“We certainly did!” Gramps chuckled. “We got an invitation to a very special Christmas dinner with a picture of the most delicious-looking turkey we ever say!” Samantha beamed proudly and Laura felt a special warmth towards her parents for behaving just as she had known they would – however they really felt deep down about losing their oldest grandchild in this way, there was no way they were ever going to express anything other than full support for Samantha and her plans.

“It looked so tasty!” Gram enthused. “We just had to call and check it was real! Is that what’s being served on Christmas Day? We understand if it’s a joke,” she assured her, “it’s certainly a funny one if it is!”

“Oh no!” Samantha shook her head emphatically. “No joke! I wouldn’t tease anyone like that!”

“Well I’m rather pleased to hear that!” Gramps chuckled again. “It’s not often a pair of old coots like us get to enjoy a treat like that!” Samantha giggled. If there were ever a pair of over-sixties who fell outside the definition of “old coots” then it was Gram and Gramps!

“So can we take a better look?” Gram asked, eyes sparkling cheekily. “See exactly what’s on the menu?”

“Of course!” Samantha bounced to her feet. “Wait here!” Thinking it would be more effective to present herself naked rather than awkwardly undressing in front of the camera, she scampered off to the corner of the room, out of range of the TV’s camera, and began to fight with the zip on the back of her dress.

“Go help her.” Laura instructed her husband, inclining her head in Samantha’s direction before mouthing a silent “Thank you” to her parents, both of whom sat smiling indulgently, the only slight betrayal of any sadness they might be feeling being the way they were holding hands between them on the sofa, each rubbing the other’s hand supportively with their thumb, definitely not something that Samantha would pick up on as anything negative. Of course, Laura could not be sure that this even was related to the situation. Her parents always had been and continued to be a very physically affectionate couple and it was quite possible that they were just holding hands for this call because it felt nice to do so!

Over in the corner, Josh was helping to get Samantha’s dress off over her head, this time looking every inch the parent helping their child dress or undress rather than a man undressing his lover. Standing topless but in her panties and tights that came up to just under her belly-button, Samantha unbuckled her shoes and kicked them off then pulled the tights and panties down with a single motion, balancing herself by putting a hand on Josh’s stomach while she hopped from one foot to the other to tug them off her feet. Josh once again found himself the nominated guardian of a balled-up bundle of clothes as Samantha ran back to present her now completely naked body to the camera.

“Here it is!” she declared cheerfully, doing a playful little dance as she slowly turned to show her delectable young body off from every angle. “The Christmas turkey in all its tasty glory!”

“Very nice indeed!” Gram observed approvingly. “How long does a turkey like that take to cook?” This sounded to Laura like a genuine question rather than an attempt at affirming small-talk so she answered.

“About three hours from what we’ve read.” she explained. “The plan is she’ll go in the oven around eleven, once everyone’s arrived, and be ready to serve about two.”

“Don’t worry!” Samantha assured her beloved grandparents. “There’s going to be games and stuff while I cook so it won’t be boring!”

“Ooh party games are my favourite!” Gramps exclaimed jovially. “Although I may have to sit-out musical bumps if that one’s on the list! I don’t mind the sitting down but my days of standing up quickly are, I’m sad to say, behind me!” Samantha giggled, sitting back down on the sofa between her parents.

“Speaking of favourites,” Gram leaned forward, “would it be too cheeky if I asked to reserve one of those yummy little titties? They look so tasty, I could just munch one straight off your chest right now!”

“Of course!” Samantha beamed, glowing with pride. “But best to wait until they’re cooked! Don’t want you getting sick!” She giggled and Gram chuckled indulgently. “Which one do you want?” Samantha asked, trying to squeeze them together like she had seen the spit-roaster do at the restaurant then, when they proved a little too small for that, using her hands to frame them individually, lifting them a little as if offering them to Gram.

“Ooh decisions, decisions!” Gram grinned. “I think it has to be…” she did a quick eeny-meeny-miny-mo under her breath, moving her finger from side to side as she muttered. “The left!” she declared triumphantly. “I’ll take the left one, please!”

“It’s yours!” Samantha confirmed before quickly turning to her parents, looking back and forth between them. “That is okay, isn’t it?”

“Of course!” Josh ruffled her hair, pleased to see how happy his in-laws were making her and hoping that his own family, none of whom had apparently replied yet, would be as supportive.

“What about you, Gramps?” Samantha turned back to the camera. “Do you want the other one?”

“Well to be honest with you, honey,” he replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “when it comes to turkeys, I’ve always been more of a leg man! Do you think there might be a nice piece of thigh going?”

“Oh yes!” Samantha grinned, bouncing to her feet again and slapping her thigh like a pantomime hero. “Plenty!”

“Well that’s good news!” Gramps grinned. “So I guess this means we don’t need to get you a Christmas present this year?”

“No,” Samantha confirmed, “but I’m hoping you’ll bring lots of yummy desserts and sides to share in the evening?”

“Oh yes indeed!” Gram beamed, knowing that this was one are in which she excelled. “Between us, we can make sure nobody goes home hungry, huh?” She held up her hand, palm outwards, and Samantha mimed high-fiving it, another of their little rituals used whenever a deal was struck over video-call.

“I might even make one of my famous cheese and pineapple hedgehogs!” Gramps offered.

“Oh yes!” beamed Samantha. “Please do! It’s not a family party without one of those!”

“Why don’t you tell Gram and Gramps about your trip to Sidney’s?” Laura suggested, noticing that her phone had started to buzz and wanting to catch the caller before it went to voicemail. Samantha enthusiastically launched into much the same spiel as she had upon arriving home and Laura left her and Josh on the sofa as she went into the kitchen to take the call.


To be continued...