“Okay, should we do presents then?” Evie clasps her hands together, joy radiating from her as she looks upon everyone in the room. Despite me not being a member of this family, she really has a way of making me feel welcome.
“Can I go first?” I ask the room, grabbing the bag I snuck in with me.
“You know you didn’t have to get us anything,” Owen says in a low voice from next to me. I shush him by handing him his first, then giving Steve, Hugo, and Evie theirs. I don’t have many artistic skills in life, but wrapping presents is one of them. Each is in shiny red wrapping with gold ribbon that has holly attached to the top. I’m quite proud of it if I say so myself.
“Darling girl, you’re far too thoughtful,” Evie says as she unwraps her gift.
“It’s nothing,” I tell them, secretly hoping they like it. I don’t really know Steve or Hugo well, so I went with a nice bottle of wine for Steve and a gift certificate for Hugo.
“Lottie, this is far too generous,” Steve tells me as he unwraps the bottle of Pinot.
I smile at him. “It’s one of my parents’ favorites.”
He pulls out his glasses and places them on the tip of his nose. “An excellent vintage,” he confirms.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Brilliant, Lottie,” Hugo says, standing up and coming over to hug me. “Thanks.”
“It’s just something small to say thank you all for having me.”
Evie is across the room, holding the teacups I found at a vintage store in Notting Hill the other week.
“Oh, Lottie,” she whispers, tears in her eyes. “This means so much.”
“I noticed you had the teapot and when I saw the cups that matched, I had to get them for you. I mean, what are the chances?”
She smiles at me, and it’s filled with warmth and love. “It was fate.”
I nod, suddenly feeling a bit emotional myself.
Trying to brush it off, I turn to Owen, hoping he likes his gift. But to my surprise, he’s yet to open it. His eyes are already locked onto me, gaze probing as though it’s reaching into my soul. It’s intense, uncomfortable, and all too wanted at the same time, so I look away. I point to his gift. “Open it.”
Nodding, he begins to pull off the ribbon. I glance around the room, seeing Evie and Steve in conversation with Hugo, Evie’s gaze briefly finding my own before returning to her son. A small grin settles on her lips.
“Jesus, Lottie.” Owen’s hushed voice pulls me back to the present. He can’t seem to look away from the signed movie script for the first Lord of the Rings film. It took pulling a few strings and calling some people my parents know, but I finally got my hands on it last week, just in time for the holiday.
“Are you for real?” he asks, his face still in awe. Suddenly unsure how to process all this, I bite my cheek, an awkward smile overtaking my face. Was this gift too much? Should I have just gone with a gift card? Fuck, shit, fuck.
“It’s really not a big deal,” I insist.
“Lottie, you got me a signed script of my favorite film of all time. Not to mention literally every bloody name is on this. It’s a huge deal.”
I begin picking at the end of my fraying jumper, wrapping the loose thread around my finger until almost painfully tight.
“Hey.” His hand touches mine and I return my stare to him. “This means a lot to me, thank you.” He runs his thumb up and down my hand before pulling it away.
“Well, you’re welcome,” I manage to get out, feeling a bit stupid for my dramatics over the gifts. Friends get each other nice things; this isn’t out of the ordinary or weird. Yep, totally normal to spend a hundred pounds on your friends’ mother.
Oh God.
“Well, Lottie, I think I can speak for the entire family when I say you’re far too generous but with gifts like this, definitely welcome anytime,” Hugo says to me. Evie reaches over and smacks his arm.
“You’re welcome anytime, with or without presents,” she cuts in.
I can’t help but laugh, thankful no one except me is reading into this.
“Now it’s my turn,” Evie says. She gets up and begins to distribute everyone’s presents.
“I sort of have to give you your gift in private,” Owen whispers to me while Evie’s attention is on Hugo. The warmth of his breath sends goose bumps sprouting across my arms.
“Sorry, what?” I say, eyes wide in alarm as I look to him.
“Oh God, not like that, Lottie,” he responds, face blooming with red.
Ah yes, because who would want to do dirty things with the pregnant girl?
And that’s how my fucked-up mind takes his response. Instead of thinking, Fuck, he’s my friend, I’m offended he doesn’t want to. I need to get my head screwed on.
“It’s just something to do with—” His head motions toward my stomach and I instantly understand.
“Oh yeah, no problem,” I say quickly as Evie is at my feet, handing me a pink box with ribbon.
“Evie, I’m your guest. You’re not supposed to get me anything,” I tell her.
She shushes me before giving Owen a small bundle of things.
I avert my attention to the gift at hand, opening up the wrapping to unveil a stunning pale pink jumper and an assortment of bracelets. It’s all very different, all very me. I run my hands over the soft material of the jumper, instantly knowing it’s cashmere. Christ, that isn’t cheap. Now I’m thankful I didn’t go for a box of chocolates for their gifts.
“Evie, this is so beautiful,” I tell her, already knowing what boots
