When The Stars Align

Chapter 47

In the kitchen my mother and I got really busy preparing everything for our meal. The turkey was put in the oven and then we occupied ourselves of the sweets.

"Andrea..." My mother called my name while baking a cake. I turned around to look at her licking the spoon I had in my hands full of chocolate. "Is it gonna be just us for dinner?"

"What do you mean mom?"

"I mean...I know James's father is alive and he has siblings..."

"Oh mom...don't touch that subject because it makes him upset." I said.

"How come?" She asked me.

"He doesn't talk to his sister, I insisted with him so many times for him to try to reach for her, but he refused and got mad at me most of the times and he also didn't want to invite his father."

"Weird..." She said low and returning to her cake. I put the spoon back on the counter and walked up to her.

"It's not weird mom...he left him when he was just a kid, abandon him and even then James bought him an apartment here in San Francisco." I said.

"His father lives here?" She asked surprised.

"Yes...but he's got a lot of resented stuff he keeps with him and they don't get along very well, James said he was spending Christmas with one of his neighbors, concerning his sister I am not sure if he knows where she is...they simply don't talk and haven't been in touch for ages. I didn't insist. I tried some times and we ended up fighting, it really bothers him and tonight I just want him to be happy, that's all I care about."

"He's so lonely..." My mother sighed shrugging.

"Not anymore..." I smiled.

Hours later when everything was ready in the kitchen I stopped by the living room where the Christmas tree was ready, and they were waiting for us to turn on the lights. James and Sarah were playing a board game on the floor and my father was watching the news on TV.

"Mom's here!" Sarah exclaimed as we walked inside the living room and got up running near the tree. James got up too and grabbed the plug.

"Ready?" He asked and we nodded then he plugged it in, and the lights began to twinkle, and we all clapped.

"Now we better put the presents under it." I said. Sarah ran upstairs with me and helped me bringing everything down.

"Dad where's my present and mom's?" She asked him. James was sat on the couch by my father's side, looked at her and shrugged.

"Did I have to buy anything?" He joked but with a serious face.

"Dad!" She exclaimed resting her hands on her waist and he didn't contain his laughter. "You're always fooling me." She complained. He stretched his arm reaching for hers and pulled her to him, burying his face on her neck and giving her a kiss that made her giggle in happiness.

"I am going for a shower and change my clothes so we can finally sit at the table. Miss Hetfield, you too, been out there with your father putting the lights around the house." I said. Sarah went upstairs without even saying a word. James got up too.

"I'm going for a shower too and change." He said.

"Go ahead then, I'll just help my mother with the table and then I'll go." I stayed in the living room setting the table. I put the Christmas tablecloth and our best china and best cutlery, also our crystal glasses and it was done. My other picked up the candles and the flowers and put them on the table and my father lit the fireplace, everything was perfect. "Well I am going for my shower then." I announced and so I went upstairs. James was already walking around the room in boxers choosing what to wear.