Seren was speechless. Like a punch to the gut.

“Hey!” Seren jumped as Mr. Asche came up behind them like a charging bull. “What ground do you have to stand on, Nicole Braker?” The woman paled and her mouth dropped open, offended.

“How dare you use my ma-”

“You married into this family, and your parents begged and bought you your place.” He continued. Ignoring their objections. “Serenity didn’t have to buy their position, they earned it. And if you and them lost their connections, Serenity would be adopted back. Can you say the same?”

Nicole stumbled back as if she’d been slapped. Bernard stepped up and grabbed her in a hug.

“You have no right to speak to my wife that way,” He said.

“Then perhaps you both should learn to keep out of other people’s business.” He said. Seren stared up at Mr. Asche wide eyed and slack jawed. “Come on Serenity, we have better things to do.” Seren quickly shut their mouth and nodded. Nicole and her husband ran back into the main lounge.

“Mr. Asche, I didn’t-”

“At this point, we’re too far involved for such formalities. Just Eric is fine.” Eric said, he held out his hand and Seren took it.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to get in trouble.” Seren said, pausing to get their boots back on.

“You didn’t get into trouble, someone else went looking for it.” Eric said, putting his own boots on. “And when you go looking for trouble, you will always find it.”

“Hey, don’t go yet. They’re announcing who’s getting the yule invitation!” Called a voice from the lounge. Seren stopped lacing the boots to look up at Eric,

“Don’t bother, it’s always been Bernard and Nicole. The two of them are already picked to take over the family and thus, they are always picked.” Eric said without pausing. Seren nodded sadly, tying their laces slowly. They would have liked to go to that gala. Even as they were now trying to convince themself that they actually, in reality, didn’t want to go.

Seren buttoned their coat and looked up as a scream of disbelief and rage came from the lounge. They looked up at Eric to see if they should do something. He watched the noise coming from the lounge and then tapped Seren’s shoulder.

“Hurry up, someone other than Nicole got that invite.” He said, quickly buttoning up his coat and throwing the scarf around his neck without securing it. He opened the door and gestured Seren out the door quickly.

“Excuse me, this is for you.” One of the attendants hurried over and gave a pair of envelopes with gold summer wax seals on them to Seren.

“Thank you,” Seren said. They walked out the door and noticed all the color had drained from Eric’s face.

“Give me those.” He said, shutting the door. Seren held up the envelopes and flinched as the envelopes were snatched out of their hands. Eric scooped up Seren’s hand and led them quickly back to their house. He pushed them in the door and slammed it behind them.

“Back with some holiday decor?” Mrs. Houper asked, rounding the corner. She paused at the glare on Eric’s face. “What’s going on?”

“We got pulled into a party next door.” Seren said, plopping down onto the floor and pulling off their boots.

“At the Summer’s place?” Mrs. Houper asked, she winced. “Oof, I had no idea they moved the party to today.”

“Take Serenity out and get whatever holiday junk you think you need, within reason.” Eric said stiffly.

“Wh- really?” Mrs. Houper asked, she spotted the envelopes and paled. “They wouldn’t-”

“Now. Please.” He said. Mrs. Houper nodded quickly and grabbed her winter boots and coat.

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“Is everything okay?” Seren asked hesitantly.

“Fine.” Eric stepped over them and stomped upstairs in his boots and coat. Mrs. Houper didn’t glare or chide him for wearing his shoes in the house. Seren felt their heart skip repeated beats. Their fingers tingling and unable to retie their boots.

“Come on, you can get whatever you like.” Mrs. Houper said. “We’ll even visit your dad, you’d like that right?”

“Yeah,” Seren said slowly. Retying up their shoes and getting to their feet. They stared at the staircase, hoping Eric would reappear and assuage their haunted anxiety. But he didn’t. Mrs. Houper ushered them out the door and together they trudged through the snow.

“What’s going on?” Seren asked and Mrs. Houper sighed.

“The Summers estate owns the manor and there was this… falling out between Eric and his cousins.” Mrs. Houper explained.

