Across the Pond

Chapter 59

It is so crazy to be in charge of my own classroom.  It took me a couple of weeks to get the hang of it, but I loved every second of it.  Harry helped me put up my posters before school started.  My room is on the opposite side of the school from where I worked last year, so I run into Jake a lot more.  At first it was awkward, but now we're okay; he's really a good guy.

It's now the third Thursday in November and here in England, it's just another Thursday, but back in America, it's Thanksgiving.  There is no break from school, so as soon as I get home from work, I put the turkey in the oven.  Harry comes home a little earlier than usual and we put together some of the last stuff like salad and the pie.  Harry and I set the table together and even make a game out of it as we wait for the food to finish cooking and for Harry's parents and sister to come over.

I start the Skype call to my family on the iPad and Harry gets the wine out of the cellar.  Ryan picks up at first, "Hey, stranger!" he greets. 

"Hey, freak.  How are ya?"

"Hungry."  We both laugh.  "Here, lemme get mom." Ryan starts walking with the camera.  "Mom, Dad, Kira, Tori's here!" he calls.  Feet come rushing through the house.

"Hi, sweetie!" mom chirps.

"Hey guys!" I wave and curl my feet under me on the chair.

"How's your food coming?" she asks. 

"It's cooking.  It has about another hour."

"I put it together all by myself" Harry interjects as he crosses the screen behind me. 

"Totally did not!  And what are you wearing?" I burst out laughing and turn around in the chair.

"My working apron, 'cos I been working all evening" eh gets closer to the camera to show off his apron.

"That's a home-base apron" I laugh and pull the string on the back.  Harry taps me on the shoulder for me to get up so he can sit down, then I sit back on his lap.

"Look, we got the table all set nice" I turn the camera to show the table.

"I set it all by myself" Harry interjects again.

"Yep, just like the turkey.  You're a pro" I laugh.  Harry pokes my sides and I squeal involuntarily.  I love the holidays because everyone is always so cheery and giggly and all of the stresses and worries of life are gone.  And that is exactly what is happening right now.  My special needs children are a handful, so it's nice to have a break with my family, even if for just one night.

"Where's Kira?" I ask.

"She's outside with some of the cousins." mom explains.  We continue the conversation casually about work and life and stuff for a while.  I tell her about how Harry and I watch Alaina all the time so Zayn and Perrie can go out.  We've even started to collect a room of toys just for her.  Harry calls it rent-a-baby.

The rest of the time for turkey to cook passes in no time and Harry's parents and sister arrive.  I set the iPad down to get he door and Harry gets the turkey and potatoes out of the oven.  "Hi, Tori" Anne greets happily.

"Hello!  I'm glad you guys could come!" I chirp and hug them.

"I only came for the food" Robin jokes.

I lead them into the dining room and grab the iPad again.  "Alright, here they are." I begin to introduce.  Mom jumps into the center of the screen again.  "This is Harry's mom, Anne, step dad, Robin, and sister, Gemma.  Guys, this is my mom, Caroline."

"Oh my gosh, it's so nice to finally meet you!  I've heard so much about you guys.  Your daughter is so lovely.  I just love having her around" Anne chimes in her darling tone. 

"Thank you.  You son is a very nice young man as well.  He takes care of Tori well."  mom replies.  I hand the iPad to Anne during their mom-bonding moment and join Harry in the kitchen. 

"It's show time" I smile at Harry.

"It's dinner" he nods casually.

"It's like a conjoined family dinner from across the pond." I remind.

"Relax, babe." he pecks my lips and grabs the carved turkey from the counter and heads into the dining room.  I grab the gravey and follow him.

When I walk back into the room, the guests have taken a seat at the table and Anne is still talking, but I hear a little voice chiming in the back ground, "Woah, you're Harry's mom!  You're beautiful!  Just like Harry" Anne laughs softly, but genuinely.

"Why thank you.  You're pretty beautiful yourself" I poke my head over Anne's shoulder to confirm my suspicion of the who the voice belongs to.  I'm right. 

"Sissy!" she squeals and begins to cry.

"Hi princess!  No, don't cry, sweetie!  I miss you" Anne hands the iPad back to me, sensing our moment and I take it immediately and walk around the table to sit down. 

"I miss you so much" she cries. 

"Don't cry or I have to hang up.  Come on, girl, we've been through this." I try to joke with her, but seriously I will start to cry if I continue to see her cry.  This is the first real holiday I've had away from my family and it's a hard one. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry" she fans her face.

A few of my other family members join the view of the camera and I repeat the introductions.  Then I set the iPad down next to me and show as much of the group as possible.  Kira does the same and we start serving the food.  This is so funny how we're all eating at the same time, but one is afternoon and the other is night.  It was Harry's idea to do the Skype call; I don't know why I didn't think of it first. 

Dinner isn't too bad if I might say so myself.  When we are finished, Harry and I clear the table, but just pike everything into the kitchen for now.  Kira and I take over the camera and just talk and play games together for a while.  Harry pops in and out of my conversation, and one with his family.  I try to pay attention to Anne, Robin, and Gemma too, but I really miss my family. 

It soon gets pretty later on our end and we have to say good bye.  I can't bear to hand up on her, but she starts crying again, so I have to click off first before I start crying too.  After we say good bye to Harry's family, I clean up in the kitchen, then head upstairs to get ready for bed.  I still have to work tomorrow, but I'll be exhausted. 

"Did you have a good time?" Harry strokes my hair when we're lying in bed.

"Yes.  Thank you.  You are the absolute best and I love you." I curl my hands under my cheek.

"Love you more" he pulls me closer to him and kisses me.  I pull the blankets over our heads to cover us as I intertwine our legs together and hold him close in the kiss.