When Anna\u2019s dad leaves her a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift with strict instructions not to open it until morning, she never expects her scheming stepmother, Melanie, to tear into it first. But Melanie\u2019s greed triggers a chain of events she never saw coming\u2026 How about some karma for Christmas?<\/p>\n
Christmas used to be my favorite time of the year. Twinkling lights, gingerbread cookies, the smell of fresh pine from the tree, not to mention the stockings stuffed with treats, too. It all felt magical.<\/p>\n
This year, though, the magic was gone.<\/p>\n
My dad remarried a few months ago, and his new wife, Melanie, made sure I felt like an outsider in my own home. She wasn\u2019t evil exactly, not like the stepmothers on TV, but she just had a way of smiling while tearing down your confidence and spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Anna, is that what you\u2019re wearing? Girl, I\u2019d rethink that!\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m sure your dad will spoil you again. He always does, doesn\u2019t he? It will stop soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
And to make it worse, everything she said was drenched in that sickly-sweet tone that made my stomach turn.<\/p>\n
But I kept my mouth zipped for Dad\u2019s sake. He honestly looked so happy, and I didn\u2019t want to ruin it. Mom had passed away ten years ago, when I was seven. I told myself that I could put up with Melanie, at least for Dad\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
It had just been Dad and I for so long, and if Melanie made him feel less alone, maybe it was worth it.<\/p>\n
I thought that until a week before Christmas, making sure that I was trying hard for Dad\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s when everything changed.<\/p>\n
Dad pulled me aside one evening, his expression oddly serious but playful at the same time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnna,\u201d he said, holding out a box wrapped in gold foil with a red velvet bow. \u201cI have something really special for you this year, love.\u201d<\/p>\n
This box was gorgeous, like something straight out of a Hallmark movie. I wanted to unwrap it immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it, Dad?\u201d I asked, eyes wide.<\/p>\n
He smiled, but there was something else in his gaze, like a flicker of something unreadable.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019s a surprise, kiddo,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I need you to promise me something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay\u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t open it until Christmas morning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He handed me the box carefully, like it was fragile.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it under the tree, and think of me when you see it. I\u2019ll be out of town for work, but I\u2019ll call you first thing that morning. And I\u2019ll be home as soon as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, I promise to be patient,\u201d I grinned.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood girl,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is important to me, love.\u201d<\/p>\n
His words hung in the air. For a second, I thought he looked\u2026 sad. Or maybe conflicted. But then he kissed me on the forehead, told me he loved me, and went upstairs to pack.<\/p>\n
The next morning, Christmas Eve, he left for his trip.<\/p>\n
On Christmas morning, I woke up early, ready to start the day. But then, I remembered that my dad wasn\u2019t going to be there. Christmas breakfast would just be Melanie and I.<\/p>\n
Melanie drinking her coffee and noisily scraping her spoon against her bowl as she ate yogurt and granola.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Anna,\u201d I told myself, kicking off the covers. \u201cDad\u2019s gift is waiting for you!\u201d<\/p>\n
The house was quiet, except for the faint sound of movement downstairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s awake,\u201d I groaned.<\/p>\n
I slipped out of bed and crept down the stairs, my socks silent against the hardwood. I didn\u2019t want to draw attention to myself. Melanie would probably hear me and start the morning off with a snarky comment.<\/p>\n
But there, kneeling in front of the Christmas tree like a woman on a mission, was Melanie. My gift, the one Dad told me not to touch until Christmas morning, was in her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorning, Anna,\u201d she said without turning around. Her voice was bright but cold. \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing? Melanie?\u201d My throat felt tight. \u201cThat\u2019s my gift!\u201d<\/p>\n
Melanie turned to face me, holding the box like it was hers.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, girl,\u201d she said with a little laugh, though her eyes were hard. \u201cYour dad always spoils you. Let\u2019s see if he finally got something useful. Useful to me, I mean. You don\u2019t mind, do you? I don\u2019t see why you would.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMelanie, no!\u201d I exclaimed. \u201cPlease! Dad told me not to open it until this morning, and I\u2026 Please, it\u2019s special! It has to be for me!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, please,\u201d she said, waving a manicured hand dismissively. \u201cYou don\u2019t deserve half the things your father gives you, Anna. You act like this perfect little angel when he\u2019s around, but you\u2019re really just a spoiled brat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her words cut deep, but before I could respond, she tugged at the red velvet bow. My breath caught.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelanie! Stop! Please!\u201d<\/p>\n
She rolled her eyes and continued to rip through the gold wrapping, the sound echoing in the silent living room. She tossed the paper aside like garbage and yanked off the lid.<\/p>\n
Then she froze.<\/p>\n
Her smug smile crumbled into something pale and horrified.<\/p>\n
I stepped closer to try and see what she was seeing inside the box.<\/p>\n
