Anna\u2019s dad gives her a nicely wrapped Christmas present and tells her she must not open it until the next morning. She doesn\u2019t expect her sneaky stepmother Melanie to open it first. But Melanie\u2019s desire for power sets off a chain of events she didn\u2019t see coming\u2026 Would you like some good luck for Christmas?<\/p>\n
I used to love Christmas the most. There are colorful lights, gingerbread cookies, and the fresh scent of pine trees. There are also presents full of treats. It all felt like magic.<\/p>\n
But this year there was no magic.<\/p>\n
A few months ago, my dad got married again, and his new wife Melanie made me feel like I didn\u2019t belong in my own home. She wasn\u2019t really bad, like some stepmothers on TV, but she could smile while putting your spirit and confidence down.<\/p>\n
She asked Anna, \u201cIs that what you\u2019re wearing?\u201d I\u2019d think again, girl!\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m sure your dad will treat you well again.\u201d Doesn\u2019t he always do that? Soon, it will end.<\/p>\n
Even worse, everything she said had that sickly sweet tone that turned my stomach.<\/p>\n
But I shut my mouth to protect my dad. I didn\u2019t want to ruin his happiness because he looked so good. Mom died when I was seven years old, ten years ago. I told myself I could deal with Melanie for the sake of my dad.<\/p>\n
For a long time, Dad and I were the only ones. If Melanie made him feel less alone, it might have been worth it.<\/p>\n
I kept that in mind until a week before Christmas, making sure I was really trying for my dad\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
After that, everything changed.<\/p>\n
One night, my dad pulled me aside. He looked both serious and funny at the same time.<\/p>\n
He smiled and held out a box with a red satin bow on it. \u201cAnna,\u201d he said. \u201cLove, I have something really special planned for you this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
This box looked beautiful, like it came from a Hallmark movie. I couldn\u2019t wait to take it out of the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, what is it?\u201d I asked with wide eyes.<\/p>\n
He smiled, but there was something else in his eyes, like a flash of something that couldn\u2019t be read.<\/p>\n
He told her, \u201cOh, it\u2019s a surprise.\u201d \u201cBut you need to make a promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u2026What?\u201d<\/p>\n
He told her, \u201cDon\u2019t open it until Christmas morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
He carefully gave me the box as if it were fragile.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut it under the tree and think of me when you see it.\u201d I have to be out of town for work, but I\u2019ll call you first thing in the morning. I will get home as soon as I can.<\/p>\n
I said yes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll wait,\u201d I said with a smile.<\/p>\n
He told her, \u201cGood girl.\u201d \u201cLove, this is important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
His words were like a cloud. I thought he looked\u2026 sad for a second. Or maybe they are confused. He told me he loved me, kissed me on the cheek, and then went upstairs to pack.<\/p>\n
He left for his trip the next morning, on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
I got up early on Christmas morning, ready to start the day. After a while, I realized my dad wasn\u2019t going to be there. Melanie and I would be the only ones at Christmas breakfast.<\/p>\n
Melanie was making a lot of noise as she ate yogurt and cereal by scraping her spoon against her bowl.<\/p>\n
I told myself, \u201cCome on, Anna,\u201d and I rolled out of bed. \u201cYour dad\u2019s present is ready for you!\u201d<\/p>\n
The only sound in the house was the faint sound of someone moving downstairs.<\/p>\n
I moaned, \u201cShe\u2019s awake.\u201d<\/p>\n
I crept out of bed and down the stairs, my socks making a quiet sound against the wood. It was important to me not to stand out. Melanie would probably hear me and say something rude first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n
But Melanie was there, on her knees in front of the Christmas tree like she was on a mission. She had my gift, which my dad told me not to touch until Christmas morning.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t turn around but said, \u201cGood morning, Anna.\u201d Her voice was cold and bright. \u201cHappy Holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d Melanie?\u201d It hurt to breathe. \u201cThat\u2019s my present!\u201d<\/p>\n
The box was held by Melanie like it was hers as she turned to face me.<\/p>\n
She said, \u201cCome on, girl,\u201d with a small laugh, but her eyes were serious. \u201cYour dad treats you great all the time.\u201d Check to see if he finally learned something. I mean useful to me. Do you not mind? I don\u2019t understand why you would.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Melanie!\u201d I screamed. \u201cPlease!\u201d My dad told me not to open it until this morning, so I\u2026 Please, it\u2019s important! \u201cIt has to be for me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please,\u201d she said, ignoring him with a well-kept hand. \u201cAna, you don\u2019t deserve half of the things your dad gives you.\u201d You behave like a sweet little angel when he\u2019s around, but you\u2019re really a spoiled brat.<\/p>\n
Her words hurt me deeply, but she pulled on the red silk bow before I could answer. I held my breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelanie!\u201d Stop! Please!\u201d<\/p>\n
She rolled her eyes and kept ripping through the gold paper. The sound filled the empty living room. She threw the paper away like it was trash and took the lid off.<\/p>\n
She then stopped moving.<\/p>\n
Her proud smile turned into a pale, terrified one.<\/p>\n
I moved in closer to see what she was seeing in the box.<\/p>\n
An envelope and a black silk ring box were inside. On the front, her name was written in Dad\u2019s clear handwriting.<\/p>\n
