The Life Changing Vacation

~Chapter 173~

Kristina's POV
Today it's the day before Christmas. Last year, the Christmas was really awkward, and I hope this one gets better. I'm sure it will. Because nothing was as awkward as last year. It was also a little depressing. The first Christmas without my family. I was also shy, so that made it way worse. But sometimes it was really cozy. We ate turkey, opened presents, and a lot of Christmas decorations. Christmas in the USA was a little different from Norway. The more decorations, the better.
Today, I woke up around 10:00 am, and then I went downstairs to eat breakfast.

"Good morning, honey.. are you ready for Christmas tomorrow?", Joanna asked.

"Oh shit", I thought.

"I really need to go to the mall", I said.

"What do you need?", she asked.

"You'll see", I said.

I forgot to buy presents for Alex and Joanna. I bought a present for Dory earlier in December, but I didn't know what to buy them. It was really hard. I decided to buy wine glasses for Joanna and 1 million perfume for Alex. Around 7:00 pm, we all decorated the Christmas tree. We was really late this year, but that was because so much had been going on. When the night came, we watched another Christmas movie before we went to bed.

"Kristina, may I talk to you?", Joanna asked when I was going to bed.

"Yeah, sure", I answered nervous.

"I just wanted to tell you that I know you're sad, and you've been sad the whole time since you came here. But I want you to know that I'm always here for you, and you can talk to me whenever you need it. Remember I'm educated therapist", she laughed.

I didn't know what to answer, I just smiled. I was gonna go into my room, but Joanna stopped me.

"Hey, I need you to listen to me. I hope you can learn to think of me as your mother one day. If there's anything you want to talk to me about, then go ahead. I'm here to listen. Always", she explained

"Thank you", I said.

"Well, you should go to bed now. Big day tomorrow", Joanna smiled.

"Good night", I said.

"Nighty night", she said and stroke my shoulder.

The next day, I woke up early. I went downstairs around 8:10 am. I smelled turkey all the way upstairs. When I came downstairs, I met a smiling Joanna.

"Merry Christmas! You're up early", she said.

"Well, Merry Christmas to you too. Looks like I'm not the only one up early. You're already cooking", I laughed.

"I was up at 6:00, it's Christmas, you know. Everything's gotta be perfect", she explained.

"You sound like my mother", I told her.

"That's good, you feel home", she said.

"Why wouldn't I feel home after staying here for over a year?", I asked.

"Because you've been depressed all the time", she explained.

"But I really hope you're getting more happy", she smiled.

Suddenly, Alex came downstairs. He got the Christmas spirit on it's highest.

"Good morning, guys!", he smiled.

"You look happy", I told him.

"Of course I'm happy, it's Christmas! And I don't have work", he laughed.

Dory came downstairs around 9:00 am.

"Good morning", she smiled.

"Good morning, how are you today?", Joanna asked her.