Page 102 of A Merry Little Christmas

‘Thank you, thank you.’ Merry kissed her cheek; her biological half-sister’s cheek, she realised with a jolt. ‘You’re the best sister in the world.’

‘Or without you needing to lift a finger, darling.’ Cole edged her forward into the front room, their dining room.

‘And in time for Christmas,’ added Astrid, pouring tea out from a pot into several mugs. ‘Happy anniversary, Liebling, and a happy Christmas too.’

Her sister-and brother-in-law, Hester and Paul, sporting antipodean tans, beamed at her. Freya was already halfway through a chocolate pastry. Harley was setting Christmas music to play on Alexa via his smartphone, while Fred and Will both tended the fire, with tongs and a poker respectively.

‘Oh my goodness,’ Merry exclaimed, dabbing tears from her eyes. ‘You’re all amazing.’

This room had been a cold and empty shell last time she was here. Now logs burned cheerily in the open fireplace and a table laden with pastries and tea and coffee pots formed the centrepiece to the space.

‘G’day, girl,’ said Hester, affecting a terrible accent. ‘Betcha shocked to see us?’

‘I am.’ Merry ambled hazily towards them and kissed their cheeks. ‘I’m shocked about everything right now.’

‘Christmas in Oz just wasn’t Christmas,’ said Paul.

‘Yeah, and who’d want to be surfing on Bondi Beach, when they could be here loading and unloading boxes in knee-deep snow, eh?’ Cole slapped his brother-in-law on the back.

‘We wanted to be here, with family,’ said Hester softly. ‘We missed you all.’

‘Can we all have a sit-down now?’ Fred said, pretending to mop his brow. ‘It’s been non-stop since yesterday morning.’

‘I’ve done the Wi-Fi router and set up Alexa in all the rooms,’ said Harley.

‘I’ve made the bed myself in my room,’ Freya chimed in.

‘Thank you,’ Merry’s stomach tightened again, and she braced herself for another contraction. ‘Excuse me a second. I’m a bit overcome.’

She hurried to the door, trying to get out of sight before the pain took hold, but Cole had decided to follow her.

‘Happy?’ he said, catching hold of her hand. ‘I wanted to make our first anniversary extra special.’

‘Thank you, darling.’ Merry blinked at him, jaw clenched. ‘It was always going to be special, but to be in our house for Christmas … it’s more than I could have dreamed of.’

‘Ready for one more surprise?’ he asked, looking very pleased with himself.

‘Absolutely,’ she managed to squeak out.

‘Then follow me upstairs, darling.’ He waggled an eyebrow and held her hand up the stairs.

Once they were on the first floor, she expected him to open their bedroom door, but instead he led her along the landing and pushed open the door to the nursery.

‘Oh, Cole.’ Merry pressed a hand to her heart.

This was the room she had dreamed of for her baby. The last time she had seen the cot, it has still been in its flat-packed box. Now it was ready for their baby: with soft pastel sheets and blankets patterned with baby animals, and over it a mobile hung with rockets, planets and stars which sparkled when the light caught them. At the windows hung the roman blinds she had chosen, a bookcase displayed the set of Mr Men and Little Miss books she’d found at auction and there was a changing station, wardrobe and a set of drawers that she’d seen online but only mentioned in passing to Cole.

‘Happy?’ he murmured, standing behind her and encircling her in his arms.

‘Darling, I couldn’t be happier.’ She turned to kiss him. ‘This room is everything I imagined and more. I love you.’

‘I love you too. I promised I’d have you in our new home before the baby came,’ he grinned. ‘And for a while I didn’t think I’d make it.’

‘Home,’ she breathed. ‘We’re finally home. Did you hear that, baby? Mummy and Daddy are ready for you.’

He laughed. ‘Technically, we are, but I’d rather—’

‘Oof.’ She gave him a crooked smile as another contraction hit. They were getting worse. This one felt as if she was being strapped into a steel corset. She was going to need pain relief imminently. ‘Four minutes.’