Life is the Long Game

Chapter 72

*Christmas*

Riley's POV:

This year, for Christmas, it is just the same as Christmas 2014 with the addition of Amelie and Lucas. Mr Feeny was going to be here too, but last minute he decided to go to Uncle Eric's instead.
We are all sat around the living room, sharing gifts, as the dinner cooks in the oven when suddenly the doorbell rings.
"But we didn't buzz anyone up?" Dad says, as confused as the rest of us.
"I'll get it then. Seeing as no one else is." Auggie explains, getting up from the armchair to open it. He opens the door to reveal Ava, stood there in tears.

She immediately collapses into Auggie's embrace, sobbing into his chest. I've never seen her look so broken, she's always so confident and brave and bold...
"Ava, come inside the house honey." Mom says,

ushering Auggie to bring her inside. He softly picks her up and places her on the couch.
"I can't take it anymore. He is controlling her every thought and it's making her a completely different person. He terrifies me and he is manipulating her to hate me. It's like I'm nothing more than a slave. I, I just can't do it anymore Augs." Ava sobs to her boyfriend, but also telling us too. We all know what she is talking about, her mom has this horrible boyfriend, and we've all met him and he is just horrible and so easy to hate, and she's had to deal with it for a few years now, getting worse and worse by the day, and I guess she's just had enough now. I don't blame her though, she is only 13, she shouldn't be so miserable at home that on even Christmas she runs away crying.
"Ava, honey, would you like to stay with us for a while?" Mom asks her and she nods slowly.
"Yes please. I have no where else to go." She says, as tears still rush down her cheeks.
"You can have my room." I tell her and she smiles.
"Thank you Riley. I'm sorry for dampening the mood everyone, I know it's Christmas." She apologises.
"Don't be sorry Ava. We are just glad you are okay." Uncle Josh assures her.
"Ava, you're really cold, why?" Grandma asks her, wrapping a big blanket around her.

"We weren't at home, we were at his, I walked 6 blocks. I had my keys get into our building." She explains.
"Come put on some of my sweats, and get you warmed up." Auggie tells her, taking her to his room to change.
"They are so grown up." Grandpa exclaims and we mutter in agreement.
"Momma, why Auny Ava sad?" Amelie asks me, she's always called Ava, Aunty, as best as she pronounce it, because she's sees her with her Uncle Auggie like she sees Uncle Josh with Maya,

or my parents and so on. She thinks they are married.
"Because it's really cold outside sweetie, that's all." I tell her and she smiles.
"Okay." She replies and goes back to playing with Lucas and Uncle Josh.
Moments later, Auggie and Ava reappear. Amelie rushes over to Ava with her blanket and gives her a big hug.
"Auny Ava, I'm giving you a hug and my blankey too keep you warm. Momma said you were sad because it's cold." Amelie tells her.
"Well thank you Amelie, but I'm happy again now because I'm not cold anymore. But can I have another hug?" Ava replies and Amelie nods and gives her another hug.
"Everyone, dinner is ready!" Mom announces and we all rush round the table, including Amelie, who is strapped into her highchair.
"Merry Christmas family!" Uncle Josh toasts.
"Merry Christmas!" We all cheer, clashing champagne flutes, everyone has a glass apart from Amelie. Even Auggie and Ava have a small amount. We all sip our drinks and indulge in the delicious food.
"More champagne?" Uncle Shawn asks, as I notice that everyone but Maya has finished their glasses.
"Maya, you've barely touched your drink? You feeling okay?" I ask her.
"I'm not feeling too good, I feel quite lightheaded I don't what to make it any worse." She explains, and she does look a little pale.
"Are you okay? Do you want to go for a lie down?" Josh asks her, concerned and Maya roles her eyes.
"I'll be fine, honestly, it'll pass, I'll take some painkillers after we've eaten." Maya suggests and Josh nods.
"Well, this is a record, you're haven't scoffed down the dinner in under 10 minutes this year!" Mom says, looking at her watch and our half eaten plates of food.
"Well it's the best one yet, that's why." Dad tells her and kisses her lips.
"No kissing at the dinner table!" Auggie says, getting them to stop.
"Okay. Sorry. Now continue eating." Dad tells us and we do.
After dessert, I offer to help Ava get set up in my old room, which she gladly accepts. It doesn't take us long as her stuff seems to be pretty much already packed, so we just get Auggie and Lucas to help us move to bags into the room. We don't have to decorate as Ava likes it the way it is, so we go straight to hanging up posters, pictures, clothes and putting up ornaments. It only takes an hour and a bit.
"Thank you for helping me Riley. And for giving me your room."
"My pleasure Ava."
"I just want you to know, that you can still come and use the bay window, almost whenever you want." She tells me, thoughtfully.
"Thank you Ava." I hug her and we return to the living room, where Maya is asleep on Josh's lap in the armchair, Dad, Shawn and Grandpa are asleep on the couch, Auggie is playing with Amelie, so is Lucas and Mom and Grandma are talking at the table, in the already tidy kitchen.
"You're okay now Ava, this is the best family anyone could ask for. You'll always be loved here." I tell Ava, when we stop to admire the sight of our family.
"I know, I'm happy here, I always have been." She replies.
I really do love our family and think I'm the luckiest person in the world for being a part of it.

A/N: This was crap, sorry, it's nearly the end of this book too btw.