CHAPTER FOUR

SANTA DID COME

Dad was due back form his trip within the weekend, just in time for Christmas. It was also a school break so I hadn't seen the Cullens for a while. But they invited me over to their house the day before Christmas Eve to exchange presents.

My mom had been disappearing at random points of the day, telling me that she had paperwork or something else with work. And she usually stayed out late.

Until one day when I caught her coming into the house at six o'clock in the morning. She wasn't wearing makeup and she was in her uniform. I was walking downstairs and peered out the window only to see the blue car driving away. I still hadn't seen this guy.

I caught my mom in the kitchen, "Morning."

Mom jumped, startled, "Morning, honey."

I crossed my arms, ready for confrontation, "Spent the night at work?"

Mom took a breath, "Yeah..."

I went to the refrigerator and got out the milk, "And got a ride from Jennifer's mom?"

"Yes.. well they were driving by when I was walking out."

I was pouring the milk, "So Jennifer's a good kid, right?"

My mom was sitting down at the table with instant coffee, "Yes, she's a sweetheart."

"I asked Bianca if she wanted Jennifer to come over for a play date..."

Mom was quiet, "You did?" Something suspicious was seeping into her voice.

I went to the cupboard to get out m cereal, "Yeah... but you know what? Bianca said she doesn't know anyone named Jennifer... weird..." I turned to look at her, "right?"

Mom flushed, "Well... little girls are always forgetting the simplest things."

I started pouring my cereal into a bowl I brought out and said, "She seemed sure of it. She even named three of her friends. A couple days ago I was telling Leah the story and she said that there wasn't any Jennifer signed up at their daycare."

Mom wasn't saying anything now.

I got a spoon out and took a bite of my cereal. I swallowed, holding my breath. It was now or never, "Who is David?"

Mom almost choked on her coffee, "What? Who?"

I was fed up, "You heard me. Who is David? You know, the guy you're having an affair with."

"Watch your tone, young lady," Mom snapped.

"Watch yours," I snapped back. "I'm not going to stand by while you tear this family apart. And you can not use Daniel as an excuse for your... fucking another guy behind Dad's back."

"Watch your language, Heather Marie Vincent," Mom yelled now. "This is none of your business."

I gave her an incredulous look, "None of my business. Right. I'm only your daughter. I'm only the one who has been raising your other daughter."

"You will not breath a word of this..." Mom warned.

"Or you'll what?" I asked with an eyebrow raised. I slammed my hand down on the table with force and the band made both me and my mom jump, "Dammit mom, we all went through this past year. We all lost Daniel. He was my brother. He was Dad's son too! And you have the audacity to alienate dad and then go and cheat on him? And you don't even have the decency to look guilty!"

"What do you expect me to do!" Mom yelled, "Your father and I don't love each other anymore."

"Bullshit! He still loves you and you are killing him! And me! How did you expect me to handle this? Poor Bianca is meeting this stranger and doesn't know what's going on. She won't even remember Daniel."

"Then this won't effect her," Mom rationalized.

"It effects all of us! You are single handily breaking this family and you can not use Daniel's death to justify it. This is your pure selfishness and deceit."

Mom quietly sat down, "Are you going to tell your father now? Are you gonna be the one who hurts him?"

I snorted, "Don't try that on me. Dad already knows."

Mom froze, the coffee cup floating between the table and her lips, "He does?"

I laughed bitterly, "With all the 'paper work' you've been doing, how could he not? I can see how much it kills him. He doesn't know that I know and he's trying so hard to protect me and Bianca. What I don't – what I can't – understand is... why didn't you just divorce dad? Why did you make us believe that this move was going to fix anything?"

Mom sighed, "I thought it would. I had every intention of following through with your father. But..."

"But...?" I urged.

"I met David..." Mom had the dreamy look of a teenage girl in love. And it made me sick.

"Your hormones are no excuse to break your family's heart," with that I picked up my breakfast and walked upstairs.

The day before Christmas Eve, I went to the airport to pick up my dad. I hadn't spoken to my mom since I called her out about her affair. My dad smiled at me, shaking the rain out of her hair, "Thanks for picking me up, sweetie."

I smiled, "No problem, Dad. We missed you."

Dad kissed my head as I started driving, "I missed you too."

