Page 69 of Full Court Crush
“I’m not going to pretend to understand all the ins and outs of it, but it certainly looks fun,” Uncle Frank said, and chuckled.
“It really is. It’s a dream job,” she said, thinking back to the trainers her father bought her.
“We’re all so proud of you, you know. All the kids tell their friends at school that their cousin is a big-shot basketball player.”
“I’d hardly call it that.” She looked down at her glass, swirling it slightly in her hand.
“Hey, don’t put yourself down like that. Playing sport professionally is a big deal.”
“Thank you.” Keira accepted the compliment with a smile.
“Don’t worry, kid, we’ve always got your back. We’re all going to come and watch one of your games soon.” Uncle Frank gave her a wink. “Oh, hang on a sec — oi, trouble!”
He quickly disappeared off to rescue the Christmas tree from one of the younger children. Keira settled on a spare armrest and surveyed the scene.
It was chaotic, sure, but it was the best kind of chaos. Her mind drifted to Amelia, whose family life sounded…less than ideal. She wondered if Amelia was aware of what she had missed out on. Keira had never seen either of Amelia’s parents in the stands at one of their games, but, then again, she didn’t know what they looked like — Amelia had no pictures of them in her house, other than the one from when Amelia was a child. She imagined their appearance had changed quite a bit since then.
A while later, Keira’s phone vibrated in her pocket, and she pulled it out. Sonia had sent an early morning selfie of herself in a gaudy Christmas jumper. The reindeer on it had a nose that actually lit up. A pair of fluffy antlers sat on her head.
Merry Christmas from across the pond!
Keira smiled and sent back a selfie, though she wished she’d worn something a bit more festive than jeans and a hoodie.
You too!
She exited the message and her gaze immediately dropped to the message chain below it. The one with Amelia. Her fingers hovering over it, she wondered if she should reply to the invitation from the night before.
“Dinner’s ready!” Auntie Carol shouted from the doorway, causing a stampede towards the kitchen. Keira put her phone back in her pocket and followed them, but her mind remained with the messages.
The spacious kitchen diner had a large extendable table at full stretch, as well as an additional folding table, and the countertops were laden with a mouthwatering feast. There was a succulent-looking boiled ham, a turkey, and a giant bowl of potatoes roasted to perfection. There was also a multitude of sides, and Keira had no idea how anyone was expected to get it all on their plate. Each place setting had a Christmas cracker, which some of the children had already picked up and begun having sword fights with, despite their parents’ best attempts to get them to quiet down.
They formed a haphazard line, with her father at the front, of everyone serving themselves and any young children before taking their places at the table. Keira feared for the safety of the folding table with the younger kids around it, their excited swinging legs threatening to take out the supports at any moment. Only the youngest child in attendance, an eighteen-month-old, sat at the bigger table. Safely strapped into a high chair, they banged the table tray in excitement.
Keira sat next to her father, who hadn’t stopped grinning since they’d arrived. He’d helped himself to a small amount of everything, and was already examining his cracker, trying to work out what was inside.
“Has everyone got everything?” Auntie Carol asked
“Yes.”
“Yep.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Great! Time for crackers!” Auntie Carol picked up hers and extended it to Uncle Frank, who sat next to her. They formed a cross-armed chain around the table, and everyone pulled simultaneously. Little bangs went off everywhere, and the prizes inside flew across the table. Keira reached out and removed a plastic bag containing a small pack of cards from her mashed potato.
Her father was already unfolding his Christmas hat and placing it on his head, with many others following suit. The children tried, but the hats were too big and kept falling down over their eyes, making them giggle.
“Cheers, everyone!” Uncle Frank raised his glass.
“Cheers!” everyone chorused and took a drink before digging into their food. Different conversations spun up around the table, partially drowned out by the noisy laughter at the children’s table as they talked about all the presents Santa had bought them.
Keira felt more relaxed than she had been in a long time, but she couldn’t help thinking about Amelia back in Cardiff, probably halfway through a twelve-hour Christmas Day shift. She wasn’t celebrating with family, but trying to make the Christmas days of all her young patients a little better, while allowing colleagues to celebrate withtheirfamilies. Keira knew she had little presents tucked away in her locker for all of them. Keira had helped her with the bows on their way to the last fateful away game.
Her dad was deep in conversation with Uncle Frank on the other side of him, which allowed Keira to get her phone out under the table without seeming too antisocial. She opened the message chain with Amelia and read her last text again, hovering her fingers over the keyboard. This time, surrounded by reminders of how much better life was when she let people in, she typed out a message.
I’m not going to lie, I’m still…I don't know. But…yeah, friends sounds good. I think we still need to clear the air. I’m free tomorrow, if you felt like going for that walk?
She only hesitated slightly before pressing send. Almost immediately, the weight lodged between her shoulder blades lifted, and she could breathe. She smiled, and rejoined the conversations going on around the table. She even laughed at Uncle Frank’s awful Christmas cracker joke. During a lull in conversation, her dad leaned over and whispered to her.