The Uninvited Christmas Guest, by Libra

Chapter 6
Chapter Six: Meeting the Family

Chapter Description: By Libra

Christmas Eve came and Samuel mentioned they were going to spend the next day at his younger sister’s house. His younger sister had no children, but his older sister would bring hers along.

Crystal wasn’t sure how she would like spending Christmas Day as a child with a family that wasn’t expecting her.

The day came and they spent nearly all morning putting presents in Samuel’s car. The drive over felt very long for Crystal, but they finally arrived. Crystal acted the shy child when the door came open. A younger woman than Samuel answered and smiled.

"We have just about eaten everything. " A motherly tone came from somewhere in the background. Crystal peered out from Samuel’s legs and saw a group of people around a small kitchen table. The older woman had to be Samuel’s mother and the man with balding hair his father, while the woman across the table had to be Samuel’s older sister. In the living room where they had entered was a boy a little older than she was with a baby girl totting around the room.

When they noticed Crystal a funny look came into their eyes.

"I bought along a guest. Her mother had to work and I got stuck with babysitting. " Samuel said, stepping aside so everyone could see Crystal.

Crystal waved and everyone greeted her almost at once.

Samuel’s nephew wanted her to play a game with him, but all the adults said she needed to get something to eat first. Crystal ate and answered questions that Samuel’s mother asked to her.

Samuel was left alone with his parents and siblings while Crystal went into the living room to take up an offer of a game. She wasn’t very good at it, but decent enough to play along.

The baby everyone called Bree was funny to watch and play with. She went around the entire house looking at things and often enough playing with them for a few minutes at a time.

Before long it was time to open presents and much to her surprise Crystal found a few boxes addressed to her. Samuel claimed they were from her mother, but that was just to get his family to believe the story he gave them.

Crystal most childish gift turned out to be a cute doll to play with. Most of the other little gifts were useful travel accessories.

"Your family must move around a lot." Samuel’s mother commented after the gifts were opened.

"They do." Crystal answered shyly. His mother must suspect my so called mother and Samuel of seeing each other Crystal thought, looking up at the gentle face.

Before long the received gifts were loaded away in the cars and it was time to go home.

Crystal had missed her afternoon nap and fell asleep in the car. There was a vague memory of being carried to her bed then it was very late at night when she awoke.

Crystal found Samuel working on a new HD DVD player he got as a gift. Having already setup everything, he was going through programming it for time then date.

"That was fun. " Crystal said referring to the party as she came into view, sitting by the man she had come to know and trust. A few days with him and she felt she could put her life in hands again.

"I thought you would like it. There is one last gift. " Samuel said and pulled out a certain plastic bottle of pills with a Christmas bow on it.

"That time already. " Crystal said taking the bottle and checking inside. The red and blue pills were all in there. She had thought he might have removed all the aP pills or pulled a trick like tossing all the pills out leaving her an empty bottle. It turned out he wasn’t one to trick people.

"It’s midnight Cinderella. I made a deal and kept it. I can drop you off at a bus station or something before you change. The cops won’t suspect a girl once she got her ticket. Unless you would rather run the risk of hoping on an airplane or getting your car from the impound lot. " Samuel said and there was a longing look in his eyes of sadness.

"Bus station, but you buy my ticket. Once I’m changed I can hop aboard with no troubles. " Crystal said planning her getaway.

"If you need help or just a place to stay for the holidays there is a spare key under the gargoyle statue. " Samuel said not sure if he trusted her with that bit of knowledge.

"Maybe next year I might. " Crystal said closing her bottle and looking at him. How she wished to be adult right now and settle down here with him. Her adult face was too well known but her child’s face was a perfect disguise. Few had hardly ever seen her in or out of this house. Most of them had been other children.

The moment passed and Crystal ended up watching a movie that night.