"Tomorrow, Bianca and I are going to the Cullens to celebrate Christmas and exchange gifts. We're heading over around noon so we should be back by dinner time. Is that alright?"

Dad smiled, "Of course. It will give your mother and I some alone time as well."

I didn't have anything to say to that. I didn't want to let Dad know that I knew Mom was cheating on him. And I didn't want to know what exactly Dad wanted to her about alone anyhow. It was either to beg her not to leave or to leave her himself. And I didn't like either. Dad didn't deserve either.

So I just nodded to him, dreading what I would come home to that night.

I pulled up in our driveway and helped Dad with his bags. When I got inside I went to check on Bianca and saw her dressing herself. I laughed and helped her finish getting ready.

I had all the Cullens gifts in a bag and was walking by the kitchen to the front door when I heard, "I think we need to talk Darlene."

I got Bianca and I out of there quickly and drove off with the directions Alice had given me. When I got there, I was in awe of that house. It was so bright and open... and big. But at the same time they had their privacy because of how secluded it was.

Alice was out in a flash and chatting happily with Bianca on her hip. Rosalie had walked out to meet us and helped me carry the gifts inside. We got inside and walked up the stairs until we got to the sitting room.

The Cullens had a beautiful and large Christmas tree set up and decorated with blue, pink and red ornaments along with the occasional homemade ornament. And some of them looked rather old. I assumed they were passed down some of their families.

Edward smiled when I walked in, "Merry Christmas, Heather."

I smiled back and said the same. Emmett came over and gave me a crushing bone hug, but by the ease of his face I could tell he was holding back some real strength. And I was grateful. Emmett grinned when he set me down, "So what did you get me?"

Laughed went all around as I shook my head, "Be surprised, dude."

Bianca had yelled, "Jasper!" and run to him. The Cullens had come around to my house on the weekends. Usually in pairs; Rose and Emmett, Alice and Rose, Edward and Jasper. Bianca loved them all.

Jasper picked her up by her arms, "Hey, how's my little lady bug?"

Bianca giggled on his hip and smiled and cute dimpled smile, "Good."

Jasper chuckled and gave her a noisy kiss on the cheek, "Good."

Edward played Christmas songs on the piano while Rose and Esme sang. I sat between Alice and Jasper with Bianca on my lap as she tried to mumble through the songs because she didn't know the words.

We had already opened all the gifts we had given each other. Bianca and I got Alice a stylish T-shirt that said 'I'm a fashionista', Emmett a new baseball bat because he said he broke the last one, Rosalie a book of baby names because she told me of her fascination and desire to have a family – she started almost crying, the same way Alice cried – Esme a cook book, Carlisle a little trinket that Bianca picked out, Edward some blank sheet paper and Jasper a black journal with the word 'Major' engraved into it since he was such an army buff.

Alice got me and Bianca matching dresses. Emmett got me boxing gloves and Bianca some perfume that Rose picked out. Rosalie got me a pretty charm bracelet and Bianca a necklace. Esme put together a black scrapbook for us to fill in. Carlisle got me a gift card to this boutique in Port Angeles and Bianca some pretty barrettes from the same place. Edward got me a book I had mentioned in passing and Bianca a princess tiara. Jasper got Bianca a bracelet that matched the necklace Rose gave her and he got me... a ring.

NOT that kind of ring!

It was a pretty silver butterfly ring with the body made of sapphires. It fit perfectly on my middle finger and I slid it on immediately. I had thanked him but he said he wished he could get me something better. I told him that was impossible – quietly of course.

Eventually all of us started singing along to the Christmas songs until it started getting dark out. I peered at my watch and saw that it was almost seven and Dad expected us to be home soon for Christmas Eve dinner and the opening of one present.

So I stood with Bianca and announced that it was time to go. Bianca whined a little but when I told her it was time to see Daddy she stopped.

The Cullens wished us all a Merry Christmas and Alice walked us out. She gave me a hug and whispered, "Don't stay up too late or Santa won't come."

I gave her an amused look and she winked at me as I got into my car and drove off.

When I parked in the driveway, I noticed that the house was dark. There was only a soft glow coming from the tree in the living room. I picked Bianca up and walked inside. The house was eerily quiet.

I followed the light in the living room to see two pizza boxes on the coffee table and juice boxes out. Dad was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. I whispered in Bianca's ear, "Go wash your hands for dinner, Bee," as I set her down. She dutifully walked down the hall to the bathroom.

