"Yes, you did." My mother winked.
She actually winked at me.
I didn't buy Charli anything so whatever she bought in my name, I hoped it would live up to Blaze doll level - otherwise Charli probably wouldn't even notice, either way I was grateful to say I had something for her.
"Thank you," I mouthed to my mother who smiled.
We watched Charli open her present and laughed as she screamed so loud that Dustin had to plug his ears with his fingers.
"Blaze doll dresses! Omigod!" Charli squealed. "Thanks, Autnie Neala!"
She jumped up to her feet and barrlled into my legs, hugging me as tight as her little arms allowed. My heart lept with joy as I returned the hug and watched and she returned to the present began to tear open the box full of doll dresses and accessories.
Her reaction was amazing.
I looked to my mother who grinned. "Everyone bought all the dolls, but didn't bother with the outfits so I figured I get her one from you since you went to so much trouble with the doll. I went into Smyths after you last Wednesday and grabbed the doll outfits while you where somewhere else in the shop."
I was probably engaged in battle with Darcy for the doll.
She was so sneaky, but she was awesome.
I hugged my mother tightly then looked back down to Charli who was playing dress up with her doll, and I chuckled when she had Dustin pick out his favourite dress for the doll to wear. The poor lad didn't know which dress to pick and kept looking at Charli to get some hint at which one she wanted him to pick.
She loved pink so I coughed and muttered, "Pink."
Dustin heard me and picked out a hot pink dress and Charli beamed. "Great choice, Dusty!"
Dustin blew out a breath and looked to me and gave me a big thumbs up.
I winked at him.
A few gifts were exchanged between the adults then. I got perfume, clothes, and some jewellery. Everyone else got similar presents, and when everything was opened we retired to the kitchen to get our food on. As usual, I hated that there was arranged seating at dinner because every year Darcy and I were placed close to one another, and in the last few years one of the kids sat between us just to keep things clean and safe for everyone at the table.
I sat down and so did Darcy and everyone else.
I glanced around at everyone, I didn't want to cause a fight but I also didn't want to not say anything.
"What didn't you just tell us what Dustin wanted to do with the doll? I wouldn't have fought so hard to get the bloody thing from Darcy if I knew!" I said semi-calmly to my brother.
Sean sighed from across the table, "That's Ma's fault, not mine."
I flicked my narrowed eyes from my brother to my mother.
"What does he mean by that?" I asked.
My mother had a guilty look about her. "It's been a long time since you and Darcy spent any time together, even if it was just to argue... I thought prolonging this doll thing would be good for you both."
That's why Justin was forbidden from helping me! Our mother's didn't want the war for the doll to end too soon.
Wow.
That was disgusting.
Darcy humourlessly laughed next to me, "We almost killed one another for the stupid thing."
My mother froze and said, "Sorry."
Like that was any help.
I looked to Sean who was gnawing on his lower lip.
"What about you? Are you sorry, Mammy's boy?"
Sean grunted, "Yeah, I am."
Doubtful.
I felt like I was in a sudden state of shock.
I was annoyed with my family.
Darcy and I fought tooth and nail for that bloody doll, and now I knew that if I just let Darcy have the doll both Dustin and Charli would have gotten what they both wanted. I didn't know where my family got their logic from because they were all plain bloody stupid.
"It was a surprise, Neala." Justin sighed. "Dustin made me promise not to tell, and since Dean, my ma, and Clare were in the room when he told me why he wanted the doll, he said they didn't count. He made us pinkie swear."
I went through hell over a pinke swear... seriously?
I growled. "A pinkie swear?"
"We took an oath too if that helps." Sean murmured.
I was about to speak again when Charli and Dustin barrelled into the dining room all dressed in their 'dinner clothes' which consisted of plain t-shirts and trousers. If they got them dirty with food it wouldn't matter because they'd just change out of them and back into their Christmas clothes for picture time later.
"Neala?" Charli said as she sat in between Darcy and myself.
I looked at her and smiled. "Yeah, baby?"
Charli tilted her head to the side. "Are you still sad?"
Everyone froze then after a moment they looked at me.
I swallowed. "What are you talking about, babes? I'm not sad."
Charli clicked her tongue. "Yeah, you are. I heard you crying in your shower earlier when you came home."