Chapter 5

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Christmas the following year.

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Greg arrived with Claire on his arm this time. Things had obviously been going well between the two.

“My oh-my child! … You’ve gotten so big!” Greg’s mother clamped her hands to her cheeks in shock, before remembering that she never met Claire before in the flesh. “Oh it’s so nice to meet you at last Claire,” Greg’s mother began to gush hurriedly. “I’ve heard so many good things!” She then pulled Claire into a heartfelt and welcoming embrace.

“Likewise!” Claire smiled, a little goofily, over the shoulder of Greg’s mother as the sea of expectant family faces that were all patiently waiting their meet-and-greet of Greg’s new girlfriend.

Greg took off his coat, scarf and sweater. The t-shirt he was wearing underneath was just a little too tight by now. And his belly shook quite some just at the effort of doing all that.

“Called it!” Greg’s Aunt Marie shouted, before turning back toward the drinks cabinet and slinging somce cold ice into a tall glass.

“You must be famished.” Greg’s mother ushered the young couple in from the doorway, and gathered up all their hats, coats, and scarves to hang them all up.

“We had to stop along the way.” Claire smiled, her hand now firmly planted around Greg’s waist - mostly for comfort - and just a little for show. “Poor Greg just kept getting hungry along the way.” Claire prodded Greg’s nose lovingly in a rather overtly public display of puppy-dog like affection as she said it.

“Oh that’s not true!” Greg gasped, and wagged his finger at his new girlfriend in sheer delight.

Claire turned back to the onlooking faces of Greg’s family, before saying, “Truth is folks, … I had to pee.”

Everyone laughed at Claire’s little joke.

“But that was hours ago,” Claire added, as she sniffed at the delicious smell of home baking in the air, and was happy that her little joke had landed well. “So if you do have anything to offer, I’m sure at least one of us can find some room.”

A sea of giggles broke out, and Claire and Greg were quickly ushered into the kitchen for a welcome home for the holidays feast.

“Where’s Jo?” Greg asked of his mother, as they began to sit around the table, and she began peeling saran wrap off far too many plates.

“Arriving in a hour or two apparently,” Greg’s mother’s replied, and looked up at the clock with a little worry in her eyes. “But with these storms coming in, who knows?”

“This looks amazing by the way!” Claire picked up the conversation and began fixing Greg up with a large plate.

“Eat up.” Greg’s mother looked pleased to be the head-hen again and feeding her family once more.

“It’s Christmas!” She added, and looked around at everyone having fun as she raised her glass. “We’re almost all back together at last!”

“Cheers!” Greg filled up his glass and began to eat, whilst adding a few more snippets of food to his already loaded plate.

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