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And then... well... that was followed by the cutest little thing I had ever seen.

At that moment, I hadn’t realized that my fist had come up to rub at a spot over my chest.

I also hadn’t realized that without even trying, the two of them had just cemented themselves into the deepest core of my being.

‘The best feeling is when you look at him, and he is already staring.’

– Ophelia’s Secret Thoughts.

Chapter 5

Ophelia

It was four weeks before Christmas.

I was thankful that Mr. Wilson was closed on the major holidays and the not-so-major ones, being Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

And Mr. Wilson, being a family man, if you have kids, you are off on Mother’s Day. And if you are a single parent, you are off on Father’s Day as well.

I adored my boss.

But now was now.

And I said I was going to avoid the general store.

However, after talking to some of the townsfolk, they told me that Sallie’s was the only place in town that sold glass ornaments for a decent price.

And seeing as I planned to pass down the ornaments to Soraya when she was old enough and living in her own place, I wanted them to last.

We were walking up and down the aisles; I had already found the ornaments.

Thankfully, they were priced just right, so I could get them and still be able to order Soraya’s big Christmas gift tonight when we got home.

We had just entered the toy section when I said, “Okay, honey, go look at the toys, and let me know which ones you like. I’ll do my best to get them for you for Christmas. Okay?”

I felt a pang in my chest when I saw a few toys they sold that Soraya used to have.

Used to have because the rat bastard I was stupid enough to stay with for so long told me I couldn’t take them with me.

And only because it had been his money that had bought them.

Jerk face.

I was looking at the ones that caught her eye, and then I saw it, and I groaned.

Of course, they would have it here, of all places.

There were three things she wanted for presents this year.

One was a Bratz doll, and I had found one that matched Soraya’s wild spirit. And it was the present I was ordering when we got home.

The second one... well... that was going to be impossible, but I would do what I could to make it happen.

She wanted to have a big family Christmas.

I had no family left.

My mother was in parts unknown.