"Hey Grace" My uncle said "Hey what are you guys doing" I asked "Were making cookies" said my cousin James "Fun" I said. We were all in the kitchen and for once I didn't feel like I a war was about to break out with my family, I could actually enjoy myself. We spent hours in the kitchen making cakes, cookies, breads, even biscottis, I soon stepped out of the hot kitchen to have a moment to myself.
"Hey" I said to Luke who was sitting on the stairs all by himself. "Hey" he said looking up at me "Sorry I saw you, you know, like that" Luke said sounding guilty "It's okay" I said sitting next to him and wrapping my arm into his. "Plus it was bound to happen sometime" I said kissing him on the cheek and going back into the kitchen, leaving him with a blushed face.
Once everything was baked we started to decorate them. "You want to do the gingerbread house" I asked Luke "Sure" He said picking up the icing and started to ice the house. We added gumdrops and peppermint candies, topped with a licorice fence and a marshmallow snowman. "I say it looks pretty good" I said "Yeah to eat" Luke said taking a piece off of the roof "Luke" I said shocked "What we were going to eat it sooner or later, and I chose sooner" He said shoving a piece in his mouth.
The night become restful as our family began to leave one by one, taking their belongings and cookies. "Bye" I said to my Aunt's and Uncle's "Bye dear" My aunt said kissing me on the cheek. "And there gone" I said closing the door and exhaling.
I went upstairs and changed into my pajamas, I wiped off my makeup and brushed my teeth, then flipped my hair into a messy bun. I walked down the stairs and went into the kitchen to get a drink. I peaked over and noticed my dad's office light was on, I placed my cup on the counter and walked over to him. "Hey Dad" I said leaning on the door. "Hey honey" my dad replied. "What are you doing up it's almost two" I said "I know just finishing up some stuff" he said " You should go to bed it's been a long day" he continued on. "Fine just don't stay up to late" I said Kissing my Dad on the cheek "I wont" he said.
I closed his office door on my way out and made my way up the stairs. I opened up Luke's door to see if he was still awake. I walked up to him and crouched down to his level. I kissed him on his forehead. I went back to my room laid on my bed then slowly rested my eyes.
I heard a sound just outside my door then rolled over to see the time, three-forty five. I slowly got out of my bed and pushed my covers to the side, I walked over my door and opened it. "Hello" I said in a whisper to a dark figure sitting on the steps.
"Don't worry it's just me" Luke said. "Why are you sitting on the steps" I asked him sitting next to him "I couldn't sleep" He said pulling me close to his side and placing his arm around my knees.
"Who's in this picture?" Luke asked "Me" I said "I know but the one next to you" He said "That's also me" I said to him "Grace, are you a twin?" He asked " Of Course not" I said. Luke looked at me giving me the face that he's not buying it.
"She's my little sister, but were not twins" I said "You're serious, why haven't I know about this" Luke asked "Because she's not worth mentioning" I said "she's your sister" Luke said. "She also left" I said.
"About five years ago my sister left without a trace and she never came back, we thought it was because my mother died but we then started to think it was something else" I said "Wow that's crazy" Luke said " I know" I replied. "Have you had any contact with her?" He asked "No" I said as I put the picture away and rested my head on his shoulder.
We stayed on the steps for a while until I fell asleep and I could feel him pick me up and carry me to my bed. The next couple weeks and days were the same, same cups of coffee, same locations, same everything. Christmas has passed and I couldn't ask for a better one, Dad loved his chair, Luke loved his sweater, and I loved my new pair of boots. We ate Christmas dinner and played out in the snow. When night fell we sipped on apple cider and sat around the fire. The next day me and Luke had to pack our bags to go back to school.
