Ted ran upstairs in my room. I looked at Ted's dad who gave me a suspicious look. I could notice that he was trying hard to figure out where he had met us. I sighed when I realized that he didn't remember our encounter.

"Yes, sir. You have come to the right place - "

"Who's it honey?"

"Your friend, Dad!" I shouted back. Dad appeared from the drawing room and greeted Ted's dad.

I quickly went upstairs to check on Ted. I opened the door and saw him sitting on the bed, his head buried in his lap and his hands over his head.

"Ted," I said softly. He looked up and his face was red. He looked so nervous and sad. I rushed to his side and hugged him.

"Y - you know it's okay. This is what I wanted for Christmas, didn't I? Turns out, you're my Santa," Ted mumbled and laughed without any hint of joy.

"What is making you upset then?" I asked softly, my voice barely audible.

"I'm so stupid and dumb and this is weird, but I want him to know. I want him t - to call me son. I'm such a screwed up wimp, Abby," He said.

I threw my arms over him and he placed his head in thr crook of my neck. He mumbled, "I really want him to know that I still love him. How I miss him and the days of my childhood spent with him. The days we spent by the lake throwing rocks in the water and playing baseball in the backyard."

"You know we can't do that, right? You're supposed to be in Norway, not here," I whispered and rubbed his back. He nodded and I ruffled his blonde hair.

"Is everything alright, Abby?" I heard dad's voice as he knocked on the door.

"Yes, dad," I replied and got up from bed. Ted too ran a hand over his disheveled hair and Dad walked in.

"Come down, quick," Dad said as he held the door.

"How did you meet your friend, Dad? I have never seen him before," I said.

"Ah, I met him at the golf club. I did mention to you about this."

"I never knew you played golf!"

"Just recently honey. Now hurry up before mum stabs me with forks and knives for making her wait," Dad said and I laughed. Ted smiled sadly and we proceeded downstairs.

"Here they come!" Poppy announced and all their heads turned towards us. Mum glanced at her watch and glared at dad. Dad smiled sheepishly as we all took our respective seats.

We prayed before starting our meals. There was a lavish spread of food on the dining table. It consisted of chicken, cakes, salads, lamb and pies. We all dove into the food and the room was filled with the clatter - clatter noise of the cutlery being passed around and the aroma of good food.

Poppy's friends were constantly gazing at Ted who was awkwardly cutting a piece of chicken with the knife. Poppy was busy stuffing food into her mouth and I was asking her to calm down and not gobble up the entire table. Mum was encouraging us to eat more (exception Poppy) and dad was talking to Ted's dad. And Ted's dad was staring at Ted.