One Hundred And One Sleepless Nights

After the long journey down yesterday I never for as long as I live want to hear the words 'are we there yet' again. In the end I told Alex that if she asks again Santa will send his friend the Garden Goblin to leave her twigs and grass in her stocking. I think she believed me. Ahh, the beauty of mother hood.
When we arrived Mom was buzzing around holding a glass of sherry. She thinks no one notices and it's okay because it's Christmas. Last year Dad told me it takes her a week to get off it. Kate oh so discreetly stage whispered that someone under the name Mr Paws is in my old bedroom. It wasn't long before I realised that Kellin and Liam were in the middle of a heated argument. Over what I'm not sure but as Liam went to storm away he kissed his teeth and said "Move out the way, ho." to me as he passed. Kate said he's at an awkward age. I don't know who's worse; Liam who has the ambition of becoming both a rapper and black, or Rowan who seems to have started wearing eyeliner and fingerless gloves.
The good thing about Christmas at home is that Cope wears Alex out until she drops down. That doesn't mean I get a chance of a lie in. Quite literally at the crack of dawn Alex stumbled into my room. I then have to explain why the kitten she only asked for yesterday is in my room. Since I became a mother I've become a very elaborate liar.
When everyone was awake I started to get excited. Not for me but for Alex. She was literally shaking with excitement as we walked downstairs. My dad was ready to watch while Mom cracked open a bottle of wine for the occasion. We were all waiting for the boys because from what I can gather Rowan hid Liam's SnapBack and Liam hid Rowan's eyeliner.
But as Alex starts to tear off the paper off of her presents no one can stop smiling. Her and Cope destroy the room. There's literally gift wrap everywhere. Kellin is trying to rescue the mess by stuffing it all in a garbage bag - I suspect he's a little OCD.
As usual Vic has brought Alex everything she wants. While I tend to get her what she needs. That usually leaves me being the bad guy. But I have completely outdone Daddy this time. I've given her Theo the Kitten.
My phone starts to ring and I see Vic trying to FaceTime me. I set my phone up on the coffee table so he can see Alex fully and answer. First I see Vic's grin and smile. But then Polly appears and it's wiped off of my face. Everyone draws closer curiously. I hate my family.
"Hey Princess!" Vic exclaims.
"Daddy!" she yells.
"What did you get nice?" Polly asked. Why is she getting involved?
"I got a play castle and a princess dress and a little guitar and some Disney make up and a writing book and a set of crayons and-"
"Sounds like you got lots." Vic stopped her from talking one hundred miles a minute.
"But that's not the best one!"
"What's the best present? Is it the one I told Santa to give you?" Vic asked.
"No," Alex laughed. "Mommy asked Santa to bring me a cat baby and he did! His name is Theo and I love him and want to squish him." she said excitedly and grabbed Theo for a hug.
"You got her a cat?" Vic asked me.
"Um... yeah." I smiled gently. He can't shout at me on FaceTime, right?
"Alex, let's do our make up!" Cope yelled. Alex looked at my phone and blew Vic a kiss before she disappeared. I picked my phone up and could feel Vic watching me.
"Is Alex still coming to my parents tomorrow?" Vic asked.
"Sure." I nodded.
"Make sure she brings her pillow this time. She gets upset without it."
"She's not staying!" I suddenly exclaimed.
"What?" Vic frowned.
"You have her for the day, that's it. Then I'm getting her."
"Zee-" Vic tried.
"Bye!" I rushed and hung up. Smooth, Zandra. Real smooth.
"Who's was that?" Mom asked me. I didn't know whether to tell them or not. Alex and Cope we're playing in Kate's old room with Kellin supervising. Dad was busy cooking now. Liam was calling one of his 'bitches' who I seriously doubt exists. Rowan is sat in the corner with headphones on and music so loud that I can hear it from here.
"That's Polly." I sighed.
"Who's Polly?" Mom asked.
"She's Vic's fiancée."
"Vic's getting married?" Kate asked and I reluctantly nodded.
"She seems nice." Mom said gently.
"Nice!" I exclaimed.
"She does kind of." Kate tried.
"You know what she seems like? She seems like me!"
"What?" Kate frowned.
"Don't you think she looks like me?" I sighed.
"Not really." Mom shook her head.
"Maybe a little." Kate tilted her head to the side.
"But her hair is shorter and looks healthier than yours." Mom said.
"And her eyes are different and nicer." Kate added.
"And she smiles. You don't smile." Mom told me.
I glared at them both and stood up. "Alex!" I yelled. "Time for a bath." After a minute she came running to me and I urged her upstairs. I need to get away from Mom and Kate before I kill them. As I passed Liam I knocked his SnapBack off and he glared at me.
"Yo, don't touch the cap! Skank!" I really don't know where Kate went wrong with him.
"You do not call your Aunt that word!" Kate yelled, appearing looking as Liam would probably say these days hella mad.
"Liam said a bad word!" Alex called and I ushered her upstairs before Liam taught her anymore bad language.
When Alex's bath was run and she was inside I poured shampoo onto her head and started to massage it in.
"Mommy." Alex said, her voice unusually small.
"Yes, love?" I asked.
"Why isn't your other name Fuentes?" she asked.
I stiffened and sighed. "My other name? My name is Zandra. Remember?" I tried to brush it off.
"No, like Daddy's name is Vic Fuentes. I'm Alexandria Fuentes. Why are you different?" she asked sweetly.
"Oh," I muttered. "Sometimes Mommy's and Daddy's just have different names." I tried to explain.
"Auntie Kate and Uncle Kellin both have the same name. Just like Copeland. Roy in my class has the same name as his Mommy and Daddy." I decide to not focus on the fact that one of Alex's five year old chums is named Roy.
"You have to marry someone to have the same name. And I'm not married to your dad."
"Why not?" Alex pouted.
"Daddy is marrying someone else." I blurted out.
"You?" she asked hopefully.
"Not me," I frowned. "He's going to be marry Polly. Remember her?"
"I like Polly." Alex smiled. I feel a little disappoint at hearing this.
"Does that mean that Polly will be my mommy. Like Uncle Kellin is Liam and Rowan's dad?" she asked. At this I puffed out my chest and looked urgently back at her.
"No," I said quickly. "She will never be your mom." I finished before I went to wash out the shampoo.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? What about Zee's family? Katelynne's boys? What will happen when they get back? Will Polly be her new mommy? :)