58 Is This a Family Christmas?

20XX, December 26, Thursday; Living room, Konner House

Merry Christmas!

And again, it has been months since I last wrote. Well, I had to tell my recent experience visiting aunt in her new work and home, together with Eli of course. Aunt said that she couldn't visit us in the Konner house, so she somewhat made us guilty that we had to visit her this time. Since it's Christmas and she wanted to spend time with her family.

Oh well, we haven't seen her since last September, after that argument about Eli's college plans. But we often talked on the phone and she never brought up her opinions about it again. I never knew what she and Eli talked about during that time Eli sent her off since Eli wouldn't tell me either when I asked what changed aunt's attitude. But Eli was still ongoing with his campus visits on universities with sports scholarships so I figured he managed to slightly change our aunt's mind.

However, Eli was still skeptical about visiting but it looked like he never had a problem when we left this morning. It was actually the first time I've seen him smile for long in front of strangers.

So, last night was Christmas eve. We celebrated it, not at aunt's house in that new town at all, but at a co-worker's house with his two grade-school daughters.

Eli and I were both surprised when aunt told us that we were driving somewhere for dinner last night, then stopped in front of another house nearby. We thought that she just wanted to eat simply, and family was more important than what food was served or something like that, so we were never concerned that she never cooked much.

I was slightly hesitant when the car stopped. I even thought it was a party with all her co-workers. Therefore, I checked the character t-shirt, skinny jeans and boots I was wearing before getting the casserole I was supposed to carry and jogging to catch up to Eli and aunt. They already went ahead earlier.

But then, I slowed down as I observed that no other cars was in the driveway aside from a minivan. No loud laughters coming from inside the house, from men who had already drunk a few sips of beer before dinner.

When aunt knocked on the door, I had to move my sight down to my waist height when it opened to see a girl wearing a frilly dress. Her smile was showing missing teeth at the front but she greeted us a 'good evening' before inviting us in.

At that time, I had to check my t-shirt and jeans again. But I wouldn't be able to get changed anyway since I never brought a dress when Eli and I left the Konner house.

The owner of the house was another police officer she met at work. They became close when they were dispatched to a few cases in town. They talked about their families, and then decided to spend Christmas together. I know there were a few skipped scenes there but I didn't ask for an elaboration.

Anyway, the guy was nice. Too nice, even. He was always smiling as he interacted with us, shaking Eli's hand when he introduced himself, touching my and aunt's shoulders to guide us to the dining table, laughing with his kids when he told the story about the time he got his first domestic assault report and he was the one hit by both the man and the woman because he knocked on the wrong house. He also disturbed their 'bed rest' that night.

What a great atmosphere!

I went out the back garden when we finished dinner. A few minutes after, the guy followed me outside. He was still smiling of course. He asked how was school and living with just my brother, then he talked about himself.

He was divorced and the mother of his kids was out of the picture, he told me. He knew what the situation was with aunt's marriage and he wanted to ask my opinion on it.

What more do I have to say. Uncle was in jail. Period. Though, yes, I think he will be out soon.

Anyway, this guy was really too nice. Good for aunt, I guess? And what was also good about it was that he had talked to aunt about Eli's college plans.

When we got back to the Konner house this morning, Eli went to bed immediately since we didn't get much rest. His mood was still good though as he talked to me about his impression of this new guy in our lives.

That the guy seemed great for aunt, mild mannered to aunt's sometimes explosive one. That he advised Eli to just focus on his studies and take care of me too.

Eli even joked that I wouldn't have time to have a boyfriend now that I'm also busy with my studies. I have to be a good model to him so I'm prioritizing my studies anyway. Besides, I haven't seen Chase at campus these past few days so I'll get back to those plans next time.