‘I can’t I’m afraid. Dad has me meeting with my new boss, but the appointment is at eleven-thirty so plenty of time to do that and come back for the afternoon showing.’
‘Jacob will be devastated if you don’t make it, especially if you go to Ruby’s session in the morning.’
‘Dylan, I’ll try my best. But I also want to work. I want to provide. And attending the meetings and appointments I’m requested at is all part of it.’
Dylan bit down on his lip, afraid he’d say something he’d regret. Yes, she had to be available in a job, especially a new job, but bosses usually understood family commitments, particularly around this time of year.
‘Daddy, can I put the tree lights on?’ Ruby ran excitedly to the door, hugging Cedric. She’d barely put him down since he was ‘born’, as she put it.
‘I’ll do it,’ he said.
‘I’ll go.’ Prue blew Ruby a kiss and said goodbye to her and Cedric, then called out a goodbye to Jacob. He ran out to hug his mom and Dylan waved goodbye.
Inside the house, Dylan turned the tree lights on before Ruby had a chance to crawl beneath and do it herself. He hugged his daughter to him and Jacob didn’t miss a chance for a cuddle with Daddy. He kissed the top of their heads in turn and thought about his mom, her joy of the season. Christmas was always a big occasion in their house and she loved having the kids around her. They’d go to the nativity at the church, watching other kids until Ruby and Jacob were old enough to take part, and for lunch they’d all pile back home and Connie would make her famous cheese and cider soup, which they’d eat with chunks of crusty bread.
When the phone rang, Dylan was glad to be dragged away from his thoughts and happy to chat with Robert.
‘Who was it?’ the ever-inquisitive Ruby asked when he’d finished.
Dylan clapped his hands together. ‘That was my friend Robert. He and his wife have invited us to their house. The whole street is having a party!’ He made the announcement in the true spirit of the occasion.
‘A party?’ Jacob’s eyes widened.
‘Every house on the street is decorated in lights, and tonight they’re putting on food. This is Christmas on a huge scale.’ Dylan stretched both hands up to the ceiling and drew a circle shape to demonstrate how impressive this would be. ‘Are you ready, kids?’
‘Ready!’ they chorused.
6 Abbotswell Drive, Stamford, Connecticut
Snugin their winter coats and making the short journey to Robert’s home, Dylan chuckled to himself. He couldn’t quite believe after losing touch with his friend after college, they’d ended up living so close to one another.
‘Whoa, look at these!’ Dylan stopped at the end of the road and it was indeed the spectacle Robert had claimed it would be. People were milling about, thermos mugs in hand, holding onto kids’ gloved hands, marvelling at the lights. There was everything from three different sized snowmen blowing about in the breeze on one front lawn, hundreds of twinkle lights lighting up every available space on a house, to lit-up Santa Clauses and an entire home decorated like a gingerbread house.
‘Hey kids!’ Robert came towards them as they approached his driveway.
‘I see you didn’t shy away from the festivities.’ Dylan nodded towards Violet and Robert’s home, white twinkle lights lining the pathway and not stopping until the top of the railings on either side of the steps leading up to the front door. Two illuminated, red and white striped candy canes framed the door itself and a stocking, with presents bursting from the top and all lit up in festive colours, sat with a jolly Santa Claus beside the plant pot to one side.
‘I told you we like to get into the festivities in this street.’ Robert clapped his hands together. ‘Kids, are you hungry?’
Eyes wide, they announced they were and Robert pointed to a stall at the end of the road that was serving hot dogs and burgers.
Dylan patted his friend on the shoulder. ‘It really is a big party. Thanks, mate. I hadn’t thought about dinner and I had visions of tag team meltdowns as I dragged them into town for a burger.’
‘Not a problem. Violet and the kids will be out here soon. It takes forever to dress the little ones in warm clothes and shoes, not to mention the two changes of diaper in the process.’
‘Ah yes, I remember the diaper days well.’ He had an involuntary thought of Cleo when he thought about baby days, but shook it off as quickly as it had come.
‘How’s the decorating going at your place?’ Robert asked as they caught up with the kids.
‘Great. The tree is done, I’ve strung up some lights around the front of the house, and Ruby insisted on having a mini Christmas tree in her bedroom this year.’
‘That’ll smell good when she wakes up each morning.’
‘It’s artificial and very pink.’
Robert chuckled. ‘Showing her feminine side, eh?’
Dylan paid the vendor – another neighbour – for the food the kids had already ordered and were consuming as though they hadn’t eaten in weeks, and ordered himself a hot dog with the works. ‘Jeez, these are good. I can’t believe you declined.’ Dylan finished the last mouthful covered in mustard and onions.
