377 Everyone's Christmas Morning - Part 1

The sun silently rose to light the day outside.

The best thing about waking up on a Christmas morning is the opportunity to get lured in the heavenly smell of hot cocoa and the freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Melanie woke up early to prepare a hearty breakfast for everyone to enjoy. Some time had passed when she caught a glimpse of Ethan entering the living room. Their gazes met eventually, and Ethan greeted his holiday wishes to Giselle's mother. Melanie stared at him fondly. She noticed that he wore thick clothes to protect himself from the early morning chilly breeze.

Melanie squinted her eyes to guess if he was planning to go out this morning.

"Merry Christmas, dear! Are you perhaps going out now?" she inquired worriedly.

Ethan admitted his intention of waking up early to leave somewhere outside. Melanie's face grew sad from listening. She was preparing breakfast for everyone to enjoy but seeing that Lia's father won't be joining made her frown. Ethan was quick to notice the old lady's downcast look and glumness.

"It's- Lia's Christmas present!" he revealed hurriedly, looking around to make sure that his words never reached anyone else other than Melanie.

Melanie's long face withdrew, but it remained stiff from worrying if Ethan forgot to get a gift for his daughter. Lia would be expecting one since it's Christmas. Ethan only wanted to give a tiny hint, but seeing Melanie disconcerted, he couldn't help but add more details.

"This is a secret, but- I got a princess tent for Lia's room. It's so pretty! It's at Giselle's place. I- need to go and set it up to surprise her," Ethan shared, whispering his words only to Giselle's mother.

Melanie listened enthusiastically. She embraced his idea to surprise his daughter. She even liked his choice and actively encouraged him to pursue it.

Ethan witnessed an approving smile on Melanie's face. He knew she worried about him leaving so early on Christmas morning. Now that he had given his story, Ethan followed with a pledge, not wishing to spoil the happiness.

"I will be back soon- for breakfast," he added shyly.

"I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity like this- I'm not sure if I would have another chance again!" he added wistfully.

His words pierced Melanie's tender soul, moving her quickly to admit welcoming Ethan to visit anytime.

Ethan watched Melanie to get reminded of his own mother, whom he misses dearly this year. It was probably the first time he had ever skipped spending time with his parents. Nevertheless, this trip that he sacrificed was truly worth meeting these incredible people.

After seeing how happy Melanie stayed following his promise, he collected his things to leave. However, he stopped in his tracks to pause. Hesitantly, Ethan turned around to find Melanie busily back to stirring hot cocoa. It smelled incredibly gratifying and made Ethan question if he must leave or not. Nonetheless, the image of seeing his daughter surprised overwhelmed his desire to stay back for the Christmas elixir. Moreover, he had already agreed to return soon to join everyone for breakfast.

"Mrs. Jones, I'm leaving now, and I'm not sure how long it will take, but if Lia asks for me, then can you-"

"We'll tell Lia that her father has gone out to get some milk!" Eric's voice echoed from behind to startle both.

Melanie and Ethan flinched from the shock. They cowered backward to find Eric's figure entering the living room.

"Eric, darling, please don't scare us like that!" Melanie urged with a gasp.

Eric threw an apologetic glance at his wife to excuse for his sudden entrance. His gaze then followed to meet Ethan, who was about to leave. He studied him for a while before turning to his wife to question.

"Aren't we running out of milk?" he asked.

Melanie blinked to answer otherwise. It isn't like all of their stock ran out, but it appears that she still has a carton left after preparing the hot chocolate. Eric claimed it as a perfect excuse to Lia if she is smart enough to notice her missing father. Having received the message, Ethan looked convinced and chose to leave quickly.

Melanie watched her husband in awe, finding his behavior somewhat odd.

"You're up already?" she asked in wonder.

"Yeah, well, I did sleep well last night!" Eric replied.

"That's good! How about I make you some coffee!" Melanie offered.

"Hmm... sounds good," Eric answered to take a glance around.

"You're making breakfast alone?" he inquired.

"Yes!"

"It's a lot this year!" Eric remarked to notice the bulk quantity of food.

"Yes, we are blessed to have everyone with us to celebrate!"

Eric snooped around the kitchen for a while before words came out of his mouth, stammering as they left his thin lips.

"Le- let me- help you!" he said.

Melanie stopped stirring the hot cocoa and glanced at her husband, who uttered something unusual for the first time.

"What?" she stuttered unconsciously.

"I said let me help you!"

"No- it's fine!" Melanie immediately withdrew from his strange invitation.

"It's alright! Let me help- what do you want me to do?" Eric said to hear the oven buzzing to alarm its end. Inside it was freshly baked cinnamon rolls that Melanie made with love and care.

Eric walked over to get the oven mitts and removed the baking dish to place it on the counter. Though his actions consumed more time, he still worked diligently. Melanie watched her husband in shock, wondering what happened to the old guy, who never liked spending time in the kitchen. Confused at his transformation overnight, Melanie drew the mitts from her husband's hands, seizing them away.

"What happened to you?" she groaned suspiciously.

Eric remained silent for a good while before admitting it was his wife, who always does the cooking, and how he had never offered to help her. Perhaps, his wife enjoyed cooking and found it her own space to be free, but it never changed the fact that he wasn't there to share that space with her.

