The conversation moves on after that. I lose complete interest, however, as Amelia places her hand on my knee and gives it a soft squeeze. I turn my head to the side and see her eyes light up as a soft smile spreads across her cheeks. She has the faintest traces of dimples at the corner of her mouth. I presume it's a 'well done for being polite' knee squeeze, like I'm a child being told I'm a good boy for eating all my broccoli. I return the smile; I refuse to ruin this weekend for her. She feels so alive to me right now, chatting animatedly with my family, humming quietly to the Christmas music. She can say it doesn't matter all she likes, but I know that these are the sort of family relationships she wished she had all her life. So I'll be good, I'll keep it together, so she can have this. And I truly believe that I can do that until my mum speaks up to everyone.
"Okay everyone, let's get our desserts and go to the living room for family charades!" Everyone excitedly gets up after hearing the family announcement. My mum catches my eye and must see the absolute horror on my face as she walks over and kisses my cheek.
"It's just a silly game. You'll be okay, darling." With a pat on the back, she walks to the kitchen with everyone else and begins to load several small desserts onto plates for everyone. Amelia squeezes my hand as she and I remain standing at the table.
"You okay?" she asks, running her thumb gently over the back of my hand.
"Fucking hate charades," I mumble like an angry toddler.
"It may be fun. I've never really played it before," she replies with a giggle. It breaks my heart a little bit, this sweet girl never got to play fun games as a kid? "I mean I think I played it in school a couple of times, but not really, you know," she quickly adds, possibly seeing the sad look on my face.
"Come on, let's get some dessert," I sigh, resigning myself to the rest of the afternoon. Can't believe I'm actually going to play charades instead of pretending I have a phone call or straight up leaving. Bianca and Bryan go to the living room and start to set up the game while the rest of us hang out in the kitchen around the small table full of desserts.
"Rhodes, sweetheart, do you think you can go down to the cellar and get us two more bottles of red?" my mum asks me as Amelia and I enter the kitchen. I groan and nod my head; maybe it's being in my childhood home, but I'm starting to act like a real sullen teenager. I hate going down to the cellar; it's absolutely freezing, and the stairs are so steep and narrow it feels like you're about to fall down them at any time. One time I did, and I had to get stitches in my chin.