Her Lost Soul 2

Chapter 16

I clear my throat and everyone looks at me. "I'd just like to say thank you for accepting me into this family. I never realised how lonely I was. I'm not here because of Riley. Well, I am but it's because of all you people.
     "I didn't think it was possible for me to have a new family this late in life but I was wrong. So, thank you for making this home at Christmas." Well, all the time really but especially Christmas.
    "Oh Honey," Abigail cries. She rushes towards me from her place on the couch. "We're lucky to have you." She hugs me and and Riley groans as if we woke her up.
     "Fuck, when did you get emotional. I think Riley has rubbed off you," Tyler mutters. Abigail wipes her tears as she heads back to her seat.
    Miley finishes handing out the presents and sits between Elsie and Riley's legs. "Okay, open your presents," Abigail says.
Riley mumbles and opens her eyes. She rubs her nose, "Make sure you read the labels, baby, so you know who the presents are from and you can thanks them." Miley nods and starts ripping open her presents.
   She's in utter heaven right now. She's been insanely spoilt. "Mommy, open mine."
Riley lazily moves her hand through the presents. She really is groggy, she hasn't open any presents. Miley eagerly picks out her present. It's a small box and Riley tears the wrapping paper and then open ms the box.
     She brings her hand to her heart as she admires it. It has a heart pendant which reads This mommy belongs to Miley. She wipes a tear away, I imagine Abigail helped her with it. "Honey, I love it." Miley carefully climbs over the presents and hugs Riley. "Thank you, baby."
"Open the rest," she demands.
"Why don't you open them for me?" She must be tired if she's not opening her presents. Not that she's a huge fan of gifts. Miley smiles and opens the smallest one.
      Riley stiffens as she notices the car key. "Mom! Dad!" she mutters. "You didn't!"
"Honey, you need a car. Flynn can't keep borrowing Tyler's." Abigail explains. "You didn't like the last one so. . ." They go overboard with this money shit. I have a car, I just don't trust it with my girls.
"I don't drive," she sulks.
"Flynn's on your insurance. So technically it's a joint present. We had it delivered to your apartment." Of course they did. Hayden kept saying he was going to get me a car but I didn't think he would.
    This way, he knows I can't bloody reject it because it's not technically mine. I glare at him and he winks at me as if he knows I've figured out his game.
"Thank you," Riley mutters.
"Cool, at least I won't need to keep lending out my baby." Tyler says amused.
    I open a present from Abigail and Hayden and it's a smart button up shirt. Last time I had to borrow one from Tyler. I thank them, this is a more reasonable present.
"From Flynn," Miley says. She opens the ring box. It has two seperate names. Riley and Flynn. It has two small hearts next to each name. One white diamond and one pink diamond. Miley gets the ring out and there's engraving underneath that reads, You are my definition of perfect.
Miley takes Riley's right hand and slides it on her ring finger. Riley moves and I swallow hard as she reaches up and kisses my cheek. Don't move so much, baby. "Thank you, I love it."
"You're welcome, baby." I open the card from Tyler. I read the front of the card and laugh loudly. It reads- If you woke up with a bad taste in your mouth. . . Don't worry it just means you're Santa's favourite. He only comes once a year.
      Fucking wanker. I open the card and it's contains a 200 dollar tattoo voucher from a shop near Uni. I always said I wanted a tattoo, so this is great actually. "Thanks, bro." Still too much to gift to me though.
      Tyler opens his card from me and I can't contain my grin. He looks at me and then frowns. "What does this mean? Check my car?"
      I bring my fist to my mouth and bite my knuckles to stop me laughing. He suddenly gets up and I carefully push Riley up so I get watch this.
     I settle her on the couch and I make sure she's good before I head after Tyler. He's already out the door and walking towards his car.
      Hayden pats my shoulder. He helped me with this one. I've been preoccupied with my girls. He runs around the car and his eyes hone in on the sticker on the back of his car.
     It's a pink heart with a crown on the top left of it. In the heart it reads- Sponsored by Mommy & Daddy.
     "What the hell did you do to my car!" I can't contain the laughter anymore. "My baby."
      "Brilliant, that's hilarious," Hayden chuckles. Tyler glares at us and then looks back at the car horrified.
      "You better hope this comes off." I continue laughing as I head back inside. It's not that bad. I got him a bottle of gin to soften the blow too.
     I go for a piss and then head back to the living room. I lift Riley back up and sit in my earlier position. She's sparko.
   Tyler comes back in with a glum look on his face. "Last time you borrow my car, bro."
   "Wouldn't want to drive it now anyway. Sucks to be you." He grumbles as he sits down on the floor and opens his next present.
