"Great, this is just perfect, "I said, my voice practically oozing with sarcasm as I turned off my cell phone. My dad had just informed me that we would be spending Christmas with my stepmother's family.

So it seems Evelyn, or "Evil-lyn", as I secretly referred to her, had finally accomplished her goal. Convincing Dad that we should spend the holiday with her family since we are "one big family now", as she likes to say.

It wasn't that she was actually evil, because she really wasn't, she was just too pushy for my liking. I felt like she was trying to be my mother. I had only one Mother, and she was gone, never coming back.

Just four years ago, life was good. I was a thirteen-year-old girl with two loving parents who were still together. Everything was the way it was supposed to be. Then, in an instant, everything changed.

For weeks Mom had been feeling ill, so after much persuasion from us, she went to her doctor to get tests taken. When she received the results, we all were shocked, dismayed, and heartbroken.

She had had cancer for some time, and because it was so progressive no form of treatment would have been effective. We were told to cherish the time we had left with her, but I didn't believe she was going to die. How could she? She was my mother. I needed her.

We buried her on Christmas Eve of 2002, the worst day of my entire life. I knew that nothing would ever be the same again. Needless to say, that was the worst Christmas I've ever experienced. Dad tried his hardest to make it the best that it could possibly be for me, but it was futile. I was numb and in a trance. My innocence was gone, and I now dreaded Christmas time.

So here I am now, Christmas Eve of 2006, doing last minute Christmas shopping in town. Thank God for late night shopping.

Hmm, I got to get gifts for Dad, Evelyn, and the baby. Even though the baby wasn't due for another month, I still wanted to get my little sister a present. She's the only thing I've been excited about in a long time.

Oh, how I hate shopping. It's amazing how you can despise something you once loved. Mama and I used to go Christmas shopping every year. She would make me laugh when she'd "sneak" and buy me presents behind my back like I didn't notice. This year Evelyn offered to take me. But I declined. I know she wanted to spend "quality time", but I felt like I'd be betraying my mom. I know that wouldn't be the case. In fact, my mother would want me to have a relationship with my stepmother, for my benefit. Right now I'm kind of wishing I had taken Evelyn up on her offer. The next time she wants to do something, I just might.

I had no clue where to begin. I wish Trimingham's and Smith's were still open, so I could do all my shopping in one place. At least Gibbons Company is still here. I suppose I'll just go there for Dad's gift, and while I'm there, I'll get the baby's too.

Okay, two down, one to go. I need to make it fast too, because I'm sick and tired of seeing Mothers with their happy children, people smiling and holding hands, and if I go into another cheery-Christmas music-filled store, I am going to scream. Sometimes I feel like I'm turning into Scrooge. Let me get Evelyn's gift so I can hurry up and head home.

Since Evelyn is pregnant I can't get her clothes, and she already has enough shoes to open her own store. Then again, can a woman ever have too many shoes? I think not. I saw a cute pair of boots in the mall, I'll just go back and get them. Plus, it doesn't hurt that we wear the same size shoe. No, that doesn't hurt at all.

"Home at last, "I said while walking through the front door. Please tell me Evelyn's not trying to cook again.

"Something's burning," I yelled as I hurried into the kitchen.

Evelyn came rushing in after me. "I completely forgot the oven was on." She went over to the oven and pulled out a.....a....I had no inkling what it was intended to be.

"Um mum,what is it?"

"It's cassava pie. I know how it's your favourite, so I was trying to make you one".

"Oh," was all I could manage to say. It was moments like this when I truly felt ashamed for secretly calling her "Evil-lyn". She really was sweet, and I was so unrelenting towards her and her efforts. I was going to make it a point to be nicer towards her.

The only thing she could be accused of doing was trying to establish a relationship with her stepdaughter. She had explained to me how she wasn't trying to replace my mom. How she only wanted to be a part of my life, but I wasn't trying to hear all that at the time. Now I see that it wouldn't be so bad. She'll never be my mom, but we could form our own special bond. Truth be told, I have really grown to love her over the last couple of years, even though I've never said so.

"How about we go for a drive to see the Christmas lights?" I asked. My parents used to take me every year. This time we can tell the baby how pretty they look.

"You want to go see the Christmas lights with me?" Her voice filled with disbelief.

"With you and Daddy. It's a tradition, "I smiled.

Well, I guess she wasn't waiting for my change of heart, because she got Dad, and we headed out into the night.

The lights were so pretty, like they always were, but I had failed to notice or have appreciation for them over the last few years. I had been too gloomy, but tonight I was beginning to lighten up. I didn't even complain when Evelyn slipped in a Christmas CD. There was hope for me yet.

On Christmas morning we had our traditional Christmas breakfast. Eggs, turkey, ham, and cassava pie, all fried and covered with Chow Chow. After breakfast my nana picked me up. I was spending half the day with my mom's family, and the other with Evelyn's, my extended family.

"Kayleigh, your dad's on the phone, "Nana passed me the telephone.

"Daddy, where are you? You were supposed to pick me up an hour ago."

"I'm at the hospital. Evelyn's having the baby, stay at your nana's house."

"What do you mean she's having the baby? She's not due until the end of January. I'm coming, I'll ask Nana to drop me off."

"Ah, okay," he said in a hurried tone.

When I arrived on the ward Daddy greeted me with a huge smile.

"She had the baby."

"Well, I take it she and my little sister are okay."

"Make that your little brother."

"What! The doctor said she was having a girl."

"Doctors aren't always right," he laughed.

I walked into the room where Evelyn was holding my brother.

"Evelyn, are you okay?" I asked.

"Just fine," she replied while turning so I could see him. "Would you like to hold him?" I nodded as she handed him to me. He was the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen, so sweet and innocent with the most beautiful bright brown eyes.

"Have you come up with a name for him yet?"

"No", they responded in unison.

I looked down at my brother. He reminded me of Christmas morning when I was a child. That joy and excitement I got running into my parents' bedroom to wake them up so we could open presents together. Only, he was so much better. He was the best present I had ever received, a present straight from God.

"How about Gabriel? You know after the angel. My mom used to read to me from Luke about the birth of Jesus, and I always liked the name of the angel."

Evelyn smiled: "I love the name Gabriel."

"Gabriel, you must be extremely special to share a birthday with Jesus," I said to him.

He gazed up at me, and all of those years of dreading Christmas were over. Christmas once again represented something good to me. I had lost my mother four years ago around Christmas, but this Christmas I gained my little brother.

"Thank you," I whispered to Gabriel as I kissed him.

He was my angel. My angel who had restored my Christmas.