Hello lovely readers. This is this the third and final part to the Jonny, Jac and Ava story. I will try to update as regularly as I can and this will probably be a shorter story than the previous two. Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it. Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts :-)
It sounded to Jac Naylor-Maconie as though world war three had broken out in her living room. She had tried ignoring it, allowing Jonny the chance to intervene between their rowing teenage daughters. However the calming tones of her husband couldn't be heard and it was clear things were escalating. With a deep sigh she got to her feet and walked out of her study and down the hall.
'Enough!' she bellowed as she walked into the lounge. She took in the sight of both her girls, red faced and furious. 'What on earth is going on in here?' she glared at each of them in turn.
'Julia has been stealing…' Ava spoke angrily before being interrupted by her slightly older sister
'I'm not a thief' Julia practically spat 'you said I could borrow…'
'The thing about borrowing is you give the item back' Ava hissed viciously
'I said I was sorry, I didn't mean to lose your stupid earrings' Julia yelled in her own defence
'They belonged to my great grandmother' Ava yelled furiously
'I know, and I had put them in safe place I swear' Julia yelled back 'but when I went to get them they weren't there.'
'This safe place of yours wouldn't have been the stationary organiser on my desk would it?' Jac broke into the girls ranting with a firm tone to her voice.
'How did you know that?' Julia asked sheepishly.
'Because I found them last week and put them back in the safe, which is what I'm guessing you had intended to do' Jac rolled her eyes
'Yeah' Julia nodded sheepishly 'but you and Dad were both out so I thought I'd just leave them there and ask for the key to the safe when you got home. I guess I just forgot.'
'Right, so now that's sorted can we have a bit of peace?' Jac glared at both the girls in turn.
'Sorry Auntie Jac' Ava mumbled shamefacedly
'Sorry Mum' Julia quickly followed suit, looking ashamed of herself.
'You're both nearly sixteen, why can't you just have a rational conversation?' Jac continued to glare firmly at both the girls.
'I was being rational' Julia mumbled 'it was Ava who started the yelling.'
'I don't care who started it' Jac snapped feeling irritable with stress. 'The thing is, I know the pair of you love each other like sisters but you need to stop this melodramatic arguing. Where is your Dad anyway?'
'He went out to get food for dinner' Ava answered miserably. She knew she mostly in the wrong in this situation for her hot headed behaviour but she also knew Auntie Jac would wait for her to make amends. If she didn't do it quickly she would be her guardians silent bad books for ages. She looked shyly at her adoptive sister before offering 'I can help you with your math homework if you'd like?'
'Ok' Julia smiled as she quickly agreed; she was never one to hold a grudge.
'Right then, maybe I can get a bit of work done before dinner' Jac gave both the girls a warning glare before she walked back towards her study.
'Sorry' Ava mumbled softly 'I shouldn't have shouted.
'You were angry, and I should have put the earrings away properly' Julia shrugged. 'Besides I get it, you and mum are both really stressed out over the whole Paula doing a disappearing act after being released thing.'
'It would be kind of easier if she just made contact' Ava shrugged 'at least then we wouldn't be waiting for it.'
'Maybe she won't' Julia gave her sister a comforting hug 'she'd get into a load of trouble if she did right?'
'That's never stopped her before' Ava spoke sadly.
'Hi there Mrs Naylor-Maconie' Jonny smiled softly at his wife as he stepped into her study 'we have roast lamb for dinner if I can tempt you?'
'I'm not really hungry' Jac spoke apologetically as she closed the lid of her laptop.
'I know' Jonny nodded 'but you need to eat. How's the paper coming on?'
'Slowly' Jac stood and stretched out her back. 'The girls bickering over trivial things really does not help.'
'och, they love each other really' Jonny chuckled 'just now Ava was telling me how proud she was of Julia only getting on math problem wrong on her homework.'
'Really?' Jac smiled proudly as she walked around her desk to her husband 'looks like paying for extra tuition is starting to pay off.'
