Chapter 188

188: MEMORIES 5 ARIEL’S POV [FLASHBACK CONTINUES]

I smiled as I gazed at the twinkling Christmas lights adorning the grand staircase of the mansion. The festive spirit filled the air, and I couldn’t wait to make this Christmas the most magical one yet for my two little children, Lukel and Janice. As I bustled around the spacious living room, arranging garlands and hanging ornaments on the towering Christmas tree, I could hear the excited chatter of my children coming from the nearby playroom.

“Lukel, Janice, come help me with the tree!” I called out, my voice filled with warmth and joy.

The children came bounding into the room, their faces bright with anticipation. Lukel, with his mischievous grin, and Janice, with her sparkling eyes, eagerly joined me in decorating the tree. They carefully placed ornaments on the branches, their laughter filling the room as we reminisced about Christmases past.

We worked, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the precious moments spent with my children.

Despite the challenges we had faced, we were a tight–knit family, and our love for each other shone brightly during the holiday season.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and I hurried to answer it. Standing on the doorstep was Hannah, the kind and generous soul who had always been there to put a smile on your face. She hadn’t been around for quite some time, but it was a great thing that she was back.

“Come in, Hannah! We’re so glad you could join us,” I hugged her.

Hannah beamed as she entered the mansion. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world! I brought some homemade gingerbread cookies for us to enjoy while we decorate.”

Together, the three of us and my two children set to work, our laughter and chatter filling the mansion with joy. Hannah helped string lights around the fireplace mantel while Lukel, Janice, and I placed a star atop the Christmas tree.

While we continued working, Lukel and Janice regaled Hannah with tales of their school Christmas play and their letters to Santa. Hannah listened attentively, and it didn’t take long before Elizabeth joined us, along with Manuel and Andre.

“Wow, this place is really looking nice,” Elizabeth said, looking around. “I can help with this, right?”

“You sure can,” I replied, smiling at her. She giggled, and my eyes went to Andre. He gave me the thumbs up, and I gave him the perfect sign.

After the decorations were up, I suggested we make hot cocoa and gather around the crackling fire.

The children’s faces lit up at the idea, and soon we were all cozied up on the plush sofa, sipping cocoa and sharing stories.

As the evening wore on, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of contentment. Surrounded by loved TAB: MEMONIES 5 ones in the warmth of a great place to call home. This Christmas will definitely be one to remember.

The clock struck midnight, signaling the arrival of Christmas Day. We exchanged gifts in the glow of the tree. The children’s eyes sparkled with delight as they unwrapped their presents, and I felt my heart swell with love for my little family.

The night drew to a close, and I tucked Lukel and Janice into bed, their hearts full of dreams of sugarplums and reindeer. And as I stood in the doorway, watching my children sleep, I whispered a silent prayer of gratitude for the blessings in my life.

Christmas morning dawned bright and clear, and as we gathered around the tree, our smiles were brighter than the twinkling lights above. In that moment, amidst joy and love, I realized that the true magic of Christmas lay not in the gifts under the tree but rather in the happiness of spending time with those who mattered most.

And as we sat down to a festive Christmas breakfast, with the scent of cinnamon and evergreen in the air, I couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning of many more magical Christmases to come.

After finishing our breakfast, André suddenly stood up, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “I have a special Christmas surprise for you all,” he announced.

We all looked at him curiously, wondering what he had up his sleeve. With a smile, he began to sing a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.” His voice was like honey, filling the room with warmth and joy.

As he finished, we all clapped and cheered, amazed by his talent. Elizabeth even stood up and gave him a standing ovation.

Not wanting to be left out, Manuel stood up and proclaimed, “I have a special talent too!” We all looked at him expectantly, wondering what he could possibly do.

He pulled out a deck of cards and began to do a magic trick. However, it was clear that he wasn’t very good at it. The cards kept falling out of his hands, and he stumbled over his words.

But that didn’t stop us from clapping and cheering for him. We were all proud of him for trying, and it was the thought that counted.

We played games, sang carols, and exchanged stories. The mansion was filled with laughter and love, and I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas.

And as the evening drew to a close, we all sat by the fireplace, sipping on hot cocoa and watching the snow fall outside. We talked about our hopes and dreams for the new year, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the amazing people in my life.

This Christmas had been truly magical, filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. And I knew that with these amazing people by my side, every Christmas would be just as special.

So, I was with Lukel and Janice as I was about to tell them to go to sleep.

“Mommy, can you tell us a Christmas story?” Janice asked.

188: MEMORIES 5 “Of course, my darlings,” I replied, ruffling her hair. “Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a little girl named Lily. She lived with her parents in a small cottage at the edge of a forest.”

“Was it a snowy forest?” Lukel interjected.

“Yes, it was.” I smiled. “Every year, on Christmas Eve, Lily and her family would decorate their Christmas tree with homemade ornaments and twinkling lights. It was their favorite tradition.”

“Did they have presents under the tree?” Janice chimed in.

“They did,” I nodded. “But for Lily, the best part of Christmas was spending time with her family. They would bake cookies, sing carols, and tell stories by the fire.”

“‘That sounds like so much fun!” Lukel exclaimed.

“It was,” I agreed. “But one year, a blizzard hit the forest on Christmas Eve. The snow was so thick that Lily’s father couldn’t make it back home from work. Lily and her mother were worried, but they knew they had to celebrate Christmas without him.”

“That’s so sad,” Janice said, her lower lip trembling.

“But Lily’s mother told her that Christmas was about being together with the ones you love,” I continued. “So they lit a fire, made hot cocoa, and began to tell stories. As they sang carols, they heard a knock on the door. It was Lily’s father, who had braved the blizzard to come home to his family.”

“That’s so sweet,” Lukel said, a smile spreading across his face.

“From that day on, Lily and her family cherished every moment they spent together on Christmas,” I said, looking at my children. “And that’s why we should always remember the true meaning of Christmas: love, family, and togetherness.”

“I love that story, Mommy,” Janice said, snuggling closer to me.

“Me too,” Lukel agreed. “Do you think we can make some homemade ornaments for our tree next year?”

“Absolutely,” I replied. “Now, it’s time for bed, my little ones. We’ve had a great and exhausting day.”