《The Holiday Homework |Christmas Book |》t w e n t y t h r e e

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Christmas breakfast was an absolute delight. Perfectly warm waffles with maple syrup, scrambled eggs and hash browns. To make it Christmasy, there were tree-shaped brownies and Juliet's macaroons.

I was stuffed by the end of it, just like a turkey.

James wanted to play in the snow since it was Christmas Day and because it was Christmas Day, Sarah let him and the twins out to play without to much convincing work but yeah, we, that is Jasper and me, were to be there as well.

Currently, Jasper and I were helping James and the twins to build a fort. Jesse got their beach set and we were building some forts with the snow.

Building forts on snow are so much better than building forts with sand. You didn't have to worry about it drying up.

James was so happy to be out, probably thanking God for it to be Christmas Day since Sarah wouldn't want him to fall ill again.

The four-year-old, dressed up in all the possible woollens he had in his cupboard, worked with his two brothers in building the fort. Jessica on the other helped them little and then decided to make snow angels.

I was about to un-mould one of the forts when I felt my phone vibrate. I kept the bucket beside me and pulled my phone out to see who was calling me. Looking at the caller id, I wasn't sure if I wanted to pick up the call. It would probably ruin my mood and day.

I sigh and answer the call, "Hello."

"Merry Christmas, Holly." I hear my mother.

"Merry Christmas, mother," I say looking down at the snow I was in. "You don't sound too happy but I'm not going to ask about it because I don't want either of us to argue." Woah, that sounds very different.

"How is your morning?" I could feel my mother smile as she asked me that.

"It's good so far. Had some breakfast and then we will be opening the presents soon." I answer, I saw Jasper look at me, I give a weak smile in return.

"Sounds good. Just so you know, your Christmas presents are waiting for you. You can unwrap them whenever you plan on visiting home." she tells me.

"Um okay." Presents?

"There's somebody here who wants to wish you, Holly." she says and I hear a little disturbance but soon I heard I voice I haven't heard ever since I broke up with Daniel.

My father.

My break up with Daniel affected my father's relationship with Daniel's father, that ruined the little father-daughter relation we shared. We argued, we fought.

I felt like it was set up, my relationship with Daniel was a setup and he and my mother wanted me to remain with that player. I stood by my words and over days or weeks, my father and Daniel's dad worked out everything and became friends again but that increased the distance between him and me.

"Holly." I heard him say.

"Hi, dad." I softly say.

"I just wanted to apologise." I close my eyes, I could feel the tears form and I did not want to cry.

"Merry Christmas, dad." I couldn't think of anything else say, I had nothing to say.

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"Merry Christmas, Holly." I heard him say and after that, I ended the call immediately. I got up and walked into the house and climbed up the stairs to my room. I walked into the room and closed the door behind me. I leaned against the door and the series of arguments I had with my father started to replay in my mind.

---

It was one in the afternoon when everybody was told to gather together in the living room and sit around the tree.

I left my room after fifteen minutes and went back to the backyard to continue what I was doing there and since everybody was still stuffed from breakfast, Sarah decided to have some cake and some eggnog and hot chocolate to drink.

Everybody sat on the carpet except for Peter. He walked to the fireplace and got the stuffed stockings off the hook and handed it out to us.

When I got mine, I ran my fingers over my name that was stitched on the white of the stocking. I reached out to what was inside and it was filled with many things. A winter collection moisturizer from Bath and Body Works, a mini stuffed snowman with a scarf around its neck and a beanie over his head. He looked adorable. Everybody got something different but what we all got the same were the iTunes gift vouchers, a little box of Godiva chocolates and some candy canes. These gifts were some extra gifts from Santa.

Once everybody was done with their stockings, Jesse and Jessica got up and walked to the tree. "Now it's time for the real presents," Jesse announces. "Where you get to unwrap the wrapping papers to find your presents!" Jessica claps her hands in excitement, seeing Jessica clap, James started clapping his hands with little laughter.

Jesse and Jessica picked a box each and read the name tag on it and gave it to whoever it belonged to. We waited patiently till we got all our gifts. The twins were very happy and excited as they handed out everybody's presents. Once they handed out everybody's presents, they sat with their boxes and Sarah gave the cue to open our wrapped presents.

I carefully unwrapped my first present, it was from Peter and Sarah. It was a beautiful Royal Blue Kate Spades handbag. 'Love at first sight' is a very true statement because I'm in love with this bag. To be honest, I've had my eyes on this colour bag for a while but each time I saw it, I decided to buy it later since it wasn't very important for that moment.

It's rare to even see them because I rarely go for shopping.

