| The hours turned into days, days to weeks, and Christmas was looming large and life in the Richardson household was becoming busier and more hectic as the hustle and bustle of the season took hold. Harriet threw herself into the season�s celebrations with an enthusiasm that was infectious, therefore very fresh and new to Kevin, and the children had inherited their mother�s love of all things Christmassy. Their childlike delight and excitement was so adorable that it never failed to warm Kevin�s heart and his life with Harriet and the children was a constant voyage of discovery, which he found an immensely enriching. Kevin could just not imagine returning to his previous life, for him, it seemed a world in the dim distant past, a life of another Kevin Richardson that he knew once. Kevin found he did not yearn for his other life; instead, he revelled in this life and all its normality. This freakish event also enabled Kevin to experience more time with his family, with his mother and two elder brothers, something that due to his career he had missed so much. The thing about this predicament Kevin found himself in that amused him the most was the fact that his cousin Brian was also leading a normal life with a wife and baby daughter the same age as Annie. Many a moment he indulged in a secret chuckle at this ironic twist of fate that had changed not only his future but Brian�s as well. Kevin wondered if he were to confide his circumstances to Brian whether his cousin would believe him. Shaking his head with a mischievous smile, much like Scotty�s, Kevin enjoyed toying with the idea of teasing Brian about his alternate life as a famous pop singer, but Harriet broke into his musings. �I know that look and it spells trouble.� She leaned in over his shoulder and tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear. �Huh? What look?� Kevin leaned back into the armchair and reached up to pull his wife down onto his lap enfolding her within his arms. �I see that look a hundred times a day and it�s usually when Scott is planning a whole bundle of trouble.� Kevin chuckled but wore an innocent, what me look upon his chiselled features. Trying to hold his face straight but not succeeding he burst out laughing and playfully cuddled Harriet tighter. She nestled into his shoulder and Kevin felt her relax against his chest. �I don�t know what I�m going to do with you three.� She tilted her head upwards so she could see Kevin�s face. Resting her palm against his check she sighed in mock exasperation. Kevin flashed her a boyish grin and dropped a kiss on her upturned nose. �Scotty and Liam are just like you Kev, they could charm the stars down from the sky all the while being up to no good.� Harriet told her husband with a tender smile. �Thank God we have you to keep us on the straight and narrow then.� Kevin cupped her face within his hands but his eyes were suddenly serious but his underlying tone held a hint of desperation. �I can�t imagine life without you now Harrie, you�ve become such a part of me, that I just could not imagine life without you.� It was always in the back of his mind that his existence in this life might not be forever, that as quick as he appeared in it, it might disappear just as suddenly. Kevin�s eyes held Harriet�s spellbound. �I do love you Harrie�. Far more than you will ever know, you�ve enriched my life, shown me what it�s like to be a husband, a father, you�ve shown me what it�s like to be content, to know true happiness and therefore be at peace with one�s life. You have given me the greatest gift; you have given me your love and our children. I would not change this life for anything in the world.� While Kevin had been speaking, Harriet�s arms had unconsciously found themselves linked around Kevin�s neck. Her eyes held a hint of worry, for she sensed Kevin�s desperation but she did not doubt his sincerity. �So serious my love?� With a nod and a tender smile Kevin�s lip found Harriet�s and for several minutes he lost himself in their softness. Pulling away reluctantly he rested his head against her forehead. �I guess that was serious, but Harrie, you just never know when it all could be taken away. I just wanted you to know that you have my heart.� �Kev, are you ok? Is everything alright?� Harriet was concerned now that something was bothering her husband. Kevin smiled and ran his hand lightly through her hair playing with its silky fineness. �Everything is the best it�s ever been; I just wanted you to know that. I have never, ever been happier.� �I love you Kevin Scott Richardson.� She whispered against his lips. Kevin accepting her invitation spent several more delightful minutes in his wife�s embrace before the inevitable happened. A whirlwind in the form of Scotty appeared breathless in the doorway. �Mum, dad�.. you better come�� oh not again.� He grinned and pulled disgusted face as he caught his father�s exasperated eye and witnessed his mother�s blushes at being caught out again by her eldest son. Kevin reluctantly pulled away from Harriet and turned to face his eldest son. With affectionate resignation colouring his voice Kevin asked �what havoc have you and your brother loosed upon the world now brat? Scott grinned at his father�s affectionate chaffing while trying to school his freckled features into seriousness. �We was rehearsing the nativity play�.� Kevin caught Harriet�s eye and they exchanged a long-suffering glance. �And?��� Kevin prompted with a sigh as Harriet and he braced themselves for the worst. �Liam�s stuck.� Scotty told them bluntly with half an eye on his mother as she reacted to the news. His mother had a tendency to regard their scrapes less indulgently than their father, so Scott thought it politic to direct his last statement to his father. �Stuck where?