The mall was buzzing with smiling faces and loud conversations as families took advantage of the pre-Christmas shopping rush. After a long week of working hard, it was all worth it. There was a sense of excitement in the air as everyone ran to buy the perfect gift for the ones they love. It was a great time to spend with those you care about.

Kia, Evans, Aiden and Sienna were all excited to go Christmas shopping. They had so many people to buy presents for this year unlike me who once again is going to spend her holiday in a blanket with a tub of cookie dough ice cream or crying over the fact that this year also I couldn't make a friend.

Pathetic I know!

I shrugged my depressing thoughts and looked ahead only to witness Tara and Evans holding each other's hands and strolling down the aisle looking for a gift for each other.

The love!

I smiled and looked down at Kia who was again whispering something in Aiden's ear. What's with these two?

I walked to a jewellery shop nearby where I thought I might find something nice for her. However, all the jewellery in the store was ridiculously expensive. I couldn't find anything that was cheap enough. I was about to leave the shop when my eyes caught a locket. It was simple but beautiful, to say the least. It looked like a locket from the 1950s but the way it was made, I doubted it was from so long ago. I opened the locket and it had empty spaces to fill two pictures. I thought it would be a great idea to fill them with pictures of Kia and Mr Arnold. She'd definitely love it.

I walked to the register to pay for the locket when I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around to see Sienna. I smiled at her and we both walked out of the shop.

"So any Christmas plans?", I asked her. She gave me one of her typical smiles, "I'm not sure yet. If I do, I'll let you know. I'm pretty sure I'll be spending the day with my family.", I promise I never feel envious but this thing I do. Why don't I have any friends or family to spend festivals with.

I sighed and smiled at her excitement."That's great."

"You?", she asked and I winced.

"Um..I don't have any plans yet, maybe out with friends.", I lied.

Thank God before she could ask something else, Kia interrupted and grabbed my hand pulling me with her. I looked at her in confusion but followed her. I should have known better than to question a four-year-old.

I take it back, I must have questioned her because she had dragged me towards Mr Arnold. I rolled my eyes seeing him talking on a phone. Mr Arnold hung up his phone and looked at me." I looked away not wanting to meet his gaze. "Nicky uncle you wait with Ari, I'll come in two minutes.", she said and sprinted off to God knows where.

Now it was me, Mr Arnold and awkward silence as always. I sighed and broke it. "What do you want for Christmas, Mr Arnold?" I asked.

He looked at me as if I had grown two horns."Nothing. What do you want Ms Summers?"

I smirked."A less grumpy boss I guess."

He chuckled.

Mr Grumpy Arnold freaking chuckled. I felt warmth spread in my chest. I smiled. It's been a long time since I felt like this. I could have sworn I saw a small smile on Mr Arnold's face too. I guess he's not so grumpy after all. *sighs* Maybe he'll turn into a normal person someday. "I doubt it though."

"I do too.", I laughed. It was the first time when I saw him laughing since my first encounter with Mr Arnold. It was a different laugh but it was nice to hear. I wonder if he laughs like that all the time. I hope he does.

"You should smile more often.", I looked at him in surprise. I didn't expect him to say that. Once again warmth flooded my chest. It's been years since someone said something like this to me.

"So should you.", I grinned. I didn't have any personal enmity with him. We just had some differences but whatever is true, is true and I speak it. Yes, that's me. I tend to speak whatever comes to my mind.

But the way he looked at me after my statement made me all awkward. And awkwardness and I, don't have a good record.

Oh! Bloody hell.

"I think Kia is calling for me. I'll be back.", I turned and sprinted, literally sprinted, to Kia. She was sitting on the floor, looking at the ginormous tree decorated with Christmas lights. It was very beautiful. The lights, the tree, the ornaments. All of it was so pretty. I sat beside her and she gave me a big hug. "Thank you."

"For what Kia baby?"

She shrugged and rested her head on my shoulder."I'm tired."And she was. I looked at her and saw her eyes were closed. "Let's go home." I got up and she wrapped her legs around my waist.

"Home.", she mumbled and passed out. I looked at her in surprise. I guess she was really tired. I looked at Mr Arnold who was coming our way.

"She slept.", I said to him. He stretched his arms but I shook my head."It's okay. I'll carry her."

He looked unsure but nodded. We walked to his car and it is then that I noticed, we were being followed by guards. I rolled my eyes.

Rich people, I tell you.

He opened the door for me and I kept my palm on Kia's head so that she doesn't get hurt. I sat inside and Mr Arnold closed the door after me. He was not that bad I guess.

He walked to the driver's seat. I looked at Kia and closed my eyes. I couldn't believe I could have a normal conversation with Mr Arnold. It's been years since I could do something like this. I smiled to myself. I didn't embarrass myself. I had a bloody normal conversation with someone.

I hugged Kia tighter. She was a lucky charm for me. I opened my eyes and looked at Mr Arnold. He was looking at me. "What?"