After thanking Peter and Sarah, my next present was from Juliet. A big rectangular box wrapped with a creative Christmas wrapping paper. I opened it and I saw a lovely pleated black skirt with a beige top in there. They were the perfect outfit I could wear with my knee length boots. I looked at Juliet, who was sitting beside me. I gave her little nudge which made her look at me. She saw her gift open in front of me, she smiled. I lean in and give her a hug. "It's beautiful, Juliet." I say. "I'm glad you liked it." she smiles.

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Jessica had two boxes for me, one had a top I could wear along with my jeans and some metallic accessories that would go with it or anything. I remember talking to Jessica about how I liked metallic accessories, they kind of reminded me of the Egyptians.

Jesse had a little note in his box telling me that he wasn't very sure of what he could give me but what he gave me was too beautiful. Jesse gifted me with a lovely vintage watch which I was excited to wear this dresses in Summer.

Little James gave a coffee mug with some snowflakes on it.

My hands went to the last three boxes, they were from Jasper. The first box had a Channel perfume, the second had a watch, that makes it two watches this Christmas. The last box was a bit big and it had a bow on top of it. I released it and opened the box, I found a book inside. Just as I was about to open the book, I heard Juliet ask something.

"Dad, I should be giving you a tie. Why have you gifted me a tie for Christmas?" Peter looked at Sarah after he heard his daughter and smiled. Then out of nowhere, the doorbell rang.

"Julie, why don't you answer the door?" Sarah tells her with a smile. Juliet placed the tie she was holding in the box and got up to answer the door with a sigh. Everybody in the room turned to see who it was as Juliet walked to the door and unlocked it.

There was a gasp and an "Oh My God!" with a lot of giggles

Jessica looked at me, confused. I was equally confused.

We waited till the door closed and Juliet to tell us who was at the door but when she came back into the living room, she had her arms around a boy who was about her age.

He was extremely attractive, handsome and if Emma were here, she would call him delicious.

"Mom Dad, this is seriously the best thing you could have made possible this Christmas!" She exclaims and pulls the guy towards her and kisses him on his lips.

Was this Michael?

"Ew! Sis! We've got children in the room." Jesse covers James eyes as he comments. "It's not something you haven't seen." Juliet looks at Jesse and the goes back to looking at Michael.

Michael let go of Juliet a minute later and greeted Sarah, Peter, Jasper, the twins and James. He then saw me and brought his hand forward.

"We've got a guest." I shake his hand. "Holly," I tell him my name.

"Michael." He tells me his. I was introduced as Jasper's friend and Jasper explained how we were paired to work on a little assignment.

After some time, I excused myself from the room an headed to my room with all the presents I got today. I let them have a family time with their future son, I did not want to be there when it clearly looked like a family moment.

Once I entered my room, I placed my presents at the end of my bed. I picked Jasper's last present and sat on my bed with my legs crossed.

I opened the book and I found a picture. It was a selfie that Jasper took the day we were on our way to Philadelphia. I wasn't aware of the picture being clicked, I was busy looking out the window of the beautiful sunset.

Wait a minute, he took a selfie while driving?

Below the picture, written beautifully was a caption

"Your first step to making a good memory"

I smiled and turn to the next page. It was a picture of me holding James' hand as we walked down the path when we went tree hunting. Beside that was another picture that Peter insisted we took. Jessica, James, Jasper and I were made to stand in front of the tree that was picked to be decorated.

"Christmas tree hunt"

I turn over to the next page and it was a picture of all of us except for Peter and Sarah and we were hanging the stockings above the fireplace.

The next page had a picture of the snowman we built and along with that he put in the selfie he clicked with all of us with the snowman.

Then was a picture of Jessica and me baking but the next one was where I was covered in flour and Jessica standing there shocked. That was one day I would never forget.

Next one was a selfie Jasper took when we went to play in the snow. The day I had my first snowball fight and made a snow angel.

There were more pictures, mostly taken by Jessica and Jesse like our movie nights.

I went through all of them and then came to the last page where there was an envelope. I put the book aside and took the envelope in my hand. I opened it and took the paper that was folded neatly from it.

Hey Holly,

First off, got to apologise for being a spy and have taken that selfie while I drove here and for other pictures that you weren't aware of. Giving you material gifts wouldn't really mean anything, I thought of adding this into the list of your presents so that you have a little souvenir to remind yourself about the time you had here.

Like I once said, I never thought you would accept the offer of coming with me home for Christmas but I'm glad you did.

Don't worry, this isn't going to be a big note. As much as I love writing, writing letters to someone have never been my strong point but I'd like to talk to you.

Would it be alright if we met after dinner at the back porch or not?

Merry Christmas Holly and I hope you liked the scrapbook.

- Jasper Anderson

He wants to meet me?

I lay down on my back and stared at the ceiling.

He wants to meet me.

He wants to talk to me.

"I think I need to talk to Emma about this." I told myself and reach for my phone and call her.

---

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