Finally Home

19. Samantha

A breeze through my hair and across my face woke me up. It was odd, because I know my window is closed. It's October.

I opened my eyes and Uncle Brendon was sitting on my bed, blowing in my face.

"Um, hi." I said.

"Good morning, favourite niece," he smiled at me. "You have twenty minutes to shower and get dressed before everyone is supposed to  be here. I was tasked with getting you up."

"I can't shower without Mom's help. And I showered yesterday."

"Fair point," Uncle B said.  "Well, get up, get dressed. Come downstairs."

"Okay, okay.  It's going to take me a minute," I said.

Uncle Brendon left and I got up, went to the bathroom and got dressed. I just put on jeans and a t-shirt and grabbed a sweatshirt.

I grabbed my crutches and made my way downstairs.

"There she is!" Uncle Josh cried out. He was standing with Uncle Pete.

"Hey kiddo!" Uncle Pete said as I made my way over to them to say hi. They both hugged me.

"Last night was fun," Uncle Pete said. "And you and your dad were so sweet."

I smiled.

"Hey, honey," Mom said, coming up to me and hugging me.

"SaSa!" Rosie said. "Pwesents!" She pointed at a table that had some gift bags and envelopes on it.

"No one was supposed to get presents!" I said.

"Sue us," Uncle Patrick said coming over. "We love you and we wanted to spoil you."

"That's what birthdays are for! And Christmas!" I said.

"And Gotcha days," Aunt Sarah said, smiling.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, thanking them all. Before even seeing the gifts. But I know my aunts and uncles. I'm sure I'll love everything.

Mom and Dad ushered everyone into the dining room. We had a full brunch set up. Coffee, tea, milk, juice, bagels and cream cheese and smoked salmon, tuna salad, chopped egg, all sorts of salads and yogourt with blueberries and strawberries. Plus they'd hired a chef who was making omelettes to order!

Everyone got food and we sat at the table and talked. They told stories. Some about me and the last three years. Some about tours and music. We talked about school and sports.

It was so much fun. Uncle Brendon and Uncle Patrick started singing.

Then Dad and Josh started in as well.

It was a lot of fun and Rosie and I were smiling along and laughing.

"Okay," Mom said. "Some of you have flights to catch later. Let's move into the living room and those of you who insisted on bringing Sam gifts, let's see how you're spoiling our kid now."

We all went into the living room and Dad collected the gifts and envelopes up and brought them in, sat down and made me come sit with him and Mom on the couch. They handed me a bag with two envelopes in it. They were numbered, so I opened number one, first.

"Two tickets to the Raptors versus the Lakers?" I asked. "But, the Lakers play in LA." I said.

"Open the other envelope," Dad said. I did and it was a plane ticket. To LA!

"That's from Aunt Sarah and I," Uncle Brendon said. "We thought you might like Christmas in LA this year."

My jaw dropped.

"Really?!" I asked. They nodded and Mom and Dad were smiling and nodding.

"Just you and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Brendon for a whole week," Dad said.

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Brendon were smiling at me.

"I want to jump up and hug you, but..." and I stuck out my foot. They both came over and I stood up and hugged them.

"A whole week, just me and you guys?" I asked.

"Yup. A whole week," Uncle B smiled. I couldn't wait.

"This is awesome!  Thank you so much!"

"Our pleasure," Aunt Sarah smiled.

Dad handed me the next envelope. I opened it and it was a card from Uncle Pete and Uncle Patrick.

Disneyland passes, tickets to a Fall Out Boy show, backstage pass - like the kind I get with Dad - all for while I was in LA

"Okay, so maybe not just Aunt Sarah and I," Uncle B smiled.

Uncle Josh handed me another envelope. I opened it and it was passes to meet the Lakers and the Raptors before the game! 

And dinner at one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants with a note saying I'd get to meet him!

I started crying because the gifts were all so awesome.

"Guys. You've made my kid cry," Dad said, laughing.

"Thank you guys, so much!" I said through my tears.

"If your ankle's better, well better enough," Uncle Pete said. "I thought maybe we could go for paintball, too."

"I've never gone paintballing," I said. "I want to."

"Well, let's see how your ankle is in December, okay?"

I nodded. Hopefully I'd have my cast off by then, but I wasn't sure I'd be off crutches yet.

I was so excited.

They'd all gotten me amazing gifts and there were still more. Lakers shirts, and gift cards for Barnes & Noble. Zack and Kala brought some photos they'd taken in California two years ago, and at my birthday last year, and had made a really nice album.

After I opened all the gifts and thanked them all as much as I could, we sat around and talked some more.

Eventually, everyone had to leave because they were flying home but Uncle Josh and Aunt Debby  stayed. They were going to stay through to dinner and have dinner with us, too. Because they live in Ohio now, so they can.

I said goodbye to everyone and tried to help Mom clean up but she said no because it was my day. So Rosie and I hung out in the living room. I played on the piano and she danced. It was so cute.

After dinner, which Mom and Dad ordered Chinese food, I got ready for bed. It was a busy weekend and I was tired.

Mom and Dad came into my room as I was getting into bed.

"Thanks so much for this weekend," I said.

"You are so welcome," Mom said. "You deserved every minute of it."

"I can't believe Uncle Brendon and Aunt Sarah got me a ticket to go see them at Christmas!" I said.

"We thought you'd like that," Dad smiled.

We said goodnight and as excited as I was for Christmas to come, I fell asleep.