on Christmas Day, and they took this responsibility very seriously.

Jasper nudged his brother as they pulled on their dressing gowns. "Ready to wake up the grandparents?"

Casper grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, you bet. Let's do this."

The twins charged down the hallway, their feet thudding against the wooden floor as they made their way to their grandparents' room. Without hesitation, they burst through the door, their voices loud and boisterous.

"Merry Christmas, Grandma! Merry Christmas, Grandpa!" they shouted in unison, jumping onto the bed.

Eleanor and Richard, though startled, laughed at the exuberant greeting. Eleanor reached out to pull Jasper into a hug, while Richard ruffled Casper's hair.

"Goodness, you two are like a pair of elephants in the morning," Eleanor teased, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Merry Christmas, boys."

Richard chuckled, sitting up and stretching. "Merry Christmas, indeed. You two certainly know how to wake up the whole house."

"That's the plan," Jasper said, grinning. "Now, come on! We've got more people to wake up!"

After ensuring their grandparents were fully awake, the twins bolted out of the room and headed to their parents' door. They didn't bother with subtlety—Casper threw the door open, and they both shouted once again.

"Merry Christmas, Mum! Merry Christmas, Dad!"

Kirsty and Matthew groaned, still half-asleep, but they couldn't help smiling at their sons' enthusiasm. Kirsty sat up, rubbing her eyes, while Matthew reached for his glasses.

"Alright, alright, we're up!" Matthew said, laughing. "Merry Christmas, boys."

Kirsty pulled the twins in for a quick hug. "You two really are impossible to sleep through, you know that?"

"That's the idea," Jasper said, grinning. "Now, it's time to wake up the others."

They continued their mission, next targeting Justin, who groaned dramatically as they barged into his room, and then Luca, who was a bit more receptive, though still not thrilled about the early wake-up call. Finally, they made their way to Gio's room, where he was snuggled up under a pile of blankets, clearly not wanting to leave the warmth of his bed.

"Gio, time to get up!" Jasper said, shaking his shoulder.

Gio pulled the blanket over his head, mumbling something incoherent. "Too early..."

Casper leaned in close, his voice mischievous. "Don't make us get the ice water, Gio. We will."

That did the trick. Gio sat up, rubbing his eyes and glaring at them. "You two are the worst, you know that?"

Jasper laughed, pulling him out of bed. "Come on, it's Christmas! You'll thank us later."

Gio grumbled but followed them downstairs, where the rest of the family was gathering in the kitchen for breakfast. The smell of freshly brewed coffee, sizzling bacon, and toasted bread filled the air, making everyone's stomachs growl in anticipation.

"Morning, everyone!" Kirsty greeted, already at the stove flipping pancakes. "Hope you're all hungry."

As they settled around the table, Gio couldn't resist complaining. "Did you really have to wake us up so early? It's Christmas—can't we sleep in a little?"