Chapter 121: Christmas Morning

Chapter 121: Christmas Morning Athena was so ensnared by the comforting embrace of sleep that the initial tugging at her ears barely registered. But as the intermittent tugs grew more insistent—sharp taps on various parts of her body that blurred in the haze of slumber—she found herself reluctantly untangling from the hypnotic pull of sleep. "Who’s there?" She murmured groggily, her right hand groping around the space as her eyes remained clasped shut. A familiar sound broke through the fog, a whisper that sent a spark of recognition to her mind. "Mom!" That must surely be Kate, she thought, furrowing her brow in confusion. It couldn’t be five p.m yet, the time for the Christmas play. So what’s going on? Suddenly alert, her eyes flew open at the thought, only to narrow in disbelief when she spotted her children, along with Gianna, sporting gleeful, sheepish grins. "What the hell is goi—" "Merry Christmas, Mom!" "Merry Christmas, Athena!" The twins and Gianna chimed in unison, bouncing on their heels like colorful rubber balls. The jubilance in their voices was so exuberant that it almost made her wince and cover her ears. Athena opened her mouth to scold them for waking her up, but the sheer joy radiating from her children rendered her voice still. Instead, she grimaced and sat up, confusion swirling within her. Was this really what had driven them to wake her? She blamed their current prestigious school for this newfound enthusiasm. However, the happiness in their eyes stopped her from demanding answers; she couldn’t even help but feel warm at the sight. Those glimmering expressions were a refreshing contrast to the often-sombre Christmases of previous years. "Mom, you’re supposed to say something back..." Kate insisted, impatience creeping into her tone. Didn’t she know? Athena thought, huffing to the amusement of her friend and kids. "Merry Christmas to you too..." She managed, barely finishing her greetings before Gianna nudged her, pulling her bodily from the bed. "Let’s go! We have so much to show you!" Curiosity ignited within her as she caught sight of a Christmas wreath hanging from their doorpost—an unmistakable sign of holiday cheer that hadn’t been there barely two hours ago. She looked at her kids, their excitement bubbling over, her eyes silently asking: how? How were they awake? While she could fathom Gianna being up and about, the twins were a different case. Together, they had spent the entire night mulling over the collection of evidence for the impending court case—she had no choice but to involve them when certain matters weren’t adding up, when the people under her, having down their best, still didn’t have a connecting rope to the various dots scattered everywhere. She herself had tried, and when she seemed to be getting nowhere either, she had involved them, knowing it was what they would have wanted. Probably why she had let out a laugh when they had arrived with their own piece of evidence to her work room. So far, it had been worth it. She has never being so prouder. So, how were they awake? The twins exchanged knowing winks before skipping after Gianna, leading the way. As Athena ventured down the hall, the lights were dimmed, allowing the numerous Christmas decorations to shimmer and glow like so many stars. Colors danced across the walls, reds and greens swirling together in a festive kaleidoscope. Tentatively, she moved forward, her gaze darting from the ornaments strapped to the banister to the twinkling lights strung about. When she finally stepped into the living room, her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding against her chest in disbelief. The living room had transformed into a winter wonderland! A magnificent Christmas tree dominated the corner, its branches sagging gently under the weight of glistening ornaments and garlands that seemed to sing of joy. Sparkling twinkling lights snaked lovingly around it, casting a rainbow of hues across the room, while the golden star perched on top shone like a bright beacon of hope. Beneath the tree lay a sprawling sea of gifts—colorful wrappings reflecting the morning light, names scrawled on tags that promised surprise and delight. Sweet-smelling candles flickered softly, and the faint, nostalgic scent of chocolate chip cookies wafted through the air, tugging at her heartstrings. "How..." Athena’s voice trembled, feeling tears rise as memories surged like an unstoppable tide. This was magic—magic that reminded her of the last Christmas she had spent with her mother. "How..." She breathed again, her mind racing back to the warmth and laughter of those bygone days. The scent of cookies enveloped her, sending her into a reverie she thought had vanished with her mother’s passing. Hearing Gianna step beside her, Athena’s gaze locked onto her friend’s knowing smile. "I had to add a touch." Gianna whispered softly, as if the admission were a sacred secret. Athena felt a sharp inhale rush through her as her eyes fell upon the tray of cookies displayed on the table. A flood of gratitude surged within her; Gianna had remembered. The moment overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t help but reach for one. As she lifted it to her mouth, she could feel the tension in the room thicken, a blend of excitement and uncertainty, mingling in the air. The children had baked these with her friend. She had no doubt. When she took a bite, her eyes squeezed shut, an explosion of flavors danced across her palate, igniting a bittersweet nostalgia that had lain dormant for so long. "How?" She turned to Gianna, tears spilling over her cheeks anew. "You know I am a good learner, and I hardly forget things. The twins helped me." Gianna beamed at her, while the children stood proudly, their wide eyes sparkling with innocence and joy. Did they really manage to stay awake? Had they even slept at all? "Mom, check out the presents!" Nathaniel exclaimed, cutting through her reverie. Athena swept towards the gifts, and as she got closer, the tags caught her eye: a veritable treasure trove of well-wishing. Her heart swelled with warmth as she recognized the names; Sandro, Zane, Areso, Chelsea, Aiden, even Old Mr. Thorne—all had sent their tokens of affection. The tears flowed more freely then; they had even managed to collect gifts from some of her workers and patients. She picked up a parcel, its tag elegantly scribbled with Aiden’s familiar handwriting. "Athena, smile and enjoy the season. Your mother would have wanted that for you, to enjoy her best time of the year." Her heart constricted painfully at Aiden’s words, a mixture of warmth and grief pouring over her like a tidal wave. What could she do? Sit down? Jump in joy? The swell of emotions was too overwhelming. She turned to face her family, their expectant eyes searching hers, waiting for her response. Did they think she wouldn’t be happy? How could she not be, with such thoughtful surprises? "You should have told me! I would have loved to send gifts too..." She murmured, sniffling, her voice catching on the honesty of her emotions. That was exactly what her mother would have wanted—the old woman always had a list ready by this time of year, mapping out everyone deserving of her love. "Athena, it’s okay. Everyone understands." Gianna gently reassured her. Unable to hold back any longer, Athena collapsed to the floor in tears. The burdens she’d carried for so long felt impossibly lighter, as if some age-old tension had unfurled its grip on her shoulders. She wept openly, feeling her mother’s spirit smile down from above, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. Gianna and the twins knelt beside her, their arms wrapping tightly around her shoulders as they shared this moment together. "Thank you..." Athena kept muttering, lost to the spirit of Christmas. "Thank you." But then, as if to punctuate this tender moment, a knock resounded at the door. Startled, they all exchanged glances loaded with curiosity. Who could be knocking at five in the morning?