Chapter 24

Holidays

"Post Cards from Far Away"- Cold Play

Kyle (POV)

Amanda and I had decided to go back to Seattle for the holidays to see our families. We'd just landed and I grabbed our luggage from the luggage belt. I carried our things while Amanda carried Brice towards the doors that led outside the airport. We were meeting Stephen who had offered to pick us up.

"Kyle!" I heard my name and turned to the direction of Stephen's voice.

"Hey, dad!" I set the bags down by the car so I could give him a hug.

"How was the flight?" he asked as he continued his hugs to Amanda and Brice.

"It was good," Amanda answered, buckling Brice into his car seat while I loaded our stuff in the trunk.

"Alright, well let's go!" Stephen said as he climbed into the driver's seat.

"How have things been at home?" I asked once we were on the highway heading home.

He was quiet for a moment as if he were choosing his words carefully. "Quiet, but good," he finally said, and I knew there was more to it than that.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" I chuckled and decided I would ask him about how things really were later.

"Well...yeah, but after about the first month it gets a little… boring," he admitted.

"I knew you would miss us," I gloated.

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled.

"So Amanda, are you staying with us or at your mom's?" Stephen asked glancing at her through the review mirror.

"Well...my mom isn't getting home until tomorrow morning," Amanda explained.

"Our house it is!" Stephen decided.

We pulled up to the house and I could see the Christmas tree through the living room window.

"Are Lori and Declan here?" I asked as we climbed out of the car.

"Yep. They got in this afternoon," he said moving to the back of the car to help me with the bags.

"Kyle, I'm going to take Brice inside," Amanda told me and hurried in out of the cold.

"Dad," I paused to make sure Amanda and Brice were inside. "How have things really been at home?"

He sighed, shutting the trunk and turning to me, "You caught that, huh?"

I nodded.

"Your mom and I have been a little worried about Josh."

"Is he still down about Andy?" I thought by now he would have been doing somewhat better.

"Well it's not just that, I mean...when you and Lori left he took it pretty hard. I think he kind of felt like everyone abandoned him," Stephen explained.

"Maybe us being here for two weeks will do some good," I said as we walked up to the house.

"Hope so," he whispered once we were though the door.

"Kyle!" Nicole was the first to greet me.

"Hey mom!" I engulfed her in a hug.

"Hey Lori!" I moved on to her.

Then I moved on to hug Josh and from him I moved on to embrace Declan.

"Where's Amanda?" I asked Lori once we had migrated to the kitchen.

"She had a phone call. She's in your room," she told me.

I decided I would take our bags to my old room and make sure everything was alright.

I was in the doorway of my room when I could hear Amanda arguing with her mom.

"Mom…No…It's not that…Yes…I know…It's just..." I could tell she was having a hard time getting a word in. "Yes, I'll be over tonight." She paused. "After dinner, alright bye." She snapped her phone shut and I could sense that she was beyond frustrated.

I set our things down and went to comfort her. "Hey, you okay?" I asked rubbing her shoulders.

"Yeah I'm fine." She rested the back of her head on my chest. "My mother's flight got in early so now I have to go meet here new boyfriend after dinner."

I moved my arms around her protectively and kissed the top of her head.

"You don't have to meet him alone. I'll go with you if you want." I offered.

"You would do that?" I could feel her smile.

"Of course," I whispered, kissing the top of her head again. "We should probably get back," I mumbled after a few moments.

"Okay," she said, taking my hand. I led her back to the kitchen.

Lori was the one who was monopolizing Brice at the moment and I could tell he loved all the attention.

"Kyle, Josh will you set the table?" Nicole asked sweetly, but we knew it was an order.

"So what have you been up to, Josh?" I asked setting one of the plates down.

"Not much really. Just school and work," he said setting a set of forks and knives down.

"Hanging out with friends?" I questioned.

"Little bit."

"Talking to Andy?"

"Every once and a while," he paused as he put down the last set of utensils. "Why?"

"Just wondering what you've been up to Josh, that's all," I said, setting my last plate down.

