It's Christmas today. My most favorite festival of the year.

Last night went rather beautifully on my date with Liam. Even though his step grandmother attempted to spoil our plans, we still managed to put the encounter at bay and enjoyed our movie date, followed by another round of ice-skating.

It was the best Christmas Eve I've had in years, and I hope there'll be many more to come. Aside from that, Liam and I had the pleasure of dropping by at Westminster Abbey and said our thanks during the mass.

Honestly, it's been ages since I last stepped foot in the church.

"Merry Christmas, family!" I announce loudly as I'm the last one wake up this morning.

"Merry Christmas!" Collective voices respond.

The house is in a beautiful chaos today. I gather that everyone looks jubilant as they sit down for breakfast, and the table is utterly inviting with so many bites.

"How was your night, honey?" Eleanor asks me with a bright smile, still wearing her comfy pajamas.

"Great! I overslept." I chuckle, and suddenly two kids run past me while giggling loudly.

I swear I can feel the joy in the air. How many people are here today? On the breakfast table I see Eleanor, Mrs. Prescott, and Lisa who's serving croissants on the plates. And these kids? They run again, back to the living room.

And suddenly my husband appears with a phone in his ear, talking to someone while holding a coffee mug. Beside him is Malik, who grabs the phone from Liam and takes over the conversation.

They smile at me. I smile back, softly and stunned.

And again, the kids? They run again, urging Lisa to pause whatever she's doing so as to stop them from making a ruckus in the kitchen. Wow! This surely feels like a family home today and I certainly love it.

"They're my grandkids. I swear they'll give me a heart attack before the day ends," says Mrs. Prescott upon seeing my stunned look.

"Oh, I see. They're energetic," I reply and slowly pull a seat for myself.

What a lovely morning!

"We're still discussing the menu. Any ideas? I had a few suggestions but I'd like to hear about yours," Eleanor tells me over breakfast, and with everything going on, I no longer see Malik and Liam around.

Wonderful!

"Well, we can go with anything! You're an amazing cook, Eleanor, and I don't think your choice can be questionable," I reply and she laughs softly. "Are we expecting guests?" I pour myself some milk in a glass.

"Yeah. A few friends may drop by," she replies, and from this we decide to recheck the menu before we start preparing for lunch.

Liam corners me behind the kitchen door and whispers, "Merry Christmas, Gorgeous. Did I mention how much I love you today?"

"Not really." I giggle, embracing the warmth of his back hug and kisses on my neck. "But you still have time to make amends, Handsome."

"Mmm, don't I fancy it when you act all naughty!" Liam says spin me around. Another giggle lurches from my mouth as we face each other. "I seriously love you, Mrs. Darcy." His voice becomes gentle and deep, and his eyes shine brightly.

"And I you, Mr. Darcy. Merry Christmas," I whisper while leaning closer to his face. 

He smiles. He strokes my hair, holding the back of my neck with his other hand. Our lips meet and slowly we share a kiss, long and deep, until someone interrupts with a yelp of shock.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Carry on. Pretend I didn't come here!" says Lisa while jogging away.

We burst into laughter.

"Do you see why I want an apartment just for us?" Liam enthuses, even though I believe he's not joking.

"An apartment so you can grab me anywhere you what? Bad boy!" I recoil, deeply inside aroused by the idea.

"And any time I want." His lips return on my mine. Wile kissing he adds, "Can I kidnap you for a while?"

"How long?" 

"Five minutes or ten?" 

"Five minutes," I state.

Later in the kitchen I make a group video call with Roshni and Sam. God, I missed ladies. My eyes and smile are on the screen of my laptop as we chat.

"Well, it's Boxing day here so Merry Christmas to you two," Roshni says, her face looking radiant despite the hardships she's currently facing.

"Merry Christmas!" Sam and I return.

"And you, Sam? Why are you awake at this hour? You should be sleeping, right?" I ask her, for it must be past midnight in L.A.

"I can't sleep, and as you can see, I'm stuffing my belly with this chocolate cake," Sam says, making us laugh loudly at the face she makes while picking on her cake. She laughs along as says, "And I think I miss you so much, Kiki. We'd be together around this time, right?"

Her sad voice makes my eyes moist. Indeed we'd be together after roaming around town to witness the live Christmas carol and other stuff done by the folks.

Around one in the afternoon the house is filled with a few guests. Luckily, the food and drinks are all ready by now, and they are enough for everyone. We have set a buffet and the smell is terrific.

