When Lynette woke up the next day, sunlight streamed across her bed through the window.
The breeze carried the scent of food, smoke from firecrackers, and the rise and fall of voices outside.
“ Oh, it's Christmas,” She whispered, scratching at her tangled hair.
Her shoulders slumped back against the pillow. The sound of laughter and clattering plates drifted in, but she only stared at the roof, unmoved.
She was never a fan of festivities.
To her, misfortune always seemed to follow whenever this season arrived.
After lying in bed for a while, she finally rose to freshen up for the day.
Stepping out of her room into the living room, she found her mom and aunt busy in the kitchen.
One was sorting the gifts bags and the other was preparing food.
Her grandma stood nearby, speaking into the phone. Her dad and uncle Sebastian were bent over the Christmas tree, fussing with decorations.
The children, she didn't need to ask – she knew they were outside, setting off firecrackers.
Lynette stood there, watching everyone absorbed in their own tasks.
She guessed she was the only one without anything to do.
I might as well stuff myself with food and sleep then, she thought.
On her way back to her room, Lynette heard her grandma, Jammy Granny sigh as she ended the call.
“ What happened, mom?” Mrs. Selena Carter asked, turning from the corner.
Jammy Granny pressed the phone to her chest, shaking her head.
“ One of my clients just called. He ordered for jam sauce. I told him it isn't possible to deliver it today, everyone is occupied, besides it's Christmas.”
She lowered herself into a chair, the line on her face tightening.
“ He said it's urgent, since his Master demanded for it.”
Lynette wasn't surprised on the high demand of jam sauce.
Everyone knew her grandma produces the best jam sauce. Words of it had spread across the three village of Greenvale Countryside.
Due to its popularity, her grandma was nickname ‘Jammy Granny .’
“ Ahh!…what should we do now, mum?” Aunt Anna asked. Her voice trembled, worry etched across her face.
“ Granny, why worry when I'm here.” Lynette stepped forward.
“ Are you sure?” Jammy Granny's brow knit together.
“ Don't worry, I'm sure. Besides, I'll use this chance to look around the mountain scenery, instead of lazing all day.”
Jammy Granny exhaled, nodding slowly.
“ Alright then. I'll call the client and let him know someone is delivering.”
After the issue was solved, Lynette walked into the kitchen, thinking of snacking on some desserts until she's back. It was inconvenient to go out without eating.
After changing up, Lynette slipped on her shoes and picked up the baskets of jars containing jam sauce.
The glass clinked softly as she steadied it against her hip.
When she stepped out, smoke could be seen rising from the chimneys of every house, the air carried with it the sweet trace of roasted meat and food drifting from nearby houses.
Children darted past her, shrieking with laughter, sparklers flashing in their hands.
This scene settled over her like a quiet comfort, picturesque and still.
Lynette slipped her phone from her pocket, using her left hand, lifted it and with a small curve of her lips, captured the moment.
She started walking east, towards the end of Redcroft Village where the client lived, far from the clustered houses behind her.
She followed the narrow path, the sound of firecrackers fading as the village thinned out.
At the edge of the path, her steps came to a stop.
She was stunned in place at the scene before her.
She had never imagined such a place could exist here.