Chapter Twenty-Six.

                                    

                                          
“Are we telling them then?” George asked as we walked down the path towards the front door. 
                          
“Not yet,” I grinned. 
                          
Opening the front door carefully, trying to not make any sound at all, I heard a familiar movie playing from the front room. Walking in, I realised what film they were all watching. 
                          
“You know it’s Christmas when Elf is on TV,” I said. 
                          
Mum and Michael nearly jumped out of their skin with fright, causing me to giggle like a little kid. 
                          
“What are you two doing here?” Michael asked as me and George sat on the sofa next to Jack as he sat watching the television, still engrossed in Elf. 
                          
“We thought we’d spend Christmas with you,” I smiled. 
                          
“I’ve been trying to call you for a week,” mum said. “Why didn’t you answer?”
                          
“We’ll tell you later,” I grinned, trying to hide the ring on my finger with my scarf. “When do Kate and everyone else get here?” 
                          
“They said they were just setting off ten minutes ago so anytime now,” Michael smiled. 
                          
“Why?” mum asked, looking suspicious. “What are you two planning?”
                          
“Nothing,” I grinned. Mum gave us both an unconvincing look. “George, tell her.” 
                          
“What?” George asked, directing his attention back to me after getting into the movie. 
                          
“Nothing,” I laughed. 
                          
“So where have you two been for the last week?” mum asked, looking concerned. “You both just completely vanished.”
                          
“We’ll tell you later,” I smiled, getting pulled into Elf. 
                          
*
                          
“Sammy, what’s going on?” Kate asked as I pulled her into the living room with Jonathan. “We’ve only just got here.”
                          
“Sit down,” I grinned as me and George stood in front of them, getting ready to tell them. 
                          
“What’s the rush?” Jonathan laughed.
                          
Holding onto George’s arm, I looked at mum, Michael, Kate and Jonathan as they looked up at us. 
                          
“Seriously, what’s going on you two?” Michael asked. 
                          
“The reason that nobody could get in contact with either of us for the last week is because..” I paused, trying to contain my excitement at telling them about our huge news. “Because George took me away from a Christmas present.”
                          
“That’s so lovely,” mum grinned to me and George. 
                          
“It was amazing, but that’s not it,” I smiled. “We went to New York.” Mum looked at me in surprise. “I know what you’re thinking, but yeah, it was hard to be there but it made me feel a lot better, especially seeing dad’s name on the memorial,” I smiled. “But that’s still not it.” 
                          
“Oh god,” mum said.
                          
“We’re engaged.”
                          
Everyone looked at us in shock. We stood looking at them in silence, waiting for some sort of reaction from them. 
                          
“Mum,” I smiled. “Say something.”
                          
“Well I wasn’t expecting that,” she grinned. “But that’s so great.” 
                          
“You had better look after her, George,” Kate joked as she hugged us both. “She’s my little Sammy and if you ever hurt her..”
                          
“I won’t,” George laughed. 
                          
“Michael, you are okay with this, aren’t you?” I asked, looking at Michael as he sat on the sofa, still looking up at us in shock. 
                          
Michael looked at me, and then at George. He still had no idea about the whole baby thing either – mum decided it was best to not tell him as he thought of me like his own daughter and at times got really protective over me. “Congratulations,” he said, smiling a sincere smile at us both.