"Merry Christmas!" Two friends of Eleanor arrive with a champagne bottle.

"Girls!" Eleanor's squeaks, fully dressed in a red, long sleeve top and black slacks. She's divine. "Welcome." She ushers them in.

Smiling, I busy myself with Malik. He's been talking to Roshni nonstop and only paused to grab some food upon my order.

"Where is Liam?" I ask him.

"Over there with kids. You look lovely, Professor," Malik says with a grin.

I smile and mutter my thanks. I'm just in a simple beige pink dress and flats, and my hair into a simple up-do. I want no stress today, and that includes my personal comfort in regard to what I wear.

"Now eat and keep talking to your Lightness. I'm going to see Liam," I tell Malik and walk away, leaving him blushing profusely.

Liam has been busy with Mrs. Prescott's grandkids, Ana and Henrietta, for a good while now. I heard they usually visit during Christmas and he never misses the chance of having a moment with them.

As my gaze finds him, my smile falters. I can tell how much he loves kids from the way he giggles brightly, paying no attention to anyone else around him except the two kids seated with him on the couch.

"No, Uncle Liam! I aced all the subjects this time and I beat Henrietta," Ana says.

"No, I beat you. I scored 98 on Mathematics and you got only 96!" retorts Henrietta.

"Alright, fellas!" Liam intrudes, laughing. "You both did well, and like I promised, I've got you both the presents. Just wait until tomorrow and you'll open them, okay?"

"Only you can put some sense into them," Mr. Prescott remarks while eating his food.

He's also in the living room, seated next to them on the single couch.

I want to join them but Eleanor appears and snatches my hand. "Can I steal you for a while? Your husband will be just fine." She glances at Liam, whose attention is finally on me.

"Um, sure." I oblige with a smile, and off we wander into the kitchen.

The lunch goes on quite well and new acquaintances are formed. I finally met Eleanor's friends and they all seem like nice ladies.

"I have the best salon in Knightsbridge. You really have to drop by, or else I'll be very mad!" Samia, a gorgeous and sassy Latina tells me over another round of drinks in the kitchen.

She talks a lot, but hardly annoying.

"Sure thing, Samia. I'll be there this weekend," I reply, laughing heartily.

"Well, I don't have the best salon, but I'm happy to see you, Kira. Welcome to London and Merry Christmas," Rachel, a black lady who's very classy and reserved, says kindly.

She's a painter who owns her own Art gallery right here in Kensington.

I nod with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Rachel. Samia. Merry Christmas to you, too, and it was a pleasure meeting you," I say.

We click our glasses for a toast.

"I have to go, Eleanor. My husband has called nonstop enough." Samia stands up, downing the margarita in her glass without grace.

I laugh quietly, for she reminds me of my crazy blonde.

"Alright, girl! Let us single ladies enjoy the party," Eleanor muses.

By eight in the evening the house is almost empty. I return from the bathroom upstairs and find no one in the foyer, and just Liam and Malik in the living room, talking of something work-related while watching the BBC News on the TV.

I gladly neglect them by marching towards the kitchen, where Eleanor is all by herself. She seems absentminded, tilting a glass of water without joy in her face, but I think she's having a lot on her mind.

"Everything okay?" I ask her gingerly while taking a seat.

"I guess." She smiles indulgently and sighs deeply afterwards. "And you? Are you happy here?" Her voice is alarming.

Is she drunk?

"I am." I nod.

"I'm glad you are." Another sigh leaves her lips as she sits straight. "But it's impossible to be totally happy, isn't it? Because I can still see the little sadness you're trying so hard to hide, my dear. Is there anything I can help you with? Are you having any troubles with Liam?"

"Um, no." I shake my head. "I mean, there's nothing for you to worry about."

Is this the right time to tell her about my problem? It looks like she's the one in need of a shoulder to cry on right now.

"Okay." Eleanor sips more water from the glass.

"Why the long face?" I ask cautiously while grabbing a strawberry Santa from the leftover Christmas cake I personally baked for the kids.

Eleanor faces me with a weak smile. "Don't pay attention to this old lady. Her problems are nothing anyone can solve," she whispers over another sip of water.

I feel like we're sailing on the same boat. But then I see a small frame laying on the countertop, a picture of the late Mr. Darcy out in the open.

"You're missing him, huh?" I blurt out while grabbing the frame, and my encounter with Liam's grandma flashes back in my mind.

