Christmas Eve was dying down. After spending all afternoon with Violet and Grandma Mary, I came home to do my own traditions which included drinking a glass of eggnog and eating cookies while watching my favorite Christmas movie.

That movie was of course none other than "Christmas in Connecticut." The original by Barbara Stanwyck.

I got showered early and comfortable to enjoy my peace and quiet. It was nice being able to be there for Violet but I seemed to have no alone time at all. I get that Violet needed me and that's what I signed up for after choosing to be her AA sponsor.

It was a little before 8 so I wanted to enjoy the evening as much as I could before I would fall asleep. I literally could fall asleep so easily but staying asleep was another story.

It was weird not knowing what this New Year had in store. I was just trying to learn how to live in the moment but it was quite difficult. 

My phone rang halfway through the movie. I groaned because it was already after 9 and didn't want to have to run anywhere especially if it was work.

 "Hello?" I answer the phone.

"Hey, it's Ethan did you get your Christmas bonus before leaving this morning?" Ethan asked.

"Christmas bonus? We got those this year?" I asked confused.

"Yeah I was closing the office and noticed you didn't take yours," Ethan told me.

"I'll just get it Thursday," I told him.

"No I mean I could bring it to you," Ethan told me.

I mentally groaned. I was already in my pajamas and then I wondered if this is because he sent me the flowers earlier last week.

I sighed.

"I mean if you would like to do that I mean it's Christmas Eve you have better things to do," I told him.

"No worries I'll go ahead and drop it off. What's your address?" he asked.

I was taken aback. If he did send the flowers, he wouldn't need my address. It also clicked that someone else had my address to be my Secret Santa.

"Oh, it's 6515 Corbin Ave, Woodland Hills, CA," I commented.

"Got it 6515. Oh, that's near the college," Ethan told me.

"Yeah it is," I remarked.

"I'll be there in like 40 minutes. I'm gonna leave the office now," Ethan told me.

"Sounds good. Thanks again," I told him.

And so, I was now to wait for Ethan's visit with my Christmas bonus. Most years we didn't get these so I was really excited to see what the big man of IBM was gonna give out.

So I finished my movie before Ethan ever arrived.

Ethan arrived by 10. I was so surprised someone was willing to waste their Christmas Eve on driving to bring me my Christmas bonus.

"Here we go," Ethan told me as I opened the door.

"Thanks, you didn't have to do this," I told him.

"It was nothing. A little Christmas kindness," Ethan told me.

"Thanks again," I told him as I shut the door.

I didn't want to make the interaction longer than it needed to be. So I went to open the envelope.

"Wow," I remarked as I read the amount of money the check was for. 

It was 200 dollars more than I expected.

"I can go on a really good vacation in March," I commented to myself.

I went to go wash my cup of eggnog and went to brush my teeth.

I decided even though I'd be spending Christmas alone tomorrow, I wanted to go to sleep soundly since I didn't have anywhere to go.

Christmas Morning was a quiet start. I had only a few gifts to open, mainly for Violet and Grandma Mary.

Different things like tops, perfume, etc were the main stars of the gifts.

I called to thank Violet and Grandma Mary before working on my little Christmas dinner.

To a quite little Christmas, only the elves knew what was gonna happen next.