Haunted

December 25th

Christmas Day was upon us once again. I hadn't broken up with James, I just couldn't find the way to do it, and then I decided one last chance. If he goes wrong today there will be the possibility of a breakup, no matter of the date.

9:00am
I knew it was early but when I saw the time I realised that this was possibly the latest I had ever woken up on Christmas Day even with a two year old. 

"Mama!" Came the screaming.

"Shannon!!!" I cried.
She fell down on top of me and planted a wet kiss on my face.
"Lovely." I said as I began to tickle her.
She giggled and then the door burst open.
"Come on you two up now!" It was Dad, who was giving out his usual matching orders on this special day of ours.
I swung my legs out of the bed and onto the floor. I outstretched my arms to Shannon and she jumped into them.

I adjusted her so that she was sitting comfortably on my hip.
"Come on then." I said, opening the bedroom door with my spare hand and heading downstairs.
"Morning!" Tina called as she bustled in and out of the kitchen with various breakfast things.
Shannon began to wriggle in my arms and I put her down. Almost immediately she ran as fast as she could over to Lily and the pile of presents surrounding her.

I walked into the kitchen. Tina stood over the sink looking out of the window.
"Tina? Are you alright?" I asked.
"What?" She said, obviously startled.
"Are you okay?" I said, frowning.
"Oh. Yes I'm fine. Just a little tired." She said.
I nodded understandingly.
"Well I'm here if you need any help."
Tina smiled at me, and walked out of the kitchen with another load of food in her hands.
I was going to focus on the people around me like Emma and Matt had suggested. That included Tina, and the state I had just caught her in made me worried.

2:00pm
It had been a busy morning. We had opened the majority of the presents already. The kids were hyper off sugar, and the adults were slowly getting tipsier by the minute. Not me, I couldn't do that to everyone around me I was embarrassing when I was drunk and Tina's behaviour was still unsettling me.

We were now sat around the table eating our dinner. I had lent a hand to Tina despite everyone else's protests because I was the fun one. Emma had also helped and the three of us had got on well, which meant no burnt food for once. 

As everyone began to tuck into their meals, there was a knock on the front door. Dad immediately put down his cutlery but he looked suspicious.

"I didn't realise we were expecting anyone else." I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe because you weren't informed." Dad remarked.
"So I'm getting it, am I?"

"I think that would be best." Dad smiled.

I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily. I put down my cutlery, pushed back my chair and headed into the hallway. I pulled open the door to see the man whose arrival I had been dreading.

Jack.

"Jack, how funny to see you here."

"Merry Christmas babe." Jack said, leaning in to kiss my cheek.
I pulled away. "Don't!"

"Lola! What was that for?"

"We're not together, don't act like we are. Don't act as if I still like you."

I stormed back off into the dining room and sat back down. Once seated I heard the front door slam shut, and noticed Dad's disappointed expression. Unlike him I hoped that Jack had left. Unfortunately the dining room door opened seconds later and Jack appeared in the archway. No one had noticed him and as he cast a shadow over the sunlight that was shining through the window everyone looked up at the sudden loss of light.