Chapter 18
The days grew shorter and incredibly colder,
as the deep winter chill finally returned to the city,
frosting the living room windows with intricate ice patterns.
Jessica and Emma had established a completely beautiful,
and entirely unbreakable daily routine,
one that was completely built on mutual respect,
and deeply unconditional love.
Every single evening after dinner was completely finished,
they would sit together on the soft living room rug,
and play completely silly,
and incredibly competitive board games until bedtime.
Emma was turning into a completely fierce little competitor,
laughing loudly when she managed to bankrupt Jessica in Monopoly,
or completely sink all of her battleships in a row.
Jessica would entirely fake a dramatic gasp of profound defeat,
falling completely backwards onto the soft carpet,
and making her daughter giggle uncontrollably for minutes.
There was no more walking on completely fragile eggshells,
no more trying absolutely desperately to keep the peace,
because the peace was completely,
and entirely permanent in their safe home.
One completely snowy Saturday afternoon in late December,
while they were baking sugar cookies in the warm kitchen,
the front doorbell rang entirely unexpectedly.
Jessica wiped the white flour carefully from her hands,
and walked slowly toward the heavy front door,
checking the small peephole completely cautiously.
Standing on the completely snow-covered front porch,
was a totally unfamiliar delivery driver,
holding a massive,
and beautifully wrapped colorful gift basket.
Jessica opened the heavy door just a tiny crack,
signing the electronic pad completely quickly,
and carrying the heavy basket inside the warm house.
Emma ran into the hallway immediately,
her eyes completely wide with absolute curiosity,
wondering who had sent them such a massive surprise.
Jessica carefully pulled the small white card from the ribbon,
her heart completely skipping a terrifying beat,
wondering if her mother had entirely crossed the boundary again.
But the handwritten note was completely from her boss,
thanking her absolutely entirely for her incredible hard work,
and wishing her a completely wonderful holiday season.
A massive sigh of profound relief escaped her tight lips,
and she smiled completely brightly at her excited daughter.
It's just a holiday gift from my busy office,
Jessica explained happily,
setting the heavy basket entirely down on the table,
let's open it up completely and see what is inside.
They tore into the shiny cellophane completely eagerly,
finding rich dark chocolates,
and expensive gourmet coffees,
and completely beautifully packaged sweet jams.
It was entirely a completely beautiful reminder,
that she was absolutely valued,
and entirely respected in the entirely real world,
far away from the completely toxic bubble of her family.
They ate the expensive chocolates entirely before dinner,
breaking every single completely silly rule,
May you like
and enjoying their completely beautiful,
and absolutely perfect winter afternoon entirely together.
