Part 2 in a series about my Christmas vacation in Germany with my fiancé, his kids, and The Exes.
Here Comes Santa Claus(es)
The flight on the little prop plane was actually decentsmooth sailing, but with so much nervous anticipation. Im kinda thankful that we were a little weary from all the travel because it helped us not freak out too much when we landed.
As soon as we got off the jetway bus we both needed to pee, and when I came out of the bathroom I couldnt find TFMS, but I immediately spotted the luggage coming off of the baggage belt! We were so afraid that the goods werent going to make the trip, seeing as we packed a million gifts and boxes and bags and had sooooo many legs to travel. But guess what? EVERYTHING arrivedand in perfect condition!! We were so lucky!
I pulled our stuff off the belt, and TFMS soon arrived at my side I finally figured out that hed run up to a window along the side (which turned out to be the arrivals hallvery small airport!) because I saw the kids waving out of the corner of my eye! X had brought them to meet us at the airport.
TFMS was sooooooo excited! I could just feel it.
When we got through the luggage area and entered into the arrivals hall, there were hugs all around. Even the X welcomed us both and gave us hugs. And she even took our luggage because the kids wanted to ride back to the house with us in our (small!) rental car. Very nice indeed.
The drive to the house was strange for me. I know that TFMS was excited about going to the place that used to be home, but it was unsettling knowing that we were going to the place he put so much love and effort into. He and X did lots and lots of remodeling and hell, made a family there. I just soaked it all in: the cruise up the autobahn with the kids chattering in the background, the exit to the neighborhood the beautiful, glowing, warm houses along the wooded streets, all beautifully decorated for Christmas with trees and lit-up lanterns in the shape of stars. I have to tell you, TFMSs old neighborhood is stunning at nightbeautiful yet haunting. I cant quite put my finger on the feelings and emotions swirling through my head right then.
And then we pulled up to The House, and it was nice but not the mansion that Id expected and thought Id seen in photos. Again, it was a very nice place, but more humble and homely and I dont know simple? That made me feel so much more comfortable. I guess knowing that this ex-family wasnt so far beyond our own current means. See, I had visions of TFMS living the most luxurious lifestyle with his rich and privileged wife in their gigantic house (like TFMS had kind of led me to believeor was that just my own insecurities again?), but that was so not the case.
And we stepped inside and were welcomed again to a warm, glowing interior and a gracious ex-wife and her husband. Hugs all around again and then the kids were sent upstairs so that we could prepare for Weihnachtsmann (Santa Claus) to arrive. The tree was beautiful, and TFMS and New Husband (NH) lit the candles (yes!! The candles on the tree were lit at that timefire hazard much?), and then TFMS and I added our gifts to the large pile. TFMS went to get the kids (by the way, when I say, The Kids I mean a daughter, who is 9 years old, and a son, who is 7must give them names too, eh?). They sang a little song when they came downstairs, and then RIPPED into their gifts!!! It was really cool to see.
But even though I had a glass of bubbly in my hand and could feel the warmth of the fire and the excitement from the kids, I still felt a pang of awkwardness and a real uncomfortableness that I couldnt shake. Picture this: two father figures helping the kids open boxes and set things up; two mother figures taking pictures and pulling wrapping paper into a pile. I was paralyzed with a glass in one hand, camera in the other, and the pile of paper just kept getting bigger and bigger, as did my dufus-y smile. What the hell was I supposed to do? Watch. And smile. Thats all I could do.
Until I was handed a little package from the daughter. I unwrapped carefully, and opened up a beaded bracelet and a beautiful little candle, and TFMS was given a book that his son had made with dozens and dozens of little kid-drawings and sketches. TFMS was in tears as he flipped each page, and it touched me to see the exchange, but it still didnt overshadow the strangeness of it all. I thanked the kids in German (as best I could) and gave them hugs.
And drank a little more bubbly. And hugged my fiancé.
After gifts, we had a nice, casual dinner of soup (incredibly delicious! I was sooooo tempted to ask for the recipe, but OH so not going to yet!), meatballs that Daughter and NH had made, and some other snacks. Id brought hot sauce for NH because hed loved it so much when they came to visit us in the Spring, and this was no disappointment! TFMSs son put the smallest dab on his tongue, and he was howling!
After dinner, TFMS stayed to help put together some of the toys, while Daughter came down with some kind of virus and started throwing up. Oh boy.
We stayed a little longer, but it was already very, very late. So I went upstairs with TFMS and the kids and together we put the kids to bed. TFMS read them both The Night Before Christmas in English and we both said goodnight to them and tucked them in.
Then it was time for us to say goodnight to X and NH. Because it was Christmas, the little hotel where we were staying wouldnt be open, so X and NH had gotten us the key earlier in the day (okay, yes VERY nice of them), and we thanked them and said goodbye and then took off in our little rental.
No the day wasnt over yet!! TFMS drove me to the quaint little area on the river where the hotel/apartment was. We had a little bit of trouble getting into the place (finally found the right room NOT numbered!!!!), and when we got inside the apartment, it was C-C-C-Cooooooolllllddd! Brrrrrr! Freezing!
We were so tired that we cranked up the radiators to full blast, and I told TFMS that it would probably just take an hour or so for them to kick in. So we cuddled under the covers and held on tight. And slept and slept and slept in the warmth of each others arms.
What a day. What a DAY!!
To be continued
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