16/12/2020: This is a refreshed version of the story I originally uploaded a year ago.
Comments and feedback are appreciated.
Enjoy.
*
'Now remember,' Julie said as the car neared the airport, 'this is your Aunt Holly's first Christmas since her separation from Uncle Jim. She's taking it very hard, so be especially nice to her and Olivia, okay?'
'Don't see why,' said Liz without looking up from her phone. 'I'd be happy to get shot of my husband if he'd had an affair with his PA.'
'They were married for seventeen years, that's longer than your father and me. She loved him and he betrayed her, of course she's going to be upset.'
'I just hope she's not going to be crying about it all Christmas.'
Julie rolled her eyes, attributing her daughter's lack of empathy to a self-absorbed teenage phase she would hopefully grow out of.
'You're so anti-social, you know,' Tom said to his sister. 'Don't they teach people skills at school these days?'
'Leave me alone, dickhead.'
'Thus proving my point.'
'Enough,' ordered Julie. 'I don't want you two bickering all the way home. Liz: phone away.'
She tossed it into the door compartment with a disgruntled sigh.
Julie turned into the airport and parked outside arrivals. Holly and Oliva had flown in from Edinburgh, where they had moved eight years ago for Jim's new job. As well as more responsibilities and a bigger pay packet, it had come with another doe-eyed twenty-something perk that—sadly for his family—he had been unable to resist.
'There they are,' Julie said, pointing to her sister and niece beside a pair of suitcases. 'Tom, help them get their luggage in the boot.'
'Aye aye, captain,' he said, getting out of the car.
Holly extended her arms as he approached. 'You're not too old to give your aunt a hug, are you?'
'Of course not, Aunt Holly. How are you holding up?'
'Better for seeing you.' She gave him a squeeze. 'My, you've filled out. You were a rake last time I saw you.'
'Uni football. Don't tell mum, but I spend more time in the gym than studying,' he joked.
'Well, you look very handsome.'
Tom smiled, then turned his attention to his cousin. 'Alright, Liv?'
'Yeah, thanks. You?'
'Good, I'm looking forward to catching up.'
He gave her a hug—although she was only a year older than Liz, she lacked his sister's surly disposition—then loaded their luggage while Holly and Olivia squeezed into the car.
*
'Bill, we're back,' Julie called out.
'Coming.' He paused the game and made his way to the hall. 'Lovely to see you,' he said, giving Holly a cheek to cheek kiss and Olivia a smile. 'How was the flight?'
'Surprisingly painless,' Holly said. 'An improvement on last year.'
Bill chuckled. 'I remember. A two-hour delay and lost luggage.'
'Nightmare.'
'Right, I'll take your cases up. Guest room for you, Holly. Liv, you're in with Liz again if that's okay.'
'Sure, Uncle Bill.'
*
Tom sank down into the sofa. 'How are United doing?'
'They're shambolic,' Bill huffed. 'To go from beating City to losing to this lot at home. We've got no clue how to play against the lesser teams.'
'Been like that since the end of last season.'
'I know. Shocking. By the way, have you bought your mother and sister a present yet? I don't want you leaving it until the last minute like last year.'
'Don't worry, lesson learnt. I'm sorted for everyone except Aunt Holly. I'm going to go into town later and get her a bottle of that wine she likes.'
'Good idea.
Ohhhhh!
' Bill exclaimed as United put an easy chance wide.
After an embarrassing 2-0 defeat, Tom decided it was as good a time as any to go to town. He went to the kitchen to grab the car keys, but paused outside the door at what sounded like a heartfelt conversation.
'I just still can't believe he did it,' Holly said between sobs, 'I mean, twenty-two.
Twenty-two, for God's sake.
Only five years older than Olivia.'
'Oh, Holly... I had no idea she was that young. Why didn't you tell me before?'
'I guess I'm trying to be strong for Olivia's sake. Despite what he's done to me, he's still a great dad, and I want her to have a good relationship with him. But when I saw the pictures of her on his phone... She's gorgeous, Jules.'
Tom's heart went out to Holly as he heard fresh tears. He thought about announcing himself before going in for the keys, but something compelled him to keep listening.
'So are you,' Julie reassured.
'Pfft. I'm forty-four with all the lumps and bumps to show for it. I don't think that's most people's idea of gorgeous.'
'Hol...'
'I know I'm no supermodel—I never have been. But am I
so
undesirable that he had to look elsewhere? Have I deteriorated that much?'