True Colors

Christmas Special (Part 1)

December 24, 2022

Leila carefully opened the front door of Cece’s house, hoping she could squeeze through the doorway without dropping the laundry basket of presents she held in her arms. Her senses were immediately bombarded by the scent of sugar and spices, the sound of Christmas music mingling with lively chatter, and the sight of the house all decorated for the holidays. Although this was her third Christmas with the Smiths, it was still a mind-blowing experience. 

“Knock, knock,” she called, peeking into the living room. 

In one corner of the room was a pine tree that had to be at least eleven or twelve feet tall was completely bedecked in lights, ribbons, and ornaments, some that were generations old and some that had been made in elementary school art class. All were equally precious in Cece’s eyes. At the top of the tree was a large red bow made from the same ribbon that was wound around the tree. 

Despite the fact that Cece owned several beautiful tree toppers, from intricate stars to heavenly angels, she had yet again picked a tree that was too tall for anything to fit on top. At her first Christmas with the Smiths, Apollo had told Leila that he couldn’t remember ever seeing anything other than a bow on top of the tree. He’d been surprised that his mom even had the tree toppers she did. 

Underneath the tree, piles upon piles of presents waited to be opened in the morning. Studying the presents was an almost three year old boy who liked the pretty colors and the sound of tissue paper and a six year old girl who carefully read the gift tags. At the sound of Leila’s voice, they both whipped around. 

“Aunt Leila!” Amber broke into a sprint, and Leila set down the laundry basket of gifts as she knelt to catch the little girl. The second they collided, Amber threw her arms around her aunt and squeezed tightly. 

Leila grunted. “You almost knocked me over! You’re so big!”

Layne ran over, though he was much slower than his sister, and Leila scooped him up into her arms. He laughed as she tickled him and kissed his forehead. “And what have you been up to, mister?”

“I make cookies for Santa!” he said proudly. 

“Did you?” Leila gasped. “Oh my goodness, you’re all grown up!” 

The two year old giggled as he was snatched from Leila’s arms by his uncle. “Now hold on just a moment,” Apollo told his wife. “You can’t steal all the hugs.” He tossed Layne into the air a few times, making the little boy squeal in delight. Leila was grateful for the high ceilings in the living room. 

Amber latched on to her uncle’s leg. “My turn, my turn!” she insisted. 

“Amber, honey, you’re too big for that anymore,” Eugene said from where he sat on the loveseat in the living room. His arm rested around Renee’s shoulders. 

The little girl looked disappointed for a moment before Apollo handed Layne back to Leila. “That’s not true,” he said. “She’s as light as a feather.” Apollo grabbed his niece and threw her into the air effortlessly. 

Eugene sighed, rolling his eyes. “He spoils her too much.” 

Renee swatted his chest. “Like you’re any better. You have no idea how to say ‘no’ to the girl.” 

Leila chuckled, settling Layne on her hip and using her foot to nudge the laundry basket across the carpeted floor to the tree and the pile of gifts beneath it. Before she could sit and add the presents from her and Apollo to the ever-growing pile, Cece entered the room. 

“Leila, dear, how are you?” she exclaimed, pulling her into a brief hug. 

“Great. Even better now that I’m here,” Leila admitted. “I swear, this place is magical, especially during the holidays.”