Inside was a single black velvet ring box and a folded envelope. Her name was written on the front in Dad\u2019s unmistakable handwriting.<\/p>\n
Her hands shook as she picked up the envelope. She fumbled with the flap, pulling out the letter. I watched as she read, her lips trembling.<\/p>\n
\u201cMelanie,\u201d she read aloud, her voice wavering. \u201cIf you\u2019re reading this, it means you\u2019ve done exactly what I suspected. I overheard your conversation with your sister last week. About taking Anna\u2019s gift for yourself. I thought about confronting you then, but I wanted to give you a chance to prove me wrong. Instead, you proved everything I feared.\u201d<\/p>\n
She glanced up at me, her face ghost-white.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that it? Is there more?\u201d I asked, the words escaping my lips before I could stop them.<\/p>\n
Her eyes darted back to the page, and she nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve disrespected my daughter, and now you\u2019ve crossed the line. Consider this my official goodbye. Merry Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
She dropped the letter like it had burned her. With shaking hands, she opened the velvet box. Inside was her engagement ring. The same ring Dad had used to propose.<\/p>\n
But the ring wasn\u2019t really Melanie\u2019s. It had belonged to my grandmother, and it was something that I always wanted. But since my dad had proposed to Melanie with it, I didn\u2019t think that it would have been mine.<\/p>\n
Ever.<\/p>\n
The room was silent except for her shaky breaths; the usual Christmas carols were forgotten. I stood rooted to the spot, torn between shock and a strange, quiet satisfaction.<\/p>\n
Then the front door opened.<\/p>\n
Melanie spun around.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDad!\u201d<\/p>\n
Dad stood in the doorway, duffel bag in hand. He looked calm, too calm. Like someone who had expected what was coming, or what he was walking into.<\/p>\n
Like it had been planned. Well, of course it had. He had written an entire letter. But when had he started to notice how Melanie treated me? I tried so hard to make sure that he hadn\u2019t seen our issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were on a work trip,\u201d she stammered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n
He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stayed close. I needed to see for myself. I knew you were making Anna feel less than herself. For a while now, Melanie, I\u2019ve been watching and I\u2019ve been listening. I thought that you\u2019d get better, and that maybe things were just difficult for you. That you were still transitioning into being a parent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreg, it\u2019s not what it looks like\u2026\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019s exactly what it looks like, Melanie,\u201d Dad interrupted, his voice sharp. \u201cI gave you a chance, Melanie. I wanted to believe that you\u2019d do the right thing. But you proved me wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u201d she whispered. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean\u2026 Greg, I love that ring\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, but Anna loves it, too. I spoke to my mother, and she told me that Anna had always hoped for it. Now, please stop. I trusted you to be my partner. To be a stepmother to Anna. But instead, you\u2019ve shown nothing but greed and cruelty. This was the final test, and you failed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melanie looked at me like this was somehow my fault. Her face crumpled as she tried to speak, but Dad had already turned away from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cPack your things,\u201d he said, his voice calm again. \u201cYou\u2019re leaving today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Melanie left that afternoon, dragging her suitcase out the door with all the grace of a storm cloud. She muttered something about misunderstandings and how Dad was making a huge mistake.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be your undoing, Greg. Nobody is capable of loving you and tolerating your child at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust leave,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t bother to respond. I needed this decision to be solely his.<\/p>\n
The house was quiet again, and for the first time in months, it felt peaceful.<\/p>\n
Dad and I spent the rest of Christmas together. Just the two of us. We made a huge stack of pancakes with extra crispy bacon, drank hot chocolate, watched old Christmas movies, and laughed about the times when I\u2019d sneak peeks at my presents as a kid.<\/p>\n
Later that night, when the fire had burned low and the house felt warm and homey again, my dad gave me another wrapped present.<\/p>\n
It was another gold box. Inside was the ring box again and another letter, this one with my name on it.<\/p>\n
I opened it carefully.<\/p>\n
Anna, you\u2019re the best thing in my life. I hope this Christmas marks a new beginning for both of us. I love you more than anything. \u2013 Dad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Dad,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever for?\u201d he asked, glancing from his spot on the couch.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor everything with Melanie. I hoped that I\u2019d be off to college soon and you wouldn\u2019t have to navigate life between us. I just wanted you to be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am happy, darling,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd this ring is yours. One day there will be some worthy man who will slide it onto your finger, and your forever will begin. Melanie wasn\u2019t that for me.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When Anna\u2019s dad leaves her a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift with strict instructions not to open it until morning, she never expects her scheming stepmother, Melanie, to tear into it first. But Melanie\u2019s greed triggers a chain of events she never saw coming\u2026 How about some karma for Christmas? Christmas used to be my favorite […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tales"],"yoast_head":"\n