Charlotte sighed, looking out the window of her room at Radley. The snow littered the ground, it looked nice. She could almost feel it beneath her feet. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. She could almost smell it. Cold and fresh.
She sighed again and sat down at her desk, pulling her books towards her. It was just another day, she told herself firmly, she may as well just study. Just like any other day.
Then there was a sound behind her. Instinctively, she spun around. Then she smiled, tilting her head. Peeking in the doorway was a toy reindeer.
"Hello, reindeer," she giggled.
The reindeer's paw came up and waved. Charlotte giggled more. She only knew one person who was dorky enough to do this. Well, the truth was there was only one person who would visit her anyway.
She stood up and pulled the door open to reveal her mom standing there, arms full of presents.
"Mama!" Charlotte nearly bowled her mom over with a tight hug.
"Oh, Charlie," Jessica returned the hug before placing her bags on the ground, "Merry Christmas, honey."
"Merry Christmas, mom," Charlotte whispered, "I didn't think you'd come today. What about Ali…and Jason and… him?"
Jessica raised a hand to Charlotte's cheek, "The kids are with your dad's parents so I managed to slip away," she explained, "I've always got time for my baby girl, you know that."
Charlotte bit her lip, "Are any of those presents for me?" she bounced on her toes excitedly, eyeing off the pile.
Jessica chuckled, "Hmmm, there might be one or two here for you," she teased before throwing her daughter the reindeer, "If he's not enough."
Charlotte caught the reindeer, "He's so cute!" she grinned, "But don't throw him! That's not nice, he might get scared."
"Oh, you," Jessica rolled her eyes, "He's a reindeer, he knows how to fly."
Charlotte laughed, "I guess that's true," she kissed her reindeers head.
Jessica handed over a square-boxed present. Charlotte received it happily. She unwrapped it in record time to reveal a small box of perfume. Charlotte ooh'd and ahh'd appropriately, pulling it out and smelling it.
"Smells pretty," she said, "Smells like…" her face screwed up in thought before she smelt the perfume again, "Smells like you!"
Jessica laughed, "Does it now?"
Charlotte hummed and hugged her mom, sniffing her neck, making Jessica laugh.
"Definitely! Great!" Charlotte grinned, "Now I can pretend you're here when you're not!"
Jessica's face fell. It was why she'd bought it, of course, but the way her daughter said it made it sound so… sad. She picked up another present.
"More!" Charlotte sat cross legged happily on her bed as her mom dished out present after present; jewellery, a new teddy bear, some new dolls, a tirade of new books, "You're the best, mom!" she hugged her mom again, "Thank you!"
Jessica returned the hug, though more sadly than her daughter. She wasn't the best and she knew it but still, year after year Charlotte would hold her tight and tell her she was the best mom ever.
"Mama, why are you crying?" Charlotte nibbled on her lip, reaching up to wipe a tear from her mom's eyelash.
Jessica smiled, "I'm just so lucky to have you," she whispered, "I love you so much, Charlie."
Charlotte smiled, "I love you too, mommy," she whispered, "Lots and lots. Even more than all my new dolly's and my new dress."
Jessica pulled her daughter close, "I love you more than anything in this world, honey. Don't you ever forget that."
Charlotte nodded, "Okay. But mama?"
"What is it?"
"Can we go build a snowman?" Charlotte's eyes were wide and pleading, "Please! It's Christmas, I just want to touch the snow and – "
Jessica grinned, "Last present," she handed over a small package.
Charlotte unwrapped it just as enthusiastically as all the others, "Mittens!" she giggled.
"Can't make a snow man without your mittens," Jessica held out her hand and led her daughter outside, into the snow.