It was a lovely winter afternoon, not so lovely because it got really cold. The house was empty, James was taking his afternoon nap, Jasper and I were in the study for a while but because there was nothing to do I came to my room and sat on my bed with my MacBook.

It's been a while since I last checked any of the social media I was on, I mean my phone reminds me that I have plenty of notifications to look at but I never really bothered to look at it because I had a new scene in front of me that kept me distracted.

Scrolling through the newsfeed of Facebook, I heard my phone ring. I picked it up and it was Emma who was calling me.

"Hello?"

"Tell me something magical happened and that you have a boyfriend!"

Never knew the art of greeting me, did she?

"I'm sorry for disappointing you but I am pretty much the same, Emma." I reply. "Dang it! I'll have to pray more to have some change in your life." She sounded a bit angry.

"I wouldn't say nothing has changed." I slowly begin. "Go ahead, tell me." she encourages.

"Emma, it's such an amazing feeling to be a part of a family. I'm a stranger yet even then I feel like I'm home."

"Sounds like you're having a good time there already." She spoke.

"Yeah." I agree. "Just imagine how miserable you would be feeling if you had not accepted his offer. Alone in New York inside our apartment." I couldn't help but agree with her. My holiday in New York would be very boring and I might have to see Daniel if he didn't fly California.

"So, what all did you do?" I heard her ask. "We umm... We went tree hunting and Peter, Jasper's father, found a perfect tree for Christmas. We set the tree and decorated it and it looks beyond beautiful." I tell her.

"Woah, that annoying brother of mine set the tree up even before I reached so I did not get the chance of setting it this year." She muttered.

"That's mean and Emma can you believe, I have a stocking that is hung at the fireplace!" She laughed. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because you sound like a small girl and I know you're enjoying Christmas."

"Hold it a minute, setting up a tree and hanging stockings does not mean I'm enjoying the whole thing." I stop her.

"Keep denying it Hols, you are enjoying Christmas so far."

"Correction, I'm enjoying the company I'm given." I correct her, she laughed. "That's a good start for your magical Christmas, Holly and I'm going to continue to pray that you do." She told me.

"Emma, may I ask you something?"

"You needn't ask. Ask me."

"Why are you so adamant about me getting a boyfriend?" I ask her.

She was silent for a moment. I got up from the bed and walked to the window and looked at the winter view I have.

"I'm not adamant on you for getting a boyfriend." She starts.

"But-" "Yeah I know I keep insisting that you get one and all." She interrupts me.

"Holly, I met you only over two years ago but from what I know, you need some love and attention. You're not an attention seeker yet you need the love and care that people in life should have given you."

"And you think that a boyfriend will solve it?" I ask.

"No, most of them are jerks. Just like the one you dated." I laughed a little. "But you keep your experience and have closed your eyes even to the ones who may not be jerks." She tells me.

"Speaking of boyfriends, how is Mr Ryan?" I change the topic around.

"He's good even though I know what you're doing but yeah.. He's having a good family time. My brother is just such a pain. He asked me about you and wondered why I didn't bring you along."

"What did you tell him?"

"That you had better things to do instead of listening to his hopeless pickup lines and flirting." I laugh.

Emma indeed was one of the reasons why I could have a good laugh. After talking to her for a bit longer, I went in for a quick warm shower and got myself ready for the story evening.

--

It's currently nine in the night and every member of the Anderson Family was seated in the living room. Usually, at this hour, Jessica and Jesse would run up to their rooms and get back to doing whatever they were doing before dinner but today they sat patiently on the carpet.

The fireplace was lit, mince pies were placed on a cake stand on the coffee table, the lights were dim and the house smelt of cinnamon. Peter was sitting in his armchair, Juliet was on a single seat couch with James on her lap. Sarah and Jasper were on the long couch and I sat next to Jessica on the carpet.

"I really wish Grandma was here." Jessica sulked and looked at me.

"Okay everybody, it's time to begin our story evening." Sarah begins. Jesse offered me some mince pies, I take one and pass them to Juliet.