I cautiously sat beside my dad, "You didn't go to train interns, did you?"

Dad lifted his head from his hands and shook his head, "I went to meet with my lawyer in San Francisco."

"And that's what you and mom talked about. You know," I stated.

Dad gave me a confused look, "Know what... Heather...?"

I sighed, "I know about the other guy, dad. Mom hasn't been very smart in hiding it... for a cop. She's been getting rides from him to the daycare, earlier than usual. Leah mentioned it and I did some digging. Mom claimed it was a friend of Bee's parent but Bianca doesn't know the kid. And there were too many holes and finally I confronted mom about it. We haven't said a word to each other since."

Dad looked ready to cry, "I'm so sorry that you've been dragged into all this, Heather. You don't deserve it."

"You don't either, Dad," I told him sincerely, "You don't deserve for her to do this to you."

Dad nodded, to himself.

"What happens now?" I dared to ask.

Dad sighed, "Your mother left. Packed an overnight bag and took the Toyota to this... guy's house. I imagine that she'll want to move back to San Francisco and take you... and Bianca."

"I am not going to go live with her," I said fiercely, "As much as I miss my friends in San Francisco... I can't live there anymore. And I can not live with her after she went and did this. Please don't make me go, Dad."

"Oh, Heather," He brought me into his arms like he used to when I was little and had a nightmare. Dad sighed, "If you don't want to go, you don't have to. I'll do anything to keep you."

"Don't let her have Bianca either. She's been neglecting her, dad. She leaves her alone or drops her at daycare. That's no life for her. She deserves better," I begged.

Dad kissed my head, "Don't you worry, honey."

Bianca came walking in then and she saw my watery eyes, "What's wrong, Heta?"

I smiled down at her and held her on my lap, "Nothing, sweetie."

Dad set pizza on plates for us and we started eating quietly before Bianca asked, "Where's mommy?"

Dad froze, looking pained, so I whispered to her, "Mommy's with her friend."

"But she should be here. Or Santa won't come," Bianca started to tear up. I shh'd her and brushed some hair out of her face, "Don't worry, Bee. Santa will come. We have all we need here."

But her face was beginning to get red as she stared to full-on cry, "Why doesn't mommy love us anymore?" She let out a painful wail and it made me want to burst into tears.

I didn't want Dad to see this so I stood up and started walking with Bianca to the kitchen. I used my free hand to open the freezer and grab a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream – her favorite. I set her down on the counter while I got out three bowls and started to scoop. "Mommy is... going through something right now. Maybe someday it'll be better, sweetie. But.." I sighed, putting down the spoon. I held her face in my hands and whispered to her, "Mommy does love you. She just doesn't know how to show it. But you still have me and Daddy."

"But mommy and daddy are supposed to be together, all the time and forever," Bianca whined.

I sighed and long, slow sigh, "Sometimes it doesn't work out that way. But it doesn't mean that they love you any less or that it is your fault. Do you understand?"

Bianca began to stop crying and sniffle. She noisily wiped her nose and sniffed, "Yes..."

I grabbed and cloth and cleaned off her face, "Now, how about some desert?"

Bianca nodded and took the ice cream. I set her down on the floor and she immediately ran into the living room. I took the other two bowls and followed. I handed one bowl to Dad before I sat back down.

Bianca started talking to Dad about how excited she was for her presents. Dad would smile and kiss her head.

I took a bite of my ice cream and sighed inwardly.

Christmas morning I woke up to a chilly house. I didn't care though. It was Christmas. I smiled and stretched in bed before sitting up. I gave a loud yawn before turning on my bedside lamp since it was still dark. I always woke up really early on Christmas morning. I rubbed my hands over my arms when I noticed that my window was slightly open.

I quietly stood and closed the window so the draft wouldn't chill my room anymore. I was about to walk out when I saw something on my nightstand. I went over and picked it up; it looked like a card. It was in an envelope. I opened and pulled out a... picture. It was a candid shot of me and Bianca under the ligths of the Christmas trees. The different colors reflected off our smiling faces. I turned it over and on the back it read Have a Merry Christmas. From Santa.

I smiled, letting out a laugh. I guess Santa did come.

Santa came! Who do you think is Santa? Hmm?

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