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Prompt ①: Character A and Character B, are chosen to prepare the Christmas party.
Peace and Goodwill...For Now
"Why can’t you have two separate parties? And why choose me? I'm not exactly a party or Christmas person."
“No, but you are my brother and I'm only going to be having one engagement party and one wedding. Sharing with mum's Christmas party will save us so much that we can use for the wedding."
"Yes but..."
'You do want me to have my dream wedding?"
Morse rolls his eyes and heaves a massive sigh down the phone.
"I suppose. Alright. I still think this is a terrible idea but what do you need me to do?"
"Not there! There!!”
Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Morse reaches back up to move the mistletoe to Gwen’s ideal position. A whole three inches to the left of its original spot. He really doesn't understand why all this is necessary but it's important to Joyce, so he'll simply have to suffer through it.
"Better?"
"It'll do. Not like it'll ever be perfect with you doing it. I'd have managed much better on my own!"
"I'm sure."
Gwen stalks off with a huff to inspect the flowers for the tenth time. For someone who says she'd manage she'd done very little outside of those plants. Morse was fairly sure he'd done at least 98% of the decorating in the small but surprisingly spacious hall. With so little notice he'd been lucky to find a place accessible for Witney, Eynsham and Oxford but he'd asked around and Jim had pulled some strings. What strings had been pulled, Morse didn't think he wanted to know but he was grateful. Follow that with some advice from Mrs Thursday and here he was, quietly proud of his novice attempt at what he'd been reliably informed was 'Christmas romance!’, although the six Christmas trees were a bit much in his opinion.
Looking back at Gwen, Morse heaves another sigh, he seemed to be doing that a lot today. As far as he’s concerned, tonight, and the upcoming wedding, is about Joyce and the two of them being at each other’s throats wouldn’t be what Joyce wanted. He was going to have to swallow his pride for the sake of his sister. It is Christmas after all.
“Look, Gwen, we both know we don’t get on but…shouldn’t we make an effort for tonight? For Joyce?”
Gwen glares at him over a large bunch of very red flowers before softening and letting out a sigh of her own.
“I suppose. It would be better to avoid causing any…talk. She’ll have enough of a reputation as it is, living in sin as they are, without adding any other gossip.”
It takes everything he has to avoid rolling his eyes.
‘Living in sin? This is the 70’s not the 30’s.’
“And I do confess that I would have struggled to find somewhere like this by myself.”
‘Wow.’
“But I would have managed the decorating just fine!”
“I don’t doubt it. Well…guests will be arriving soon, I should go and get the happy couple.”
“Is it safe in that new contraption of yours?”
“Of course!”
“Just making sure, no need to snap.”
‘Sigh’
Tonight, was the first time Morse had been able to take his new car for a proper spin, making the drive to Witney and back a genuine pleasure. The deep burgundy Jaguar Mark 2 had come into his hands at just the right time, and he’d taken to seeing it as a sign of a new start. It also provided the perfect backdrop for his first conversation with his baby sister's husband-to-be, easing any potential tension as he taxis them to the hall, pulling up outside right on time if Gwen’s silhouette waiting behind the door is anything to go by.
“Oh, this looks beautiful! How did you find this place?”
“I asked a friend. Wait there, I’ll get the door.”
Seeing the smile light up Joyce's face as she walks into the hall and sees her friends cheering from behind the Christmas trees really did make it all worthwhile.
“Oh my…I don’t know what to say. Thank you, mum.”
“I didn’t do it all. I paid but your brother found the place and did most of the decorating. I wouldn’t have had the time with all the flowers to arrange. Now, I must go and talk to Miranda about the wine. I’m sure it’s not the year I asked for. Don’t forget to talk to the ladies from the bingo hall if you want that discount on your dress.”
Gwen disappears into the crowd leaving three stunned faces in her wake. Joyce and Keith both turn to Morse open-mouthed.
“What did you say to bring this on? Not that I’m complaining mind.”
“I…not much. I suppose it’s your night, she wants you to be happy…and it’s Christmas. Peace and goodwill even to me.”
“Think she’ll keep it up?”
“Maybe for the wedding.”
Keith chuckles before venturing to the bar, leaving the siblings alone to ponder the mystery of Gwen.
“A Christmas miracle then. Thank you. For all of this and for agreeing to give me away.”
“No need to thank me. I’m your brother, it’s my job.”
“No, it’s not…but thank you for taking it on. Now you’ve done the important parts for the night, Keith adores the car, so you’re free to leave when you start to hate it.”
“Ha! Thank you.”
“I’ll see you for Christmas?”
“I’m not sure. I’m on call. I’ll telephone.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”