POV: Emma. Christmas time 1967. Play the song! One of my all time favorites by the fabulous Beach Boys. My childhood trying not to cry! 😂😁🎄❤😍 goes by too fast.

The next few months of November and December were interesting, to say the least. Tucker and I were so busy with school, the nutcracker for me, and Tucker was working at a local Christmas tree lot selling trees for extra money. Luckily, football was over. However, Tucker told me baseball was just around the corner and he was the pitcher. So that was going to be another extra curricular activity to add to our growing list. But I was excited to see him in his baseball uniform. I'd seen the pictures of him from years before and I couldn't wait to see it in person!

We spent our first thanksgiving ever here in the states. Obviously we'd never celebrated because of course we're British. Tucker had told me his father was going to be working and had no where to go for thanksgiving. My heart broke and I begged my mum for us to do something for him. He was so lonely. Mum eventually gave in and we had dinner at Lawry's Steak House for our thanksgiving dinner. Mum wasn't about to cook.

After thanksgiving my mum had become more suspicious of Tucker and I's relationship becoming more serious. She told me she saw the way he looked at me. She said "Emma, that is a boy in love." Then the conversation turned into a more serious topic. The "Are You Two Having Sex?!" Question every girl dreads to her hear from their parents. I of course lied to her. I wasn't about to tell her the truth because she'd hate Tucker forever. She wasn't too keen on him to begin with. I still couldn't figure out why.

Regardless, she didn't believe a word I said and made me an appointment with her new OBGYN she's been going to here in Dallas, Dr. Littleton. She wanted me to get on the new birth control pill that was buzzing around. As I quote my mum "I'm not becoming a grandmother at thirty-eight!"

Mum had me when she was twenty-one. She married my father when she was twenty. He's fifteen years older than her. I always felt like their marriage wasn't a marriage built on love. Sort of a marriage of status. They both came from money and that always mattered to mum. I was nothing like her in that way.

Mum and I were not very close. She was always like a sister/mother who only really lived through me pushing me into every ballet studio that would take me.

Before being examined Dr. Littleton asked me if I was sexually active. I hated that saying. It made me feel like I was whoring around town at the local pubs. "Yes, with my boyfriend only." I responded. He was very nice and not judgmental at all. I was in the stirrups being examined and was thankful there was a patient/doctor confidentiality agreement. Dr. Littleton wrote me a prescription for the little pink birth control pills in a circular plastic box. The appointment was over and I for the first time was grateful for my semi progressive thinking mother. I did not want to get pregnant right now. Tucker and I had too much on our plates at the moment.

Tonight was the final show of The Nutcracker. The night before Christmas Eve. Tucker hadn't been able to see any of my performances because of work. But tonight he finally had his chance. I reserved three seats for my parents and Tucker.

After the show the dancers met with their families and friends who attended the performance for a mini Christmas party back stage. The DBC provided champagne, punch, and Christmas treats.

I saw my Tucker coming through the crowd with my parents on his heels. He was holding a bouquet of beautiful different arrangement of pink flowers. Tucker knows my signature color is pink. He made his way through and greeted me with his kisses I always ached for.

"You were absolutely amazing Emma." He handed me my flowers. "Everyone kept watching you and talking about you. You stole the show." He kissed me again and I saw my mum roll her eyes.

"Thank you Tucker. That is so sweet of you, you didn't have to do this." I kissed Tucker back to thank him and to piss off my mum too. Then I eventually got around to hugging my parents.

"Well Emma, this must be your parents." I heard the dark deep voice I loathed. Mr. Allan was behind me I could practically feel his presence now anytime I knew he was around me. I turned around to introduce them to Mr. Allan. I also noticed how he blatantly disregarded Tucker's existence. But I wasn't about to let that pass.

"Mum, Dad this is the director of the DBC, Mr. Allan." He shook their hands and reveled in how much he was glad I joined his company. "Emma has tremendous talent. She's getting better and better." Mr. Allan stared at me and I took my opportunity to finally introduce Tucker since he finally took a breath to stop speaking. But Mr. Allan suddenly moved his evil gaze to Tucker who was standing beside me.

"And this must be the illustrious boyfriend we've all been hearing so much about."  Mr. Allan shook Tucker's hand in a firm grip. Tucker returning the gesture and both their knuckles were turning white. They finally let go.

"Emma's a beautiful soul Tucker. I do hope you appreciate that." Mr. Allan gave his devilish smirk. Tucker took hold of my waist pulling me into his body. "More than I can even express. I'm a very lucky man for her to even consider me." Tucker sweetly kissed my cheek and then glared at Mr. Allan who was staring at him as if he was nothing. It was extremely uncomfortable. But Tucker wasn't backing down to him and I loved it.