   I open my next present and I stare at the credit card in my name. I look at Abigail and Hayden. Hayden just winks at me.
"Abgail, Hayden? I don't understand."
"You are our son now, Honey. So that means money and all." How much money? This doesn't seem right.
"I can't accept this."
"Son, we worry about you, this way we know you'll be okay. Please, accept it, you'll upset her otherwise."
"God forbid I'd upset Abigail by not accepting endless cash," I mutter. "Thank you," I say louder so they can hear.
"From Nana and Pop's," Miley says. I watch as she opens the present. It seems to be a photo album. She opens it and it's all pictures of Riley and I.
   I love it and it's not even my present. Me looking at her with admiration, me looking at her with frustration.
  I tense as I see the picture of Riley in a hospital bed with her hands as if she's praying. Her eyes are vacant and tears stream down her face. Not an image I want to remember.
   Next to that picture is one of me in a coma. I look lifeless. I flick between the two photos, it really was like she was in a coma with me.
Miley turns the page and there's a picture of all three of us together. It was a really thoughtful gift.
"Thank you," Riley croaks.
"You're welcome, Lee."
"Really Sis?" Tyler says. I look behind us where Tyler is sat on the floor. His cup reads Being my brother is the only gift you need. He's not having much luck with his presents today.
"Oh, Lee, this is beautiful." She holds the clock up to show us. It's lots of pictures of the family at each hour. "Thank you." She can be thoughtful when she wants to be.
    I open another present and it's from Riley. Whatever it is I'll love it. I open the box and it's a black ring that reads forever and always.
"Ri." She looks up at me with those eyes. She's telling me a lot with her eyes right now. I slide it on my middle finger and then pepper kisses on her cheek. She giggles but abruptly stops. "Stop doing that." Kiss her forehead and she shuts her eyes.
Miley gets off the couch and taps Tyler's shoulder. "Uncle Tyler?"
"Urgh, what kid?" he groans. He leans away from her as much as he can.
"Where is my present?" she asks.
"Umm, it's not arrived yet. It's due to arrive today, I paid extra to get it delivered today." I'm surprised he got her anything at all.
"Okay, thank you, Uncle Tyler." Riley turns in my arms so she's laying on her stomach.
"Can you please stop moving? It's bad enough you lying on me, you know just looking at you makes me hard. Imagine what you lying on me is doing."
   She rubs her nose and it's cute. Abigail starts crying and my eyes flash to hers. "Flynn." Why is she crying? "You did this?"
   I made Riley and Tyler have a photo taken with me. They weren't too impressed about it. I told them they had to smile and what I was using it for. They grudgingly put a smile on their faces.
   Ruby took the photo. I told them that it's the best I could do on low funds so they plastered a smile on their faces. I framed it in a similar frame to the one Riley smashed when we were here last.
   "Hayden can you hang it on the wall please. All my kids in one photo. I absolutely love it." He takes the picture and gets to his feet. He walks to the wall where the other picture was.
   He hangs it and everyone admires the photo. Riley is centre of attention. She looks happy in the picture. Abigail get up, presumably to check on lunch. "Uncle Tyler."
     "Urgh, what kid?"
     "I need a wee. Will you take me?" His eyes widen and shoot to me. He's hilarious.
      "Is she not old enough to go by herself," he mutters to me. "Toilet is that way kid." He points out the door and tries to push her.
      "I want you to take me," she cries.
      "Fucking hell! Alright, don't have a meltdown again." He climbs to his feet and she takes his hand. He recoils away as if she's some disease.
     "I'm telling Mommy!" I chuckle and he glares at me. "Mommy." Riley is well and truly dead to the world. He takes her hand and starts pulling her out the door.
     "I think she's a good addition to the family. Riley has grown up a lot since I last saw her. I think she will help Tyler, despite his aversion to kids," Elsie laughs. "She knows how to play him doesn't she?"
     "He's trying, that's all I can ask. We've all been thrown in the deep end with her arrival. The only one coping is Riley."
     "Riley Blake can adapt in any environment. Take James for example, she coped. No one suspected a thing. She's strong is our Riley."
      "She thinks she's weak but she's the strongest person I know. I'm in awe of her."
       "Flynn, dear. Why haven't you put a ring on it?" I have put a ring on her finger. It's just not real. "I can see you love her."
       "My rage is an issue. I'm super protective over her."
       "I taught Riley how to throw a punch. She can handle herself." I laugh, I can imagine Elsie teaching Riley how to knock someone out.
Tyler walks into the room with a bouncing Miley beside him. "Uncle Tyler, Why are you always grumpy?"
