an ordinary christmas

Hank didn't know how he ended up hauling a real Christmas tree into their house. He would be perfectly contented with an artificial tree but Janet had insisted on having a real one because she liked the sweet, refreshing smell of the spruce tree. After all, she had missed out on Christmas celebrations for the past thirty years, and so did he. So, they had drove out of town on a cold, blustery morning to find a Christmas tree.


"Are you alright there Henry?", Janet called out from inside the house.


"I've got it.", Hank grunted. He tried to shove the tree through the door, but the top of the tree barely scraped through the doorframe. "Great, now it's stuck.", he grumbled and threw his hands in an open gesture clearly indicating his frustration.


"What is it?", Janet peeked out from the door and noticed his brows were closely knitted together.


"I told you, the tree's too big."


"No, it's not."


"Yes, it is."


"You just need to tilt it a little.", she grabbed the end of the tree bark, tilting the tree, almost making it fall on him.


"Watch out!", he held on to the middle of the tree, causing some of the green needles to fall on him.


"I'm sorry Henry.", she laughed heartily.


He let out a loud sigh. He could never get angry at her, not with that smile or laugh. Who was he kidding.


With great effort, they succeeded in bringing the tree into the house, which was now standing at the corner of the living room, next to the window.


"See, it's perfect!", Janet grinned widely, her pearly whites gleaming under the bright light. Seeing how happy she is, Hank could only nod in agreement.


"Now, for the decorations."


Hank silently winced.


"Remind me again why we're putting up decorations only to clear them away days later.", Hank complained as he handed Janet a silver star, the finishing touch for the top of the Christmas tree. They had been decorating the whole day and he was exhausted but his wife's mood seemed to get merrier and merrier as the day went by. He stretched his back. He's too old for this, he thinks.


Janet decided it was a White Christmas theme so the tree was adorned with silver and gold ball ornaments, snowflakes and snow crystals. The green needles were decorated with fake snow and a string of candy canes encircled the tree.


"It's Christmas Henry, stop bring grumpy."


A small smile appeared on his face. It wasn't like he disliked Christmas, he was still adjusting to his homely life with Janet, even though this would be the fourth year of celebrating the festival together with his family. And being grumpy was a force of habit in him.


She had moved over to the fireplace, where potted poinsettias were placed on the mantle and twisted garlands of holly and pine were stuck on the two pillars of the fireplace. She started hanging stockings on the stocking holders above the mantel, Santa for him, Mrs. Claus for her, and four reindeer stockings for Hope, Scott, Cassie and Hailey respectively.


"This is...cute.", Hank ran his fingers through the stockings. God, he's turning into mush. "Too bad Cassie's not coming over for dinner this year."


"Why not?", she questioned with a twinge of disappointment.


He had completely forgotten to tell his wife. "She'll be on holiday with her parents." They had grown a certain fondness to the bright girl, doting on her endlessly.


"Oh."


"At least we'll get to see Hailey.", Hank smiled at the thought of his granddaughter.


"We just saw her two days ago Henry and you miss her already?"


"Why can't I miss her?", he retorted. He dearly loved his granddaughter, and he thought this was his second chance to be a better person for his daughter and grandchild.


"You're such a sap.", Janet teased him.


He rolled his eyes.


...


"I have to say, your mother's Christmas decorations are on point every year.", Scott commented as his eyes swept through the porch, where twisted chains of pine and holly and bundles of mistletoes hung at the porch railings with fairy lights intertwined together. Scott and Hope were standing in front of the door, with Hailey in Hope's arms, who was enamoured with the beautiful Christmas wreath hanging at the front door, her chubby hands reaching out to touch it. Hope smiled in response to Scott's statement. Ever since Janet was back, their home was warm, homey and inviting.


"Kiss-mas!", Hailey's green eyes were big and bright, as she clapped her hands in delight.


"That's right, it's Christmas baby.", Hope kissed her daughter's pink cheek affectionately. Their daughter was starting to appreciate the holiday season, getting excited as how a child should be during Christmas.


The door opened and Hank appeared, wearing an outlandish Christmas sweater, most probably an idea by Janet.


