Chapter Text
‘Ok, before we go in, I have to warn you about the prick’
Bibi and Nora were walking down Eva’s front drive, about to go in and join the rest of the family for Christmas. For the last few years Eva had been dropping hints about Bibi bringing someone, even if was just a friend, and so this year she had finally relented and asked Nora. They had been together for nearly two years by this point, neither of them having told either of their families. Since the first night they met the two had almost been inseparable. Nora had confided in Bibi about her difficult relationship with her family, how it was made clear she wasn’t welcome at home anymore after she was outed by someone she thought was a friend. And Bibi had shared the grief she still felt over the loss of her parents, and the fierce protectiveness she felt for her sisters.
First they were friends and then somehow they became something more. Bibi had carried a lot of shame around with her for a long time, carrying with her what she had heard her parents say when she was younger, what she had heard so many say about who she was. She had known she was gay for a long time but Nora was the first person to make her realise it was ok, that she could be loved for exactly who she was. So here they were, with Bibi having taken a long time to tell Nora how they felt, and Nora nearly leaving so many times when she thought Bibi couldn’t commit. But as soon as both women had been honest with each other, and with themselves, that was it for them. Ever since then everything seemed to have gone right for them.
So, whilst maybe it looked a little suspicious Bibi bringing her friend home for a holiday like this when they were so tight knit, she didn’t care anymore. She was in love and didn’t want to waste any more time being scared to be happy.
Nora had been offered a place for her masters in literature with a focus on Urdu poetry and Bibi had a job lined up for when she finished uni.Everything was going right for them. They had finally decided to move in somewhere new just the two of them, had good jobs and open lives with their friends in the city.
‘Oh love, I know you don’t like him, but surely, he can’t be that bad. I’ve met Grace, she’s not an idiot you know’
That was Nora, always trusting even when she didn’t have reason to be, always given people the benefit of the doubt.
‘No its more than that Nor, she doesn’t even realise how bad he is, he’s always put on a good face around her, it’s what he’s like with the rest of us. He’s just awful to Eva about her struggling to have kids, he just ignores Ursula and Becka, and well he’s just a dick to me. Please just wait until you meet him’
The two women dropped each other’s hands as they reached the front porch. As much as Nora wished Bibi could be open with her family about her relationship, she knew her girlfriend wasn’t ready, and she wasn’t going to push it. She was happy to just be the friend, for now that was enough around Bibi’s family.
Having had no contact with her own for almost 5 years, even just the glimpses into the tight knit Garvey clan was enough to make Nora jealous. Over the last couple of years, she had met all the sisters at one point or another, Eva when she came to Dublin for work and they would all have dinner together, Ursula when she dragged Grace in for shopping trips, and the odd occasion when Becka would end up on their sofa after a night out. She had always liked Eva the most, the way that she cared for her sisters, and the way that she instantly welcomed Nora in made her feel more comfortable immediately. But if she was honest, despite the number of times she had almost found them out, Becka was the most fun to be around. She would come hammering on the door at some ungodly hour in morning causing Bibi to storm out of bed and Nora to creep back into the next room whilst Becka would whirl into the kitchen and immediately start causing chaos. They would settle her on the sofa and a tradition of brunch the next morning had begun, with Bi mercilessly bullying her younger sister about what the hell she had been up to the night before.
Eva opened the door, flooding the porch with a warm light coming from inside. Clearly everyone was already there as they heard happy chat from the kitchen and plates being clattered.
‘Hello, welcome, Nora, I’m so happy you’re here!’ Eva wrapped Nora up in a strong hug before she could even get across the threshold.
‘Um hello, glad to know you’re more excited to see her than you’re own sister’ Bibi joked before being lightly punched by Eva and given an equally big hug.
Bibi had told Eva about Nora’s family and the fact she couldn’t go home at Christmas and Eva had been so quick to insist that she had to come to theirs. It was so typical of her, always looking out for people, making sure they were ok before she even thought about herself.
‘Thank you so much for having me Eva. I really didn’t want to intrude on Garvey family Christmas but Bibi wouldn’t take no for an answer’
‘Oh sweetie you’re not intruding at all, we’re all so excited to have you here, in fact Becka has literally been asking what time you two were coming all morning’
This calmed Nora’s nerves a little bit as they entered the house, taking off their coats and being hit with a strong smell of turkey and roast potatoes. As they walked into the kitchen Nora was met with an instant hug from Becka whilst Bibi hugged each of her sisters.
Having settled at the table and been huge helpings of Christmas dinner, with a special veggie version Eva had made for Nora, both women settled down again. Bibi looked around contentedly as she saw her girlfriend chatting away with Becka, Eva giving her encouraging smiles whenever she said anything at all really. It felt so good to have her here and she was glad that something that had felt so big to Nora was working out so well.
