After The Cookies [COMPLETE]

54 BC

| CHRISTMAS EVE |

The soft glow of the Christmas tree lights filled the living room, casting a warm light over the carefully wrapped presents piled beneath its branches. Zac stood back, holding his 1-year-old son, Don Don, in his arms. The little boy's eyes were wide with wonder, reflecting the twinkling lights as he reached out with tiny hands.

"Alright, little man..." Zac murmured, his voice soft as he lifted 'Don Don' higher. "Let's get this star on top of the tree."

Don Don giggled, his fingers gripping the star a bit too tightly as Zac guided his hand towards the top of the tree. "Whenever you're ready." He sarcastically and impatiently spoke to his son, "It's not like you as big as a mountain and tearing my back up." It wobbled for a moment, and Zac chuckled, steadying the star until it rested perfectly in place.

"There we go! You did it, buddy!" Zac praised, lowering Don Don to the floor. The toddler clapped his hands together, letting out a squeal of excitement as he crawled around on the plush carpet.

There we go, little man!" Zac praised, lowering Don Don to the floor. The toddler clapped his hands together, letting out a squeal of excitement  as he crawled around on the plush carpet. He bent over to plug in the lights. The tree sparkled to life, a mix of colorful ornaments and twinkling lights casting a magical glow over the room.

As Zac straightened up, he glanced around the living room. With all the activities they'd done this month—seeing light shows, meeting Santa Claus, and playing in the little bit of snow that had fallen—decorating their own home had slipped their minds until the last minute. But now, it felt perfect, like everything had fallen into place.

In the kitchen, Faith and Fatima were busy preparing cookies for Santa. The smell of sugar and vanilla filled the air as they laughed and chatted, Faith excitedly cutting out shapes while Fatima arranged them on the baking sheet. They made different kinds because Zac hated sugar cookies, claiming they had no flavor to them. So Fatima made a few chocolate chip, a few sugar, and a few with nuts and caramel drizzle on top.

"Mom, do you think Santa likes chocolate chips or should we stick with sugar cookies?" Faith asked, her voice filled with the earnestness of a thirteen-year-old who still believed in the magic of Christmas. Fatima smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I think Santa loves whatever you make, sweetie." Throwing the last set of mixing bowls in the sink, cleaning as you go made everything easier afterwards.

Faith nodded eagerly. "Good idea! Don't want to risk it." She began planning how many cookies would go towards Santa. "How's Bria and her mother handling the holidays?" Fatima asked, wiping down the counter, remembering that Bria lost her father many years back, holidays can certainly bring out the sadness when you look around at other peoples families and realize just how lonely/unfair life is.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Managing, I guess...we don't really talk about her father. Too sensitive and I hate tears." Fatima chuckled at her overly-blunt daughter, but she couldn't lie, she hated tears too. Especially when it's nothing you can do to comfort/change the situation. Do you console them and get cussed out or do you stand there and let them ugly cry in your face?

She shook her head, "I get it. I'm sure you are a great friend, just be there for her, just in case one day she wants to talk to you about it. I mean she did lose her father at a very young age, like 7 or 8 so I'm sure her brain hasn't really realized it, it will definitely hit her hard as y'all continue to grow older." Fatima replied back.

"Probably," Faith shrugged, recalling what happened after Zac handed Bria's mom that check. Her mother continued working for several months, saving every penny she could. Then, she took a big risk and went back to school, enrolling in an accelerated online program for her Bachelor's in Biochemistry. In just two years, instead of the usual four, she graduated, all while staying home to watch her daughter grow. After graduation, she started applying for jobs within her field, and by the grace of God, she landed a well-paying position as a forensic scientist, earning nearly $82,000 a year.