Chapter 19 Rayna #2
Koby follows her and embraces me, whispering, “Everyone knows, but you do whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“Okay,” I dumbly reply.
“Do you want to say anything?” He gestures to the room.
“You know what. Everyone knows. So who cares?” I wrap my arms around his neck and draw him down for a kiss. Cheers and then ewws come from our audience, and we break away from each other. Giggling with beaming smiles on our faces.
The level of calm and peace I feel right now is astonishing. Koby wraps an arm around my shoulders, and we sit on the lounge together. Teddy brings a coffee for myself and Jill, who comes and sits on the other side of me.
“Okay, the mums are here. They have their coffee. Gift time!” Marla shouts.
Marla takes on the job of handing out everyone’s gifts. She hands me a small square box. “To Rayna, Merry Xmas. From Koby” scrawled on a gift card.
Looking at Koby, I’m surprised. We didn’t talk about gifts, and I’m curious about what he would give me.
I unwrap the white and gold Christmas paper to hold a leather jewellery box.
Working against the tight hinge, I pry open the clamshell box to reveal an elegant silver locket necklace with simple lines creating entwined patterns on the front.
It’s beautiful. I open the locket, expecting nothing, however am tearing up at a photo of Louie on one side and one of Wesley on the other.
“I hope you don’t mind?” He asks, worry all over his face.
“No! It’s perfect. Thank you!” Pressing my lips against his. “Now I feel silly for mine.”
Marla hands Koby a larger rectangle box.
He looks at my quizzical. “How did you get something for me? You’ve been nursing that bruised hip.”
“Online shopping, Rookie!”
“Of course.” He chuffs and only needs to tear the front to see what it is. He smiles with a small chuckle and continues to unwrap more of my vibrant green and red paper. Aria, looking over his shoulder, gasps.
“Oh, my gosh, Dad! I didn’t even know you had all this stuff still.” He lifts it up for her to look with him. It’s a shadow box, and I put all the special items from the box he collected from his house in there.
“To be honest, you did not notice that the box was gone for almost a week. Very bad pirate,” I tease.
He lets Aria hold it to continue to look through the sentimental items, and Koby wraps his arms tightly around me. “Thank you. It’s amazing.”
Everyone continues to open gifts as Koby takes the necklace and places it around my neck with a brush of his lips against my cheek.
Bernice arrives mid-morning to set up the food and finish off a few of the dishes that needed on the day cooking and warming.
Jill and I sit opposite her in the kitchen chatting, asking if we can help and being shot down. Bernie reminded me I hired her to cater everything, not to just bring the ingredients and run off. I did hire her because she is a friend and her food is amazing.
Teddy and Koby are on the back patio chatting while the kids are in the pool. What’s better than being in the water on Christmas Day?
“Do you have any more clients to drop food off to?” Jill asks.
“This is my last stop. I had a few to drop off last night and only two this morning.”
“And I’m the only one you don’t trust to reheat your delicious food?” I jest.
“Not at all. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for you.”
“You didn’t have to do that. I don’t want to keep you from your Christmas plans!” I worry.
“No Christmas plans for me. Don’t stress. Well, you are keeping me from splitting my excess serves with my dog while we watch Christmas movies.” She winks back at me.
“You know I am going to insist you have lunch with us, Bernie.”
“Mmm, yeah, you do not want to get on the wrong side of that request.” Jill backs me as she takes a big swig of her wine and playfully stares down Bernie.
“I don’t want to impose when everyone is…”
A knock at the door cuts her off as I get up and shrug at her. “It has been decided. I’m just sorry you have cooked the meal you’re about to eat.”
I head over to open the front door. “Liam! Merry Christmas. I’m so glad you came around, and perfect timing.” I give him a hug and motion for him to enter the house.
“Merry Christmas, Rayna. Thanks so much for the offer. My mum was very happy to hear I would be with people today.” He extends a bunch of Australian native flowers and a bottle of white with a green and gold ribbon on the neck.
“Are you able to video call them tomorrow? Koby mentioned they were in Europe at the moment?”
“Yeah, I’ll jump on the horn with them, but I want them to enjoy the time over there and not worry about me.”
“Well, please come through, grab a drink and everyone is hanging out the back.” I wave Liam in front of me, introducing him to Jill and Bernie, grab him a soft drink from the fridge and take him outside to everyone else.
Koby takes over introducing everyone to Liam.
We gather and sit at the table, enjoying the beautiful food and even better company.
The joyful day comes to an end. Everyone is well-fed, and well-spent, lazing around the lounge room and outside.
The kids have spent the majority of their time in the pool and back patio, like they have always done since they were old enough to not need an adult supervising.
Parents sit around in the lounge room, chatting and laughing.
Christmas music playing through the speakers.
I steal a glance outside as I grab another bottle of wine to see Aria and Liam sitting on the chairs outside, animatedly talking between themselves.
Maybe they have discovered their connection, living so close together when they were growing up after all.
They get up and say goodbye to the kids in the pool, heading inside.
Aria smiles at me, “I’m going to head off to see mum.”
“Did you need a lift at all?” Koby stands, ready to assist.
“No, relax. Liam is heading home so offered me a ride, seeing how he is a few houses away from Mum’s.”
“Thanks so much for welcoming me today. It was a wonderful day,” Liam exclaims, giving me a kiss on the cheek and making his way around to all the parents in the lounge room.
Bernie stands, “I’ll head out too. I’ve crashed your Christmas long enough and I’m sure my dog is waiting for me.” She makes her way around to hug everyone.
Koby walks with me to see everyone out the door, both of us standing outside my house on the footpath, watching them get into their respective cars and taking off.
I stare into the empty street, taking stock of the day, as Koby’s hand slips into mine and squeezes.