He shook his head and started the car. "Nothing. It's nothing. It's just nothing. "

I Iooked at him in confusion but he didn't say anything. He just drove to my house in silence. I looked down at Kia's innocent face again. She looked so calm when she was asleep but once she was up, she'd get all mischievous.

Kids!

Mr Arnold had to go for a meeting so I told him he can leave Kia with me for a few hours and then pick her up in the evening. He hesitated, I smiled at his concern."I promise she's safe with me."

"I know.", he said surprising me. I got out of his car and walked to my house.

He didn't leave till the moment I was inside.

I wonder why?

I made Kia sleep in my room and walked inside my kitchen to prepare something to eat. She'll be hungry once she gets up. I looked at the clock and saw that it was after 5 pm. I started chopping some vegetables. It was quiet in the house, nothing new. On normal days, I'd just plug in my headphones and do my work but today I had a kid in my house so I had to be cautious. I looked at the clock again.

I finished the vegetables and turned on the stove and heated the oil, I decided to make spaghetti. That was what I was cooking when I heard someone let themselves into the kitchen. I looked behind to see Kia padding towards me. I smiled at her and went to her, crouching down so that I was at eye level with her.

"What are you doing here, baby?" I asked. She wiped her eyes tiringly and looked at me, confused. "Where's Nicky uncle?"

"He'll be back after some time. You hungry."

I looked at the stove and saw the spaghetti was ready. I grabbed the bowl and cutlery and sat on the dining table with her. I let her eat with her hands, she was so messy but I didn't mind. I just enjoyed watching her eat. She was so adorable. I looked at my phone and saw it was already 6. I sighed.

"Kia?" I called out. "You want to see my little garden?"

She nodded enthusiastically. I knew she was getting tired of being cooped up in this room. "Come on. I didn't water the plants today."

I grabbed her hand and walked to my Mumma's little garden. It was not so big but I tried to maintain it as beautiful as I could. I placed some flowers here and there and put a few of his plants in there. "You can sit here. Till then I'll water the plants. Okay."

"Can I help?", she asked.

"Umm... Sure can." I grinned at her.

"Alright. I need you to get the water from that tap over there and bring it to this pot. Can you do it?

" Of course, I can, silly. It's not hard.", she giggled. I just smiled and shook my head. She went and got the bucket and filled it with water. She came back and sat on the ground. I took a small shovel from the ground and started digging some soil. I started planting the plants I wanted to grow. I started with some chives. I started watering them.

"Kia, you can help too," I said when I was done planting them. She just nodded as she took the shovel and started digging. I kept looking at her while she dug. I couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked. She was smiling too. It was great to see the little girl happy.

Once I was done, I looked at her and my eyes widened when I saw that her frock was ruined due to the soil. I facepalmed mentally, it's gonna be a hella difficult task to explain to Mr Arnold why are her clothes dirty.

"Come on Kia. I'll get you cleaned up."

"But we just started.", she argued. I smiled and grabbed her hand."We'll be back I promise."

"Please.", she shot me those puppy eyes and bloody hell, I melted.

"Fine.", I rolled my eyes and she danced in victory.

I filled a bucket of water from my washroom and Kia being the mischievous one, urged to carry it.

"Kia baby let me carry it, it's heavy baby." But she didn't listen. She just kept carrying it. I could tell she was getting tired, but the stubborn kid that she was. I was so proud of her for not giving up. I put her down. She was panting.

"Fine baby. You can carry the bucket. But I'll carry you." I said and picked her up. I had no intention of leaving her behind, so I carried her back to the garden.

"Put me down.", she said and I gently placed her on the ground, I took the bucket from her hand and turned to water my plants when my foot slipped and I fell flat on my back. Kia burst out laughing.

"Kia, don't laugh at me.". I glared at her jokingly. She giggled and came over and sat beside me. I rolled my eyes and looked at my clothes which were soaking wet.

Nice!

"So clumsy.", I heard a familiar voice and a goddamn shiver ran down my spine. I looked up and saw Mr Arnold looking at us.

His eyes had a sparkle of amusement in them. "What are you two doing?" I looked at Kia and we both burst out laughing. A sneeze escaped me and Mr Arnold raised his eyebrow."What a surprise to find these two hooligans in my absence." He teased us. I glared at him and Kia laughed.

"He's a meanie," Kia said. "No, he's a scoundel.", she tried to repeat the words that I used for him at the park.

I got up and took a step towards him but as always, the universe wanted me to get embarrassed, my foot stepped on the bucket and I screamed but this time I didn't fall. Mr Arnold had caught me by my waist.

But I swear to the heavens above, it'd have been better if I had fallen down.

I was close to him, so very close. Heat crawled my neck. I could feel my heart throbbing in my chest. "Are you okay?" He asked. I shook my head and he lowered his eyes. His grip on my waist tightened, which made my heart race.

"So f*cking clumsy.", he whispered in my ear making my body heat surge. He moved his head next to my cheek.

I shot him a glare and he let go of me. I turned to see Kia with a big smile on her face.

Why is she smiling?