� asked his mother as she slipped out of her husband�s embrace and stood up to face her errant son. �Umm� inthegarage�.� Scott blurted out running his words together. He did not like the look in Harriet�s eye. �Where in the garage Scott?� Harriet asked patiently with a sideways glance at Kevin who was now standing beside her with his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. Whether to keep her calm or to keep her from wanting to throttle her eldest child she did not know Harriet thought with amusement. However she was used to their boys constant mischief so she trusted her instincts in knowing that although Liam might be stuck, he was not in any life-threatening situation. Scott shuffled his feet uncomfortably knowing it was probably better if he confessed now that later. His mother was always fairer with their punishment if they owned up or told the truth as soon as possible. �He�s in the roof, well not quite in the roof but tied to the rafters.� Harriet heard Kevin mutter a curse under his breath before he caught her eye with a rueful roll of his eyes. �So what�s this got to do with rehearsing the nativity play Scott?� Kevin asked his son, causing Scott to spin around to face his father. �Well Liam was the angel who came to visit baby Jesus.� He told his parents as if that explained it all as he led the way from the lounge room to the garage. �Ok, but how does Liam being the angel relate to him being stuck to the rafters in the garage?� �Well angel�s fly don�t they? � Scott explained impatiently, then seeing his parents blank looks explained. �Because Liam�s an angel he had to fly, only he got stuck.� �I think I don�t want to know.� Sighed Harriet as Kevin pushed open the garage door to find a forlorn looking Liam dangling from a block and tackle who�s rope had somehow got itself entangled amongst the rafters of the garage roof. Encased in one of Harriet�s newest white sheets that was now virtually unrecognisable as such and with his tinsel halo decidedly unangelic slipping over his pale green eyes Liam grinned hopefully down at his eldest brother and his parents. �Hi mum, dad�. I forgot to put my wings on.� �Is that one of my good sheets Liam?� Harriet asked as she held the ladder for Kevin as he thought about the best way to retrieve his middle child from the tangle of rope and timber. �Umm� yeah I guess it was.� Liam said with a shrug of his small shoulders. �Sorry!� �Keep still imp.� Kevin laughed, again catching Harriet�s eyes; although she was not too pleased about the new sheet being so misused he could tell she was entertained by the originality of this latest piece of mischief. �You�re tangling yourself up even further. How on earth did you get so tangled?� Kevin grunted as he struggled to sort out the mess of rope and sheet and his son�s dangling body. �I dunno Daddy, Scotty hauled me up and the rope started to twist, I think we jammed it.� �You sure did rascal, jammed it good and proper. I might have to cut the rope to get you down. What on earth possessed you two to try this?� �Well see dad�..� Scott tried to explain. �I think that�s a rhetorical question Scott.� Harriet told him as continued to hold onto the ladder. �A what?� Scotty wrinkling his nose in confusion asked. Harriet a conscientious mother when it came to education explained. �A question that does not require an answer.� Scott was saved from having to think of a reply as his father asking for his hacksaw distracted his mother. �Thanks Harrie.� Kevin thanked her while gripping hold of Liam with one arm while sawing away with his free hand. Harriet instructed Scott to hold on tight to the ladder while she hovered about giving instructions to Kevin from below. At last the rope gave way and Kevin untangled the remains of the sheet Liam wore from the rope and the rafter, thus freeing his son from the tangle. With a grunt as Kevin took Liam�s weight, he passed the saw down to Harriet and dismounted carefully with his son in his arms. Placing Liam�s feet on the floor he turned and faced both son�s with a stern eye. Although he was amused by his son�s latest scrape he thought it was about time he put his foot down. �Ok fellas it�s about time we had a father and son talk don�t you think?� Kevin admonished the two boys as Harriet with an encouraging smile discreetly left him to get on with the business of chastising the two imps of mischief standing disconsolately in front of him shuffling their feet and avoiding his eyes. Both boys knew that if dad were mad at them, they were indeed in trouble. Both brothers looked at each other in resignation, and then squaring their shoulders, manly faced their father ready to accept their punishment. Kevin struggling with the urge to laugh suppressed his twitching lips and schooled his features into solemnity. His hand indicated that they should take a seat on a couple of wooden storage boxes. As Kevin began his lecture Harriet softly closed the door behind her with a smile, wondering what punishment her husband had in store for the mischievous duo. ******************* Harriet as a matter of honour between the three men of the household never asked Kevin what he came up with as a punishment, but whatever it was, it was certainly effective. Scott and Liam had been the model of perfect children for the last week. They had managed to get through the nativity concert without mishap, both boys belying their talent for mayhem and disaster with their angelic performances, much to both doting grandmother�s approval and their parent�s immense relief. Kevin had driven them all crazy with his video camera, not wishing to miss capturing a moment of this rare exhibition of saintly behaviour. After the play the happy party partook of a family dinner at Kevin�s mother�s house, where the grandchildren kicked off the shackles of having to be on their best behaviour and let