**Diary Entry 30th December**
*”Ive invited Mum and my sister over for New Years,” my husband announced that evening. “Do you think you can manage everything in time?”*
*”Finally, the long weekend!” sighed Emily with relief, sinking onto the hallway stool and kicking off her boots. “Ten whole days of rest ahead.” She stretched, easing the tension in her shoulders, already picturing lazy mornings and peaceful evenings.*
*”Brilliant, isnt it?” Tom nodded, leaning against the doorframe. “Oh, by the way, I just spoke to Sophie. She said theyve got no plans for New Years Eve, so theyre coming here,” he added casually.*
*Emilys brow furrowed. “Right”*
*”And Mums joining too, of course. She always spends it with them,” Tom finished, watching his wifes expression darken.*
*”You do realise New Years Eve is *tomorrow*?” Emily snapped. “Ive been working late all week to meet my targets, and now youre telling me Ill spend the day slaving over a hot stove?” Her voice rose sharply.*
*”Whats there to cook, really?” Tom shrugged. “A couple of salads, a main, some nibbles”*
*”Tom, step away now unless you fancy a frying pan to the head,” Emily said, deadly serious. “If your family wants to come, they bring their own dishes. Call them. Now. I remember last time we hostedI spent the whole night running around while your lot lounged on the sofa sipping wine and watching the telly.”*
*”Emily, come on,” Tom protested, taken aback.*
*”Oh, how *should* I react?” She didnt wait for an answer, storming off to change.*
She was furious. Tom had been off work since yesterday, while shed barely caught her breath. The only consolation? This months pay cheque was half again what she usually earned. Sighing, she wiped off her makeup, mentally rearranging tomorrows plans.
Ideally, shed sleep till noon, have a leisurely breakfast, tidy up, order groceries, and cook something simple. No chaos, no noisejust peace. After endless work stress, she craved a quiet, cosy celebration.
*How do I make this happen?* She sipped her tea, watching snowflakes swirl under the streetlamps. For a moment, the magic soothed herthen reality crashed back. But then, a risky, brilliant idea struck.
—
The next morning, Emily woke at noon to find Tom bustling in the kitchenunheard of before a holiday.
*”What are you doing?”* she squinted against the light.
*”Making breakfast for my lovely wife,”* he grinned, stirring a bowl.
*”Somethings burning,”* she laughed as smoke curled from the pan.
Over breakfast, she finally asked: *”How exactly are we hosting guests with no food or clean house?”*
*”I couldnt say no to Soph”* he mumbled.
*”Obviously,”* Emily arched a brow. *”Your sisters hard to refuse.”*
*”Got a plan? Youve had that look since yesterday. Honestly, Im impressed you didnt explode.”*
*”First, call Sophie. Ask if theyre bringing anything. Theres four of themtwo adults, two kids.”*
Tom hesitated but dialled. *”Soph, hi. Emilys planning the menuwhat are you bringing so we dont double up?”*
Laughter crackled down the line. *”Youre joking, right? When would I cook? Ive got two kids! We assumed Emily would handle it, like always.”*
*”Theyre not toddlerstheyre in secondary school,”* Tom argued.
A crash echoed. *”Sorry, theyve broken something again. See you tonight!”* The line went dead.
Tom returned sheepishly. *”Nothing. And Mums the same. They just want to relax.”*
*”Thought so,”* Emily bit her lip. *”I want to go to my parents for New Years. They invited us days agoI just didnt mention it. Are you coming?”*
*”But well fall out with my family.”*
*”Or with me.”*
*”I choose you,”* he surrendered, raising his hands.
—
Emily tidied while Tom shopped from her list. The mall sparkled with fairy lights and carols. Passing a tree lot, he halted. *”The tree! Howd I forget?”*
He returned home, pine needles tickling his neck. Emily gasped. *”A tree?”*
*”Thought youd like it.”*
*”You always hated real trees!”*
*”Fancied a change,”* he shrugged.
Decorating together, the room glowed. By the time Tom returned with groceries (*”No fresh salmonwell stop en route”*), Emilys heart warmed. She hadnt expected thishad braced for a fight.
Packing the car by 7 pm, she asked, *”Did we forget anything?”*
*”Just dessert. Well grab something.”*
—
Her parents cottage, strung with lights, was a decade-old escape from city life.
*”We never took the lights down!”* her dad, Arthur, laughed.
Unloading, Emily handed over bags. *”Brought extradunno what youd planned.”*
*”Right! Ill stash these,”* Arthur said. *”While you ladies cook, Tom and I will fire up the sauna.”*
Built by hand, the sauna smelled of cedar and eucalyptus. Meanwhile, Emily and her mum, Margaret, lost themselves in *Love Actually* and prep.
At 9 pm, Toms phone rang. *”Tom, open up! Were outside!”* Sophie demanded.
*”Were not home,”* he admitted.
*”Where are you? Whenll you be back?”*
*”Were in the countryside. Back in two days.”*
*”What about New Years?”*
*”Were celebrating here.”*
*”So youre leaving me to entertain the kids all night?”* Sophie scoffed.
*”If you must.”*
*”Unbelievable. Is the key under the mat? Im not cleaning up after this.”*
*”Ah, now I see why you never host,”* Tom chuckled. *”Happy New Year!”* He hung up.
His mother rang next. *”How dare you abandon us?! We were counting on you!”*
*”We fancied a change. Why dont *you* host? Youve got the space.”*
*”Is this how you repay me?”*
*”Repay what? Being taken for granted?”*
She hung up, stung.
*”All right?”* Emily leaned on his shoulder.
*”Mum called.”*
*”Did we do the right thing?”*
*”Yes,”* he said firmly. *”Here, were *wanted*. There, were just convenient.”*
—
That New Years was perfectfireside chats, sledging like kids, no stress. Back home eventually, but the memories lingered: warmth, simplicity, and the courage to choose happiness over duty.
**Lesson learnt:** Sometimes, the best celebrations are the ones you plan for yourselves.
