My New Daddy

12: An Unpleasant Christmas

Chapter 12

Frank was in jail for about a year no matter how hard my mother tried to get him out. When he finished his time he was put on probation for another year. For six months of that final year he wasn't allowed near my family. In order for the law to make sure that happened he was put on an ankle bracelet. It would have been a full year if my mother didn't fight the system. She eventually won of course due to them being married.

I often look back on the first couple weeks of when Frank was in jail.

"Mommy's crying again," I told Oliver as I made my way into the room.

Oliver paused the game he was playing on his play station to look up at me. "Yeah I know. She's trying to get Frank out."

Shock crossed my face, " Why?"

"So he can come back here," there was no mistaking the betrayed look on his face and the hurt in his voice.

We would then play games on his play station or I would just watch as he played.

***

I awoke for Christmas morning around five out of excitement. I could tell no one else was awake yet so I tried to just fall back asleep. It wasn't working. Just as I was about to get up I heard a soft knock.

I didn't even get a chance to answer when my door opened slightly and my brother's head poked in. "Pst. Are you awake?" Oliver whispered.

I sat up in my bed. "Yeah I'm awake."

"Come on!" he said excitedly.

"Okay. " I followed him out of my room in my reindeer pajamas. We went out into the living room and headed for the Christmas tree.

Oliver stopped infront of the presents and sat down. "Come on Brook. Lets see if we can figure out our presents."

I shook my head at him, "Mom will know. You know she sets them up a certain way to make sure we don't mess with them."

"She just says that so we wont try."

"Oh yeah? Then how come she returned a present last year that you messed with?" I really didn't want him wrecking things today of all days.

Oliver's face paled. He knew exactly what I was talking about. Every year we get one thing that is really expensive that we want. His was a huge remote control truck. That happened to be the present he messed with the previous year. Mom has a rule that if something looks messed with it gets returned and we don't get another gift to replace it. Just days before Christmas our mom returned Oliver's present.

"Lets just wake mom up so we can open presents," Oliver decided after a moment.

I was relieved he wasn't going to potentially ruin Christmas. "Okay lets go."

It took about a half hour before my mom gave up and finally came out. Every time she said five more minutes Oliver went and pounded on her door as soon as the clock changed over. Even after she was up we had to wait for her coffee to be made and for her to have a couple cups before we were allowed to open presents.

Oliver tried arguing about it saying she was out by the tree anyways so we should be able to right away. All she did was say no and kept glancing at the clock.

After my mother finished her second cup of coffee she looked at the clock and frowned. "We'll have to wait. I need to get the Ham in the oven," she sighed and headed for the kitchen.

I decided to wait in my room until my mom said we could open presents. I listened to Christmas music and drew on some paper.

When my mother finally called me she sounded extremely excited. I wasn't sure if I should be worried about that or not but made my way to the living room anyways. As soon as I stepped out I saw what her excitement was about.

Frank was sitting in the blue rocking chair. He had it pulled up infringement of the tree instead of sitting on the floor like the rest of us would be. I was shocked to see him. I thought my mother finally realized what happened was not worth her having Frank.

What an unpleasant Christmas surprise. I was forced to spend the whole time unwrapping presents sitting by the chair Frank sat in. I had no interest in any of my presents. All I was aware of was Frank sitting so close to me.