their hair down, while their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts ate and watched the children indulgently while competing in the noise stakes with laughter and good-natured fun. Kevin leaning against the doorframe of the dining room while sipping from his wine glass watched the family scene unfold before his eyes with a deep sense of contentment. He smiled happily, watching as his two older brothers debated the merits of the latest tactics used by the wildcats coach for the last football game, before his gaze wandered across to his children and their cousins boisterously playing in the lounge, to his sister in laws, his mother, Harriet�s mother and his wife comparing recipes for the upcoming Christmas dinner. As always he was stuck speechless by Harriet�s simple beauty, could feel his heart flip and miss a beat at the sight of her laughing, the way she tucked that lock of annoying hair that always fell forward across her face when she leant forward to make her point. Taking another sip of his wine, Kevin tried to regain some equilibrium to still his rapidly beating heart as this incredible wave of love washed over him as he watched Harriet so at ease within the circle of his family. She turned her head sideways and caught his eyes upon her; unable to look away she read his unspoken message of love in those green depths. Harriet flushed under his gaze but she did not look away, instead she returned look for look so full of promise that Kevin felt his manhood stir in anticipation. So engrossed was he in Harriet and the promise in her eyes that he failed to realise his brother Jerald was speaking to him. When Jerry thumped him on the arm to get his attention Kevin jumped, choked on a mouthful of wine, coloured pink in the face as he finally realised he was being spoken too then caught Harriet choking back a laugh at him as he turned to face the all too knowing eyes of his eldest brother. Jerry winked across at Harriet before dragging Kevin back into the football debate with his brothers. The days before Christmas sped by. The tree was bought amid much ceremony as Kevin, Scott and Liam debated the merits of each and every tree in the tree lot, while Harriet looked on with an indulgent eye while Annie excitedly toddled in and out of their legs as the infectious mood of gaiety took hold. When one of the trees was finally deemed worthy for the Richardson household, it was duly strapped to the roof of the car. It was then carefully driven home and with much manoeuvring and instructions being yelled noisily from everyone in the family Kevin cautiously carried and manipulated the tree through the house where it was given pride of place in the big bay window of the lounge room to await decorating. Amid excited cries and admiration from children who leaped up and down, squirmed happily under his feet and generally got in his way as he positioned the tree, Kevin finally stood up, stretched his aching back, grinned at Harriet before turning a satisfied eye over his handiwork. �Perfect.� Harriet told Kevin with a smile as she linked her arm companionably through his. Scott and Liam pushed between them pleading with their parents to let them decorate the tree right at that moment. Harriet looked down at her effervescent offspring with an easygoing eye and told them firmly. �As soon as you�ve got cleaned up and hung up your coats you may get the decorations from the garage.� Both boys took off at a run, scrambling over each other in the rush to get their coats off. �And don�t run.� Her voice was lost in the boy�s excitement to get upstairs first. She felt Kevin slip his arm about her waist, pulling her close, he pointed towards their daughter and chuckled as Annie now left in peace by her brothers curiously explored the tree with ungainly steps of a newly walking infant. �She�ll enjoy Christmas this year I think.� Harriet bent down and lifted her daughter into her arms, despite Annie�s protests, wanting to be put back down so she could continue her rummaging unhindered amongst this intriguing greenery. Kevin tickled the squirming infant under the chin before taking her from Harriet arms and resting the infant upon his hip. She tugged at his hair while Kevin offered. �I�ll go change Annie.� A muffled crash and a yelp were heard from upstairs and Kevin rolled his eyes and added with a sigh. �And see what those two rogues are up to.� Harriet agreed readily with a nod and a long-suffering grin. She was willing to let Kevin take charge of two over excited boys in the hope he could calm them down somewhat. Kevin dropped a light kiss on her nose as he adroitly shifted Annie to a more comfortable position in his arms. �How about you make some hot chocolate, find some Christmassy music and I�ll get the kids ready. Then we can decorate the tree.� �Excellent plan Kev.� Harriet agreed with his suggestion as she playfully gave him a shove towards the door. �I do have my moments Harrie.� Kevin quipped over his shoulder. His eyes were dancing and twinkling like the lights on a Christmas tree. �Oh that you do Richardson�. That you do.� She chuckled after his retreating back. With an affectionate smile tugging at her lips Harriet took off her jacket and flung it over the armchair. She loved this time of year and her favourite part of Christmas was decorating the tree with the children. Kevin echoed her thoughts as he made his way upstairs, gaily anticipating the next few hours, his first Christmas experience as a parent. His other existence was almost forgotten, but somewhere in the back of his mind he worried that this would all turn out to be a dream. He ruthlessly pushed that thought away as the sound of Bing Crosby�s White Christmas wafted up the stairwell. If this was a dream he did not want to wake up, for in this dream he had all he ever wanted. |