Jess Corbin’s

Seasonal Christmas story

‘Once upon a Christmas’

“I, I remember. Not much else after that.” Terry stepped back, turning to leave.

“Look, I will leave you two to talk. Your luggage is in the hallway, I will bring it up and leave it in the corridor for you. Mia has explained a lot to me. I want you to feel safe, secure, at ease. I promise you I am NO threat to you or your daughter.”

He headed down to the hallway. Taking hold of one of the cases, he was muttering to himself. The weight of it! It was similar to Nina's case when she went on holiday. You kind of thought along the lines of using a metal detector on it. Taking the kitchen sink with her?!!

It took two hands to drag it to the bottom of the stairs. Stopping to catch his breath. 'Hell you have got to get fitter!' He left that case and went to find a lighter one. Gripping that, a sigh of relief as he headed up the stairs with it.

“Thomas Lamb, look at him struggling. you could have taken the bags up!“ “Is that part of this redemption thing then woman?“ “Well no, but.” “Good ! He can carry them up himself."

Finally after dragging it up the seeming never ending flight of stairs, swearing to himself that he couldn’t remember there being that many steps, he left it outside the bedroom, Fetching the other cases until there was only one left. A trip to the restroom and he would drag that last one up to them.

"Well there is only the one left, Did you see him with that earlier. Anyone would think it was laden with lead in it the way he was carrying on, well not so much the carrying!“

“Well at least they’re awake!” “More trampling around the place. Disturbing my peace and quiet.“ "Get on with you, you’re the least to complain, when it comes to company, if I recall?”

When Terry had returned, to pick up the ‘heaviest’ case, he was stunned to find it was not there! Upstairs, he was to discover the case with the others. Mia appeared, glanced at the case, mutters thank you to him and with her mother they drag the case into the room.

He's stood there thinking. If it was not those two who had fetched the case? Uhh? Ghosts? “Well thank you ghosts, whoever you are.” “See I told you Thomas Lamb he would be grateful.“

“As if I have time to waste running up and down those stairs. If you could kindly let me know next time that you feel inclined to help with the luggage. Try being a little more considerate.“

Minutes later he was headed into the kitchen, laughing. “Why the ungrateful ! I’ve a good mind to ..“ The cupboard door behind his head flipped open as Terry reached down, to pick a coin off the floor that he had dropped there the day before.
The bottom of the door ruffled his hair. If he had not moved, it would have hit him smack across the back of the head!

“Thomas Lamb, you stop that. NOW!“ Terry had stood up, to see the door, open?
He shook his head and closed it, before taking the kettle, filling it and flicking the power switch.

No doubt by the time those two got to the kitchen a brew would be much
appreciated! He was busy muttering to himself. “I really have got to stop watching those. ‘Got to be Haunted’ television progs!“

Mia came out of the bathroom with her mother. About twenty minutes later, they were sat in the kitchen. "Tea?" Her mother smiled. "I would murder, for a cup of tea!“

“Here what did she say?” “It’s an expression, they use you daft oaf!“ “Oh, better be, we can do without murderers here. Person’s hereabouts excepted.”

“Oh so you’ve accepted that you were a murderer, took you long enough.“ “Not something you would want to talk about now is it?“ “Well I suppose you confessing your sin was good, even if it's left you having to haunt, for your sins until the good Lord thinks you've seen error of your ways.”

Mia flipped the tab on her can of Coca cola. Her mother talking to Terry. “I can’t thank you enough. Still a little shocked but I could have slept and slept. Can't believe how exhausted I was.“ She placed her cup onto the kitchen table, sat back and looked at Mia, glancing back at Terry.

“I am so, so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, Sandy, Sandy Woods. My daughter you’ve already met, Mia, the love of my life.“ She went quiet. Terry thought it unwise, to ask any questions about what had happened in her life, so changed the subject. Telling them, what he was doing there.

“So you would have been on your own for Christmas?” Mia, was pretty matter of fact about her answers “Fraid so. Not something I liked the idea of I can tell you. The first one, I can remember ever being that way.”

Showing them pictures of Nina and the rest of the family. "I saw her in my room." Mia stopped. "The room I was in last night. Is it Nina's room?" Terry nodded. Mia glanced at her mother then at Terry. "Will she be upset, about me being there?" Terry smiled.

"She's in Canada skiing for Christmas with my sister and their family." Mia was told off for going over to the slow cooker, sniffing? Making comments. "We had one of those, it got broken." Actually the psycho had smashed it against the wall. Her voice died away as she ran back to her mother to hug her.

"Where are my manners!“ He stood up moved over towards the slow cooker. "I think you must be hungry. I have some Ciabatta rolls and hot soup in the slow cooker, which by now, should be fully cooked. “Rolls and soup.” Mia smiled. “I’ve other things of course but..” “ Would be perfect!“ The soup, now being ladled into bowls, smelt delicious!

He could pride himself on being a good cook! As a single parent, he had needed
to be, though Nina, could also, rustle up a decent spread, when she had the urge to!

The rolls had taken a few minutes to warm through, in the combination oven.
He went to take the bowls over to them, as she stepped closer to him.

“Here let me take those.“ Crazy? How a moment in time can fuse two beings so that they become transfixed? Neither of them moved. Eyes on eyes and how beautiful yours are, how soft and inviting those lips, the warmth of you next to me and that distinct closeness that makes you feel you want to..

Day 11 please click here

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