Whilst the Howards celebrate a marvelous Christmas together as united family, Valerie and Shona didn't make an exception as well too. 

Valerie got from the old basement a Christmas tree with the carton box, comprising toys such as colorful balls, Christmas bright yellow star, glowing lights in classic colors and abstract garlands. She set the Christmas tree in the living room next to the gramophone, decorating it in particularly unconventional way. Shona helped her mother as she joined her in the adorning process though they used a ladder for putting the star on the top of the tree as they finished it only in a matter of minutes without lingering and hesitancy. They embellished every room with garlands, wrapping them on the windows and walls as the house acquired extraordinary Christmas theme. Christmas spirit, Christmas atmosphere engrossing the one story house where the Russian-American maid lived with her daughter and she invited on Christmas her new friend Lana and her sonly adopted son Johnny. Furthermore, they weren't the sole guests who are going to be hosted by Valerie. But also her father Maksim is going to attend the Christmas evening. 

The Russian-American family were far from patient until Christmas. They were beyond excited and ecstatic to embrace the guests. 

As Valerie set a special disk with Christmas songs in the gramophone as it played in the living room's background, Shona was reading holidays songs in one book that her mother bought her three years ago. They were expecting their guests to arrive quite soon. 

The rooms were already impeccably clear. Without dust. 

The recent song that was playing on the gramophone was actually Winter Wonderland by Dean Martin as the joyous melody rang in the females' ears like chirping birds songs or even much better. In a hushing room as the music was the single noise source. 

Sleigh bells ring are you listening
In the lane snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland.  

"Mommy?" Shona exclaimed as Valerie walked over her where she sat on the armchair with the holidays songs in one book in her hand. 

"Yes, sweetie?" Valerie enquired expressively. 

"Have you ever sung..." The little girl paused as she pointed at one of the songs' titles named Winter Wonderland by Perry Como pointed with her wee forefinger. "...this song?" Shona furthered. 

"Oh, sweetheart!" She burst out as her hand shifted to her braided crimson red hair, fondling her head tenderly. "I remember I sung this song back in kindergarden. Unfortunately, I have forgotten its song's lyrics since It has been more than twenty years." She said desperately as her mind was being flooded with profound, mist pool of nostalgia when her daughter reminded her about the song she sang a long time ago. 

"Oh!" The little girl cried as she shifted her stare to her mother. "Did you sing it well?" She continued with her curiosity to learn more about Valerie's childhood. 

"No, darling!" She pat faintly her daughter's narrow shoulder as she chuckled lightly. "Your mom wasn't born to have singing talent just like your aunt Judy." The young maid scoffed. 

Shona recalled ideally as memories re-surfaced in her mind about her aunt Jude and her natural talent that she inherited since the day of her birth. She remembered once how Judy sang an eloquent, melodious song for Valerie and Shona even Velika when she was still alive.

The little girl got flashback from a year ago when she heard the former promiscuous nightclub singer's enthralling voice. Voice she could never get out of her mind, occupying it with its allure. 

Flashback

March 1967

"Auntie Judy?" Shona addressed reluctantly Jude's name as she sat on the ottoman as she was encircled by Ellie and Tristan whilst Valerie and Velika sat on the sofa, cuddling in one another's arms. Jude moved away the gramophone needle as the vintage music halted playing in the background. 

"Yes, little Shona?" Jude turned to Shona, facing her as she walked up to the female company, joining the lesbian couple as she didn't want to interrupt their romantic cuddles, without shifting away her gaze from the red-haired young girl with a flashing smile across her plump lips.

"Can you sing me anything for me, Mommy and Auntie? Please?" Shona entreated politely as she was being taught to treat the adults as an equal and have immense respect for them. 

"Yes, of course!" She stroke her scalp as her other hand managed to grip her glass of water, sipping cool water seconds before to begin with her singing as she gestured to hold on for a second.

Afterwards, she commenced to sing as the children's utter attention was paid on the middle aged mother who was already in the third trimester of her pregnancy. Meanwhile Valerie and Velika broke off the hug as they clapped jubilantly with their hands, encouraging Jude to sing. She inhaled sharply as she tried to recall a song she loved to sing to herself when she used to drive her car before nunnery. She was feeling somewhat uneasy since she has not sung one of her favorite songs as she had the premonition of obliving the text. 

Initially, she began with muffling hum, thereafter singing the song's lyrics fluently:

The poets say that all
who love are blind
But I'm in love and I
know what time it is
The good book says go seek
and ye shall find
Well, I have sought and my
what a climb it is
My life is just like the weather
It changes with the hours  

Everyone in the living room listened with vast pleasure as they flattered through her amorous, breathtaking voice that jingled in their ears as Shona closed her eyes tightly as she mused through the song's lyrics, already picturing everything from the song in her dream world. 

***

All of a sudden, the noise of ringing door interrupted Shona's reverie as her mother tap lightly her shoulder as the young girl came to her senses eventually. 

"Oh, here we are!" She exclaimed impulsively as she pecked her daughter's head a quick, loving kiss as she zinged out of the living room, hasting to the hall as she approached the front door, unlocking it.

In the interim, Shona left the book on the coffee table as she got from the sofa as her monstrous inquisitiveness verged, following her mother as she beheld almost middle aged woman with medium silky chestnut hair cascading her shoulders, wearing a thick winter beige coat as she held firmly her sole child's hand with her gloved hand. The little boy with the eyeglasses stood bashfully as he was paralysed by visiting a particular stranger's house with Christmas decoration. His face all flushed when he scrutinized his surroundings as the both women threw their arms around one another's shoulders, grasping their hug as they cried euphorically for seeing one another at last.

To be continued...