"I'm not kid. You just annoy me." I glare at him and he rolls his eyes.
"Do you not like me?" She starts crying and I sigh. "Flynn, Uncle doesn't like me." She runs towards me and climbs on Riley and then hugs me between the couch.
Her cries turns into hysterics and I'm surprised she hasn't woken Riley. "Bro." He's such an arsehole. "He does like you, don't you Uncle Tyler?"
Kids are so dramatic. "Kid. Calm the fuck down. You aren't that bad when you're not screaming."
"Mommy, Uncle Tyler said a bad word again." Riley hits her face and groans. Tyler's eyes widen as he looks at Riley.
"Kid, you and me are going to have words if you keep dobbing me in."
"Urgh! Mommy. He's being mean to me."
"You're being brat, kid. My sister will chew me out if she knows I've been swearing. What do you want, kid?" He's such a pussy, he's more of a baby than she is.
If she cries much more she's going to wake Riley and she's easier to handle asleep. "You could just try not swearing," I counter.
"I want you to read me a story at bedtime." Tyler groans, he hates reading, let alone reading a kids book. "You have to do all the voices like Mommy does."
"Fuck, fine." Miley stops crying, finally. She's such a devil child when Riley is asleep.
"Try not swearing, son, then you won't need to bribe her." Tyler rolls his eyes and leaves the room. Miley runs out the room after him.
"He's not a natural my son," Hayden chuckles. "I think that's why she likes him."
Abigail calls to say lunch is ready and everyone piles out the room. "Ri," I whisper into her ear. I give her a little shake and she groans. "It's time for lunch."
I sit up and bring her into my arm and stand up. She makes no effort to wake up although I know she is conscious. I walk into the dining room and her eyes flutter open.
I sit Riley in her chair and Miley runs and sits on her lap. I take a seat and look at the lunch Abigail has provide. My stomach rumbles.
Hayden opens a bottle of champagne and passes it to Elsie. She starts pouring everyone a drink. Hayden passes them around once she's filled the glass. Not sure why he gave one to Riley.
"Toast everyone," Elsie says as she holds the glass up. Everyone grabs a glass apart from Miley and we clink glasses. "Merry Christmas, I'm so blessed to be with all my family."
Riley brings the glass to her lips and I take the glass from her. She's crazy if she thinks I'm letting her even get a sip of alcohol.
I pour her glass into mine and make sure it's far enough away from her. "What do you want to eat, baby?" Riley asks Miley.
"All of it!" she squeals and Riley laughs. Riley picks up a plate for Miley but I take it off her. I load up everything on the plate. She tucks in straight away shoving food in her mouth.
"That's not very ladylike, Miley," Elsie scolds.
"Mother, leave her be. Lee taught her some bad habits for sure but at least she's eating."
"Ri, what are you having?" She shakes her head I groan. I thought we were having a better day? I start filling her plate up anyway. She can pick through it. I put the fork in her hand. I'll force feed her if I have to. "Don't start. I can't wait until you are feeling better, you need to eat, Ri."
We all pull our crackers and wear the stupid hats. "You've got this one well trained, Riley. Good on you, don't back down or he will take you for a ride." Riley can ride me anytime. "Don't roll your eyes at me, young lady. I'm giving you my wisdom here. Don't settle Sweetie, I went through a lot of dogs before I met Pops."
I start making myself a plate. "When you decide to marry make sure it's for the right reasons. I thought when I married Jack that he was the one. I was young and naive. He was the bad boy in high school, he wanted me and I thought I wanted him. He did nothing for me, he was actually a piece of work. Cheated on me behind my back. What I'm saying is don't rush into anything. Just because you think you're in love doesn't mean you are. You need to play the field, Riley."
"Mother, enough can we have a nice meal for once?" She is in love with me. She's very hot and cold this woman.
"I'm only giving her years of advice. She's too young to know what she wants, I don't want her to be trapped like I was." I'm not James. I wouldn't force her to be with me.
"Mom," Riley groans. If she carries on Riley will be out of here and I'd like a quiet Christmas lunch.
"I'm just saying the bad boy is great for right now but he's only going to break your heart. You need someone dependable."
Riley whispers something to Miley and she nods. Here we go. Miley climbs on my lap and pulls her food nearer. Riley stands up as she holds her ribs. She's better asleep. She's been absolutely docile so far.
"Lee, where are you going?"
"This is what I avoided. . . for all those months. I am the black sheep. . . of the family now!" I guess Elsie is a lot to deal with. They tried to warn me.
I watch as Riley walks out the room. "Ri!" I go to stand up but Elsie is already on her feet.