Melanie heard to feel perplexed, and then it hit to her knowledge, discerning how her husband is desperately trying to help after watching Ethan doing the same for Giselle last night.

During last night's dinner, Melanie had Giselle run several errands to complete. Ethan, who was nearby, volunteered to share her chores and even helped her finish quickly while Lia, her grandfather, and Gigi remained in the living room to watch television, or so is what Melanie thought. However, it appears that Lia's grandfather noticed Ethan's kind gesture. It must have influenced him to change overnight. Melanie chuckled softly to herself. She drove her husband out of the kitchen to the table.

"Sit down, first! I got it from here! I'll bring you coffee now, so please don't disturb me, okay?" Melanie urged sincerely.

Eric had no choice but to give up in the end. He obeyed to stay out of helping. He had no idea what got him to boldly display such feats when he never tried to do it all these years. Maybe it was Ethan's reliable attachment with Giselle, and it made him realize how even after separation, the two were there to help each other. Ethan's best behavior got finally rewarded. Eric's doubts of the stranger faded, leaving a good impression and newly built trust.

Nevertheless, his face currently sulked from the outcome of his approach. He only wanted to share the load with his wife, but it ended up troubling her. He sat in distress while Melanie made coffee for both and went to join him at the table. While they drank, Giselle appeared to enter the kitchen by greeting her parents with holiday wishes. Melanie asked if she needed coffee, but Giselle stopped her mother from getting up to help. She motioned to fix herself a cup of coffee and soon went to join them at the table.

"Where's Ethan?" Giselle noticed after glancing around the living room from the kitchen.

"He's already gone?" she asked.

"Yes, dear," Melanie replied.

"Did you know about Lia's present?" she added curiously.

"Of course!"

Giselle admitted knowing it weeks ago.

"He asked me to make some time so that he could set up her present neatly for a sweet surprise," she revealed to share how the current situation turned out to work better for them.

"I'm sure Lia will get surprised!" Giselle prayed.

"He seems like a good fellow," Eric admitted openly.

"He is, dad!" Giselle remarked.

"So, what's his story?" Eric questioned abruptly.

Melanie's face shot up in fear to glare at him.

"What? I want to know how come he is still so good to our daughter-" Eric replied.

"But- you shouldn't ask her-" Melanie mumbled next to him.

"That's okay, mom!" Giselle interrupted before they start to bicker.

"We came to know each other during our university days. Ethan- had feelings for me in the past."

"And?" Eric urged.

"And- I happened to get crazy one time, and he was there-" Giselle stuttered hesitantly.

"Things went out of control and-"

"And-"

"You got pregnant with Lia?" Melanie figured.

"Yes. But it's not entirely Ethan's fault, dad. I had my share of mistakes too!"

"So- you never loved the boy?" Eric asked.

"No. Not in that way! He- He was a good friend to me even though I rejected him. He is still now-" Giselle declared.

"I can see that! He is such a gentleman," Melanie joined to defend.

"It's weird finding such good people today," she added proudly.

"Definitely! Especially someone who takes responsibility for his mistake-" Eric countered to pause abruptly.

At the same time, Lia's voice called for her mother. Everyone panicked at the table, looking at each other in pure shock. Shortly, a small figure emerged in the living room. Lia spotted her mother at the table and walked lazily towards her.

Melanie met her first to immediately lift the sleepy child and let her sit on her lap.

"Good morning, angel!" the grandmother showered gentle kisses to Lia's soft giggles.

"Do you know what day it is today?" Melanie asked.

Eric's face gleamed joy at the sight of seeing his little granddaughter. All of his interest to know about Ethan disappeared in an instant.

"It's Christmas. It's Christmas! Grandma!" Lia left Melanie's lap to jump around.

"Yes, it is!" Melanie joined in from her seat to lift hands in the air, swaying them in cheer.

Lia's radar quickly picked up on the missing people, and they were her aunt, Gigi, and her father, Ethan.

"Where's father?" she asked first in her British tone.

"He went out to get some milk, sweetheart! Grandpa sent him out on an errand. Don't worry- he will be back soon," Eric spoke for the first time, covering for Ethan.

"Now, why don't you go and brush soon? Grandma made hot chocolate for you!" Melanie appealed with her treats.

Lia's jumping stopped at once from hearing hot cocoa that her grandmother prepared for her. She obeyed to run away immediately.

The family signaled each other before Eric requested Giselle to wake her sister up.

***

Ethan returned just in time for breakfast. He made sure to get cartons of milk as told and received a sharp welcome from his daughter, who missed him very much since waking up. Ethan gave the milk to Melanie and then lifted his lovely daughter to play with her.

Shortly after Melanie called everyone for breakfast, the group gathered at the table where the aroma overpowered.

They all said a small prayer before starting their meal, offering their respects and requesting blessings.

In the middle of their breakfast, Giselle signals at Ethan, asking him how it went with Lia's present. Ethan nodded to admit how his surprise is waiting for their little princess.

Giselle smiled to continue eating.

Melanie and Eric silently watched them gesturing to each other. No longer were they guarded against this person, who seems to be someone Giselle trusted. They knew Ethan is a good lad and thus accepted him wholeheartedly on a beautiful Christmas morning. Lia enjoyed her hot cocoa with the delicious cinnamon buns. Gigi devoured the quiche while the rest dug everything on the table.