"Long time ago, God sent Angel Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth. Angel Gabriel was sent to inform Mary that she was blessed and will soon have a baby boy and she was to name him Jesus." Sarah begins with the Story of Christmas, a story I once heard Aunt Talia tell all the children the one Christmas I spent home with my Grandparents without my parents.

"Mary was told that her cousin Elizabeth's son will be preparing the way for Jesus. So Mary went to meet her cousin Elizabeth and Zachariah who was expecting their son soon." I took a small bite of my mince pie.

"Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and Zachariah and Elizabeth were so happy to hear about Mary. Mary then stayed with Elizabeth for three months."

"Isn't Mary going to marry Joseph?" Jesse asked to which Sarah nodded her head. "Joseph was devastated when he heard that Mary was expecting a baby." I heard Peter say, our attention went to Peter, he kept his book down on a small table next to him.

"You see, Joseph was not expecting this news. At least not until they got married. Joseph did not know what to do if he should call off the wedding because of this but one night during his sleep, he got to know what to do." he narrated the story

"An angel came in his dream and told him not to be afraid of making Mary his wife. The angel explained to Joseph about God choosing Mary to be the mother of His Son. The baby boy will be named Jesus which meant Saviour and Jesus was to save the people. So when Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did exactly what the angel told him and took Mary as his wife."

"Mary and Joseph went back to Bethlehem, where Joseph was from. They rode slowly on a donkey all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem because Mary was to give birth very soon." Sarah continued the story now. "But unfortunately when they reached Bethlehem, they found no place to stay in. All the Inns and every bed in Bethlehem were occupied. The only place available was where animals slept."

"But if Joseph was from Bethlehem, how was it that he did not have a place for himself at least?" Jessica asked.

It was nice to hear the ten-year old's question to know more of the story. I kept my mouth shut because I've heard the simple short story of Christmas and the small Nativity scene they put up at Church.

"Jessica, the land that both Joseph and Mary belonged to were under the Romans." Jasper begins to answer. "So, the Romans had come up with a new rule that everybody must go back to their place of origin and get themselves registered. By the time Mary and Joseph reached Bethlehem all the places that were available were all taken and there was none left for them." Jessica frowned and muttered something I could barely hear.

"Mary gave birth to baby Jesus and lay him in a manger." Sarah showed us a picture of an infant in a Manger. "The word spread and sheep', their shepherds came to see their saviour in this little place." she continued to say. "Then the three wise men got the news and followed the star that would lead them to Bethlehem to meet the new saviour with gifts to welcome him to the world. Everybody who came to meet baby Jesus worshipped him. The three wise men went back to their countries upon God's order and to not inform the King of the Roman Empire about the birth of Jesus." Sarah told us.

"And that is the end of the Story of Christmas." Sarah ends the story. "It's a miracle. Every part of this Holy story is a miracle and that is why your Grandma Ruth believes in a quote by her." She looks at Juliet. "Can you tell the quote?" Juliet nodded her head and looked at all of us.

"Every individual in a year or in the month of December is allotted to a miracle. It's a mystery in what form it may be in."

"Oh remember darling, that cold December evening we met at the coffee shop?" Sarah looked over at Peter. "Of course I do, that denim jacket looked too good on you. You looked beautiful that evening." Peter said and Sarah blushed a little, I guess she remembered that evening in her mind.

"Alright everyone, it's a school night and we have to be up bright and early," Peter told us. "Time for bed!" We all got up, Juliet carried James to bed. Jessica and Jesse headed into their room.

Jasper and I walked to end of the hallway. I stopped in front of mine, he stood in front of his. As I was about to turn the door handle, I heard him call my name I turned to see him.

"Did you enjoy the Story Evening?" He asks me.

"I did, got to know a little more of the story. Thank you." I look at him with a small smile.

"Why are you thanking me?" He looked at me.

"I don't know, I just felt that I had to thank you." He smiled. "Well then, your welcome, Holly."

"Good night Jasper," I say before I open the door completely.

"Good night Holly Anne." He says and we step into our rooms.

---