If You're Not Busy

Chapter 49 Travels!

After a few weeks, Mariah and Tessa were getting used to living in a bigger house, and a bigger bed! Mariah sometimes heard Tessa's hand patting the bed in the dark trying to find her body to cuddle up to. They were also getting around to decorating each bedroom, of which they had six! They wanted it all to be just perfect when the families all arrived for Christmas. With two weeks left to go before they all arrived, Mariah told Tessa they needed to go and buy Christmas lights for the house. For the house? questioned Tessa. Yeah! You know so that light up the house on the outside. We need to put them up at the weekend so they are ready to go, otherwise, it's going to be one mad rush in the last week, because I don't know about you but I have enough stuff going on at work to worry about. Can we get the tree? asked Tessa. Well I would rather us leave that until the last week, so we can get a nice fresh one to put up, so then the needles will stay on longer.

No problem said, Tessa. What about indoor decorations? Well, we could do them at the same time we put the tree up? You sure we will have time? Yes, I think so said, Mariah. We have all the food being delivered so we don't have to worry about that. And I'm sure Dena and Cindy will be helping us out. I'm sure they will said, Tessa in fairness I think they might even take over? I think you may be right there said, Mariah, starting to laugh. They have never tasted any of our cooking before, so they might not even allow us to cook for them. They both fell about laughing this time. I'm so glad they are all getting here roughly at the same time. Yeah! It's only Shelby that can't arrive until Christmas eve. Is she bringing her girlfriend finally, so we can all meet her at long last? asked Tessa. Well, that's not quite true said, Mariah. Dena, Frank, and Tyler have met her. It's just us and your side of the family that hasn't. What's the situation? Are they both coming? Yes said, Mariah happily Shelby and Ashley will both be here.

Ya said, Tessa, It's great that by the time they get here, they should all have newly painted bedrooms and all have their own bathrooms too. Yeah! Isn't that great said, Mariah, no one will have to creep down the hallway, halfway through the night to find a bathroom! Tyler is going to love it too, he has his own little space he can go to. Especially now we have put a TV in his room so that he can play his video games whenever he wants. I think he might have grown out of them a little bit now said, Mariah but I'm sure he will appreciate the space we've made for him. Ok come on less chatter, we need to go and buy some lights, Where do you want to go first? I guess Target maybe? If they don't have what we want we'll go to Walmart. Oh, that's a good call said, Tessa, they usually have loads of stuff. Let's grab a coffee at Crimson too, she said as they both headed for the door. Who's car said, Tessa. Well if we want it done today, mine I guess said, Mariah, smirking at Tessa. Just because I drive slower than you, doesn't mean you can make fun of me said, Tessa. Well, you do drive like an old granny said, Mariah, trying not to laugh. Ooh, you are wicked said, Tessa, shutting the door behind them.

There wasn't much at Target, so they moved onto Walmart where they had so much choice! They bought ornaments for the tree, a few decorations for inside the house, and loads of lights for outside. I think we need a truck! Said, Tessa wheeling the cart to the cashier. Yeah! We may have just gone a little overboard said, Mariah, grinning. I'm sure we will use them all though. Have we a ladder? asked Tessa. No idea, we will have to check when we get home. I'm sure we will find one somewhere for us to use. I hope so said, Tessa otherwise we will have to go out again to Home Depot or somewhere. Once back at The Barn, Tessa worked out where each set of lights would be going, she also did herself a little plan so she wouldn't forget. She also asked Mariah what size tree she was thinking of? Ooh, I don't really know. Why do you need to know anyway? said, Mariah. I want to work out what string of lights will be for the tree, that's all said, Tessa. Ok, shall we measure and see what height we like in the room? 

They decided to go for a 2.5-meter tree, which Tessa decided would need about a three to five hundred light string on it to make it look good. So she left a five hundred string with all the tree decorations so she wouldn't use it for anything else. She went back outside to finish off her plan. When she came back in, Mariah had lit all the candles and made a lovely bowl of hot vegetable soup for dinner. Ooh, that smells so yummy said, Tessa. It's nearly ready said, Mariah coming out of the kitchen. Go warm yourself up with a nice shower, and it will all be ready when you come back down. Tessa gave her a peck on the cheek as she went past and flew up the stairs. When she came back down, Mariah looked beautiful sitting on the sofa in the candlelight. She'd laid the table all pretty, and there was a glass of wine already poured ready for Tessa to drink. This looks very romantic said, Tessa, taking Mariah into her arms on the sofa, and kissing her. Well, I thought we'd make the most of it before we have a house full of guests. Which does include our siblings and parents! They both laughed out loud.