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Holiday Visits

The girls were abruptly woken up when their door burst open. Auggie raced in and used Maya's mattress as a trampoline to hop onto Riley's bed.

Cory and Topanga stood in the doorway, both yawning and with a cup of coffee in-hand.

"Wake up! There are so many presents under the tree," Auggie bounced.

"Presents?" Riley feigned being surprised.

"For me, you, Mommy, Daddy, and Maya," he nodded excitedly.

"And Maya?" Maya's eyes widened. "There are presents for me?"

"Santa left presents for everyone," Cory and Topanga smiled.

Everybody went into the family room and sat around the tree opening presents.

Auggie received a bunch of toys that had been on his list to Santa. Riley received clothing and makeup.

Maya also received clothing that she had liked but was too hesitant to actually ask for along with some art supplies. Topanga handed her one last gift.

She unwrapped it to find an expensive DSLR camera.

"I can't accept this," she immediately tried to hand it back to them.

"Nonsense, Maya. Riley told us you had an eye for art and beauty."

"Really?" Maya blushed. "Thank you."

Opening presents was followed by a big Christmas breakfast that consisted of eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Maya had never seen so much food in one place. And still, Riley warned that there would be even more when the rest of the family came over for dinner.

The rest of the famed Matthews clan arrived at around 3 o'clock. Cory's parents were first to arrive.

His parents hugged each of them including Maya. Cory's mother Amy immediately went to check on the food as Alan sat down in the living room.

Maya noted the warmth that Mr. Matthews' parents brought with them. Amy had baked cookies for her grandchildren and was currently helping Topanga cook while Alan was laughing with his son and grandson on the couch.

"What are you thinking about?" Riley pulled her from her thoughts.

"My grandma," Maya answered. "I haven't seen her in years and your grandparents remind me of her."

"Then why don't we visit her?"

Maya's face lit up at the suggestion. Riley told her family they would be gone for a little while, but would return for dinner.

They hopped on the train and headed to the nursing home. Maya hadn't been there since she was a little girl.

She entered the building and walked into the small room with a sign for Angela Hart.

"Who is it?" her familiar voice asked.

"It's me Maya."

"Little Maya, is that really you?" she squinted.

"It is. How are you doing, Gammy?"

"Fantastic now that you're here," she hugged her granddaughter. "What happened to you?"

"I got into a little tussle," Maya shared a vague version of the truth.

"My Maya, what a tough cookie."

"This is  my friend Riley," Maya introduced her.

Gammy happily hugged Riley.

"So, you finally decided to come for a visit after all these years?"

"Well, Gammy-"

"I'm just messing with you," she smiled. "I know you've been busy at that fancy boarding school."

"Boarding school?" Maya asked.

"Don't be modest, dear, your father has told me all about how hard you're working."

"My dad?" Maya's eyes went wide. "When did you see him?"

"Why last week," she said cheerfully. "He comes to see me every week."

Just as she had said that, there was a knock at the door. In walked a blonde-haired man with two children, a boy and a girl.

"Merry Christmas, Mom," the man hugged Maya's grandmother.

"Merry Christmas, Gammy," the two kids joined in.

"Dad, who is that?" the little girl asked her father.

"I'm not sure," he answered quietly. "Are you one of the teen holiday volunteers?" he asked Maya.

Maya just gave him a blank stare. Riley stood at a distance, anticipating what was about to happen.

"I'm here visiting my Gammy," she said sternly.

He stood there frozen for a moment, searching her eyes to see if she was really saying what he thought she was saying.

"Maya?" he finally spoke. "I barely recognized you."

"10 years will do that," she said bitterly.

His face was white as a ghost. The two kids looked up at him in confusion, Gammy was blissfully unaware of the situation, and Riley anxiously watched the scene unfolding.

"Boarding school?" Maya scoffed and took a step toward him. "You screwed me over, you don't get to lie about it to save your ass."

"Let's get out of here, Riley," she breathed.

"Maya, please," he begged her.

"Merry Christmas, Dad," she momentarily stopped in the door frame. "I hope you got everything you wanted."

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