“The nasty ones who said they didn’t want their kids to be around me?” Seren asked, Mrs. Houper’s mouth dropped but she quickly cleared her throat.

“Yes, that sounds exactly like them.” She strained to keep her voice level.”Well, as Eric’s great uncle and aunt are aging, the cousins are taking over. We knew something like this could be coming so I wouldn’t worry about it.” Seren clenched their jaw as they started to realize what the words meant.

“Are we going to get kicked out?” They asked tearfully.

“Even if we are, trust that Eric already has a back up plan. He knew it was a possibility and I’m sure he already has plans or contingencies.” Mrs. Houper said reassuringly. Pulling Seren’s shoulder into hers. They arrived at the hospital and checked in.

Seren sat in the lobby and kicked their legs. The sterile smell of the hospital stung their nose.

“Seren! Guess what!” Mrs. Houper said, kneeling down before them. Without waiting for an answer she spilt the news; “Your dad’s coming home today!”

“Really!?” Seren perked up instantly.

“Yes! He’s being discharged!” She said, grabbing their hands and squeezing them.

“Hooray!” Seren jumped up. They spotted their dad coming down the hall. He looked up in surprise at Seren’s voice. His face brightened up instantly.

“Serenity!” He called, Seren ran at him and threw themself into his chest. He stumbled back, needing to be caught by a nurse.

“Oh, Seren!” Mrs. Houper called, stumbling after them to pull them back.

“I missed you!” Seren yelled.

“Volume,” their dad whispered.

“I missed you,” Seren whispered at full volume. The nurses chuckled as they dispersed.

“How are you feeling?” Mrs. Houper asked.

“Great,” their dad said a little awkwardly. “How are you doing Seren?”

“I’ve figured out inflation!” Seren said happily. Their dad stared at them blankly.

“Oh…” he managed, “great.” He and Mrs. Houper shared a look over Seren’s head.

“We were planning to go shopping for some Yuletide decorations, would you like to join us?” Mrs. Houper asked.

“Yeah, that sounds great.” He said, “Eric’s busy, I assume?”

“Yeah, we met his family earlier today.” Seren said, taking their dad’s hand and leading him out of the hospital.

“Oh,” their dad said. Again looking at Mrs. Houper. “How did that go?”

“The Summer’s lord and lady are nice. They showed me pictures of when Eric was little.” Seren grinned, skipping ahead so that their dad was being dragged along behind them.

“I bet he loved that.” Their dad smiled smugly.

“No, I don’t think he did.” Seren said, shaking their head. Their dad shook his head with a smile.

“I took the liberty of setting up a room for you to spend the winter with us.” Mrs. Houper said, Seren gasped and turned around, skidding in the snow.

“Really?!” They asked excitedly.

“Oh, I don’t think-” their dad objected, but Mrs. Houper didn’t let him finish.

“Good, don’t start thinking now.” She said, “It’s our pleasure, besides it’s so cold and we have your recovery to think about.”

“I’m fine, I don’t need-”

“Look!” Seren yelled abruptly and yanked their dad to the side where a broad window displayed different toys. “Look at her.”

Right in the center was a beautiful brunette doll with the clearest green eyes. She wore a chandelier blue winter dress and was surrounded by her accessories.

“Would you like to go in?” Mrs. Houper asked. Seren stood up a little straighter, imagining holding the beautiful doll. A lifetime of dressing her, taking her everywhere, Collecting every single accessory. But it was all shattered by the sight of the price advertised. Alongside with their dad’s face reflected in the glass.

“Uhh. No, that’s okay.” Seren stepped away from the glass. “We have decorations to get, right?”

“Oh.” Mrs. Houper said, surprised. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Seren said, looking again longingly at the doll but pulling the group away. “Let’s go,”

Mrs. Houper shrugged but looked again at the doll for a few moments. Then followed after them.

“Well, there’s a shop over here we can look into for a few last minute decorations. And I think it would be a good idea to go over to the second hand shop as well. You never really know what you’ll find there.” Mrs. Houper said, taking the lead. Seren skipped and swung their hand, still holding their dad’s.