Her Favorite - Jordan Poole

thirteen

"Mommy Mommy! Santa's here!" Aria says running into her mom's room. Lydia felt the bed slightly dip and a small body jump on her.

"Mommy! Wake up Santa is here!" Aria says looking down at her sleeping mom. Lydia slowly opens her eyes to see her daughter hovering over her body. "Aria-"

"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!" Lydia looks over at the door to see a man dressed up in a Santa outfit. Rome. She covers her mouth as he stood at her door smiling.

"Alright, baby. Let's go see what Santa got you for Christmas." Lydia says sitting up in bed as her daughter gets off the bed and runs out of her room wearing her Christmas pajamas.

"Have you been naughty or nice?" Rome jokes resting his hands on his hips. "Both," Lydia says moving out of her bed. She grabs her robe that was on her bathroom door before walking over to the door.

"Nah, where did you find this costume?" Lydia laughed as they both walk out to the living room to see Aria waiting patiently to open her gifts. "Don't worry about that.' Rome says earning a laugh from Lydia.

"Have you been a good girl this year?" Rome asked Aria taking a seat next to him. "Yes, Santa!" She says but then pauses. "I did make one small mistake but I gave my toys to other kids!" She says smiling up at him.

"Well that is very kind of you to do Aria," Rome says to the little girl who was amazed by him. "Can I open my gifts? I've been waiting patiently." She says looking at Santa and then at Lydia who stood watching the interaction.

"That is up to Mommy." He says looking up at Lydia. "Fine by me," Lydia says walking to the tree and picking out all the gifts for Aria.

"Thank you, Santa!" Aria says jumping off Rome's lap and to all the wrapped gifts ready to be opened.

----

"Merry Christmas!" Layla says as Lydia opens the door revealing Layla and her boyfriend Anthony of 2 years.

"Merry Christmas!" Lydia says pulling her sister into a hug. "Merry Christmas Lydia," Anthony says pulling Lydia into a hug.

"Merry Christmas! Come in, guys!" Lydia says stepping to the side so the couple could walk in. Christmas was one of Lydia's favorite holidays, even though it was not the same without her dad.

"Auntie LayLay!" Aria says running over to her Aunt who had several boxes of gifts in her hands. "Oh be careful my little one," Layla says putting the gifts down and showering her niece with love.

"I know that is not black Santa," Layla says looking up at Rome who tried to keep his laughter contained. "Lots of respect for you boss," Anthony says to Rome earning a snicker from Lydia.

"Aria you are one special little girl because Santa could've visited other kids today but he came to see you," Anthony says bending down to her height and picking her up.

"I know. I'm very special." She says looking at Anthony and then Rome. "Show me what Santa got you," Anthony says to Aria as they both head to the living room.

"Oh, you went all out this year," Layla says to her sister as she had been in the kitchen making Christmas breakfast.

"Yeah, it's my first time in a while spending Christmas with Aria so I wanted to make it special," Lydia says turning off the stove and putting the last piece of French Toast on the plate. "And plus I have to feed you people." She jokes.

"And I don't mind!" Layla says pouring herself and Lydia a glass of mimosa that Lydia made the night before. "Merry Christmas!" Layla says as they clink glasses.

On the other side of the apartment, Aria, Anthony, and Rome had been in the living room looking at all the gifts that Aria has gotten. The doorbell rings and Rome looks over to the kitchen to see Lydia fully engaged in a conversation.