Quebec.

Anna had the cabbie stop at Gian’s house to pick him up.
Gian was not the most punctual of men and when Anna was in the throws of a bitchy PMS week it got under her skin. When she wasn't hormonal she chalked his lateness up to that Mediterranean thing. Her Italian and Greek friends were usually late. The truth was that things at home required a lot of Gian's attention.
Anna gave Mrs. Morretti a kiss on the cheek, hugged her and wished her Happy New Year. Anna was sort of confident that Mrs. Morretti was fine with her baby boy going away with her. Sort of confident. She’d heard too many stories about his family to be really sure. Anna was in cold and uncharted waters. Thankfully there was no PMS or lateness this morning. Gian and Anna had a flight to catch.
Quebec City was incredibly cold but the Christmas lights gave it a beautiful fairy tale look. Anna had a feeling this might be one of the best New Year’s Eves she’d ever had.
The second Anna and Gian arrived in the hotel room they were on the bed. They hadn’t bothered to take off their coats and afterward feathers from Anna’s ski jacket covered the bedspread.
Anna knew she would have the best time.

Boxing Day Howling.

Boxing Day was always reserved for Anna and her girlfriends.
For those who were lucky or unlucky enough to have a guy it gave them a break from watching their hot hunks lying on the couch farting out turkey gas. And the guys were quite happy to be left alone to scratch and belch and watch sports and fart. Boxing Day was a freeing experience for everyone.
And they had to do it. Over the years it had become tradition. No different than Santa Clause or Midnight Mass. A late dinner and drinks. Lots and lots of drinks. It was their time to bitch about dysfunctional families, evil co-workers, creepy ex-boyfriends and the current men they were hot for and yes that included the scratching farters.
The end of the evening would see Anna and her girlfriends drunk and howling with laughter at all of the above.
After Christmas Eve Anna loved the Boxing Day howling the best.

Thorns and Petals.

Christmas morning the next door neighbour stopped by with a bouquet of beautiful long stemmed roses. The florist had called with the flowers on Christmas Eve. Sent by Mr. Ex.
Anna hated to destroy such an exquisite bouquet but she stood on the porch anyway and threw the flowers into the wind. The thorny stems fell at her feet but the fragile petals swirled and floated upward before coming to rest on a patch of gray snow.
Later that evening Anna went to Tina’s house for Christmas dinner.
There were lots of people there and they ate and talked and laughed until they couldn't any longer.
It was a nice Christmas that year.

Sharp Objects.

They chatted about Mass and where they lived and about Ringo and they opened gifts.
Gian had wanted to buy Anna a gift certificate to a spa but practical Anna said she would really love a portable CD player instead. She could listen to music on the subway on her way to work. Or maybe a set of steak knives. He got her both.
One year Anna gave him a Japanese Chef’s knife for Valentine’s Day. He kept it at her place. Where he was Chef. One night the knife was in the sink. Covered with detergent bubbles. Anna put her hand into the water and just barely grazed the blade. But it sliced deep and a long wide red line opened up along the flesh of Anna’s finger. But that cut was yet to come.
Gian’s sister and brother-in-law gave Anna a ride home on Christmas Eve. They drove through the very cold night and they talked. But they said little. Anna understood now. She felt like going back and hugging Gian tightly.
Once Anna got home she emailed Carol to tell her how much she loved her.

Purple Grapes and a Pot of Tea.

Gian’s sister and her husband were sitting on the couch. Waiting. It wasn’t often Gian brought someone home to meet his family. And certainly not someone like Anna. They were prepared though.
One afternoon Gian announced to his family he was serious about Anna. He’d said it while he was in a phone conversation with Anna. She’d objected. Don’t say that to them while I can hear you. But it didn’t stop him.
Anna took another deep breath.
Introductions were made. Mrs. Morretti went upstairs and returned a few minutes later with a dish of fat purple grapes and a pot of tea.
Anna had brought a gift for Gian and a gift for Mrs. Morretti and one for Ringo. Along with an expensive bottle of red wine. Anna was seriously dying for a glass of wine but it was not to be. Tea would be the only beverage that night.
Gian sat on the love seat and Anna sat down beside him.
She'd worried if she'd be suitably dressed to meet his family. She looked fine. No need to worry. Gian was wearing flipflops and green camouflage shorts.
The strange thing was he didn’t make much eye contact with her. It made Anna uncomfortable. Was he uncomfortable? Then why did he ask her to join them?
The big screen television was on and not a candle in sight. Anna reminded herself that all families have their traditions.
Why did she persist in her Italian family fantasy? The one where the extended family sat happily gathered around a big table eating bread and pasta and seafood and drinking homemade wine from juice glasses.
She’d had enough Italian friends to know this wasn’t the reality.

Nerves and Basements.

Gian took her coat. Mrs. Morretti seemed genuinely happy to meet Anna. She gave Anna a double kiss on the cheek.
Gian hugged Anna but he seemed nervous. Great, she thought and she took another deep breath. On the other hand she knew he wasn’t the most demonstrative man on the planet. If she was nervous then why shouldn’t he have that liberty as well.
Gian and Mrs. Morretti and Ringo the Poodle took her through the kitchen and down the stairs to the basement.
Italian families always entertained in the basement. Even though they had beautiful living rooms upstairs. Living rooms were reserved for important visitors. Apart from a Papal visit Anna couldn’t think who these visitors would be.
The Italian basement was sort of like an extension of the Italian garage.
Only nicer. And women were allowed.

An Italian Christmas Eve.

The Mass had been longer than expected and Anna was late getting to Gian’s house. By the time she arrived her stomach was in a nervous knot.
Because of Mass Anna had declined their dinner invitation. She'd also asked they not wait on her to open their presents. Gian insisted they wait.
She was late and they were waiting. It seemed to Anna things were not getting off to a very good start.
The cab pulled up outside the house. She wondered if they were watching through the window.
Anna got out, took a deep breath and walked to the door.
After all how difficult could this be. It wasn’t like she’d never had a first meeting with a boyfriend’s family before.
She knocked. Gian opened the door. His little Italian mama was standing behind him.
Anna took another breath. Deeper this time.

Travel Plans.

During the course of the next week Gian and Anna decided to go to Quebec City for New Year's Eve.
Not only did Gian like to explore and shop and eat at posh restaurants but he liked to lie in bed and watch TV and take naps in the afternoon and send out for heaps of food.
He was perfect to travel with. Perfectly stress free and fun.
And then there was the non stop sex.

Anticipation.

But Anna didn’t want to disappoint anyone. So her plan was to have dinner and go to Mass with Kath. Afterward she'd go to Gian’s house.
She was confident this was going to be a wonderful Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Plans.

Kath's parents were dead and her brother lived in Europe. Anna didn't want Kath to be alone at Christmas so she arranged to meet Kath for dinner. Afterwards they would go to Mass together.
But it was after these arrangements had been made that Gian invited Anna to his house to meet his family. Christmas Eve.