As they tucked into desert the conversation turned to what Bibi and Nora were up to. How was the new flat, how was Bibi’s job and Nora’s teaching position. Bibi felt so proud as she watched Nora talk passionately about what her thesis was going to be on and how excited she was to start teaching undergrads in the next term. As usual though JP had something to contribute. He had been making snippy comments all night, mostly towards Grace and Eva but the others weren’t spared either. He had completely ignored Nora when she first came in, in fact it took Gracie specifically introducing them for him to even acknowledge her. He laughed mockingly as she was introduced as Bibi’s flatmate, but then had proceeded to ignore her again, more interested in trying to joke with Donal. Until, finally he wanted to cause conflict, again.
‘I don’t really see the point in degrees such as English you know Nora’
Once again the sisters let out a collective sigh as they realised what their brother in law was doing.
‘And what exactly do you mean by that JP’ Nora could barely conceal the sarcasm in her voice. She had reserved judgement for the first few minutes of the dinner, wanting to keep an open mind. Her girlfriend has the tendency to be the tiniest bit judgy and she wanted to witness JP for herself. After seeing one interaction with his wife it was clear that Bibi had been right in warning her
‘Well I just think all the wishy washy subjects like that… not really preparing you for the real world, or a real career you know. I mean academia is great for some, no offence Nora but it’s not like it’s contributing much to everyone else’
The awkward silence that always came after comments JP made like that hung in the air for a few seconds
‘Well JP I just think there is more to life than simply amassing money and charging other people for doing something. And in terms of contributing to the world, I would say poetry has contributed far more than your small Irish architecture firm, no offence Eva’
The sisters all smiled, even Gracie. It felt so good when someone stood up to JP like that. They were all so fed up of him that most of the time they didn’t even try, but having Nora there with her passion for what she did, felt so good
‘None taken Nora, and JP can I remind you that Nora is a guest in our house and this is Christmas so please try to be slightly more pleasant’ Eva said confidently following in Nora’s foot steps
‘Amen to that, you prick’ Bibi whispered under her breath gaining her a slight kick from both Nora and Eva but they all smiled anyway.
‘Not to point out the obvious though but I’m just wondering why Nora isn’t spending Christmas with her own family?’ JP said in a sneering tone.
Bibi watched as her girlfriend’s smile faltered ever so slightly. She knew that there had been years when Nora had begged to home for the holidays but her family hadn’t let her. She had stopped trying last year, spending Christmas with some friends instead but she knew it didn’t hurt any less when someone bought it up in such a callous way.
‘Oh I don’t really see eye to eye with my family John Paul’
‘Oh how sad, you know I always think it’s so tragic when people don’t get along with their family, don’t you agree Mami’ he said in a sickly sweet voice
‘Well I’m just happy to be here with all of you, especially with Eva’s cooking’
Nora was clearly trying to deflect, clearly not wanting the prick to press any further.
‘I’m so curious now Nora, can I ask why?’ he continued
‘No you can’t’ Bibi started, her voice getting angry
Eva knew now was the right time to chime in.
‘Can u pass the potatoes please John Paul, and Donal how were things at the hospital last night?’
Having successfully avoided JP pushing further the conversation went back to tamer things and Bibi could sense Nora calming down again slightly. She hated her girlfriend having to protect herself like that, especially from the prick, and she hated that she couldn’t hold her hand. In fact, she hated herself a little for not having the courage to do so.
A few hours later and after dinner all of the rest of the family had left and Eva had gone to bed. Nora and Bibi were left downstairs on the sofa. They had slid closer to each other until Bibi had her arm wrapped around Nora. An almost empty box of heroes sat on Bibi’s lap and the tv was on with some Christmas movie playing quietly in the back ground.
‘I’m so sorry about the prick earlier’
She didn’t want to disturb the peace but she wanted to check Nora was ok.
‘It’s ok, I really should have believed you that he was that bad, what a prick he is’
‘I know he was dick all night love but I am really sorry about all the questions. I didn’t want you ever feel uncomfortable by being here’
Nora had to take a deep breath before answering. All the emotions of the day, the relief at feeling so included, the happiness she had felt watching Bibi with her family and the sadness she couldn’t be with her own hit her all at once.
‘Bi, please don’t. Whatever JP said or did, I had a lovely day. A real proper Christmas for the first time in a long time. And I got to spend it with you, which is really all I wanted. All your sisters and Donal and Blanaid, I loved it ok, please don’t worry’
This calmed Bibi down a bit, all she had really wanted was a Christmas with everyone she loved
‘Ok, I’ll hold off on murder for now, as long as you’re happy’
Nora looked straight at Bibi. She knew her girlfriend sometimes needed reassurance of other peoples emotions, often finding them difficult to understand. And to be honest, she was reminding herself.
‘Bi I’ve had the best Christmas I’ve had in a long time. I promise. I love your family and this place and most importantly I love you. That’s all I need’
‘Ok then’
‘Ok then. Now can you please explain to me what exactly is happening in this movie