Chapter 42

December 25th, 2016.

I crept out into the hallway, checking to see if it was empty, then I closed my door quietly and locked it, tiptoeing down to the kitchen, I did a sweep of the perimeter. When I was satisfied nobody was up, I sprinted all the way to the front door, unlocked it and slipped out into the street.

The air was cold and I could see wisps of my breath. I pulled my coat tighter around my body, raising the collar to keep warm. As I walked down the street, I noticed the cold didn't stop early risers from distributing presents and food to their neighbors.

I knocked on Anabelle's door and received an instant reply.

"Merry Christmas!" She said, as she pulled me into a hug.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Anabelle." I got inside and pulled my coat off, in time to receive another hug from Aubrey and Jessie.

"Merry Christmas, Ophelia!" They both said, simultaneously.

I kissed each on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, babies."

"Alright she's here, let's go open the presents!" Aubrey pulled me towards the Christmas tree. I noticed they were all dressed. Anabelle wasn't kidding when she said they'd get an early start.

We all sat around the tree excited. "Who's going first?"

"Oh me! Me! Me! Me!" Anabelle said, excitedly.

"Okay." She handed us each a wrapped box. The kids shook it, trying to decipher what was inside, I shook mine too. When they couldn't tell what was in it, they looked at me.

"Nah... I got nothing." I said when I couldn't tell its contents.

Anabelle had a smug look on her face, pleased that we were curious.

Aubrey was the first to tear hers open. She pulled out a neatly folded red sweater and shook it open to see it was designed all over with tiny white reindeers, Christmas trees and Santas carrying bags. She looked inside her box to see reindeer horns which she put on immediately, she looked cute.

Jessie tore her pack open and pulled out similar items. I concluded that mine would be the same thing.... Imagine my surprise when I pulled out a… "Green sweater!" I said.

My not so favourite colour.

"Now we all get to wear matching Christmas themed sweaters!" She said, oblivious to my distaste, pulling out a white sweater with similar designs but hers was red while ours was white.

I put the sweater on, I had no choice but to wear it, it was a gift after all; I finished the Christmas themed look with the reindeer horns on my head.

Jessie went next, handing out smaller boxes. I opened mine to see a charm bracelet. "Oh my God, Jessie! Thank you!" I looked around, noticing she gave everyone charm bracelets but they were designed differently.

"Hearts." Anabelle said.

"Flowers!" Aubrey said.

"I got butterflies!" I said.

"Palm trees." Jessie put hers on and we followed suit.

Aubrey went next and her presents were.... "Sweets." I said as I pulled out a candy cane.

She smiled proudly.

"Oh, Aubrey!" I ruffled her hair and we all laughed.

It was my turn to give out gifts. I distributed the gifts and they all shook the boxes.

Anabelle opened hers first and pulled out a strapless peach knee length evening gown. It was simple, designed with stones at the bottom. She held her hand to her mouth. "It's beautiful!"

I waved her off.

Seeing the gift I got for their sister, the kids hurriedly tore the wrappings off their presents. Jessie beat Aubrey and she pulled out scarves in different colours. "Thank you Ophelia." She said, gratefully. The scarves would be easier to wrap around her nose.

Aubrey finally got her box open and pulled out a complete Easter Bunny pyjamas set: soft pink shirt and trouser, Bunny ears and matching Bunny slippers all in furs.

She squealed and jumped on me. "Thank you!"

I laughed. "You're welcome, sweetie."

We spent a few minutes cooing and admiring presents until Anabelle got up and announced it was time for breakfast.

We picked the torn gift wraps and disposed of them, singing along and dancing to Christmas songs while preparing breakfast. After breakfast, it was time to enjoy Christmas. Armoured up for the cold in our matching clothing, Anabelle locked up and we headed for the mall.

We hit the photo booth first, where we put in coins to have instant photos taken.

10 shots later, our pictures rolled out of the machine and the girls took turns looking at them. The prettiest of them all was the one we were making silly faces at the camera, it showed unadulterated happiness and joy.

Anabelle pushed the picture towards me.

I shook my head. "No, you keep it." Because I wanted them to have something to remember me by when I went back home, to the Mansion.

Later that day, Anabelle got a used camera for €5 and used it to take pictures of everything, pictures of Jessie and Aubrey sitting on Santa—receiving presents, pictures of Aubrey riding a reindeer, pictures of me buying our movie tickets, pictures of Aubrey eating popcorn. I took a turn at taking pictures because I didn't want to be in all their pictures, I wanted them to look back at these pictures and remember it was the first Christmas they celebrated without their parents: and they were happy.

We watched a Christmas themed PG movie and enjoyed every second of it.

After the movie, we headed to the food court, gaming area and walked around stores, window shopping.

It was a little bit dark when we left the mall but we still went to the park and took part in the festivities: singing along with others, playing games and sharing meals. Even though we didn't bring anything along, we were filled by the time we left.

It was a little after 10pm when we got back to Anabelle's place exhausted. Aubrey was barely able to keep her eyes open and Jessie leaned onto me for support.

Anabelle helped them shower and changed into their PJs but she didn't put them in bed, rather, she brought them back to the living room. I raised an eyebrow.

"Tell us a story." She said.

I raised the eyebrow further.

She rolled her eyes at me. "Don't look at me like that, you're good at it. Come on, tell us the Christmas story."

I chuckled lightly. I wasn't good at telling stories, most of the ones I told were recollected memories of the ones I heard but I sat down cross legged and told them the Christmas story just as dad had told me when I was much younger.

--------------------------

The kids were in bed, so I decided to tidy up the living room, even if there wasn't much to clean.

Anabelle was taking more pictures.

At first I thought she was testing the camera, when she followed my every move I realised what she was doing.

"Anabelle..." I complained when I saw another flash.

"What?" She asked, innocently.

"Haven't you taken enough pictures?"

"No, not at all. You see, I want to make an album. This will be the first and then we'll make albums of every Christmas we spend together, every event we celebrate: birthday, graduations...." She rambled on.

I bit my lip. This was what I was trying to avoid, attachment. I wanted to help them without showing attachment but it was getting difficult, even for me and I didn't have the heart to tell them a time would come when I would leave.

I smiled weakly as she talked about plans for the future.

When I saw it was 30 minutes to the time the caretaker took rounds round the piaceré house and locked the front door, I told Anabelle I had to leave.

She saw me out the door but before I could step out, she pulled me into a hug. "Thank you for the best first Christmas without them." She said but didn't cry as I expected her to.

I didn't really do anything, I wanted to tell her. Instead, I hugged her back, patting her back affectionately. "You're welcome Anabelle, you're welcome."

-------------------------------------------

On the 26th, I followed Anabelle and her sisters to the cemetery to see their parents. I didn't think it was wise because I thought it would dampen the euphoria they felt the previous day. She insisted, saying it had been a while since she talked to them.

They purchased flowers, gifts, Aubrey even bought her mum's favourite candy.

At the cemetery, I gave them the personal space they needed. I stood at a distance, watching as they huddled together, crying their eyes out. I didn't intervene this time. When it was time to go, I took them home and cheered them up.

27th brought an end to the holidays. Anabelle informed me her boss at the ice cream shop was organizing a lunch party for his workers and their families. She invited me but I declined, determined on keeping my distance from them. That day, I took a solitary walk in the park, printed a locket sized picture of Luke from my phone and fitted it into the locket Arabella gave me, now I could look at his picture whenever I was lonely as it hung from my neck.

The rest days were pretty much a blur but I knew I stayed indoors because I got word that Desmonda knew about my escapades out of the house.

I spent new year alone.... Alone with tears that is.

There was no sign of Luke.