The next couple of days, everyone had gotten ready for Christmas. They wrapped presents and put them under the tree. There were so many presents with names on it. The tree looked more beautiful now that it was complete. Also, everyone had put in time to make the dishes that they were going to bring to the table for Christmas dinner. Ivy baked cookies, Granny Anne made Turkey and Stuffed Chicken, Raina made mashed potatoes and gravy, Amy made mac n cheese, Laurel made mixed casserole, Joe made good meatloaf, Silvana made apple pie and pumpkin pie, Nick and Audrey bought a holiday cake since they were young and didn't know how to cook, James made mixed stemmed veggies, Bernard made meaty marinara pasta and chicken Alfredo pasta from a family recipe, Jason made quiche, Ben made mini assorted bread buns, William made a family recipe ham, and Charlie made his famous hearty steak for everyone.

So as days goes by, it was Christmas day (25th December, Friday). Most families open presents the morning of Christmas and have Christmas dinner the night on the Eve, Ivy's family did everything opposite. They opened presents after dinner at night and then watch a family movie together after that all on Christmas day.

So the morning of Christmas, everyone had slept in and woke up a little late than usual. Granny Anne, Ivy, and Iris woke up early to make an American Breakfast for everyone once they woke up. They made pancakes with syrup and butter, eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, hash browns, milk, apple juice, orange juice, toast, waffles, fresh sliced fruits, bagels with cream cheese. They set the food onto the dining table neatly centered in the middle once it was done cooking.

When [11AM] strike, everyone was coming downstairs one by one in their matching pajamas going into the dining room where Granny Anne, Ivy, and Iris was. They took their seats and waited for everyone to come down. Once everyone had made it to the table, they began to eat together as a family.

While eating breakfast together, suddenly out of nowhere, someone's cellphone rang. They looked at each other and Silvana's cellphone was the one that rang. Silvana picked it up at the table and everyone was looking at her with a 'really now?' face. Once she hanged up the phone, Amy felt like she had to say something to her mother and so she did.

Amy (*asks her mom) : really ? you had to pick it up at the table ?
Silvana : it was important.
Granny Anne (*says to Silvana) : nothing is important than family, especially when its Christmas.
Silvana (*apologizes to everyone) : sorry everyone.
Amy : i don't think you are sorry mom.
Silvana (*asks angrily) : what is that suppose to mean ?

Amy tells her mom off and the truth.

Amy : your job means everything to you.
Amy : if something happens, you would do whatever it takes to fix the problem.
Amy : that's the thing. when it comes to us, your family, it didn't matter.
Amy : its always been like that with you.
Amy (*asks) : what about us ? what about me, dad, and James ?
Amy (*asks) : don't you care about us anymore ?
Amy : you accepted me because i followed in your footsteps in fashion design.
Amy (*asks) : do you know why i did it ?
Amy : i did it because i love to designing, its probably the only thing i can do.
Amy : its my talent. i love what i do but i cant do it under your watch mom.
Amy : i want to design freely without anyone telling me what to do.
Amy : I've always wanted to tell you this from the day i went to fashion school.
Silvana (*asks Amy angrily) : why would you go out and find a job when you have me ?
Silvana : this is your only opportunity to work with me, someone your close with.
Amy (*tells her mom in an upset tone) : i don't want to be close to you !
Amy : if i wanted to work for you, i would've done it a long time ago even before i was born.
Amy : i went to fashion school for a reason and its not to stay with you.
Amy (*asks) : haven't you ever considered of acting more like my mother than my boss ?
Silvana : your talking nonsense ! i'm your boss and parent if you like it or not.
Amy : that's what you don't get.
Silvana (*asks Amy angrily) : what don't i get ?
Amy : you don't understand how to accept my decisions and opinions.
Amy : its always been about you.
Silvana : this is nonsense ! I've raised you better.

Ivy speaks up and raises her voice at Silvana and Amy.

Ivy (*raises her voice & says) : Enough !

Everyone looks at Ivy and got their attention.

Ivy : there is nothing than fighting with you two lately.
Ivy (*asks) : whats the matter with you two ?
Ivy (*asks) : haven't you guys forgotten that its Christmas ?
Ivy : Granny Anne was right.
Ivy : its the holidays and we shouldn't be fighting with each other.
Ivy : Christmas is about family gathering together and enjoying each other's company.
Ivy : even if we do hate each other, we are here together to celebrate.
Ivy : me and Iris have already lost our parents near Christmas couple years back.
Ivy : its even sad that their not here and its more sad that you guys are fighting.
Ivy : fighting doesn't solve anything and it sure doesn't bring back my parents from the dead.
Ivy : our parents wouldn't want this and so does the rest of us.
Ivy : its barely the morning of Christmas.
Ivy (*asks) : cant we just all get along until the holidays are over ?
Ivy (*asks Silvana & Amy) : now, cant you two call it quits ?
Amy : fine.
Ivy (*asks Silvana whose sitting there quietly) : Aunt Silvana ?
Silvana : fine.