I'm not going to tell Eleanor about it. I've promised Liam.

"I suddenly wish he was here. I want him back into my life, Kira, every single day that I wake without him by my side. I don't know why I can't accept he's no more. I've tried too hard but I can't. Perhaps I'll never accept it unless I see it with my own eyes." Her voice is painful and it breaks my heart.

And what is she talking about?

"Seeing it with your own eyes? What do you mean by that?" I quiz.

"It's a long story, Kira," Eleanor answers, smiling tightly while mopping her tears away.

"I have all the time in the world," I remark.

"Oh God," Eleanor breathes. We both sit more comfortably. "It was winter, just like now. An early December. We were going through a lot by that time, including some old dispute we had with Charlie's family." She pauses.

"What kind of dispute?" I try to encourage her to go on.

"They never wanted me and my son," Eleanor says, her eyes down on the glass she's tilting absently. "They were always at war with us, and he'd always take our side in protecting us against them. He was that wonderful, Kira. He accepted Liam as though he was his own flesh and blood, and no one knew that they weren't related."

She tells me more about the story, and it turns out that it was Charlie's idea to adopt Liam after his mother's death. I couldn't be more intrigued by that old man.

"Charlie and I had an argument over something he'd just found out about his father. He wanted to go and confront him . . . but I was against it. I never liked him fighting with them just to protect us, but that time he had a strong reason to do so." Eleanor's eyes find mine once again, and they are tearstained. "Instead, he took a car and left, promising he was going somewhere else," she adds, and her voice turns shaky at whatever she's about to add.

I can feel my heartbeat accelerating. Was it a car accident? I don't dare ask, however; I want to give Eleanor the total freedom to narrate her tale.

"He didn't come back," she says in a soft, mournful voice. I gup tightly. "He went on a boat ride and there was a storm and . . . and it took him." Tears stream down her face and she sobs.

"Oh God," I murmur. He died during the boat ride? "But how—" Kira tries to say something, anything, but I don't know what to say.

And suddenly we hear footsteps and Liam appears at the door.

"Am I intruding?" he asks after a pause of silence.

"No, honey." Eleanor pulls herself out of the barstool and she stumbles on it. "Oh no!" She holds onto me for support.

"Just great." Liam strides over.

"Don't bother. I can walk on my own," Eleanor articulates when he tries to hold her.

"You're drunk, Mother," Liam nags.

"Yes, I am, but it doesn't mean I require a babysitter to be in my room." Eleanor chuckles. "Where is Malik?" she asks while standing straight.

"Upstairs. He's sleeping over." Liam sighs.

"Okay. I'm off to sleep, too. Goodnight, kids." She slowly makes her exit, sober enough to walk on her own.

It's just Liam and I in the kitchen as silence reigns. I can't stop thinking of Eleanor's story and I still have so many questions regarding the matter.

"Is she okay?" Liam asks, referring to his mother.

"No. But she will be after a good rest"—hopefully—"so don't worry too much." I start clearing the table, so many dishes to wash.

Liam takes a deep sigh, watching me moving the dishes onto the sink. "Can't you do that tomorrow? You've had a long day already."

"I'm good. I can wash them right now." I smile at him, but it doesn't last as I find some dark cloud surrounding him out of the blue. "Are you okay?" I ask him with a frown.

He lowers his gaze, as though he's having a very difficult time saying whatever he's holding inside. Fear plummets inside me, not knowing what to make out of this.

"Liam," I call gently, "what's wrong?"

He glances at me and I can feel something bad is going on. I abandon everything and stride closer to him. He's holding his cellphone that's suddenly buzzing. He doesn't answer the call.

I frown. "What's going on, Liam? Aren't you picking up?"

"It's Monique's," he replies.

I roll my eyes. "I didn't know you keep in touch with her. Does she want something? I don't think she ever has anything pleasant to say, does she?"

"We were talking a while ago and she told me something weird," Liam explains, catching my full attention at last. "She said Scarlet lied to us."

"What do you mean?" I ask urgently.

Liam sighs, seemingly hesitant, and eventually says, "That is still pregnant. And she wants to get rid of the baby even though she has been warned not to do it by the doctors."

I fail to say a word, for I don't think I have the strength to do so. Is there such a thing as a happily ever after? No, never! I think Disney world should be banned from misleading young and foolish girls into believing that nonsense.