Jade

Chapter 3

The morning sun poured in through the frost-kissed floor to ceiling windows of the warm cozy home, casting a golden glow on the grand living room where the twenty five foot Balsam Hill Fraser fir tree stood tall. The tree was decorated with hand-blown glass ornaments, strings of pearls, and twinkling lights that mirrored the morning's first snowflakes drifting gently outside.

The smell of cinnamon, nutmeg, and the velvety sweet aroma of hot chocolate simmering in the kitchen mingled with the scent of fresh pine from the tree and the warm, spicy fragrance of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven.

The family gathered slowly, their silk and cashmere loungewear echoing the opulence of their surroundings. Laughter and affectionate chatter filled the space as children, eyes bright with excitement, whispered and giggled near the towering tree. The adults sipped on steaming cups of spiked egg nog, as the photographer B hired snapped pictures like his life depended on it.

Silver and white-wrapped gifts glistened under the tree, each adorned with pristine silk bows that caught the light and sparkled like frost. Some boxes were massive while others were smaller, yet no less significant.

Soon enough everyone was exchanging gifts with an air of anticipation. The rustle of wrapping paper and the soft snap of silk ribbons filled the room, punctuated by gasps of surprise and heartfelt thank-yous. Emotions ran high, a blend of nostalgia and joy as tradition mixed seamlessly with new memories being crafted. Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song,"filled the house with even more warmth as it played through the surround sound speakers from Jade's well crafted holiday playlist. 

Outside, the Swiss Alps stood majestic, snow-capped and untouched, their beauty visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

A'mouri used to hate the holidays growing up, a constant reminder that he would have to spend it in Atlanta with his mother and step father while his father remained in Paris. Amar'e and B's move to Paris was one that A'mouri remembered so vividly, often questioning why he wasn't allowed to go.

It was four years of back and forth flights from Atlanta to Paris every other month just to visit. He remembers the first time he had to go out there one summer in August, arriving at the Parisian penthouse and seeing a small baby girl wrapped in a monogrammed pink blanket. That's when he knew the family dynamic would become even more complex.

"You good Mouri?" He looked up to see Jade standing with two steamy ceramic mugs, holding one out to him.

"Yeah, just thinking about shit." He said, thanking her for the drink even though he knew hot chocolate wasn't his thing.

"Thinking about what?" She asked curiously, sitting down next to him on the plush hand made rug.

"How you came into my life and fucked it up." He teased as Jade violently smacked his arm.

"Yo what I tell you about hitting niggas?" He asked through his laughter.

"You couldn't imagine your life without me so please." She scoffed, heading to the makeshift bar by the fireplace to get more Bailey's Irish cream for her drink.

He watched as Eden came out the kitchen with his aunts, holding a tray of freshly baked gingerbread cookies with a pair of oven mitts before setting it on the bar top. They were supposed to be decorating their cookies in the dinning room, but B was still setting up. She was very particular about things of that nature.

He couldn't help but smile seeing Eden approach him, fitting right into the family with her own monogrammed silk pajamas and matching bathrobe. B got all the women in the family fluffy beige shearling Hermès Oran sandals which was just one of the many gifts she would be giving out during the trip.