"Merry Christmas Hank!", Scott greeted cheerfully, laugh lines appearing at the corner of his eyes.


"Merry Christmas Scott.", Hank's face was impassive as usual.


"Really Hank? No hug? No a pat in the back?"


Hank's lips pursed in consideration. He sighed and stiffly extended his arm, patting Scott on his shoulder, a small smile appearing on his face forcefully.


"Nice sweater."


Hank grunted.


"Merry Christmas dad.", Hope leaned in and gave her father a gentle peck on his cheek.


He smiled. "Merry Christmas Hope."


"Merry Kiss-mas Grampa!", Hailey squealed and threw her hands out, wanting her grandfather's embrace. Hank's features immediately soften at the sight of his granddaughter, the corners of his mouth curling up into a genuine smile, as he took her from Hope, kissing the top of her head.


"Hi Hailey." Hank turned around and walked inside the house, cuddling her close while Scott and Hope trailed behind him, their hands around each other's waist. Hailey resembled Hope so much as a child, Hank's heart swelled infinitely with love every time he saw her. A mop of short curly dark hair adorned her pretty little face, her eyes were green and bright just like her parents and a few rare freckles had started to form across her nose bridge. Her most striking feature was her dimples near the corners of her mouth, exactly like her mother's. She grabbed his face and gave him a big smooch, instantly dissolving his 'bah humbug' attitude towards the festive season.


"Your mother's in the kitchen." Hank placed Hailey down, and she waddled to the Christmas tree, immediately enraptured by it.


Hope didn't need her father to tell her where her mother was, as the smell of freshly baked cookies wafted from the kitchen and she followed her sense of smell. Scott had already sprinted to the kitchen, ready to taste his favourite homemade cookies.


"Stars grampa!", Hailey said as she pointed to the fairy lights around the tree that blinked like the stars in the sky, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.


"Those are lights Hailey. Lights.", Hank smiled and got down to her level and sat on the floor, watching her unravel the mystery of the tree.


"Stars lights!", she grinned, both of her dimples deepening, making Hank melt into a puddle.


"I guess you can call them that.", he ruffled her soft dark curls.


"Merry Christmas Janet!", Scott chirped cheerfully when he stepped into the kitchen, his gaze falling on the fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies that Janet had just taken out from the oven.


"Merry Christmas Scott.", Janet was wearing a matching sweater as Hank. She wrapped her arms around him for a hug. She was always kind and affable, a complete opposite from her husband.


"Merry Christmas mom!", Hope peeked through the doorway and she enveloped her mother in a warm embrace.


"Merry Christmas jellybean.", Janet hugged her tight and kissed her cheek.


Behind them, Scott was already munching on a cookie. He didn't care of it singed his fingers or burned his throat because he was already reaching out for another one. "These cookies are really good.", he mumbled with his mouth full. "You're the best Janet."


They turned around to look at him, and a silly grin teases the corner of his lips as he took another bite, completely unrepentant.


"Scott, no cookies before dinner!"


"What? Why not? I'm hungry."


Hope strode over to him and tried to swat his hand playfully but he eluded her attack, still grinning mischievously. "Remember last year when you almost ate all of the cookies.", she raised a brow.


"But you finished the cookies."


"There was only three left.", Hope replied pointedly.


"Oops.", he said unabashedly. "Here, you try some.", he put a cookie into her mouth, secretly hoping to silence her.


Janet laughed at them. "Don't worry, there's more." She took out a bowl of cookie dough and placed it on the table. "And both of you can help with the last batch."


"Right on it mom.", Hope smiled at her mother, already scooping out a small bit of cookie dough with a spoon onto the baking tray, while Scott was stealing another cookie.


"I can see you Scott.", Hope gave him a side glance.


"Nothing escapes your eyes.", a lopsided grin spread on his face as he leaned towards her, planting a kiss on her cheek.


Janet smiled at the sight and left them on their own, not wanting to interrupt their moment.


...


