“Anna,” he said, holding out a box wrapped in gold foil with a red velvet bow. “I have something truly special for you this year, honey.”
This box was so beautiful, like something out of a Hallmark movie. I was eager to open it right away.
“What is it, Dad?” I asked, my eyes wide.
He smiled, but there was something else in his eyes, like a fleeting look that was hard to comprehend.
“Oh, it’s a surprise, kiddo,” he said. “But I need you to promise me something.”
“Okay… what?”
“Don’t open it until Christmas morning,” he said.
He carefully handed me the box, as if it were extremely fragile.
“Leave it under the tree, and think of me when you see it. I’m going out of town for work, but I’ll call you as soon as I wake up in the morning. And I’ll come home as soon as I can.”
I nodded.
“Okay, I promise to be patient,” I said with a grin.
“Good girl,” he said. “This is very important to me, honey.”
His words hung in the air. For a moment, I thought he looked… sad. Or perhaps a bit conflicted. But then he kissed me on the forehead, told me he loved me, and went upstairs to pack.
The next morning, Christmas Eve, he left for his trip.
On Christmas morning, I woke up early, ready to start the day. But then I remembered that my dad wouldn’t be here. Christmas breakfast would just be Melanie and me.
Melanie was sipping her coffee and making a lot of noise as she scraped her spoon against her bowl while eating yogurt and granola.
“Come on, Anna,” I told myself, kicking off the covers. “Dad’s gift is waiting for you!”
The house was quiet, except for a faint sound of movement downstairs.
“She’s awake,” I groaned.
I slipped out of bed and quietly descended the stairs. My socks made no sound on the hardwood floor. I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself. Melanie would probably hear me and start the morning with a mean comment.
But there, kneeling in front of the Christmas tree as if on a mission, was Melanie. My gift, the one Dad told me not to touch until Christmas morning, was in her hands.
