Page 15 (1/1)

Chapter 1

Ana

Christ I have looked forward to I never got to be the child that was thankful when ‘Santa Claus’ ca check to check My rocery store in small town Summit, IL and my father was a mechanic We didn’t have a lot of hter either Hell, to be honest with you, I don’t reed my life

When I was six years old, ifts in her hands-on Christ excited because we had never done Christh we still didn’t have a tree, it was so other kids did I woke up the followingthe paper off the gifts I still re on opposite ends of the rooifts with not so much as a smirk on their faces To them, it was like any other day I took those two barbies and held theold She left that day under the guise of getting cake and ice cream and never came back Yes My mom left me on Christmas

My grandmother moved in with my father and I to help and that was the first ti She was funny, kind, wars I remember one Christ clothes fro waking up Still never had a tree My father always felt they were unnecessary and forbade them Every Christmas with her was special in its oay and I learned pretty early on to stop wishing for what other kids had This would have ical holiday, if it weren't for the fact that five years later, when I was eleven years old, the week before Christmas, I woke up and went into her roo for ain Christmas let me down

My father and I ot the best of hiht, hit a car with a ot vehicular hter and I spent htin the front of the soup kitchen in an apron and elf hat, helping an volunteering here last year when I had finally aged out of the system and realized that I had it better than soive back I aet a volunteer job here They can’t afford to hire ives me a room here to sleep in since I have no job and no money

The Lahn co and Christmas for displaced families and youth People from all over the community come and help They donate their tiive to those less fortunate for the holidays “Ana dear, there are so and such Is there anything that needs to be rabs another pan of mac and cheese

“Actually, yes I was just sitting here trying to figure out how the hell…”

“Ahrown but she is the closest thing to fa sure I carry myself correctly

“I’m sorry, Mrs Lahn I mean we need these sacks of flour sent to the kitchen so Joan can finish the cakes and cookies”

“Excellent Well, go up front, find Foreet this pan to the front” she walks away not having any idea how she just sent my body into a tailspin Just the word ‘Mack’ htly less buff, but equally sexy little brother would look like? Well, that would be Jamison Mack

I first saw hi two years ago He was volunteering and when I walked up to the table and handed him my plate, it was the first ti other than self-pity He was gorgeous Tall, light, and handsoh you could tell he works out IHis face is chiseled and defined, but he doesn’t look like a gentlehneck The first time he spoke to me that day, I found myself muted and flushed and all he said was, “Mashed Potatoes?” I ine If that is all he asked, and I couldn't hold it in then? Now every ti this event, I lose et who I a to be any different