Then Stephen and Nicole came in with the chicken and vegetables Nicole had prepared.

"Dinner is ready," Stephen announced.

Everyone filed into the dinning room and took their seats.

We ate the delicious meal and enjoyed a conversation of how everyone was doing. I was happy to see that Josh was laughing and enjoying himself. I could tell Stephen was happy to see that as well.

Once we were finished it was nearing Brice's bed time and I decided to put him to bed.

I changed him into his pajamas and rocked him to sleep.

"Now that I miss," Nicole said quietly.

I hadn't even noticed she'd been watching me.

"What?" I whispered.

"Just being able to see how good of a dad you are to him," Nicole elaborated.

I stood up and placed him in his crib and tucked the blanket closer to him.

"He needs me," I said without taking my eyes off him. I just hovered next to him for a moment. "Goodnight buddy," I said, moving a few stray hairs away from his face.

"Amanda and I have to go over to her mom's for a little while. Will you keep and eye on him?" I asked once we were out in the hall.

"Of course, but I thought her mom wasn't home?" Nicole questioned.

"Her flight got in early," I explained.

Nicole went off into the kitchen to finish tidying up while I went to the living room and found Amanda and Lori having one of their girl talks.

"Hey Amanda we should probably get going," I said.

"Uhh noo," she groaned.

"Come on, it won't be that bad," I said while leading her to the hallway.

"See you later, Lori!" I called over my shoulder as we left.

Amanda and I walked outside and in moments we were walking through the front door of her childhood home.

"Mom!" Amanda bellowed as she shrugged out of her coat.

"Amanda!" Mrs. Bloom greeted when she appeared in the hall. "Oh, you brought Kyle with you?" I could hear the false joy in her voice.

"Hi, mom," Amanda said with a hug.

"Well, come on. There's someone I want you to meet." Mrs. Bloom led us to the living room where a middle aged man sat.

"Amanda, this is David. David, this is my daughter Amanda and her boyfriend Kyle." I was surprised Mrs. Bloom even mentioned me.

"Hello Amanda." David stood up and shook Amanda's hand. "I've heard so much about you."

"I wish I could say the same," Amanda replied, it wasn't harsh: it was just fact.

Amanda and I sat next to one another on one of the couches and Mrs. Bloom and David sat in chairs across from us. No one said a word or made any eye contact. The minutes ticked by with lasting silence. I didn't say anything because it wasn't my place to and even if it was I wouldn't know what to say.

"So I hear you're going to school for music," David finally said trying to connect with Amanda.

"Yes, at Dartmouth." I was glad to see she was making some what of an effort.

"Piano, right?" David asked.

"Yes."

"You know, I play a little myself." I could tell David was really trying.

"You do?" Amanda said, looking surprised.

"Yes, but I am more of a guitar player," David chuckled, and I heard a small laugh escape Amanda's lips.

After a while a real conversation started to flow and Mrs. Bloom excused herself to get us some coffee.

"I'm going to see if your mom needs any help." Really it was only and excuse for me to leave as well.

"Did I hear Amanda laugh in there?" Mrs. Bloom asked when she noticed my presence.

"Yeah, I guess you did Mrs. Bloom," I shrugged.

"Kyle please call me Carol." I almost dropped the mug I was getting from the cabinet.

"Now I know I haven't been too fond of your relationship with my daughter in the past." That was an understatement. "But I've seen the way you two look at one another… and if Amanda is willing to give David a chance…I suppose I would be willing to give you a chance as well."

I was silent for a moment; she was actually giving me a chance.

"Thank you Mrs.- I mean, thank you Carol." I finally said.

"Well, this is your only chance," she warned, picking up the coffee cake and went back to the living room.

I quickly grabbed the four coffees two in each hand and followed her back.

"Well you two seem to be getting along," Carol said setting down the desert.

I took my seat again next to Amanda and watched as she interacted with David. I could tell she was being careful but every once and a while she would let her barrier fall.

