December 17th 2013.
08:20am.

Kate strolled into the kitchen with a yawn. The house was too quiet for a Saturday morning,which had her thinking about Kelsia. Making up her mind to check on the girl later, she walked over to the fridge to grab a bottled water. Without bothering to get a glass, she unscrewed the cap and drank directly from the bottle.

"Daddy would get mad if he sees you drinking directly from the bottle." Kelsia said from the doorway.

Startled at the sudden intrusion, the bottle slipped from her mouth. Water slipped through her nostrils,making her throat and her eyes burn. Kate dropped the bottle and doubled over,while trying to catch her breath.

Kelsia was beside her and thumping her back with her little fist in a flash. Kelsia felt guilty for startling her and what the bullies in her school said to her came rushing back.

"You're bad luck,Kelsia."

Maybe they are right.

"Maybe who is right?" Kate asked in between coughs and gasping.

Kelsia gasped as she realised that she said that out loud. "No one. I'm sorry for startling you like that."

Kate gave her a watery smile as she straightened up. "It's okay." She took in the orange frilly lace and flat sandals she was wearing. "Are you going somewhere?"

"No. I stay in door on Saturdays." Kelsia moved back from Kate. "I'll get the mop."

"No,don't worry I'll do it."

Kelsia stared pointedly at Kate's injured shoulder. "What hand will you use to squeeze the mop?"

"Touché." Kate laughed. "You're really smart for a..." She trailed off when she realised that she didn't even know her age.

"I am six years old."

"Oh."

"I'll go get the mop." Then she was gone.

Kate stared at the doorway long after the girl was gone. No six years old should be too polite and neat. The girl should be playful, rebellious even like a normal six year old should be.

Kelsia returned with the mop; she set to work without as much as a glance in Kate's direction. A plan to make this little girl come out of whatever shell she was began to formulate in Kate's mind.

"Kelsia, have you ever been to the park?"

She didn't stop what she was doing. "Once. Why?"

Kate pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I feel really bored in here and I was hoping you and I could go there Since It's Christmas season."

This time,Kelsia turned to face her. Azure blue eyes regarded her with surprise. "You want to go to the park with me?"

Kate closed her eyes briefly to hide the tears that was welling up in them. "Yes. But I'm afraid that I don't have a cloth that would keep me warm or even money for taxi."

Hope flared in Kelsia's eyes. "I can get you what to wear and I also have some leftover money from the pocket money daddy gives me."

Before Kate could say anything, she was grabbed by the arm and led up stairs into Kelsia's room.

Fifteen minutes later,Kate stared at reflection in the pink dresser mirror in Kelsia's room. The army green hoodie she wore smelled of Fredo,leaving no doubt that Kelsia pinched it from his wardrobe. The round neck polo she wore underneath also belonged to Fredo. But the beige knee length flared skirt and knee length brown boots,clearly belonged to a female.

Kate knew without a doubt that it belonged to Fredo's ex-wife. She felt dirty wearing something that belonged to that vile woman,whom she'd never seen before. And unless she wanted to freeze her butt out,she had no choice but to wear it. Her hair was swept up into a ponytail and her face was also powdered by Kelsia the makeover artist herself.

Kate turned from the mirror to face Kelsia,who was sitting cross-legged on her queen sized bed.

"Well, how do I look?"

"Good. "Kelsia hopped down from the bed. "Are you sure that you want to go to the park with me?"

Kate walked over to where she was standing and squatted so they were leveled eye to eye. "I am sure,Kelsia. And I want to go if you are willing to."

"Your shoulder is not hurting anymore?"

"No." Kate lied. "I feel absolutely fine." She stood up straight and held out her hand to Kelsia. "Let's go then?"

Kelsia stared at Kate's hand with uncertainty. Just when Kate thought that the plan was a bad one altogether, Kelsia slipped her hand into hers and smiled shyly at Kate.

"Let's go."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"We should try the ferris wheel next,don't you think?" Kelsia tugged on Kate's bad arm,making her wince.

Kate smiled at the girl,trying to mask her pain. Ever since they arrived at the park,they tried almost every of the fun trips, except for the ferris wheel and house of horror. A bittersweet smile made it's way to her face when she recalled she and her father taking a trip into the house of horror.

It was one of the memories she would cherish forever.

Kelsia's sigh brought Kate to the now. "Maybe we should just go back home."

"No. How about we get something to eat first,then try the ferris wheel?"

Kelsia bit her lower lip as she tugged on the sleeve of her white sweater. "Okay."

Kate steered her towards the direction of the kiosk at the far end of the park where a raven haired woman clad in a green sweater with mistletoe dangling from her neck stood.

"Merry Christmas pretty ladies,what can I get you?" The woman sang out in a bird like voice.

Kelsia giggled,surprising Kate who had never heard her smile before. "She called me a lady."

Kate grinned and ruffled Kelsia's neatly packed hair,before turning to face the smiling woman. "Do you have Danish pastry?"

"No, but I do have hot cross buns."

Kate gazed down at Kelsia. "How do you feel about buns?"

"I love them." Kelsia squealed as she danced from one foot to the other with excitement.

"We'll have four buns and two strawberry milkshakes."

"Coming right up." The woman disappeared into the kiosk and returned later with two paper bags and plastic cups with straw poking out of the froothy filled cup.

Kate accepted them,then gave Kelsia one of the cups and the paper bag. "How much would that be?"

"Consider it my Christmas present to you." The woman winked at Kate. "Christmas is about to change for you Kate."

Kate gaped in surprise at the woman,who was now attending to the new arrivals who wanted to buy something. Who was she? and how she even knew her name,was beyond Kate.

"I want to pee."

Kelsia,once again, pulled her bad arm, making her wince for the third time that afternoon.

"Come,let's find the loo."

Kate couldn't shake off the words the woman said,all through the day.

~•~•~•~•~•~

17th Of December 2013.
07:56pm.

Hmm, what's that smell?

Fredo closed the door behind him with a soft click,removed his wet coat to hang it on the coat rack by the door,wiped his shoe on the mat,then walked into the house.

The delicious smell seemed to be coming from the kitchen and as tired as he was, he wanted to find out what the smell was. Dropping the shopping bag and the briefcase he was carrying on the coffee table,he shrugged off his jacket and removed his tie,then walked towards the kitchen after dropping both his tie and jacket on the sofa.

Before he even got closer to the Kitchen,the unmistakable voice of his daughter reached his ears. Fredo paused in his steps at the tinkling laughter of his daughter.

It felt strange to his ears,reminding him that Kelsia had never for once laughed in his presence. Curious to see what was happening, he walked into kitchen. The sight that greeted him filled him with anger.

"What the hell is going on here?"

___________________________________

Hey,guys. I know you must be wondering why I am posting different covers of the story.

The truth is that I don't know which one to choose and since I trust your judgements, I hope you tell me which was is suitable.

*squeals * I just love them all.

Anyways, let me know the one you like. The cover with the highest comments wins.

And oh, don't forget to comment and vote.