Growing TOGETHER

It was their first Christmas - but would there be many more?

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I'd like you to have this,' Alison said, handing her partner Sarah a parcel wrapped in cheerful Santa-covered paper.

They were sharing a pot of coffee and eggs on home-baked soda bread one Sunday morning in early December. Sarah had been singing along, softly, to Christmas songs on the radio. Ali, lacking the confidence to sing aloud, even in her own home, smiled at her partner's renditions, especially the cheesier numbers.

Sarah weighed the parcel in her hands, looking uncertain. 'I hope you don't mind?' Ali said. 'I know it's not Christmas yet'

'Not at all. It's just, well, gifts are on my to-do list,' Sarah said. 'We've got the tree, but there's still the local cards to deliver, and the cake to decorate. You know, all the usual Christmas kerfuffle. I don't have anything to give you in return.'

Ali wasn't one for Christmas kerfuffle, but the scented wreath on their front door was jolly, and she liked how the angel on their tree nodded merrily when their dog Rolo brushed past.

'It's only small,' Ali replied, hoping she hadn't made a mistake. She'd expected to keep this gift until Christmas Day, but, reading the packet, she realised it couldn't wait that long.

This was Ali and Sarah's first Christmas together. They'd met last New Year's Eve at a mutual friend's fancy dress party.