Everyone looks at each other and laughs their heads off. After breakfast was over, everyone helped clean up the dining room cleanly and went their separate ways doing their own things. Bernard, Audrey, Nick, William, Charlie, Ben, Jason, James, Laurel, and Raina had gotten ready to head out to the beach. While Charlie was getting ready to go in the room, he asked Ivy if she was going to go with them.

Charlie : aren't you coming with us Ivy ?
Ivy (*asks as looking at Charlie) : where are you guys going ?
Charlie : we're going to the beach for the afternoon.
Ivy : i think i'm going to skip out this time.
Charlie (*asks) : are you sure ? your going to be fine alone here ?
Ivy : i'm sure and i'll be fine.
Charlie : alright.
Ivy : have fun.

Charlie left the room leaving Ivy there. He left with everyone out to the van to the beach for the afternoon. Silvana, Amy and Granny Anne were in the backyard swimming in the pool.

Ivy went downstairs out of the house to take a walk at the park across the street to think about something (about the contract from Wayne). Iris was making her way downstairs when she saw Ivy at the park near at the living room window. Iris opened the curtains and sees Ivy alone in the park sitting on the bench. So Iris went to put on her cardigan and walked out to Ivy to see if she was okay. Iris comes walking towards Ivy where she sat and sat next to her on the bench.

Iris : hey.
Ivy (*looks at Iris & back & says) : hey.
Ivy (*asks) : how did you find me ?
Iris : i saw you sitting from the living room window when i came downstairs.
Ivy : oh.
Iris : yeah and you would always come here when you were little to sit.
Iris : sometimes, it would just be me, you, and Grams talking.
Ivy (*smiles & says) : yeah, that's true.
Iris : I still can't believe that we all have grown up already.
Iris : it felt like yesterday, we were just kids.
Ivy : well, we're not kids anymore.
Ivy : you have a family of your own and we're all doing our things in life.
Ivy : days really go by so fast.
Iris : but you know. i never forgot how much time we used to spend together as kids.
Ivy (*smiles & says) : i remember every detail of our childhood.
Ivy : i remembered where we played, what we played, and who we play with.
Ivy : every aspect of it, i remembered it all.
Iris : you would always be the one with a good memory Ivy.
Ivy : yeah. it's all worth remembering.
Iris (*smiles & says) : it is.
Iris (*asks) : so what's going on with you ?
Ivy : nothing much.
Iris : i know that we haven't seen each other in a year.
Iris : i know you more than you know yourself, we are sisters for a reason.
Iris : you don't have to lie to me, i know something's wrong. i can hear it in your voice.
Ivy : man, your good.
Iris (*ask) : so what are you thinking about ? this is the contract, isn't it ?
Ivy (*ask) : how did you know ?
Iris : i told Grams about how sad you looked these past couple of days.
Iris : and she went to talk to you about it.
Iris : she told me about the contract and that's what you've been thinking about.
Iris (*ask) : so what's wrong ? isn't it everything that you ever wanted ?
Ivy : it is but i'm not sure that i want it just yet.
Iris : Ivy. things like this doesn't fall from the sky at anytime.
Iris : maybe for you, it does and its luck.
Iris : but there’s a right time for everything and anything.
Iris : you're 27. there's not much time left for you to decide.
Iris : you know that i cant tell you what to do with your life.
Iris : its something you chose on your own and i'm proud of you for that.
Iris : but this is an opportunity that comes once in a life.
Ivy : i just feel like if i make one decision and leave the other one hanging,
Ivy : i might regret not making the other decision.
Iris : your heart and brain tells you to do two different things.
Iris : but on this one, you need to trust your heart.
Ivy : so many things are rushing through my head right now.
Ivy (*asks) : what should i go ?
Iris : i'm telling you to trust your heart more than anything.
Ivy : thanks Iris.
Iris : i'm always here if you need someone to talk to.

Iris and Ivy walked linking arms together back to the house.

It was only [1PM] so Ivy took a nap in the living room while watching a tv show. Iris was upstairs ironing her clothes for dinner that night. Silvana and Amy had made up and came back inside into the kitchen with Granny Anne and Tom Bailey so they could get ready for Christmas dinner.

After taking a 2 hour nap [3PM], Ivy went upstairs to wash her face and fixing her hair.

Then she came back downstairs to help with the dinner. Since all of the foods were done making by everyone, it was only needed to warm up in the oven. So they took turns using the oven to heat up the food. Granny Anne used the other oven to make the turkey, ham, and stuffed chicken. Ivy baked her christmas cookies and Ben's assorted bread buns. Silvana baked the apple pie and pumpkin pie.

Notes