Free Home by Keeley Smith Page A

giant, was already cooking in the oven.
Kayla and Iona were peeling the potatoes. Evelyn and Ember were
charged with prepping the vegetables. Tabitha was running the show,
obviously, and she was doing it very well. Cora had to stand back
and learn because Tabitha knew that she was a disaster in the
kitchen. A reputation she’d dispute if anyone asked her, but one
she silently agreed with.
    Cora studied
the table. She’d been put in charge of decorating it, and she had
to say she was proud of it. The white table runner sat in the
middle, the many candles, green and red in colour lined it. The
large centrepiece was part of a tree branch which she’d painted
silver and then placed in a vase full of diamantes.
    Hanging from
the bare branches were deep red baubles of every size. They
glistened in the flickering candle light. She’d finished the whole
look by sprinkling red stars on the white table runner.
    The men were
in the living room, fighting on one of Eli’s realistic games. Eli
and Jack had their heads together finishing the gift Eli had got
them. It would be attached to the oven, so Cora wasn’t sure she
would ever use it.
    “ When do you
want to exchange our gifts?” Tabitha asked Cora as she fussed with
some vegetables.
    “ It depends on
when you can spare a moment with all that food.”
    “ It is done,”
Tabitha told her. “It all goes to plan when I am in
charge.”
    “ We can do it
now then...” Cora murmured.
    The ladies
left her in the kitchen. Before leaving, Tabitha touched her
shoulder as she passed her. She just needed a moment to think about
those that were no longer with them. “You’re thinking about your
mum,” Jack comforted as his arms slid around her waist, pulling her
into his body. She breathed deeply and allowed him to wash over
her.
    “ Yeah,” she
breathed.
    Jack kissed
the top of her head. “You know that they are here with us today,
and she’d be disappointed if she didn’t see you rip open your
presents.”
    Cora laughed.
Only Jack could dissipate the weight her grief could drop on her
sometimes. “Okay, you’re right. Let’s open some
presents!”
    As Cora walked
into the living room, everyone was already in full flow. The floor
was a rainbow of coloured paper and bows. Brianna was obviously the
centre of attention as she squealed with each present. Jack passed
Cora her present from under the tree, even Cora hadn’t hidden hers
this year. They’d all gone under the tree.
    New Home. New
traditions.
    “ Obviously, my
present isn’t as elaborate as the engagement ring I gave you, but I
hope you love it all the same.”
    Cora looked
down at her ring, at the emerald that sat snug amongst the
glittering diamonds. She took the yellow wrapped present from Jack
and shook it. It rattled. Ripping it open, her breath caught. The
photo frame was a beautiful deep green, but it was the picture held
within the frame that took her breath away.
    “ Cora...?”
Brianna whispered, sensing her feelings.
    “ I’m happy,
Bri.”
    The photograph
had been sketched, although the details were amazing for something
that would usually be drawn by hand. The sketch was one from last
Christmas. The camera angle came from the head of the table so that
it pictured everyone’s faces, the joy, the love in their group.
Cora focused on Clio. She saw the laughter dance on her face as she
held a conversation with Clay. Cora looked up at Clay and saw the
struggle on his face as he looked down at the picture.
    “ It is really
lovely, Jack,” Clay coughed.
    “ We miss them
every day,” Jack murmured, “every time we think of them. I know we
all feel the pain as if it happened yesterday. It hurts, but I
thought with this picture, remembering the love and the happiness,
that maybe we could think happy thoughts, knowing they are still
present.”
    Cora braced
herself for the hit as she looked at her mother. Instead, she
laughed. Loudly. Her mother was winking at Ayden whilst pointing at
Cora and Jack. Of