Chapter 10 : Gold-digger

Ella:

Time seemed to be flying with just under a week left for Christmas. I had started tidying the house up since advent. The curtains and bed-sheets were changed with fresh linen, carpets vacuumed till every speck of dirt had vanished. Today after dinner, I would start reassembling the artificial Christmas tree stored in the attic.

I miss the days when Dad and I would go hunting with an axe for evergreen conifers, normally a spruce tree. We’d load our stash at the back of our car and stop for a cup of hot chocolate at a nearby cafe. Although I made a decent Christmas spread, Mum’s turkey and gravy was to die for.

As I lay the table for dinner, Bridget enters the house and slams the door, that was her way of declaring that she’s home. From the size of her shopping bags it looked like she had been on a massive spending spree.

“I’ve already had my dinner, cut some fruits for me quickly!” she snaps her fingers at me.

Later during dinner, Beatrice started bickering about how her friends were going to Paris without her because of a petty fight they had. I quietly finished my dinner for I had better things to do than listening to people whine away.

I did have to inform them that Joe would be coming over to our house for Christmas dinner. After Beatrice was done whimpering, I cleared my throat and said, “Hmmm, just wanted to ask if everybody will be home on Christmas for dinner?”

Mary arched one of her eyebrows saying, “Of Course, are you done preparing glazed blueberry rolls, cranberry tarts and white chocolate truffles?” fully aware that I barely had any time on my hands.

I quietly reply, “No I haven’t, but shall do tomorrow,” also after a brief pause I continue, “I wanted to let you all know that Joe will be joining us on Christmas for dinner”

Mary looked surprised but acted all calm saying, “ Wonderful, I have been dying to meet your first boyfriend”

“Ughhh thankfully I have cooler things to do and won’t be here to meet your average Joe sissy!” Bridget replies with a hint of irritation in her croaky voice.

She turns towards Mary and explains, “You know momma, for the first time, the CEO of our company, Mr.Holt came to our workplace today. Apparently, he will be working from our office for the next few months”

Mary jumps onto the conversation all excited saying, “ Baby isn’t he the only son of Mark Holt; the construction conglomerate?

“Yes, I saw him today and he is the real deal Momma. You should see how the women swoon when he walks past them. He’s tall, handsome and rich, exactly how I want my husband to be” she wanders into space as though she was imagining him with her.

Mary snaps her back to the present, “Stop dreaming and start thinking, how do you plan to catch his attention before he is snapped up by some gold digger!”

I start laughing loudly at the hypocrisy of it all much to their anger.

“What are you laughing at? Go wash the utensils!” Mary orders me for lack of a suitable response.

Bridget ignores my comment and resumes her plotting with Mary, Why do you think I went shopping? The company is organising a huge Christmas party on the 25th, followed by a masquerade bash on New Year’s Eve!

“You better make sure you’re his date by then!” Mary sounds like she has embarked on a mission.

“I am going to blow his socks off Momma! Just wait and watch!” Bridget asserts.