Through Fire

Ten

It's been a few weeks since Kate came over to eat and she has come over quite a few times after that. Chris loves her. We were at Abuela's today, she took us to the park and Christmas shopping. We were already home since dad was free from work she just took us back.

''Daddy.'' Chris yelled, but got no answer. ''Eddito. Are you here?'' Abuela yelled. She looked at me confused and I just shrugged. She put Chris's crutches on the ground while Chris wandered off to dads bedroom. I just stared at the salon table. Two glasses of wine?

Chris started knocking on dads bedroom door. ''Daddy?'' ''Hey. Hey buddy.'' He looked very bewildered. ''Thought I was supposed to pick you guys up at Abuela's. ''Oh he was so excited about decorating that he couldn't wait to get home.''

Dad gave me, Chris and Abuela a kiss. I was still staring at the glasses. ''Did you have company?'' Abuela asks now, also looking at the two glasses. ''What?'' Dad looked at me knowing that I was trying to puzzle things together.

''Oh, you know. I'm not the best housekeeper.'' Or liar. ''Hey show me what you got.'' Dad said quickly changing the subject. ''We ended up with three Christmas trees. He said this is daddy, this is Sofia and this is me.''

''Yeah?'' Dad looked at his bedroom and when I followed his gaze I saw her, My mother, the woman who dropped me and my brother at my grandparents and never came back. I quickly looked away hoping she or dad didn't notice I was looking. I was in absolute shock.

''You loved this green one, didn't you? Let's get this out of the way.'' ''Okay.'' ''Let me help you out buddy.'' Dad helped Chris pull out all the stuff we got. ''I'm going to Kate's.'' I said making my way to the door too mad to look at my dad.

''What are you not staying?'' Dad was disappointed and Chris gave me the puppy eyes. ''No.'' I said bluntly and just walked out and on the way to Kate's house. ''Hey.'' ''Hey girly.'' Kate says pulling me in a hug.

''So you saw her.'' I told Kate everything that happened and that I saw My mother in my house. ''Yeah I did.'' ''But she didn't see you looking?'' ''No she was only focused on my dad.'' Typically my mother.

My phone lit up and I picked it up. It was dad. ''We are going to see Santa with Chris tonight, Buck is coming to.'' ''Ok. Just pick me up at Kate's when we go.'' ''Are you not eating at home?'' ''No.'' ''I actually think it's easier if you eat home Kate's house is the other direction.'' ''Whatever.'' I toss my phone on Kate's bed.

''Your dad?'' ''yup.'' ''You have to eat at home don't you?'' ''Yes. I am sorry, but I promise you we make sushi another time.'' ''We better.'' My phone dings again. ''Do you want Buck to pick you up from Kate's house, I will pick up Chris. Buck is cooking tonight?''

This was weird. Buck cooking? ''Sure.'' ''He will be there in two hours.'' ''Ok.'' Kate and I talked some more. ''So you like Tyler.'' Kate has been absolutely head over heels for a football guy at our school. ''Yes I really do.'' ''He is a jackass.'' ''Yeah, but a cute one.'' She says blushing.

''He check you out a lot.'' I tell her actually having seen him do that. Or the delulu is just leading the delulu, but who cares. ''Sofia, Buck is here.'' Kate's mother Charlotte says opening the door. Kate is a duplicate of her mother, but younger of course and shorter.

''I guess I have to go.'' ''Let me know how it goes.'' She says as we both stand up and walk to the front door where Buck is standing. ''We will call.'' ''Yes we will.'' I give her a hug. ''Thanks for having me.'' I say to her mother, waving her goodbye. ''Anytime honey.''

''Ready?'' Buck asks I just nod and we walk to his jeep. ''So how was your day?'' ''Fine.'' I think back to when dad lied, which was of course not the first time. God I'm stupid. I saw her, literally with my own eyes, My mother. ''Not in the mood for conversation?''

''Not really.'' ''Do you want the aux?'' ''Yes please.'' I smile happily. I put on my playlist with a lot of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. Buck was just jamming along while I was singing.

