Meant To Be Luna

Chapter 14

Kristin

"Krissy! Come look."

Kayden's voice barely reached above a whisper as he stood at my door. His pajamas that matched my own were disheveled and wrinkled, and I knew he had just rolled out of the bed. With a grin, I grabbed my favorite blanket, wrapping it tightly around me as I rushed to the door.

As I reached him, he grabbed my hand and began dragging me behind him as he hurried down the stairs. His excitement was palpable, rivaling my own, as we reached the bottom, spotting the Christmas tree with stacks of presents underneath. They varied in different shapes and sizes, all wrapped delicately by the crafty hands of our mother.

"Woahhh,"

Kayden dropped my hand, dropping down beside the tree. He picked up one after the other, rattling it softly, and I shook my head, looking back up the stairs for our parents.

The sun hadn't even risen yet.

A present slipped from his fingers and it clattered loudly to the floor.

"K," I whispered harshly, but ultimately joined him as he continued.

"Look, Krissy, this one's for you."

I took the bright red box from his hand, lifting the card.

To: Krissy

From: Daddy

My stomach twisted in excitement. I was so ready to open the present. Why did Christmas Eve have to be the longest night of the year?

"Now what are you two little rascals doing?"

Kayden and I jumped, curling together as we tried to hide in the space between the couch and the tree.

Our father stood tall, his pajama pants low on his hips as well as his hands. But his face was amused, a tiny smile in place of his usually stern, pursed lips.

"Nothing," Kayden said, gripping my hand.

My father chuckled, walking towards us. He took the present from me, looking down at it and smiling. Once he placed it back under the tree, he reached for me, slipping his arms underneath me and placing me on his hip.

"You know the rules, the number of times I catch you two down here is the number of hours you have to wait once the sun rises."

That wasn't true. He always said that, but the moment the sun rays hit Kayden and I's windows, we were up and crawling into our parents bed to wake them. And they never made us wait.

He reached his free hand down for Kayden's, and my brother slipped his small hand into our father's large one.

"Come on, back to bed."

Kayden shot me another look, as if promising to come get me once they were asleep.

Our father walked us back to bed, leading Kayden to his room first. He waited as Kayden crawled into the bed, pulling the blankets up to his neck before walking to my room.

"Daddy, what did you get me?"

He chuckled, kissing my head as I laid my cheek on his shoulder,

"That's for you to find out in the morning, my girl."

"But I can't wait that longgg," I whined, and his teeth were as bright as his eyes as he laid me gently on my bed.