"Well, it was very nice meeting you Mr. And Mrs. Watson. Tucker." Mr. Allan nodded and left to go hug and kiss on some random woman he obviously knew.

"That was odd. What was his problem?" Tucker asked me whispering in my ear so my parents couldn't hear. But I yelled aloud "He's an arrogant prick! That's his problem!" I huffed out. "Emma! Your language please!" Mum corrected me and I rolled my eyes while looking at Tucker. He smiled and winked in agreement with me.

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Tucker and his father were coming over for our annual Christmas Eve dinner. We had roasted duck, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes with gravy. Macaroni and cheese, green beans, and corn. My favorite was dessert, which included traditional English Treacle sponge pudding and Christmas mini pies with a cream cheese crust. All of course were made by hired chefs and hired help to clean up afterwards. Mum makes her famous peppermint fudge and martinis. That's as good as it's gonna get from her.

Tonight was the first time I was going to be meeting Tucker's father, Mr. Knox. This was also then of course, going to be the first introduction to our parents meeting. Never in a million years would two opposite ends of the spectrum be meeting regardless if it hadn't been for Tucker and I falling in love. They had nothing in common but their two children falling in love with each other.

Christmas was bellowing and spreading throughout each and every room stretching to the outside decorations blinking and blinding the neighbors. Garland on the banister, wreaths hung with beautiful red ribbons, different beautifully dressed santa's in every room in the house, and our Christmas manger decorated beautifully on the table in the living room.

My favorite decorations of all was our extremely American silver aluminum Christmas trees that was in each and every room around the house. Each one a different theme. The one in the living room was a mixture of different ornaments from home in London and our new Dallas home. I even bought ornaments to represent Tucker. A longhorn and a football. The lights strung around the trees were big, bold, and colorful blinking along with the tinsel flowing.

The smell of Christmas was romancing the air as Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" on our record player completed the ambiance with our fireplaces roaring in three rooms.

Ding, Ding, Ding, Dong. Ding, Ding, Ding, Dong...

Our annoying doorbell sang to tell us they were here.

I opened the door and Tucker was holding gifts in his hands and his father was holding a poinsettia plant.

"Hi Tucker! Mr. Knox it's nice to meet you! You didn't have to bring us anything that was very kind of you. Come in!" Tucker kissed me and they both walked inside.

"Emma, this is my father. Otis Knox. Otis, this is my Emma." Tucker finished introducing us and my heart melted every time he said my Emma.

"It's so nice to meet you Mr. Knox." He reached his hand out to shake mine while holding the plant with the other hand. "Like wise." Mr. Knox mumbled and smelled of whiskey and old spice cologne. He was nothing like Tucker.

My parents soon came in introduce themselves while we all stood in the foyer. They shook hands and Mr. Knox handed my mum her plant. "That's for you Mrs. Watson." My mum looked at the plant as if it was a snake. "Well thank you so much Mr. Knox. This is a beautiful plant. I'll set it in the living room for us to enjoy. Tucker you can set those gifts under the tree in the living room as well." My mum was trying her hardest to be kind. Which was impressive.

We sat down to enjoy our dinner in the formal dining room. Our gorgeous glowing gold crystal chandelier hanging above us lighting the room along with lit candles and a red flowered centerpiece. The room was decorated beautifully. But the tension was so thick in the room you could cut it with a butter knife.

"Mr. Knox, Tucker tells us you work on the oil refinery in Galveston?" My father asked to break the silence while we ate.

"Yes, Sir. For over forty years." Mr. Knox took a big gulp of his third glass of red wine. His eyes were drooping from drunkenness. "You're a heart sssurgeon my son tells me." Mr. Knox slurred towards my father.

"Yes I am. For about thirty years now." My dad smiled, but Mr. Knox did not. Mr. Knox had a jealous dark look across his hard and worn out face.

"Tucker's found himself a nice family to mooch off of. I wasn't that lucky. I had to work." Mr. Knox's words felt like knives escaping his tongue. He glared at Tucker.

"Otis! Why would you say that! I would never! You know I'm a damn hard worker! Mr. And Mrs. Watson please forgive my father's behavior. He's an uncontrollable mean drunk!" Tucker yelled at his father looking as if he was going to kill him. Then I realized he called his father Otis. Not a term of endearment.

"You spoiled rotten bbbrat Tucker! Oh you're sssuuddenly all prim and proper now huh?! You're a big mmman now bringing me over to meet your British rich whore's family?! Like I GIVE A SHIT!" Mr. Knox spat as Tucker reached over and pushed him out of his chair knocking him backwards. Tucker picked him up my his jacket. And began screaming in his face.

