I’m sitting in my kitchen looking out through my window. Looking at the snow hitting the porch and the windows; it’s early in the morning the sun has yet to rise. I’m just sitting here, gazing out on the lake, the mountains and the forest that surrounds my house. Just sitting, drinking ice cold milk in my newly bought wine glasses.
Last night I had one of my parties, this time of year a Christmas party, for my friends and their families, husbands, wife's, partners, children. It where around thirty people here last night, celebrating Christmas Eve, not counting the waiters, chefs and other staff members. You see when throwing parties like this I take help from my restaurants, and for once my brother was not in the kitchen. He is working with me in one of the restaurants. For once he and his wife could enjoy the party, without him having to work. But to my despair their daughter Sarah, is with our mother tonight. Since she, our mother, is going away the day after tomorrow… rehab once again.
In just a few hours the others will wake up, we’ll eat and then open presents. That means that in about an hour, Jane and Jimmy’s coming to help me serve breakfast. Making breakfast for thirty people isn’t that hard, at least not in my kitchen. But getting them all breakfast is the hard part. And since I don’t want to bother my friends… either way you’re maybe wondering how I can have thirty people sleeping here, aren’t you?
Well a couple of years ago I took some time to figure out what I wanted to do in life, I got back to school and with savings and a loan I started my first restaurant, together with my brother. And it didn’t go great from the beginning but after some struggles our restaurant got nice reviews and we got big. Now 15 years later we have restaurants all over the world, Spain, France, China, Japan, Australia amongst other.
During the years in school and up starting of the restaurants I didn’t find time for friends or family. Sure I did have a few loose relationships with both men and women. But I never got close, never let them know ‘real’ me. And now you all think of me as an evil bitch or a player of sort. And I guess I am. But can’t handle my own family, not a boyfriend or girlfriend for that matter, nor can I handle to have my own child. Taking care of my nieces, nephews and friends children isn’t that hard, I love children and they love Aunt Sandra. I can spoil them rotten without having to deal with the punishment when they don’t clean their rooms or don’t do their homework, because that’s the parent’s job. Not the cool Aunts.
And no there isn’t something wrong with how I look, I can’t complain about being rejected and that’s why I don’t have a ‘real’ relationship. But I just don’t want it; I am not built for relationships on that level.
I am happy with my life, I fulfilled my dream to open my own restaurant, I have my dream house where I can entertain all my friends and their families. And speaking about entertaining friends, my old friend came back to town with his wife and child, all the way from Australia. I hadn’t seen them since I opened the restaurant in Sydney, four years ago. Their daughter is turning out to be quite the beauty, I adore her. They also brought some of our other friends from Australia. I feel happy when I see them.
And some of my friends from England came, with their families. It feels nice seeing everyone again. It’s been such a long time since we last met all of us together like this. This is one of the best Christmas I have ever spent.
“Aunt Sandra?” A small girl, just around five walked into the kitchen.
“Hi there honey, what are you doing up so early? Is mommy and daddy still asleep?”
“I couldn’t sleep any longer. Yes they're still asleep.”
“You want some milk and cookies?” I asked and walked over to the fridge.
“Yes please.” I smiled at her as she took a seat next to where I sat. “Auntie?”
“Yes dear?” I pored her some milk and took out the cookie jar I kept next to the fridge and handed her a cookie.
“Did Santa come during the night?”
“Of course he did. He even ate all the cookies we made him.”
“Hey auntie, got any milk for the rest of us?” I turned and watched as my two nephews, my niece and three of my friends’ kids walk in.
“Well I can even make you guys some hot chocolate and then we can watch some TV before your parents wake up.” They all shined up and smiled at me. “Now why don’t you go out and watch TV and I’ll come with the chocolate in a minute.”
“Yay!” They rushed out of the kitchen.
“Kids.” I smiled as I brought out some more milk and the chocolate.
“Sandra?”
“Yes?” I looked down at the boy in my knee, he have just turned four.
“This is the best Christmas, ever!”
“Yes auntie, let’s spend all the Christmas here!” My youngest nephew said.
“You won’t be saying that in a few years, Tim. Trust me you won’t.” They all said they wanted to spend their Christmas at my house, since they could be with their families and their friends at the same time. I just nodded in agreement.
