Foreword: This is something a little bit different, both in content and writing. Firstly, its longer than our normal short stories and secondly my writing partner usually gives me ideas and then we flesh it out and I do a lot of the writing. This time we have each taken it in turns to write and we both think it has delivered a story we can be proud of. We've decided to stop here for now but if you think we should continue to Christmas and beyond please don't hesitate to comment and lets us know this story is worth more than a one shot!
All characters in this story are over the age of 18 and entirely fictitious.
19th December
Emma thought she'd outgrown this ridiculous family ritual. She'd always dreaded this time of year. She had recently turned 24, got home from travelling since was 20 and it seemed preposterous that she was still expected to do the annual trip to her Nan's for Christmas for a week. Like she didn't have enough to do in her own life now. There were office parties she was missing out on, her flatmates were having people round for Christmas, and here she was, stuck again with her grandmother and her cousins. She'd argued vehemently with her parents about it, but they insisted, even if it was just this one last time. The only saving grace was this year Terry was coming too.
When Terry was little, Emma lived in the next street and she used to look after him regularly until she was 16. His mother was the black sheep of the family, the youngest and had gone off the rails. She'd had Terry when she was only 17, she'd been on drugs and in and out of prison. Emma was the only constant in his life that Terry could rely on from when he was six years old until he turned ten. Then his other set of grandparents had adopted him and he moved to a different city. His grandparents were kind, loving people and they wanted to make sure he kept in contact with his mum's family, so Emma had seen him a few times, but the last four years with her being away she hadn't been able to. He was 18 now and although they'd kept in contact via social media, actually seeing him grown up in the flesh was going to be a surprise!
She recalled the last time she'd seen him, it was four years ago at this very house, and he was a typical teenage boy. With her being 20 he'd followed her around like a little lost puppy, their bond still strong from the years of her caring for him but with a slight teenage edge to it. Terry had become obsessed with trying to catch her naked, he'd walk into her room without knocking, he was jealous of her boyfriend she was talking to on her phone and he'd even stolen a pair of her dirty panties from her suitcase. The first time she'd retrieved them from his hiding place, the second time they were seemingly gone for good, or he'd finally found a better hiding place. She knew he doted on her, and felt it was probably more misplaced feelings because of his mum being away, so she was always kind and gentle with him, never making him feel bad about it.
Emma arrived at her Nan's and trawled up the path with her case. She felt a bit silly with such a big case, it's only a week at her Nan's but it is the middle of winter so plenty of clothes are required and the rest is full of presents for everyone. The aunts and uncles and her own parents will arrive on Christmas Eve and she's been sent ahead with all of their presents. She kisses her Nan, and discovers she is the first to arrive. 'Yes!' thinks Emma, as it means she gets the pick of the bedrooms. And she knows which one she'll go for. The nice big one with the sofa bed. She knows she'll probably have to share the room with her parents come Christmas Eve but from now until 24th December she had the space to herself.
Next to arrive are her twin cousins, Charlotte and Carolyn who are almost 21 and still inseparable. Emma wonders if they have grown up at all in the last 4 years. Five minutes spent with them proves no, they are still as annoying as they were at 16.
Then her cousin Greg arrives, who is slightly older than Emma at 25 but always lauds it over Emma as the oldest cousin and drives her completely mad. He can be so condescending and Emma looks forward to never having to share a Christmas with him or the twins ever again. Terry will have to share a room with Greg, the other double room. 'Sucks to be them!' she thinks.
Finally Terry's grandparents drop him off. He's not yet passed his test and their Nan's is a little tricky to get to. She would have offered to give him a lift but as he's coming from the opposite direction it just didn't make sense.
Everyone starts to unpack and settle in. Food parcels sent by their parents were all stowed away in the fridge and the kitchen cupboards and the presents were all laid out under the tree. Emma looked forward to seeing Terry. She'd missed him when he arrived as she was taking a bath. She'd heard this booming voice and it had taken her a moment to realise it was him. She hurriedly finished her bath then went to get changed and join the rest of the family.
Emma goes around the room greeting everyone, leaving Terry until last as at first glance she can't see him in the room. Then she hears him behind her,
"Hi Em, Merry Christmas!" Emma whirls around to find this 6 ft 1 giant standing behind her. 'Oh my goodness!' she thinks. Last time she saw him he was about the same height as her, around 5ft 7. He throws his arms around her and Emma feels how strong his arms are around her waist as he pulls her in for a huge and long overdue hug.
"Missed you Little T," she says to him, invoking the nickname she knew he absolutely detested.
"No, there will be none of that thank you!" he laughs. Her head briefly dipping into the nape of his neck as she laughs, involuntarily taking a deep breath and suddenly Emma realises he smells incredible. She doesn't want him to let go, but in a room full of your relatives she realises it's going to be strange if they stay like this any longer. Terry seems to sense what she's thinking and lets go of her. Emma clears her throat, coming to her senses and suggests it's time they did as tradition dictates and all open a present each.
Emma designates herself as the present distributor and kneels down by the tree. She points out to Charlotte which ones of the presents are hers and asks her which one she would like to open. She did the same for her Nan, Carolyn, Greg and Terry before finally looking to choose one for herself. Emma chooses a small one that she's fairly sure she knows what it is and sits down to open her gift. And of course she's right, it's a scarf, every year her uncle Simon and aunty Fran buy her a scarf. 'Oh well, it's winter, I'll use it' she thinks.
Greg suddenly sneezes and apologises to everyone. Emma looks over and notices his eyes are red and sore. Emma passes him a box of tissues which Greg refuses (of course he would!) but it isn't long before he's sneezing again. He quickly starts to get worse, obviously coming down with a cold, or worse, man flu. Emma rolls her eyes, the only thing worse than her cousin Greg is Greg with a cold. Emma says hopefully,