"Well, it's getting late we should get going," Amanda finally said. "I'll see you for Christmas dinner Mom." Amanda admitted, since she would be spending Christmas Eve dinner with my family.

"Alright Amanda," Carol said.

"It was nice to finally meet you Amanda," David said.

"You, too, David," Amanda replied and she was being sincere.

Then we walked out the door and back to my house.

The next day was Christmas Eve so we were all busy preparing dinner for tonight. There was barely a moment for any down time. Brice was too young to really help so he spent most of the day playing with his toys.

"Kyle and Declan, you two can peel and cut the potatoes," Nicole ordered handing us a bag of potatoes and two potato peelers.

"Lori and Amanda, will you chop the vegetables?" Nicole continued.

"And Stephen and Josh, I trust you with the roast. I'm going to handle the pie." Nicole smiled to herself.

We got to work and shortly after Stephen and Josh were the first to complete their task and went to play x-box.

Declan and I had each peeled nine potatoes and we were becoming bored and it was starting to show. Declan and I were having a contest to see who could peel the most potatoes in 30 seconds.

"I win!" I shouted

"No fair the potatoes kept slipping out of my hands." Declan whined.

"Boys," Nicole warned and the girls giggled.

Once we had all finished our assigned tasks we were assigned new ones. Lori and I received the job of wrapping last minute gifts that weren't ours.

"Oooo looks like Josh is getting new underwear," Lori teased.

"So what are you getting Amanda?" Lori questioned placing a bright red bow on Josh's gift.

Since we were in my room I knelt down by my suit case and found Amanda's present and handed it to Lori.

"Oh Kyle, it's beautiful," Lori said when she'd opened the box.

"You think she'll like it?" I asked.

"She'll love it," she assured me, handing the box back.

"Good," I smiled.

Before I knew it everyone was dressed in their nicer clothes. I joined the rest of the family, minus Stephen and Nicole, in the living room.

"You look handsome," Amanda whispered to me, crawling onto my lap since we were left with the arm chair to share.

"Well you look beautiful," I informed her. At that moment, we were in a little world of our own.

"I'm starving!" I could hear Josh complain, but I wasn't really paying attention to him. No one else was, either.

"Alright break up the love fest," Declan said throwing a pillow at us.

"God I hope we aren't like that," Lori joked.

"Oh, don't worry: you're worse," Josh assured her and Lori slapped the back of his head.

"Dinner!" Stephen called from the dinning room.

Amanda slid off my lap and I scooped Brice up in my arms taking him to the table.

Since there were eight of us it was a little cramped at the table. We piled our plates and dug in. I watched as my family laughed and a few pictures were taken through out the meal.

I had helped Brice cut up his food but other than that he was pretty content on feeding himself.

Shortly after dinner and desert were over were all gathered in the living room were we were aloud to open one gift.

Amanda and I sat on the floor with my back against the couch and she sat comfortably on my lap. Brice was sitting with Nicole.

"Merry Christmas," I whispered in Amanda's ear handing her the gift I'd gotten her.

She opened it carefully "Oh, Kyle! It's stunning." It was a golden locket with a small picture of the two of us in it and on the back the word 'Forever' was inscribed.

"I'm glad you like it," I smiled. I helped her put it on and we both admired it around her neck.

"Thank you," she said. "Here," she handed me a present wrapped in red paper.

I opened it and found that it was a silver watch. "Amanda, this is a really nice watch. Thank you." It looked really expensive as well but I didn't say anything. I just snapped it on my left wrist: I had to admit it did look really nice.

"Your welcome, Merry Christmas."

After that we watched the others open their gifts and saw the different facial expressions that appeared with they opened their present. Some were shocked and others laughed at a comical gift. To be honest this was the best part of Christmas, not the gifts, but being with my family.

AN: Okay I hope you like the new chapter. I know its a few days late considering that they are celebrating Christmas but whatever. There is a picture of David on my profile so check that out. Also I have a question for everyone what do you think about doing a time jump? Whether it is a few months or a few years? Let me know!