So this is Christmas!

Where would she spend this Christmas? This apartment was home; had been for three years. She had moved in after her husband’s death, one of several retired people living side by side with single parents and their children. She had ‘found’ this place when her children had been wondering whom she’d live with; would they share her or would she try to live alone? Whose home would she choose?

Now, a week before Christmas, Lucy pondered the same question: whose home would she choose? The first Christmas had been celebrated at Sarah’s, her eldest. Sarah and Kevin had invited her younger siblings, brother-in-law and Mum to Christmas lunch. Then Lucy had not known many people at Lilville and the day out was pleasant. The next year, Jansy and Mike had moved from Mike’s parents’ home to their own house. In the first flush of home-making Jansy had hosted the gang to lunch. The carpet on which Sarah’s 8-month-old, Emma, had peed and then poo-ed on was at the cleaners for three weeks. When Jansy and Mike hosted their office ‘do’ there had been, according to Jansy, a huge hole in their hall.

Anyway, the food at Christmas lunch was good. Half homemade, the turkey ordered from out.

Text messages fascinated Lucy. Sending them would make her head ache but she liked reading other peoples’. The thing was, the delay had made her return late and Dhiren was waiting. He and his mum had made a date with Lucy; Christmas tea. Dhiren had been giggling over a certain card he made and Sushila and Lucy had conspired over what to make for tea. Sushila and Dhiren had chosen a special gift for Aunty. It was all going to happen at 4 o’ clock.

The turkey made the lunch late and the carpet didn’t help.
Why didn’t you change her in the room?
Your bed looked too nice to mess up.
But this is worse and haven’t you heard of disposable nappies?
I’m not going to steam up my baby’s butt in plastic!
Yes, but the carpet!
Tony regarded his sisters angelically; he was cracking up inside.
Stop laughing Tony, take me home.
Her still-a-bachelor son grinned widely. Now you know, Mum, now you know!
She scurried up the path to her door, Tony bearing her gifts.
It’s because it’s all new, Jansy minded about the carpet.
I know, Mum.
Mike is a nice guy.
I know.
But he was chuckling as he left.
Two minutes later Dhiren turned up. Tap-tap. “Auntieeeeeeeeeeee! The pudding fell down but we shaped it up again.” Tea was delicious.

Now, this third Christmas, would they celebrate separately? Or would Tony, still single, step up? He entertained, she knew, but said he ‘hated’ having kids around. Something she’d not noticed when he played cricket endlessly with Dhiren whenever weather permitted when they met.

They seemed to meet quite often these days. Emma and Jansy’s three-month old, Kiara, leave me cold, Mum, nieces - but this guy is different. Not bad for a four-year old. Anyway his apartment was really a large bed-sit.

She loved the system at Lilville where young and old mixed. A network of units for single parents, their children and sprightly senior citizens. Some single parents were employed at the home caring for the children and the elders. The elders kept an eye on the children and the children kept everyone on the go. Lucy had met Dhiren at his pre-school Story Hour. Sushila, she met through Dhiren.

Should she host the family here? Sushila could help with the food. Obviously, then, she and Dhiren would be on the guest list. Too obvious? Who knew where Sushila’s husband was? That they were separated, not divorced, Lucy did know. He had wanted a break. Sushila had wanted to break his nose, but had let him go. She managed Dhiren very well and could laugh at anything.

But what kind of relationship would she be getting her Tony into, and what if it went wrong? It would break her heart not to see Dhiren often as she pleased.

Christmas lunch was to be at Sarah’s. Tony’s treat, but at Sarah and Kevin’s home. Emma in familiar surroundings and privacy for Jansy to nurse Kiara.

It was difficult to move Tony after lunch. Kevin was jubilant. Cable transmission had been resumed after a break of almost six months. The three men were transfixed by re-runs. Emma was pulling apart a toy on her father’s lap and Kiara was asleep on Tony’s chest. No one wanted Tony to move. Jansy’s head on Sarah’s shoulder; Lucy massaging Jansy’s feet.

Later, it was good to be home. Tony left her at her door wearing the patch on his shirt like a badge of honour. Soon…the doorbell? Not the usual tap-tap, “Auntieeeeeee!”

Sushila stood there, Dhiren jumped about someone else who stood there: “This is my Thaaththi!”
Oh.
“Aunty, this is my husband. We might be…I mean we are going away…soon.”
“Tomorrow, actually.” Deep voice, nice body.
Lucy smiled at him glaring in her heart.
Going away? Tomorrow?
“Harin has been working hard and he has a house in New Jersey.”
America?
“We are US citizens, you know.”
I didn’t know
“I have a steady job and I want to take them back over the Christmas holiday.”
Why explain to me?
“I’ve been telling him all about you, Auntie, how Dhiren loves you. He knows how important you are to us.”
Taking them into the cold; how selfish! What if it didn’t work out?
Dhiren, bouncing and squirming; tugging at his father’s hand.
What about me? Can’t you see that by taking him…
Dhiren remembers her gift at last.
you’re killing me?
Harin and Sushila exchange smiles. They look so eager, so courageous. Trusting in something…or in someone…
Salt and bile joined by a thread of sound bubble and squeak up Lucy’s throat.
She stretches out her arms.
“I’m so happy for you,” she says.