AUDREY
Dread filled my veins, anxiety hitting like a hammer to my very core. My hands gripped the steering wheel of the car, the music beginning to overwhelm me, the grey clouds selfishly blocking out the sunlight.
"Drey? You're gripping the wheel a bit too tight there." Margo's voice pulled me out of that place that I hate - my head.
"I'm just...nervous. What if it goes badly, what if father acts up? What if-"
"Audrey, you need to calm down, like seriously. It's going to be great, we'll have a grand ol' time, and dad is not going to act up. He's gotten a lot calmer and happy since you've begun the process of taking over the company, plus, he has no reason to act up," she responded calmly.
I couldn't hold back the sigh that escaped past my lips. "I just can't help but worry. Sebastian has never properly met my father and not only that but his family as well? I'm just afraid."
"You've always been the worrier of the family, can't really blame you for that though, that's dad's fault but anyway. Look, dad already knows that Sebastian and family are coming thanks to the four emails and seven text messages you sent him and mum so, believe me, he's well prepared and besides he seemed excited to meet them all, he has worked with the King family before so they're not exactly strangers." She shrugged her shoulders and changed the song.
"I know, but what if he gets angry or something, or...I don't know." My frustration was beginning to rear its head at this point.
"Audrey, you've only ever seen the business side of dad, cold and calculated. You didn't really get to see him as a dad so I honestly don't blame you for worrying that the worst will come."
There was a long moment of silence, Margo knew it was what I needed. "Did you know about the videos?"
"Videos?" She questioned, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.
My eyebrows drew together in disbelief. "You dirty-minded hurricane. The videos father took of me as a child, Videos of my sports competitions, videos of science competitions and math competitions, videos of birthday parties. Did you know about them?"
"I remember seeing uncle Matthew with a video camera a couple of times but I never really got to see the videos. Why?"
I hesitated before answering. "Before I left, I went home and heard a noise, it sounded like cheering. I followed it to the home cinema where I saw father sitting there watching a video of me sprinting in sports day, he was cheering me on in the video. Then it switched to another video then another. It was just strange, all my life I never remembered him at those events nor do I remember him loving me enough to cheer me on."
"Audrey, you saw a side of him that no kid should ever be subjected to, he acted more like a business partner or boss when he was around you, and even though he says it was to prep you for this so that taking over this massive company would be a lot easier, every kid needs their parent to act as a parent." She began, pausing the music and turning to me.
"We are so blessed to have the life that we have whilst there are people living in poverty not even knowing where their next meal will come from. There are people with broken families, people who have to watch their closest loved ones suffer through addiction, mental health problems and so much more. I say this because I know you'll bring it up as a reason to invalidate your pain and your sadness but your emotions and everything you feel is so valid and you can't compare your life experience to others, lifestyle included. These feelings don't care where you're from, how big your house is or if you have a happy family, they just strike and you need to remember that you're not alone and I'm really sorry that I wasn't the best sister that I could have been." Margo's eyes began to water at this point and her voice began to get hoarse.
I reached over and squeezed her hand. "Margo, you're a great sister, you're amazing. The fact that you're here now making me feel better is so important to me. Just because you had a different kind of childhood to me or that you were busy with your own life doesn't make you a bad sister at all, not even in the slightest. So put the music back on and let's start the singing party, no more depresso espresso in this car."
She laughed before turning the music back on and singing along. We continued this until we reached our destination, arriving there before anyone else.
We got out of the car to grab our bags, the massive cabin looming over us, the snow really setting the typical winter paradise picture. We hauled our bags through the door, going to our rooms and unpacking. We were in the right-wing of the cabin that is really too big to be called a cabin but whatever.
By mid-day, the rest of the family joined us, taking residence in their respective wings, the west wing left empty for Sebastian and family. We had all gathered in the living room, finely decorated by the employees with fairy lights, snow globes, tinsel and a magnificent Christmas tree.
In the middle of the conversations, my phone pinged, looking down to see a message from Sebastian.
'Five minutes away, see you soon. I'm expecting a lot of fun and chaos.'
True to the message, five minutes later a knock resounded at the door. I excused myself and went to open the door, greeting the four faces on the other side.
"Audrey! I know I only saw you a few days ago but it's so wonderful to see you again." Sebastian's mother beamed, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
"It's lovely to see you too, welcome to the Parkinson winter cabin. Come in, it's warm inside."
They followed me in, the snow beginning to melt off their clothes. They waved to my family on the way past, still following me to their rooms. I left for the living room, giving them time to unpack.
"So this is the boy who is dating my daughter? Well, you certainly did well for yourself Audrey." My father had a wide smile on his face, one I don't think I've ever seen before. He laughed and greeted the rest of Sebastian's family, Sebastian's dad taking the seat beside my father, the two chatting like old friends. My mother, like my father, began a conversation with Sebastian's mother, the two gossiping like old times with wide smiles on their faces.
"This place is really nice, and the decorations are amazing." Sebastian sat beside me, sliding his arm around my shoulders.
I glanced around the room in awe. "Yeah, the staff did such a good job decorating."
"Do the staff have to stay over Christmas?"
"No, the ones that stay over Christmas are the ones that voluntarily stay, we give them all a Christmas bonus anyway even if they don't stay, the ones that do won't let us pay them." I smiled, gesturing to the couple sitting beside each other, laughing and sipping on eggnog.
"That's Alex, the chef, and Georgina, our head housekeeper. Georgina leaves on Christmas eve, she helps Alex prepare the Christmas food for Christmas day and finishes up any last-minute preparations. Alex has his husband Jared and Jared's brother who stay with us, Alex and Jared's brother Graham are both chefs so like to make the food."
"Wait, Graham? Chef? Hold on, I think he's-"
"Sebastian? Who would have thought you'd be here?" A familiar face walked through the doorway holding a plate with cake on it.
"Graham? Ah, what a lovely surprise. George, who would have thought we'd be connected in this way?" He sent a burst of booming laughter through the room.
Alex joined his husband on the couch as Graham cut the cake. As Graham slid the first piece of cake on a plate he glanced around the room before letting out a chuckle. "Let the festivities begin."