Reconstructing Amelia (unedited)

Chapter 106

December 25th, 2019

All nine of us were crowded on the couches, our faces illuminated by the soft glow of the lights on the tree. Part of me was a little anxious, but Javi was beaming at his pile of presents and it quickly made me feel better.

"I can't tell if you're nervous or just tired," Alan informed me, plopping down next to me.

I shrugged. "Both?" I offered up with a small smile.

"Look!" Javi came running up to me, showing me one of his wrapped boxes. He wedged himself between Alan and me as he tore through the paper and uncapped the box, pulling out a small stuffed bunny, hugging it to his chest as he smiled.

"Xander's turn," Calvin said eagerly, a shared mischievous glint on each triplet's face.

Xander narrowed his eyes suspiciously as Cayden handed him a package. No one said anything, just waiting in anticipation for whatever antic they were about to create.

Xander opened his box and immediately rolled his eyes, yet he was unable to hold back a chuckle. "You bet your asses I'm gonna wear this," he told the triplets, disappearing down the hall.

"What the hell did you give him?" Cato asked.

Colton only grinned. "You'll see,"

Xander came back out minutes later, dressed head-to-toe in a striped rainbow onesie. The triplets began laughing and teasing as Xander strutted around the room flaunting his new outfit.

"Very fitting," Eli informed him, grinning though trying not to laugh.

Alan stood up and swiped a present from underneath the tree, coming back over and handing it to me. It was average size, wrapped in pretty silvery paper. "From me," he said proudly. "Open it,"

I really hadn't been expecting gifts, but it looks Eli had kept his word. I delicately undid the paper, opening a plain brown box. Everyone was watching me in anticipation but I couldn't help but smile when I saw what was inside.

"The last seven plays," I said happily, pulling out one of the fancy books. It even matched the rest of my collection, black leather covers with gold embroidery.

"I know you were missing them from your collection," Alan told me. "Weirdo,"

I stuck my tongue out at him, even though I said, "Thank you,"

***

After another hour of opening presents, I could finally - and proudly - say I'd experienced a proper Christmas. I'd gotten a few new sweatshirts from Eli and Javi, and a couple of candles from the triplets. Everyone else had gotten lots of things too, and it had made for a very chaotic, yet not unusual, day in our household.

"Okay," Xander said, a small smile on his face as he handed me another box. "This one's for you," It was a little hard to take him seriously in his onesie, but he looked nervous.

I accepted the gift, unwrapping the shiny green paper. Inside, were a couple of glossy photos in neat frames. One of them was of our whole family as it was now, all nine of us. Another was an old family photo from when we were kids, our parents included.

The picture wasn't of perfect quality, but I could still make out the smile on my mom's face as she stood next to me, holding baby Colton. My mind flashed back briefly to the moment, and I caught a glimpse of the ten of us, chaotic as usual trying to capture a single family photo.

"Something wrong?" Alan asked, and I realised that I'd been frowning.

I glanced up at him, debating whether or not I should tell them. "We're wearing each other's sweaters," I said softly.