Years Later

Vida had grown into a beautiful woman with a successful career as a chef and food photographer. She had settled down and married Stephen Anderson, a successful accountant.

They were deeply in love and had a daughter named Lily, who inherited her mother's slender frame, striking chocolate colour eyes, and her father's dimpled smile and thick, long black curly hair, making her exceptionally gorgeous.

The Anderson kitchen was filled with laughter and the joyful strains of "Jingle Bells" as the family engaged in their annual Christmas baking tradition, baking Christmas delicacies while singing carols and sharing jokes.

"So, what present did you get me this year, Dad?" Lily asked while meticulously decorating her gingerbread cookies.

"Shouldn't you ask Santa that question?" Stephen replied, pausing to give his daughter an amused look.

"Come on, Dad, we both know Santa isn't real."

"Oh, really?" Vida chimed in from the stove, where she was roasting butternut squash. "A few years ago, you were writing letters to Santa like your life depended on it, and now suddenly Santa isn't real. Teenagers-once they turn thirteen, they think they're all grown up."

"But I am grown up, aren't I, Daddy? I just turned thirteen last month," Lily said, striking a pose with her hands on her hips to make her dad laugh.

"So, whose side am I taking now?" Stephen asked, looking between his wife and daughter.

"This isn't an argument. Just say I'm growing up fast and pretty, that's all," Lily demanded playfully.

"Okay, my Queen, your wish is my command. You're growing up fast and beautifully," Stephen said, making them all laugh.

"So, got any interesting plans for this evening?" Vida asked, looking at Lily and Stephen.

"I thought baking was interesting," Lily replied.

"I was thinking we could have a family dinner out together tonight. What do you think?" Stephen suggested.

"What's wrong with my cooking? I already have the chicken ready," Vida said as she opened the oven to baste the chicken.

"Nothing. You know your cooking is as incredible as you are. I just thought we could go out and have some fun together. What do you think?" Stephen asked, glancing between Vida and Lily, who was now smiling ear to ear.

"Okay, then, I guess we are having dinner out tonight," Vida agreed.

The family quickly finished baking and got ready for their outing. Stephen was the first to finish getting ready and waited in the living room. Lily followed soon after, wearing a blue mini dress with a white jacket and matching heels. Vida was the last to come down. She looked stunning in a shiny red dress, her makeup light yet impressive, with her hair tossed to one side of her shoulders.

"Wow, Mom, you look gorgeous," Lily said.

"Thank you, sweetheart. So do you," Vida replied.

"You look stunning, my love," Stephen told his wife, giving her a kiss on the lips.

"Thank you," she replied.

"Shall we?" Stephen said, taking his wife and daughter in his arms as they made their way to the car outside.

☃☃☃☃

Mr. Anderson pulled over at one of the fanciest restaurants in town.

"Wow, Dad, very fancy," Lily exclaimed.

"Anything for my two beautiful ladies. I already got us a table," Mr. Anderson said as he got out of the car to open the door for his wife.

They all stepped out and started walking towards the entrance when Lily abruptly stopped. "Mom, Dad, look."

Both parents turned to see a woman and two children, dressed in tattered clothes and looking unclean, rummaging through the garbage bins.

"I think they're hungry. Can we help them?" Lily asked. "Nobody deserves to be in a situation like that on Christmas Eve. Can we do something for them, please?"

Mr. Anderson smiled at his thoughtful daughter. "You know what, I think you're right. No one deserves to be in a situation like that. What do you say we make someone's Christmas Eve?"

Vida smiled and nodded.

Mr. Anderson took out his wallet, removed three hundred dollars, and handed it to Lily. "I was going to pay for our dinner with this, but I think they need it more than we do. Besides, I still can't take my mind off that chicken your mom was making earlier."

Vida gave a hearty smile. "Go on, dear," she said to Lily.

Lily approached the woman cautiously. As soon as the kids saw her, they ran to their mother's side, afraid it was another rich brat coming to tell them off. Lily slowly approached.

"Hi, we were going to the restaurant, and my parents and I saw you. We thought we could bless you with this money for a nice Christmas Eve dinner," Lily said, holding out the money.

When the woman saw the money, tears welled up in her eyes. "This is too much," she said.

"It's okay, we just want you and your kids to have a nice Christmas Eve dinner," Mr. Anderson said as he approached them.

"Thank you, thank you very much," the woman said, tears slowly running down her face. "God richly bless you."

"You're welcome, and bless you too," Vida responded with a smile. "Have a nice Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas in advance," the Anderson family said as they began to make their way back to their car.

"Merry Christmas in advance to you too," the woman and her children said. "Bye, thank you for giving our mommy money."

Lily turned around to see one of the children, a little girl, waving at her and smiling to reveal a missing tooth, which made her look adorable. "You're welcome," Lily responded, waving back with a wide grin.

"So, ready to dive into that delicious feast your mom was making earlier? I know I am," Mr. Anderson said as they walked towards their car.

"Oh, Dad," Lily chuckled as she took her seat in the car.

It didn't take long for the family to get home. Soon, the dining table was set with mouth-watering dishes; from roasted chicken to Christmas puddings.

The Anderson family had a hearty meal, filled with joy and contentment in their hearts.

...............................[AFRO PRIDE]..........................