"Apologize to Emma and her family NOW! You son of bitch, I should've known better than to bring you over here!" Tucker began to cry making me want to rush to him. "You're nothing but a drunk! You were never a father to me! Mom was more of a father to me than you ever were!" Tucker's deep voice was echoing off the walls. "That's my future wife you just insulted and slandered in her home in front of her family! I will always protect her from you! GET OUT!!" Tucker's eyes bulging and his neck red. His father walked out of the dining room heading to the front door not saying a word. "I'm so sorry again. Please do not judge me for my father's actions. I love your daughter and I would never hurt her or be witness to anyone who treats her badly. Please excuse me for a moment." Tucker kissed me as I reached my hand on his cheek to kiss him back. He went out the front door following his dad.

We sat at the table in shock. "Emma what on earth was that all about?!" My mum yelled at me. "I haven't the foggiest mum!" I cried. "He defended you like a man, Emma. I respect that." My dad proudly announced nodding at me. The telephone rang and my dad got up to answer it.

"Emma! You do not need to get mixed up in his family drama. The world is at your feet right now! Don't go messing it up with this nonsense! Did Tucker say 'your his future wife?' Are you planning on marrying this boy Emma?!" Mum was steaming of anger.

"Yes! Mum he's my life. I love him he's my everything." I cried hysterically in my chair.

"Emma I'm going to tell you this once! You better listen!" My mum hushed her voice so my father couldn't hear her. "I know what you are feeling. I was in love with my high school sweetheart too. He was handsome, rugged, and almost everything I wanted. Except for the fact he couldn't rub two shillings together!" She paused as a tear strolled down her face. "I am fond of your father for many reasons. But I did not marry your father for passion or love." She looked around her shoulder to see if he was coming.

"Do not marry for love Emma Watson. Only fools marry for love. You'll never be happy living in a poor environment. It's not where you are from! You marry for money do you understand me?!" Mum was full fledged crying now. I think it was honestly the first time I'd ever seen her cry.

"Mum you are truly unbelievable. That is the sickest advice to a daughter I've ever heard of! How dare you!! I'm going to marry Tucker Knox with or without your blessing. You don't understand love because you've never lived it for a long period of time. You married my father for money! So you can have a rich lifestyle to show off at the local country club and buy a new hat and outfit every week?! I want love! Not a fucking new pencil skirt!" I felt my heart racing and the tears overflowing off my face.

"Is everything alright?" My dad came back in a saw us crying.

"Yes, dear." My mum held dad's hand as he sat back in his chair. It was the first time I noticed my mum really touch my dad in front of me.

I wiped the tears with my cream cloth napkin and Tucker reappeared in the dining room.

"Please, forgive me and my father for our inappropriate family outburst. My father hasn't always been the best man. And he's gotten worse since my mom died." Tucker hung his head in shame. I got up and held him in my arms. We nudged each other's foreheads together closing our eyes.

"Tucker would you care to spend the night with us? You can use the spare bedroom downstairs around the corner and borrow a pair of pajamas." My father kindly asked.

"Oh, Mr. Watson, sir. That is very kind of you but..." Tucker was cut off. "We insist." My mum spoke. "Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Watson. This means so much to me." Tucker gave a quivering smile.

We sat back down to join my parents in my favorite desserts. Then continued the party with coffee and mum's martinis while opening our presents in the living room.

My parents bought Tucker so many nice things. He just kept repeating thank you. He was so appreciative he almost cried.

Tucker wanted to buy my parents some presents for Christmas with my guidance. He bought mum her favorite perfume Chanel number five. And dad his favorite jazz record by his favorite artist Miles Davis. My parents were thoroughly surprised and thanked him.

Tucker bought me a beautiful dainty gold necklace with a flat heart charm with our initials T&E engraved in the middle. "Oh Tucker I love it so much!" I kissed him. I'll never take it off."

I bought Tucker season tickets to the Texas/OU football game that happened at the cotton bowl every year for four years in a row. He beamed with excitement and kissed me. I could feel my mum staring at us. Now I knew what she was feeling. Jealousy. My mum only loved one man in her life and it wasn't my father.

My parents went to bed after our chef and hired help left cleaning for the evening. They'd be back in the morning for Christmas breakfast. Because you know damn well my mum isn't cooking that meal either.

Tucker and I stayed up drinking hot wassail by the fire cozying up on the couch watching the Ed Sullivan Christmas Special. A news bulletin came through giving an update on the Vietnam war. They were showing the boys eating some treats from home. It made me cry. I got a horrible sinking feeling in my stomach I couldn't comprehend. Like a future vision of something to come...

It was a horrendous start to a fantastic ending Christmas Eve.

I hoped you loved it!!! Stay tuned! It's beginning to look a lot like 1968...😘 thank you for reading!