They were gathered around the dinner table, where the smell of roasted stuffed turkey, baked potatoes and bread and butter pudding floated in the air. Janet had spent almost the whole day cooking up a storm, making sure everyone would be well-fed and stuffed. The dinner was bathed with happy chattering, with everyone in a jolly mood.


"That's a very nice Christmas tree you have there Hank.", Scott complimented. Hailey was cuddled on his lap, cleverly eating her small pieces of turkey meat and potatoes, occasionally turning around to feed Scott, to which he willingly obliges.


"Yes, we went through great lengths to get it."


"As I recall, I chose the tree. You were just giving me the stink-eye the entire time.", Janet's tone was accusatory, but playful.


"I did not."


Hope bit her lip, trying to stifle a laugh. It was a normal occurrence for her parents to throw their banter around each other. Sometimes, they reminded her of herself and Scott. Scott looked at her with an apologetic smile, but she just shrugged, giving him a half smile.


"You wanted to choose the first tree we saw."


"They all look the same."


"But it was already shedding its needles."


Hank rolled his eyes. "No one would notice."


"But I will." Janet was a perfectionist, a trait Hope had definitely inherited.


"Did I mention? The tree nearly fell on me because it was too big to pass through the front door."


"What? Are you alright dad?"


"He's fine. It's the perfect size Henry..."


"Next year..."


"Mom, dad...", Hope voiced out, interrupting her father, thinking it was time to put a stop in their silly argument.


"We know Hope.", her parents said at the same time.


...


Hope looked at the stockings hanging above the mantle fondly, a small smile spreading on her face. She always treasured these family moments which she had missed out for a certain period on her life. She looked over to her father sitting on the couch, making silly faces at Hailey, who was giggling away. Hope saw a different side of her father after Hailey was born, a side that she didn't know he had.


"Wine jellybean?", Janet came over and offered Hope a glass of wine.


"I'm fine mom, thanks."


"Is there something I should know about?", Janet raised her forehead in suspicion.


Hope smiled shyly, her eyes falling on the stockings again. "Mom, I think you might need to get another stocking for Christmas next year..."


"You're pregnant?"


"You're what?", Hank looked up, stunned, his mouth slightly agape.


"We're having another bundle of joy Hank.", Scott grinned widely as he walked into the living room, overhearing their conversation. "Surprise!"


"I'm so happy for you, for the both of you.", Janet smiled from ear to ear, pulling Hope in for a hug.


"Thanks mom." She noticed that her daughter's face was glowing with happiness. Before this, she never thought there would come a day where she would see her daughter form a family of her own.


"Daddy!", Hailey clambered down from the couch and ran towards her father, dragging him to the Christmas tree. "Open presents?"


"Oh cookie, we'll open them tomorrow, right mommy?", Scott turned around to look at Hope.


"That's right baby. We'll open the presents tomorrow.", Hope made her way to them and sat down on the floor while Scott joined her at her side. She pulled Hailey closer to her, propping her on her lap.


"Santa come today?", Hailey asked, her eyes twinkling brightly and innocently.


"He'll come when you're asleep. Santa's a shy man.", Scott quipped.


"Hailey sleep now, Santa come now?"


Hope laughed, gently pushing away a stray curl from Hailey's face. All week long, she had been running around the house excitedly every time they put up a new decoration in the house. It was hard not to get infected with the festive mood especially with Scott being extra cheerful as well.


"Santa won't come now, but you know who will? The tickle monster!", Scott flexed his fingers into a claw, his hands making his way to her sides, tickling her. Her giggles bubbled over into laughter and screams as she tumbled backwards into Hope's lap.


"Mommy! Help!", she squealed in between laughter, clutching on to Hope.


"You're alright Henry?", Janet sat down on the couch beside him, whom she noticed was staring attentively at the family of three, the sides of his mouth slightly curling up. She stroked the side of his hair.


"We used to have that."


"And we still do.", Janet clasped her hand with his. "They're good for each other you know."


Hank grunted. "I know." He had come to respect Scott more after he helped get Janet back, but he had always thought he was an admirable character, despite always acting idiotic on occasions.


Janet smiled. "Merry Christmas Henry.", she kissed his cheek.


"Merry Christmas love."

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