Kindred Souls

Chapter 10 - Family

Every staircase, mantel, and doorway is adorned with lush garlands and wreaths, infused with fresh pine scent and accented with ribbons, pine cones, and twinkling lights.

In the center of the living room stands a towering Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments collected over the years, each with its own story. The tree is topped with a shining star and surrounded by beautifully wrapped gifts.

The estate's exterior is dazzling, with thousands of lights strung along the roofline, around the windows, and across the grounds, creating a magical glow that can be seen from afar.

"Out of our way," my eldest cousins, Luca and Leo, lift me as they barrel into the living room. The twins throw me onto the couch with a thud before jumping onto it with me.

"Your fat asses are squishing me to death," I struggle to breathe, but I do exaggerate. They snicker and pretend they will fart.

The weight disappears and I see Jin hold out his hand towards me. "C'mon, you could have thrown them or choked slam them." 

The twins are on the ground holding their wrists gently with a sour look, "We weren't going to fart."

"You guys are such children. I would have thought you were the youngest." Jin shakes his head at their behavior but laughs alongside me. 

"And here is the famous Charles we've heard almost nothing about," Luca directs our attention to Jace who enters with his partner Charles. Charles flew in late so he missed most of the last two days of festivities. I have a feeling Jace purposely planned it so Charles would feel less overwhelmed. 

Jace narrows his blue eyes at us as if he is trying to warn us off. Charles, on the other hand, walks in with a friendly smile. Charles looks a bit older than Jace, but it is hard to tell with Kindred. While all of us have dark, black hair and a blend of European and East Asian features, Charles has sandy, light hair and light hazel eyes. He seems very relaxed for someone meeting his partner's family for the first time. 

"I've heard a lot about you." Charles greets us, not at all put off by our attention. We all greet him and start pestering him with questions.

"How old are you?

"I'm thirty-six."

"Where are you from?"

"I was born in Toronto but have lived in San Francisco for a decade."

"What do you do?"

"I do consulting for technology and software companies." 

We are cut short as the aunts and uncles come in. They also seem to spot Charles, but I can see them reigning in their curiosity. It's Christmas morning and it is present time. 

All the cousins gather on the couch as we wait in anticipation. There are piles of presents surrounding the tree. 

"Youngest goes first, "Aunt Karina, the eldest of the aunts and the twin's mother,  seems to warn the twins off. 

We usually limit one gift per aunt and uncle for each cousin. Sometimes, the aunts and uncles would combine their gifts. Each gift would be very thoughtfully crafted. The cousins and I usually plan a children-free getaway trip for our parents to a destination of their choice.

I look around the tree and finally see a carefully wrapped box with a velvet bow wrapped around it. When I shake it, it doesn't make any noise. The box fits perfectly in my hand, its weight is very light.

I slowly unwrap the bow in anticipation. 

There is a black metallic card placed in the center of the velvet interior lining. Neatly inscribed in the center, my name on it "Rain Valentine" reads in gold.