Coming home from New York, Chris made the mandatory stop at her aunt and uncle's house. She felt at ease when she stepped in and was engulfed in a family hug. Yes, the trip had been amazing. And the concert and time with Ty and Kira had been just what she had hoped for, but something had been missing.
And being back here, Chris feels herself reminded of just what that was. Not only the warmth of LA, a stark difference from the icy temperatures on the East Coast but also the warmth radiating off every interaction with her family.
She also missed her friends.
It had been weird not being with them at the toy drive and rushing off, almost tripping over Street on her way out to catch the flight.
Chris is unlocking her front door when his slightly bummed expression is back on the forefront of her mind, and she immediately frowns. She should text him and check if everything is okay. Right?
Then again, Luca would've surely reached out if anything had gone wrong during her absence.
She is still mulling over what to do when her eyes land on her kitchen table.
A bunch of packages and mail is neatly stacked to form a sort of mini Christmas tree. Chris has to smile. She knows Sarzo and Helena took care of her place while she was away, and some, if not all, of these were from her family.
Chris dumps her stuff in the wash and changes into cozy sweats before she starts unwrapping.
One of the last boxes on the table is a small box with a wonky wrapping job and an envelope taped on top instead of a bow. She involuntarily smiles and tries to figure out which one of her nieces and nephews's gifts she hadn't unwrapped yet, but as soon as she takes out the card and her eyes fall onto the handwriting, she knows this isn't from her family, not from the traditional one, at least.
Chris,
I really hope you enjoyed your time and had a blast.
You already were on your way out, so that I couldn't give this to you in time for Christmas, but maybe you can appreciate the thought even a few days later.
Thank you for never giving up on me and for all your help in getting my spot back.
This is all thanks to you.
Merry Christmas, my friend. We all missed you.
Jim
With slightly shaking hands, Chris starts unwrapping the small box and furrows her brows, seeing the dark, velvety fabric coming into view.
What was he thinking? Was that ... jewelry?
That was when she realized the box was upside down.
She was met with a silver metallic pawprint when she turned it over. Chris gingerly opened the clasp, and her breath stopped a little.
Inside, she found a collar tag.
"For your future friend," Street had scribbled on another piece of paper.
With a tear sliding down her cheek, Chris picks up the paw print tag and turns it over. "In Memory of my big brother, Champ"
Her eyes wander to the frame on her dresser, and without another thought, she texts a simple "Thank you." But she also knows she will thank him again when she sees him during her next shift.
Happy Holidays. You may decide to celebrate or just have some quiet time. Remember to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Family can mean different things.