Be Home For Christmas

December had always been the most wonderful month of the year. Not just because of their special holiday, Christmas, but also the snow and family reunion. Being home for Christmas is a tradition for a huge family like the Gables.

Gathered around in front of the fireplace, drinking hot chocolates while eating Christmas cookies. Most of their family members lived in different cities. That made Christmas so special for them.

Like Edith Sitwell said;

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

Sitting on the shared studio of the office, John scribbled on his worksheet. Sketching whatever idea popped on his mind for the new housing project his older brother gotten him into.

“Laura, John, gather up. we’re discussing the new housing project,” deep man’s voice echoed in the room, calling his wife and his younger brother to an urgent meeting. The fifty-two years old man jogged to the middle of the studio where the meeting table was placed, putting all the paperwork he brought and setting up his laptop.

Mark built a family business, a real estate agency called Gable Realty, Inc with his wife, Laura whom was an interior designer and his younger brother, John whom was an architect. From nothing they started the company up until it became successful.

Even though Mark was already in his middle aged, he still looked like he was still in his early forty. His wife too. Laura Gable was two years younger than Mark, but she somehow still mistaken as her children’s older sister.

Their secret? Always full of joy and not stress too much. It worked pretty well.

Gabel Realty, Inc’s office had a unique design. It was only three floor building and had its very own customized studio on the highest floor where John, Mark, and Laura did their jobs.

“Finally!” John stated, standing up from his desk. He gathered all his laptop along with the drawing tablet then joining his older brother on the meeting table, “for starter, I couldn’t find any inspiration.”

“John, you’ve been scribbling for the last one hour,” Laura said in a ‘seriously’ tone as she tied her shoulder length brown hair into a ponytail. John shot her a look, “yeah, one hour full of horrible sketches.”

“It’s okay, there’ll be a lot of changes anyway,” Mark began, opening the discussion.

“Okay, let’s begin. Earlier we start, earlier we go home,” John remarked, smirking. Mark rolled his eyes, “it’s a good thing you’re my brother and you did magnificent work. Or else, you’d be fired.”

“You’ll only regret if you fire someone like me, Mark.”

“High self-confidence, I see,” Laura mumbled, eyeing his husband whom held his laughter, so he didn’t laugh at his brother, “this is going to be a long day.”

***

“What a long day,” John sighed as he closed the door to his house—he also lived in Mark and Laura’s house. He massaged his forehead slightly before running his hand through his dark brown hair.

A small girl greeted him with her warming embrace, even though she only height as tall as his stomach, “Uncle John!”

“Hey there little princess,”

“Where have you been? Mommy and Daddy already back from like an hour ago. I thought you left the same time as Mommy and Daddy,” the cute little girl whined as she looked up to her uncle with wide eyes, making her uncle laughed.

“Yes, I did. But your lovely daddy made me stop by at the bakery to get some desserts,” He raised his hand which carried the dessert handbag to Gabriella. Her mouth made an o shape as she nodded.

“I asked you one simple favor, John. You blew it.” Mark yelled from the kitchen. John rolled his eyes, “It’s not my fault your soon-to-be daughter-in-law was very good at socializing with other people, especially her boyfriend’s uncle.”

“Alright, Uncle. I’m starving,” Gabriella dragged her uncle with all her effort which for John had nothing compare to walking on his own. He chuckled at his niece, “I haven’t even put my bag yet.”

“I’ll took them to your room, uncle,” She smiled, looking up to him before focusing on her steps, “Mommy already finished cooking and Samuel already set the table. Can you believe Daddy also helped pouring water to the cup?”

“Really?” He asked, amused. He then moved his gaze to his older brother as they already on the dining area. “Yes, Uncle.”

Gabriella giggled then grabbed John’s backpack and put it inside John’s room. And by inside it meant she just opened the door, put the backpack near the door and closed it behind her.

“Did you for some reason spill out any water?” John jokingly asked making his older brother rolled his eyes, “ha ha, very funny.”

John gave the desserts to Laura whom gladly took it and place it above the plate before setting them aside for later.

“We really appreciate your help, Dad,” Samuel, Gabriella’s older brother by 4 years smiled genuinely. He was a lovable kid, also optimistic. The boy with long brown side parted hair mostly had positive mind and maintained to calm over every situation, good or bad.

“You hear the kid,” Mark laughed while John smiled at his nephew before rolling his eyes at Mark, his older brother.

Gabriella stormed straight to the dining table and seated herself on her usual position, “C’mon, let’s eat already. I’m starving.”

Laura chuckled, “patient, hangry girl.”

They all sat down on the big rectangle table which usually fit 10 people but since only 5 people left in the house, the table seemed a lot bigger. Yes, Gable was indeed a huge family. Mark and Laura had six children. Four boys and two girls. Then why only five people out of nine in the house? They lived in another city.

See, their first son, Alexander whom was twenty-three years old was still building his career in medical world, currently in his second year of residency at Boston’s Children Hospital.

Then there were the twins. Nathan and Natalie, nineteen years young and free whom moved to New York to pursue a career in music industry with their band called Golden bee.

The last was James—the reckless one. He was sent to a boarding school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and currently on his senior year.

“Mom, Dad, when will everybody come home?” Gabriella asked softly. She missed the feeling of her older siblings’ presence inside the house. The cookies Natalie baked, the piggyback ride with James, the prank war with Nathan, James and Natalie—well, sometimes Samuel and Alex joined too, even Uncle John joined once.

Laura sighed, “I actually don’t know honey. Alex could take his vacation days, Nathan and Natalie will finish tour soon. I think James could be the one who come home early.”

“Wait, speaking of Nathan and Natalie. Didn’t they perform on the Rockefeller’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony, like right now?” Samuel asked, making everyone surprised.

“Gabriella, turn on the TV quick!” Laura asked her little daughter whom eventually did as she told so. The family spot, kitchen, and dining table were all in the same huge room at the center of the house. So, they could still finish their diner on the table while watching TV.

After dinner was all done, Laura, with the help of Gabriella put all the dirty dishes inside the dishwasher before joining the boys in front of the TV. Laura seated down on the couch next to her husband, Mark whom put his arm around her waist as she snuggled closer to him.

John sat on the single couch, just like his relationship status—single while Samuel and Gabriella laid on their back above the warm rug.

“When are they perform?” Gabriella whined, slowly turning her body to Samuel’s direction. Samuel answered, “I don’t know, sissy.”

Gabriella huffed and turning her attention back to the TV. They enjoyed the musical performance from great artist, and when they saw Golden Bee performing, they couldn’t help but drowned into a sea of jubilant.

“I’m so proud of them,” Samuel grinned widely, warm feeling touched his heart. Gabriella nodded her head in agreement.

“We really raise talented children,” Laura said smiling to her husband whom nodded, “indeed.”

“I can’t wait for them all to come home. I miss them so much,” Laura said then Mark squeezed her hand in support, “They’ll be home for Christmas.”

Because there’s no place like home for the holidays, right?