"So you're not going to be with us...on Christmas Eve?" Brandy asks me, close to tears. I shake my head.

"I'm sorry Brandy, but Zayn's family wants me there, okay? You'll have Mum, and Ella, too. I'll be home by the time you wake up tomorrow." She looks up at me, but nods her head sadly. I turn to Ella Maree.

"Watch her. Call me if Dad comes home tonight," I tell her, though she already knew the drill. If Dad came home, in his drunk state, with Mum and the girls home, and me not, that would be bad. Extremely bad.

"Yeah, I know," she said as she texted someone on her phone. "Just get already, Grace." I scowled at her, getting my keys and the bags that held presents in them and turning towards the door.

"Be good, set the cookies and milk out for Santa," I tell Brandy. She nods eagerly, then I leave.

---

I wait on the porch, wondering --Did I get the right things? God, I hope I did. I wouldn't want to be the idiot that got a superstar the wrong thing for Christmas. That'd be horrible.

Safaa opens the door, and she gasps.

"Gracie!" She squeals and hugs me. "I'm so glad you're here!" I smile, holding the gifts above her head so she won't squish them also.

"Alright, alright, Saf, let 'er go," I hear a female voice. I was let go and see Doniya. "Here, let me take these for you. Everyone's in the dining room." She takes the presents from me and goes into another room, which I remember leads to the family room.

Notes

Part one of two or three chapters!!