Frozen

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."

I stared at Charli with my mouth dropped open.

I didn't know what to say to her.

"She probably stubbed her toe is all, kid," Darcy chuckled and nudged Charli who was sat between us.

Charli giggled then she turned to me and asked, "Is it still sore?"

"Yeah," I replied. "It's still pretty sore."

I wasn't talking about my toe, and from the corner of my eye I caught Darcy looking at me. He knew I wasn't talking about my toe either.

I looked to Charli who was still snuggling that God-forsaken doll while Darcy scooped food onto her small plate.

"What's her name?" I asked.

Charli giggled, "Her name in the film is Reni, but I'm changing it to Neala Girl, like what Uncle Darcy calls you. I love it."

I felt everyone look at me but I refused to show any emotion.

I simply smiled and said, "Pretty name."

Charli hugged her Neala Girl closely to her, and Dustin chuckled from across the table. I looked at him, and found him smiling as he watched Charli hug and play with her doll. In that moment he reminded me so much of a young Darcy who fawned over me all the time... before shit hit the fan of course.

I could tell from the look on Dustin's face that he loved Charli, he just wouldn't realise the emotion until he was older. I made a silent vow to myself as I flicked my eyes between them. I vowed never to let the pair of them get into a situation that spanned over two decades like Darcy and I did - their friendship too precious to lose.

I zoned out for a while, everyone said grace then tucked down into their food. I wasn't into it at all. I played with the potatoes on my plate and couldn't even look at the meat without my stomach threatening to revolt. I felt like shite and I wanted nothing more than to just go up to bed.

I made it through dinner though and after when everyone retired to the living room I waited about thirty minutes before Itold everyone I wanted to go up to my room to sleep for awhile. I was close to the living room door and was just about to make my escape when I heard Sean and Justin exchange words outside in the hallway.

"She's really down, man. I feel sick that we pretty much caused it," Justin said sighing.

Sean grunted and replied, "I know, but we never planned for it to go this far."

Planned?

What the hell were they talking about?

I stepped into the hallway and when Sean and Justin spotted me they both flinched and shook their heads.

"Bollocks," Sean grunted.

Sean and Justin both walked by me into the living room and I quickly followed.

"What did you mean by that, Sean?" I asked him.

Sean walked over to my mother and leaned into her as he whispered in her ear.

My mother smacked his arm when he pulled back.