Tangled Up in You (The Story of Us Book 2)

Chapter 21- Christmas

Amanda Hotchner had always loved Christmas, even if she couldn't fully tell you why. She lived in Virginia so while there was some snowfall, it was rare that they had a white Christmas but that was just fine with the blonde. She hated snow. She could see the appeal as the powder was quite beautiful when left untouched but it also made things harder. When it snowed, people tended to forget that they had ever driven in snow before and Amanda hated the thought of being in an accident.

Despite her hatred for cold paired with her hatred of snow, Christmas was the perfect holiday in her eyes. She didn't believe in Jesus as she wasn't religious but it was hard not to love a holiday filled with candy and presents as a child. As she got older, however, it became something more. It became a way to show how much she appreciated others. It was why every gift she ever gave was given with thorough thought and consideration.

The holiday had come close to being ruined for her a few times. The first was when she was in Massachusetts and had inserted herself in a federal investigation and gotten hurt. When her father had found out and been forced to come pick his daughter up on Christmas Eve, to say he was unhappy would be an understatement. That year was the first year he beat her on Christmas.

After that, it became a common thing but Amanda, having gotten to go to school in California after having to leave MIT, found comfort in celebrating with her friends. Sadly, her beloved holiday finally managed to become one she loathed after the death of her fiancé three days following. Since then, gone was the cheery disposition and holiday decoration of her house and place of work replaced with her pretending the holiday didn't exist until she gave gifts that no longer had the same forethought that they were previously given.

This was an Amanda Hotchner that Spencer thought he would never see but as he watched her pass out the shitty Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve, he was forced to realize this is who she was now. He kept this in mind as he got ready to go to Christmas dinner at Kristen's parent's house. He remembered Amanda telling him that Kristen's father loved history so he had read up on plenty of historical facts and had gotten him a book detailing the events that lead to World War II with a theory of how the United Nations could have actually prevented the war.

He put the same thought into everyone else's gifts after years of Amanda telling him that this was the only way to properly give gifts. This is why he's shocked when he opens his door to reveal Amanda in a tight red dress while she frowns at the gifts. "You didn't have to bring gifts," she tells him.

"It's impolite to go to a party to celebrate a holiday involving gifts without them," he retorts and she rolls her eyes before leading him outside. The drive from his apartment in DC to the small community she grew up in takes about 45 minutes and in that time, Spencer does his best to attempt to profile Amanda. He can tell that the very holiday bothered her by the way that her whole body was tensed as if she were driving into a battle zone rather than a Christmas party.

He also noticed how when they actually got to Terrace Heights, her body became even tenser. He briefly wondered if she didn't want to go to this party when she spoke. "We lived right there in that blue house." She motions to it with her head and he frowns as she drives two houses down and across the street to park. "Kristen and I lived so close, yet we had such different lives."

"Did you resent her for it?"

She scoffs and looks at him as if he grew a second head. "It wasn't her fault that my dad beat me and hers didn't." Suddenly she chuckles. "Believe it or not, I thought that everybody's dad beat them for things as little as bumping into him."

"That's common. Children are exposed to their home environment for several years before experiencing almost anything in the outside world leading them to believe that what happens in their household is commonplace. That's why most children don't report child abuse even after being told it's wrong because they've already been conditioned to think it's right or normal from personal experiences. But you already knew that..." He trails off and Amanda laughs.