A Different Christmas Vacation

Chapter Sixteen

I didn’t know what to think about what would happen when we got home, it would be pretty unpredictable.

When we pulled up to the gates, Amanda instantly thought we were crazy rich people. “Who the hell are your aunt and uncle?” she whispered into my ear as my mom got out and typed in the password on the keypad. The rest of us got out and she told the taxi driver to scram as she paid him without a tip.

We walked up the long and winding driveway to the huge house and I could feel Amanda fidgeting beside me.

Mom ushered us in and Joshua greeted us at the door. “Hello, Miss. And what might be your name?”

“Uh, Amanda.”

“Okay, Uh Amanda, my name is Joshua and I’m a butler here.”

“Who own’s here?” she asked. “This place is huge!”
I gave a look so he knew not to tell.

“I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough,” he answered with a nice smile. “Will you be staying, because we’ll be sure to get you a room.”

She looked to me. “Yes, please get her a room somewhere in my hallway, thank you.”

“Great, I’ll go get one for you.”
“Is this a hotel or something?” she asked me.

“No, there’s just a lot of guest space,” I answered with a smile.

“Wow. Holy cow this is huge. This is the nicest place I’ve ever been in,” Amanda said.

“I knew you’d be in awe,” I said.

Just then, Chloe came down the stairs and Amanda’s eyes popped out of her head. “Your aunt is Chloe Christopher!” she whisper-screamed in my ear?!”

I nodded. 

“Holy cow.” She turned her attention back to Chloe with a gleaming smile on her face.

“Hi, Cecelia. I didn’t expect you to be back today. Glad you’re home. And who is this?” She looked towards Amanda and I expectantly.

“I’m-I’m Amanda Howard,” she stuttered excitedly. “It’s so great to meet you. You’re my idol, the one who inspired me to start music.”

“I’m glad to hear,” she said with a smile and returned the gesture of shaking Amanda’s hand. 

“Where did you meet Amanda?” Aunt Chloe asked me.

“At a cafe. She needed some help, so she’ll be staying here tonight. Joshua’s already on his way to get her a room,” I told her.

“Oh, great.” I could see right through it. Chloe was not happy at all to have Amanda staying in her regal home when Amanda was so...plain. But my family was so plain, too, such she must not be happy for us staying with her, either. The things I put myself through because of my aunt all seemed like lies now...

Just then, Joshua came back, room key in hand and guided Amanda and I to her room. I told Amanda to get comfy and I’d be back with clothes soon.

She nodded and left the doorway to explore her huge suite for the night.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ 

When I’d brought Amanda her clothes, we’d found that they fit and then started talking on and on for hours, just about everyday stuff.

I found out that she was a junior in high school and had had to help her family ever since her dad died, bringing them down on an income source. No one in her family had ever graduated college, and it wasn’t the most fabulous life, not to mention that she had three little brothers to take care of when her mom was on weekend shifts and at her night job, too. I felt so bad for her.