This Christmas

 

Matty was certain he'd be in regret of holiday gifts if it hadn't been for his dad coming to the rescue.

"We'll give her hopefully something she will like," his Dad Xander told him maybe a gift basket was the way to go. So they started with a basket from the Dollar Tree but most of the beauty products they found were from the nearby drugstore. And an added gift card for a manicure was a big bonus.

Matty was glad it brought some happiness to Valentina who told him she'd never had a professional manicure before. Her smile made him smile and though he didn't really expect a gift. The best gift was getting to spend Christmas with her. 

He was glad her smile was back. Although, there was more snow now and a chill that could cut to the bone. It was definitely a holiday to stay inside and possibly closer than one would want during these pandemic times.

Still Matty was happy to be with her family even if he felt he possibly abandoned his own. After all, Kevin was at Dakota's and Xander was all alone. 

"Does he hear much from your other Dad, lately?" Val wanted to know as he spoke of his parents.

"I dunno. I guess they talk but he's at the hospital. We only saw him at Thanksgiving. And even then he didn't want to really be around us," Matty hoped his Dads were doing OK. Although, he knew they were not the most traditional family, but they were family and he knew this was a very hard year for everyone.

"But I don't see him coming home anytime soon," Matty winced. "I mean, he's a doctor and he's doing what doctors have to do right now."

Really, they were an ordinary family. And a lot of ordinary families were hurting during this pandemic. His other dad Xander was helping out at Open Door Mission this Christmas. 

"Am I horrible, wishing he'd stayed home instead?" Matty knew there was a lot to be happy about this Christmas, but he was on edge too. Hoping no one got sick in his family.

Alfie worked extra to stay out of trouble. Besides, there really wasn't all that much to celebrate this Christmas. In fact, he was broke and a little melancholy. He knew Steve needed alone time with Simon and there were the other two lovebirds he needed to stay away from, Poppy and Jory.

Although, he thought they argued a lot. He tried not to listen, but he wasn't sure everything was quite happily as Poppy expected. But then again most relationships evolved and maybe, after all, they would relax in each other's lives and hopefully make the best of each other.

He saw lots of people doing last-minute Christmas shopping while picking up medications. Some getting those extra masks for protection or for a gift. But at least, he was not alone on Christmas day. Vicki was around. Although, she was manning the beauty products and was always keeping stock of socks and cardigans. 

Even Alfie was shocked at what they sold at the drugstore. Another little revelation came to Alfie. Vicki was Melissa's little sister. He'd thought it early on when they met, but then when she talked about her, he knew her sister was the one he'd had a one night stand with.

But, Melissa got on at the university library. It was where Melissa wanted to be. She didn't like public libraries. Alfie didn't even want to know the differences, but Vicki told him anyway. After all, she did like to talk.

Alfie winced now, thinking she made him think of someone else who liked to talk. Did he just attract certain girls? Well, Melissa didn't really like to talk. She liked other things. And maybe Vicki wouldn't say anything to her sister about him, either. After all, he didn't say he knew Vicki's sister, but after looking at photos on Vicki's phone about all their holiday celebrations, because they didn't just celebrate Christmas but Hannuka too.

He mentioned his grandmother celebrated Hannuka, but he doubted Vicki cared because she liked celebrating holidays which meant she liked gifts. So he got her cozy socks for Christmas and naturally, she gushed about it as if they were going out.

It was the last thing Alfie expected. Although, they hadn't gone anywhere. They were stuck at the drugstore.