"I'll go, she's more sensitive than I remember. I mean nothing by it Flynn. I'm just making sure she knows what she's doing." I nod but I still don't think she likes me.
She leaves the room and I dig into my food. "She's better asleep," I mutter and they laugh.
I take a sip of the champagne not that I'm a fan. "Do you guys want to go for a drink in the pub later?" Hayden asks.
"Hell yes, I need a drink," Tyler mutters as he glares at Miley. I shrug, as long as Riley isn't going to cause trouble when I'm gone.
Once I'm half way through my food I at look at the door. "Maybe I should check on them?"
"They will be fine Flynn. I don't hear shouting so they are probably clearing the air," Abigail assures me. Yeah but Riley is difficult.
I take another sip of my drink. "Bro, chill, she's fine." I grumble and stab a roast potato. Easy for him to say. I glance at the door and relax when the both walk back in.
They return to their seats and Miley returns to Riley's lap. I slide my hand in hers, "You okay?" She nods. "Can you eat some more, please? You're wasting away in front of me." She rolls her eyes but starts to eat.
Miley asks for more and I serve her more. We chat around the table and the atmosphere seems to have changed. It's more easy going and relaxed.
Once everyone is finished, Tyler and I help clear the table and load the dishwasher. Abigail serves desert and I'm pleased that Riley ate some of that too.
Once we finish desert we clear the table again. Riley takes Miley into the living room and once everything cleared away we do too.
I sit behind Riley again, making sure she's covered with the blanket. Miley lays on Riley. "Shall we watch a Christmas movie?" Abigail suggests. Can't be Christmas without at least one Christmas movie.
Tyler sits on the floor with his back against the couch. He finds a movie and switches it on. We're halfway through the holiday when the doorbell goes. "Kid, your present is here."
Miley squeals and jumps of the couch. I watch as they leave the room. A few moments later she screams with delight and then I hear a bark. Fuck my life, Riley is going to go nuclear.
When They walk back into the room I glare at Tyler. "Was a dog the best thing Tyler?" Abigail asks. "Lee has enough to deal with."
"She loves dogs, besides, the kid blackmailed me." The dog runs into the room and comes straight towards us. It licks her faces and she groans.
Miley squeals and bounces towards us. She strokes the dogs back as Riley shoves the dogs head. "She's going to be pissed man." The dog paws at Riley's body and she gasps. I gently try and push the dog away.
Riley's eyes fly open and they widen as she stares at the dog. "What. . . the?" The dog jumps up and lays on Riley.
"Mommy, look. Uncle Tyler's Christmas present!" Miley squeals again. The dog seems besotted with my girl. Riley looks up at the door and she scowls at Tyler.
She pushes the dog off her and sits up. "Ri." She ignores me though as she stands. She seems to hunch over as she holds her ribs. 
She walks towards Tyler and drags him out the room. The dog instantly follows her. I don't know a lot about dogs but it's definitely a Dalmatian.
I hear her raised voice but not the words she's saying. I knew she wouldn't be happy with this. If I thought Tyler was considering it I would have shut him down.
"Ow," she groans. Fuck, I'm on my feet before I know it. I run up the stairs and grab her painkillers, I didn't realise the time.
When I walk into the kitchen, Tyler is holding her elbows, supporting her. She coughs and then gasps. Fuck, why didn't I keep an eye on the time? "Sorry, Ri, I didn't notice the time."
She coughs as I pour it into the spoon. She turns to face me and I push the spoon into her mouth. She rests against me and Tyler let's her go. I pass the meds and spoon to Tyler. I stroke her hair to comfort her.
"What?" she mutters. I look down at her and she's looking at the dog. The dog holds his paw up to her. I guess it's cute, in its own way.
"Come on, admit it. He's cute," Tyler says. "You're cute aren't you Rex? The owner has given us food for a few days. Honest, he's not going to be a bother. Miley loves him already." 
Riley rolls her eyes and walks out the room. The dog follows right behind her. "Bro, seriously not cool."
"The dog will be good for her, bro. Get her out the house, keep her company. She loves Dalmatians, always wanted one since she watched 101 Dalmatians as a kid. She may be pissed now but this will be a good thing for her."
"And when it all gets too much for her? She has Miley now bro. What if it pushes her over the edge?"
He frowns, "Do you believe that? She always says she feels alone. They say a dog is your best friend."
"No but I don't like her under too much stress." He shrugs and gets his phone out.
"She misses our old dog. I know she does. She was devastated when it died. Begged mom and Dad to get another one. Trust me, bro." I roll my eye and sigh. It better be good for her.