“Ive invited Mum and my sister to ours for New Years,” my husband announced one evening on the 30th of December. “Do you reckon youll have time to get everything ready?”
“Finally, a proper break!” sighed Olivia happily, flopping onto the hallway pouffe and kicking off her boots. “Ten whole days off.” She stretched, working out the stiffness in her shoulders, and smiled to herself, imagining how shed spend the next week and a bit.
“Yeah, brilliant,” nodded Harry, leaning against the doorframe. “Oh, by the wayjust got off the phone with Sophie. She said they still hadnt decided where to ring in the New Year, so theyre coming here,” he added casually.
Olivia frowned, looking up at him.
“And Mums joining too, obviously. She always spends it with them,” Harry finished, noticing the shift in his wifes mood.
“Do you even realise New Years Eve is *tomorrow*?” Olivia snapped. “Ive been working late all week to hit my targets, and now you drop this on me? So my fate tomorrow is slaving away in the kitchen all day?” Her voice rose.
“Whats there to cook, really?” Harry replied breezily. “A couple of salads, some mains, a cheeseboard, maybe a few nibbles…”
“Harry, back off right now, or you *will* get whacked with a frying pan,” Olivia said, dead serious. “If your lot want to come, theyd better bring food. Call them right now and tell them. I remember one New Years when we all celebrated togetherI was running around with plates all night while your lovely ladies sat on the sofa sipping wine and watching telly.”
“Liv, come on, dont be like that,” Harry said, caught off guard by her reaction.
“How *should* I be, then?” she shot back before storming off to the bedroom to change.
Olivia was fuming. Harrys holiday had started *yesterday*. The only thing keeping her sane was the fact shed earned nearly double her usual pay this month. She sighed, walked over to the mirror, and started wiping off her makeup, mentally rearranging tomorrows plans.
Ideally, shed sleep in till noon, have a lazy breakfast, tidy up, order a grocery delivery, and cook something simple for the evening. No chaos, no noisejust peace. She was exhausted from work and dreamed of a cosy, quiet celebration.
*How do I make this go my way?* she wondered, running through options in her head.
Ignoring Harry as he buzzed around the flat, Olivia headed to the kitchen. She poured herself a mug of tea with lemon and sat down to eat. Outside, snowflakes danced under the streetlights, pure magic.
For a moment, she forgot her dilemma, lost in the view. Then she snapped back to realityand a risky, brilliant idea struck her.
The next morning, Olivia woke at noon, just as planned. Stretching, she realised Harry was already up, clattering around the kitchen. Unusual, especially before a holiday. She threw on her dressing gown and shuffled in.
“Whatre you up to?” she squinted against the light.
“Making my lovely wife a festive breakfast,” Harry grinned, stirring a bowl.
“Looks like youre burning it,” Olivia laughed as smoke curled from the pan.
Over breakfast, she finally asked, “So how exactly are we hosting guests when weve got no food and the place is a mess?”
“Couldnt say no to Soph,” Harry mumbled into his plate.
“Of course not,” Olivia arched a brow. “Your sisters impossible to refuse.”
“Youve got a plan, dont you? Saw you thinking hard last night. Honestly, Im impressed you didnt lose it.”
“First, call Sophie and ask if theyre bringing anything. Theres four of themtwo adults, two kids.”
“Alright,” Harry agreed, dialling with a nervous twitch.
“Soph, hi. Livs planning the spreadjust checking what youre bringing so we dont double up.”
Laughter crackled down the line. “*Youre joking, right?* When would I have time? Ive got two kids! We assumed Liv would handle it, like always.”
“Theyre not toddlerstheyre in school,” Harry pointed out.
A crash sounded. “Oh god, theyve broken something again. Gotta go!” The call ended abruptly.
Harry returned, baffled. “Theyre not bringing anything, are they?” Olivia asked, lips pressed tight.
“Nope. Mum neither. Both said they just want to relax.”
“Thought so,” Olivia sighed. “Ive been thinking my parents invited us days ago. I just didnt mention it because I wanted to stay home. Fancy joining? We havent got long to decide.”
“Thatll start a row with my lot,” Harry frowned.
“Or with me,” Olivia smirked.
“Obviously Im picking you,” he surrendered, hands up.
Olivia tidied while Harry hit the shops with her list. The mall was festivetwinkling lights, tinsel everywhere. Passing a display, he froze. “The *tree*! Howd I forget?”
Abandoning the list, he beelined for the tree lot and hauled home a petite spruce, needles tickling his face.
Olivia gasped when he walked in. “*A tree?*”
“Fancy decorating? I, uh, skipped the shopping. Wanted to cheer you up.”
“You *hate* real trees.”
“Dunno,” Harry shrugged. “Felt like a change.”
The mood lifted instantly. Olivia dug out the decoration box and got to work, draping baubles and lights with care. By the time Harry returned, the room glowed.
“Got everything?” she asked, peering into his bags.
“All but the fish. Looked dodgy. Well grab some on the way.” Her heart warmedshe hadnt expected him to embrace her plan so wholeheartedly.
Soon, they loaded the car. It was only 7 p.m., and Harrys family werent due till ten. Olivias parents lived an hour away, but they left early to avoid stress.
Standing by the boot, Olivia tucked her hair behind her ear. “Think we forgot anything?”
“Just dessert. Well pick something up.”
She nodded, and they set off.
Her parents cottage was postcard-perfect, strung with fairy lights. “We never took last years down,” her dad, Arthur, chuckled when she complimented them.
“Really? Didnt notice when we visited in summer,” Olivia grinned.
Unloading groceries, she said, “Brought bits and bobs. Not sure what youd planned, but it might help.”
“RightIll stash these,” Arthur said. “While you girls cook, Harry and Ill fire up the sauna.”
Hed built it himselfa proper rustic retreat, always scented with essential oils.
Olivia and her mum, Valerie, put on a cheesy holiday film and lost track of time prepping. At nine, Harrys phone blew up.
“Harry, open up! Were outside,” Sophie demanded.
“Were not home,” he admitted.
“*What?* Where are you? Whenll you be back?”
“Gone to the countryside. Bit last-minute. Back in a couple days.”
“*The countryside?* What about New Years?”
“Celebrating here.”
“*Seriously?*” Sophie sneered. “So what, Im stuck entertaining the kids all night?”
“Suppose so,” Harry said calmly.
“Unbelievable. At least tell me the keys are under the mat. Im not cleaning up your mess.”
“Ah, *thats* why you always mooch off others,” Harry laughed. “But my wife outsmarted you. Happy New Year!” He hung up.
Ten seconds later, his mum, Margaret, rang.
“Yeah, weve left,” Harry cut in. “Celebrating in the village. No keys.”
“How *dare* you! We were counting on you!”
“Tough. Honestly, Im sick of hosting in our tiny flat. Why dont *you* or Sophie ever invite us? But showing up to be fed*that* youll do!”
“Son, is this how you treat your own mother?”
“How? *Fairly?*”
Margaret fell silent.
“Fine. I understand,” she said coldly. “We wont bother you again.”
Harry exhaled. Not easy, but overdue.
“Everything okay?” Olivia rested her head on his shoulder.
“Mum called.”
“Right. Was this the right move?”
“*Yes*,” Harry turned to her. “Here, were *wanted*. My lot? They just take. Ive put up with it too long.”
Olivia hugged him.
“Come on,” Harry lightened up. “Lets get ready.”
That New Years was perfectcos