'I think it's because you had that amazing chat with her, like the amazing mum you are' Jonny smiled at his wife before pulling her into his arms and holding her tightly. 'You've made her see being Dyslexic doesn't mean she can't still achieve her dreams.'
'Well if she wants to be a music teacher she's going need good GCSE's' Jac spoke modestly 'that was just the simple fact I gave her. That and it has to be her own hard work that is going to get it for her.'
'It must be so hard for the poor kid, seeing Ava achieving everything so easily' Jonny spoke empathically.
'No I think Julia gets being a child genius isn't always easy' Jac laughed. 'I'm pretty sure she is glad not have the level of expectation put on her at school that Ava has.'
'Auntie Jac, can Julia and I go to the cinema tomorrow afternoon? Amy and Isobel are going, Guy will drop us there and pick us up' Ava spoke quickly as she jumped onto her aunts bed where her guardian lay reading.
'Sure' Jac smiled at her niece. 'There's some cash in the tin in the kitchen, just take whatever you need for tickets and snacks.'
Ava looked closely at her aunt. She looked tired and drawn. 'Do you think Paula will find us here Auntie Jac?'
'Uncle Jonny doesn't think she will' Jac tried to smile confidently at her niece 'it's one of the reasons why we moved house.' They had moved to quiet detached house further into the suburbs a little over three weeks ago. Whilst it was further away from work and needed modernising it had so many benefits that it hadn't taken Jonny long to persuade Jac into moving.
'I like it here' Ava nodded in agreement 'it feels safer, plus its bigger, closer to school and Perdita really loves the garden.'
'Well just so long as the darn cat is happy' Jac laughed. 'Once we've redecorated it will really feel like home.'
'Can we get another dog?' Ava asked for the first time since Apollo had passed way in his sleep six months ago.
'No Pumpkin, Uncle Jonny isn't ready yet' Jac spoke softly, reaching out a hand to smooth the child's fiery red soft hair. At fifteen Ava was fast developing into a beautiful young woman and Jac was immensely proud of her. She was intelligent, feisty, confident and, most importantly, happy. In contrast Julia was nervous, unsure of herself and still learning what happiness and security meant. 'Pumpkin I know you were cross at Julia because you thought she'd lost your earrings but don't ever accuse her stealing again' Jac spoke softly but firmly.
'I know I shouldn't of' Ava looked ashamed of herself 'it just slipped out. She knew I didn't mean it though.'
'It doesn't matter, it was still hurtful' Jac scolded her niece gently. 'I know it's been two and a half years since Julia became part of this family but I know there'll always be a part of her that will feel like she doesn't quite belong.'
Ava sat in silence for a minute as she thought about her aunts words. 'Maybe the first room we should paint should be Julia's. We could make a real project out of it over half term; show her how important she is to us.'
'I think that's a great idea' Jac smiled warmly at her niece.
'I just remember the time you made my room pink for me' Ava shrugged modestly, pleased her idea had been so well received. 'Then I really knew you wanted me.'
'I wanted you the first day I met you' Jac chuckled.
'When did you know you wanted Julia?' Ava asked curiously.
'If I'm honest it was probably the day I met her at the hospital' Jac spoke seriously. 'Although then I just knew I had to do everything I could to help, I didn't know that would extend to adopting her.'
'Do you like her calling you Mum?' Ava asked next.
'Yes, I do' Jac nodded 'it makes me feel just as special as when you call me Auntie Jac. It doesn't bother you does it?' Jac had suddenly realised they hadn't really asked Ava this in all the time since Julia had decided to start calling her parents by the traditional terms of endearment.
'No' Ava quickly shook her head 'I don't see why you can't love both of us just the same. I think it confuses other people though' she chuckled. 'She makes me cross sometimes but I wouldn't want my life without my big sister now.'
'That's good' Jac smiled before pulling Ava into her arms and kissing her forehead firmly. 'I'm so proud of you Pumpkin, don't you ever forget that.'
