“I can hear the sleigh bells ring.”
“It’s annoying,” I grumbled, looking down at my younger sister with thinly veiled contempt despite her obvious enthusiasm.
“Hey,” my mother sent me a warning glare. I knew that expression all too well as it had taken up seemingly permanence residence in the recent weeks leading up to Christmas.
“Sorry,” I managed, groaning when my little sister erupted in giggles as she pointed to the horse and carriage careening down the flooded New York streets alive with busy shoppers.
I followed my sister and mother as we made our way to countless department stores, scouring for the best Christmas deals. My mother had a long list of people to buy meaningless gifts for, and I had every intention of playing the passive third wheel, leaving the others to swoon over over-priced jewelry and superficial handbags.
“What about this for grandma!” my little sister questioned, holding up the ugliest sweater she could have possibly found.
“It’s lovely,” my mother agreed while I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
But my action did not go undetected and my mother shook her head slowly, handing my sister her credit card. “Pay for it while I talk to your sister.”
I swallowed hard. “What did I do?”
My mother took my hand, clasping it tightly as she looked down at me. “I know it’s hard without your father.”
I instantly turned away, rage boiling beneath my skin at the thought of my father. “Whatever, he’d rather be with his new family.”
“But you seem to care a lot more than you let on,” my mother said.
I pulled my hand free. “I don’t want to think about it.”
“I know,” my mother said softly. “At least keep in good spirits for your sister.”
“I’ll try,” I said, relieved only once my mother allowed a kind smile.
Christmas was once my favorite time of the year, but after my father walked out on us last season, I’ve never loathed something more. But studying my little sister from afar, noting the innocent smile crinkling the corners of her lips, I let out a tired sigh and pasted on a faux smile of my own. “I’ll do it for her,” I declared, rolling out my shoulders before rejoining my family at the counter.