When we got home Buck started cooking while I just went to my room. I was just reading my book and listening to music. Dad knocked on my door ''Dinner is ready.'' ''Okay I will be right there.'' ''If anything is wrong you would tell me right?'' ''Yes. But nothing is wrong.'' Two can play this game dad, I am your daughter.

''Okay.'' He walks away. I put my book on my desk and my headphones next to it. The Lasagna Buck cooked smells delicious. Besides Chris and Buck there was a weird kind of silence between me and dad.

''The food is amazing, thanks.'' I told Buck. ''I like it.'' Chris smiled happily. ''Can we go see Santa now?'' Chris asks, almost jumping in excitement. ''Sure.'' Dad said. I put all the dishes in the sink and we all put on our shoes and jacket.

We went with Bucks jeep. Now we, me, dad and Buck are waiting for Chris to tell Santa what he wants. He didn't want me or dad to wait in line with him. I went for a little walk and when I came back a woman dressed as a Christmas elf brought Chris towards us.

''How did it go pal?'' ''It went great.'' ''So what you asked for?'' Dad tried. ''Can't tell. Santa said he'd work on it.'' He is so cute and innocent. ''Oh man.'' Me and Buck both laughed at Chris's determination to keep it a secret.

''Let's go.'' Dad said, picking Chris up. Me and Buck turned around to follow them. ''You two have two adorable kids.'' The woman said. I laughed, while Buck got a little red. ''Uh. Thank you.'' Buck put his hands on my shoulders and guided me towards the car, I just shook my head.

It was kinda true how we were a little family. When I made my way to my room I heard Chris talking to dad. ''Dad. Is Santa real?'' ''Is Santa real? Why? Did someone say he wasn't? What do you think? Do you think he is real?'' ''When you were gone I asked Santa for you to come back, and you did.''

When dad was gone it was always very hard. I leaned against the wall besides Chris's bedroom. ''When I was in Afghanistan?'' Every time we weren't able to reach dad or call him my mom prepared me over and over that there could be someday that he possibly will not make it home.

She never did that with Chris. He was too young to understand anyway. ''You know, buddy. Christmas wishes aren't like birthday wishes. Yeah. You can say them out loud and they still come true.'' ''I asked him to find mom. Will he?'' My heart sank to my toes. ''He is sure going to try.'' He already is, because she is already here. Liar. I quickly walked to my room and almost immediately fell asleep.

I was woken up by Chris's alarm, I checked my phone and saw that it was 6 AM of course, typically Chris. ''Dad. Sofia. Wake up. It's Christmas.'' He yelled happily. I quickly got up and put on some jogging pants before he started banging on my door.

''I'm up.'' ''Sofia it's Christmas.'' He hugged me and was too happy for this early in the morning. I held Chris's hand as we walked towards the living room together, but dad wasn't there. Just an arrow pointing outside.

We followed it and there was a big decorated Christmas tree in our backyard. My mom appeared from behind it crying. ''Mommy. Mommy.'' Chris walked to her and she hugged him tight. I just stood back. I knew this was going to happen.

''Oh merry Christmas baby.'' She said hugging Chris tighter. She held her hand out for me, but I just stood further back. ''Sofia?'' ''No.'' I said to her, ''I missed you guys so much.'' ''We missed you too.'' Chris said and she picked him up.

Dad appeared from behind me. ''What is wrong Mija?'' Dad said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. ''She will leave again. This will break Chris.'' ''Just give her a chance baby.'' Dad gave me a kiss on my head. ''I knew Santa could do it again.'' Chris said.

''Come.'' Dad pulled me towards mom and Chris and despite my feelings we had one big group hug. We all went inside and ate a big Christmas dinner like we were a happy family which I hated, but I put on a smile not to ruin Chris's happy moment.

''You should eat something. Your mom put a lot of effort into the dinner.'' ''I'm not hungry.'' ''So how is your school Sofia?'' ''It's fine.'' I know she was trying, but it just didn't feel right.

Mom just kinda let me be while Chris talked everyone's ears off.