She picked up the envelope with shaking hands. She messed around with the flap and took the letter out. I saw her read with her mouth shaking.<\/p>\n
She read out loud, her voice shaking, \u201cMelanie.\u201d \u201cIf you\u2019re reading this, you did exactly what I thought you would.\u201d I heard what you were saying to your sister last week. What you should do about taking Anna\u2019s gift. I almost told you I was wrong at that time, but I wanted to give you a chance. Instead, you proved everything I was afraid of.<\/p>\n
She looked up at me, and her face was as white as a ghost.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that it?\u201d Is there something else?\u201d I asked, but I couldn\u2019t stop the words from coming out.<\/p>\n
She quickly looked back at the page and nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve treated my daughter badly, and now you\u2019ve gone too far.\u201d Take this as my official goodbye. \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter hurt her so much that she threw it away. She opened the satin box with shaky hands. It had her engagement ring in it. The ring that Dad used to ask her to marry him.<\/p>\n
The ring wasn\u2019t really Melanie\u2019s, though. It was something that my grandma owned and that I had always wanted. I didn\u2019t think it would have been mine, though, since my dad had used it to propose to Melanie.<\/p>\n
At any time.<\/p>\n
There were no Christmas songs playing in the background; only her shaky breaths could be heard. I stood there frozen, torn between shock and a strange, quiet happiness.<\/p>\n
The front door then opened.<\/p>\n
Melanie turned around.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad!\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad held his backpack bag out in front of the door. He seemed too calm. Like someone who knew what was going to happen or what they were walking into.<\/p>\n
As planned. Of course it had. He had a whole letter written. When did he start to notice how Melanie treated me, though? I worked really hard to make sure he hadn\u2019t seen our problems.<\/p>\n
She said, \u201cI thought you were on a business trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
He just said, \u201cI wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
After going inside, he shut the door behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stayed close.\u201d I had to check it out myself. I knew that you were making Anna feel bad about herself. Melanie, I\u2019ve been watching and hearing for a while now. I thought you would feel better and that maybe things were just hard for you. that you were still getting used to being a parent.<\/p>\n
She told him, \u201cGreg, it\u2019s not what it looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Melanie, that\u2019s exactly what it looks like,\u201d Dad said in a sharp voice. \u201cHey Melanie, I gave you a chance. I had faith that you would do the right thing. But you showed me I was wrong.<\/p>\n
She said in a whisper, \u201cPlease.\u201d \u201cI didn\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d Greg, I really like that ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but Anna also loves it.\u201d My mom told me that Anna had always hoped for it. Stop right now. You earned my trust as a partner. To look after Anna as a mom. But you\u2019ve only shown greed and violence instead. This was the last test, and you failed it.<\/p>\n
Melanie looked at me like I was to blame for this. She tried to talk with her face scrunched up, but Dad had already turned away from her.<\/p>\n
He spoke in a cool voice again and said, \u201cPack your things.\u201d \u201cToday you\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
That afternoon, Melanie left. She dragged her bag out the door with the style of a storm cloud. Something about mistakes and how bad Dad was being was all she could say.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what will kill you, Greg.\u201d \u201cNo one can love you and put up with your child at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
He told her, \u201cJust leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t bother to answer. I wanted him to be the only one to make this choice.<\/p>\n
It was peaceful in the house for the first time in months when it was quiet again.<\/p>\n
My dad and I spent the rest of Christmas with each other. We were the only ones there. We watched old Christmas movies, drank hot chocolate, and made a big stack of pancakes with extra crispy bacon. We laughed about how I used to sneak peeks at my presents as a child.<\/p>\n
After dark, when the fire was out and the house was cozy and warm again, my dad gave me another wrapped present.<\/p>\n
It was yet another gold box. The ring box and another letter, this one with my name on it, were inside.<\/p>\n
I took my time opening it.<\/p>\n
Anna, I love you so much. I hope that this Christmas is the start of something new for both of us. I love you a lot. \u2013 Dad.<\/p>\n
I told my dad, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked up from his seat on the couch and asked, \u201cWhatever for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor everything with Melanie. I hoped that soon I\u2019d be off to college and you wouldn\u2019t have to deal with life without me. I only wanted you to be pleased.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cI\u2019m happy, sweetheart.\u201d \u201cThis ring is yours now.\u201d Someone good will come along one day and slide it on your finger. Then your forever will begin. Melanie wasn\u2019t right for me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Anna\u2019s dad gives her a nicely wrapped Christmas present and tells her she must not open it until the next morning. She doesn\u2019t expect her sneaky stepmother Melanie to open it first. But Melanie\u2019s desire for power sets off a chain of events she didn\u2019t see coming\u2026 Would you like some good luck for Christmas? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28550"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28551,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28550\/revisions\/28551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}