Trying Not To Love You

Part Seventy

Chapter Seventy

By seven am on Christmas morning Ethan was ecstatic, he’d had all his dreams come true and deposited in a stocking at the end of his bed. Martha still shared a bedroom with her son, which wasn’t ideal, but it did mean that she could watch him unwrap his gifts before six am without disturbing the rest of the house. Stephanie was staying for the holiday, so she was in Sonny’s room; he was back in the coach house.

Ethan could no longer be contained in a single room, so they pulled on slippers and robes and headed downstairs. There was a huge pile, or rather several huge piles of gifts under the tree, some from Santa for Ethan, but also gifts from all the adults for him and each other.

                “Can I open them now?” He asked excitedly as they came downstairs.

                “Let me get a coffee, then you can open that pile there.” There were some big parcels in front of the tree, “the ones right under the tree we’ll open when the others get up.”

He was hopping from one foot to the other when she finally returned with coffee and her camera. He had half a dozen ‘big’ gifts and he’d revealed a couple of games and toys when the door opened and Sonny looked in.

Martha gave a smile and watched as Sonny came across to sit beside her.

With an extra person to show off to, Ethan proceeded to show every gift to Sonny who was suitably impressed. Martha grinned, Sonny knew exactly how to deal with Ethan, even though he looked like he’d barely slept - he’d been at the pub until after she’d gone to bed the previous night, he was still up early. Partly to witness Ethan’s excitement, but partly because for him this was the first proper Christmas, and she had a feeling he wanted to absorb as much of it as he could.

The last gift that Ethan opened was a remote control car, and within moments Sonny was on his knees on the floor beside him helping him to work it. Martha laughed then made for the kitchen, starting the turkey cooking, and breakfast - the rest of her day was hectically planned.

Within an hour Sonny and Ethan were dressed and trying out the remote control car outside in the yard. Stephanie and her father had both got up, and Martha was trying to supply breakfast and hot drinks whilst making sure the turkey and dinner were cooking as she expected.

She’d started to lay the kitchen table for the feast when the door opened and Lucy stood there, “is no one helping you darling?”

Martha shrugged, “seems that I do such a good job that people believe I’m part of the furniture!”

Lucy grinned and pulled up her sleeves, “well I’m here to help.”

At that moment they were both called into the lounge, as Ethan was in charge of doling out the gifts that still remained under the tree. There were winter hats, gloves, CD’s and books, some more appropriate than others, all handed out by the still ecstatic Ethan. After her father insisted that everyone had a glass of champagne and toasted Christmas, Martha retreated to the kitchen.

                “Can I help?”

She looked up to see Sonny leaning against the door frame. Giving a shrug she refilled her champagne glass, “just need to finish laying the table.”

                “I’ve had a lot of practice at that,” he offered with a smile, referencing his time at the restaurant. And almost immediately they fell into their comfortable working way. Within moments the table cloth was crease free, the crockery and cutlery set for every place, and the sparkling wine glasses catching the light that shone through the window.