Her Triplet Alphas by Joanna J

Chapter 24: Dolls That Look Like Chasity Felby 

Ma marched me into the living room. Pa was sitting on the couch drinking whisky on ice. Dad and Mom sat next to him. Alex and Calix were sitting on the floor with wrapped presents in their laps like children. 

“Sit with your brothers,” instructed Ma. “Get the camcorder, Victor,” she said to Pa. “Camcorder? In this day and age?” Asked Alex, grinning. Pa pulled out his iPhone. *I got a camcorder on this here cellular phone,” Pa informed us. “Where’s Chasity?” Asked Calix. “Where’s the little one?” Demanded Ma. “Go get her, Munch-munch! There’s scorpions in the hay. She could get bitten,” said Pa. “We don’t have a barn, Dad,” said my Dad to Pa. “Well, why the hell not?! You grew up with one,” argued Pa. “CLAUDIA!” Yelled Ma, meaning Chasity. “Veronica, be a dear and go fetch Claudia.” “It’s Ronnie,” said Dad in unison with me saying, “It’s Chasity.” “LITTLE ONE! Where are ya?” Shouted Pa. Chasity came scurrying into the living room. 

“You stay away from that barn, Claudia!” Scolded Pa. “There’s scorpions in the hay. That’s how I spent a Christmas in the hospital when I was a young-un.” 

“Dad, we don’t have a barn,” repeated Dad. “That’s not the point!” Argued Pa. Dad sighed exasperatedly. “The kids need to be safe, Sonny-boy,” cooed Ma. “Claudia, sit on the floor with your big brothers. 

“That one is not our gran,” Pa reminded Ma. “Oh, who is she then?” Asked Ma. “You’re not Claudia?” “No one is named Claudia,” I said through gritted teeth, losing my patience. “Munch-munch, relax,” said Ma sternly. “‘Yeah, Munch-munch, pipe down,” said Pa. “You go first. You’re the eldest.” “Mayor is the eldest,” corrected Ma. “That’s why he’s the Mayor.” “Then why does Munch-munch eat so damn much if he ain’t the eldest?” complained Pa. Calix was beside himself in a fit of stifled laughter. “Hand out the presents to Munch-munch and this little one,” said Pa. 

Ma gave me a present and handed another present to Chasity. I smiled. I was happy they got her something 

“Mayor, open your gift,” said Ma. 

Alex took his time taking the tape off and unfolding the wrapping paper carefully so that it could be preserved. 

“Lord have mercy, I’m old boy. You want me to croak before I see you open your present, Mayor,” complained Pa, despite the fact that werewolves were immortal. 

We were not indestructible though. We could succumb to injuries, a small list of ailments and poisoning with wolfsbane or silver. Other than that, we would go on living indefinitely. 

“Relax, Mayor likes things orderly,” said Ma. “Why aren’t you filming?” “S**t, I forgot,” swore Pa. “Wrap it back and start over.” “You just complained it was taking too long!” Alex reminded Pa. 

I snorted with laughter. I felt Alex’s frustration. Ma took the gift and put the wrapping paper back on with some more tape. Pa started filming Alex opening the gift again. Alex looked at the box he had unwrapped. It was floral print. The label said Meet Henrietta Your New Best Friend peered at the transparent plastic front. It was a doll. 

“Thank you,” said Alex, grinning. He was a pretty good actor. I’d give him that. 

“That’s for the little one. They’re not labelled,” said Ma with a smile. 

“You play with dolls, Boy?” Said Pa. “You sure this is the eldest? This is youngest.” 

“Mayor is the eldest. Claudia is the youngest,” said Ma. “Calix is my youngest,” hissed Mom “You like the doll, Claudia?” Asked Pa. Chasity took the gift. She smiled. “Thank you so much, former Alpha and Luna,” she said politely: 

“Are you presenting at parliament? Girl, call me Pa,” said Pa. 

“It’s a collector’s doll,” gushed Ma. The doll did look expensive. Ma took it out of the box and smoothed its hair. “It looks like you, see, Claudia?” Said Ma. 

The doll was redheaded with her straight hair in pigtails. It had pale, freckled skin and green eyes, and was clad in pink overalls. Chasity had dark blonde curls, golden skin and brown eyes. 

“Claudia,” said Pa. “Next year, no more dolls! You’re getting to be a big girl!” “I swear I don’t even remember this one as a baby. It’s like she just shot up.” said Ma. “She’s not your gran, Ma and Pa. She came here at aged nine,” said Mom. 

“Don’t be rude, Veronica,” said Ma, narrowing her eyes. “We know Claudia is adopted,” hissed Ma in hushed tones. 

“Don’t rub it in,” said Pa. “Edit that part out of the home movie,” instructed Ma. “Ronnie, stop ruining the home movie,” complained Pa. “Chasity is not adopted,” quarrelled Dad, getting defensive over Mom. 

“Sonny-boy, go get me some more whisky. Where’s this man’s whisky?” Said Pa, pointing at Mom’s Dad. 

“No thanks,” chuckled Grandfather. “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” said our super young step-grandmother. “Nothing for her. She’s not the drinking age yet,” said Pa. “Don’t be ridiculous, Pa,” laughed our prepubescent step-grandmother. “I’m thirty-two.” “You told me you were forty,” said Grandfather under his breath. 

Dad went to fetch the whisky with a sigh. Chasity actually seemed quite pleased with her doll. i opened my present next. It was a spider-like contraption that walked all over your body to massage 

you. 

exclaimed in

stressed out,” explained Ma, taking my gift and giving it to

“Thanks, Big Bro,” I said. “Felix is a

with it?” | demanded. “I wanted you named Alexander,” complained Pa. “He’s named Alexander,” said Ma, pointing at Alex. “He’s not. He’s named Alex. Like my name, it’s not short for

said Pa. Dad had his head in his hands. “Thanks so much. Ma and Pa. You’re the best!” Grinned Calix. “Claudia, go ahead,” encouraged Ma. Chasity opened the gift in her lap. It was another gun. “That one is Munch-munch’s gift,” said Ma, giving it to me. I did not need a weapon to ice people but it could come in handy. “Thanks,” I said, flashing them a grin. “Where’s my gun?” Joked Alex. “I feel left out.” Pa pulled another gift out of the sack he had brought. “It’s here,” he said, grinning, handing Alex another gift. “Alex gets two gifts,” complained Calix. Alex painstakingly unwrapped his gun. “You’ll get two gifts when you’re the eldest, Snookers,” cooed Ma. “I’ll never be

real bullets are in here,” said Pa, pulling yet another wrapped gift from the sack. “We got ’em silver and regular. Their skin will just push the regular out if any accidents happen. Now, the silver, be careful with those you hear !” Said Pa, enunciating his last warning.

the real bullets in when you’re playing ok,” cautioned Ma. Ma and Pa were literally

get all of that?” Inquired Ma. “Yeah it’s all on the cellular phone camcorder,” confirmed Pa. “Should we watch it over dessert?” Said Ma.

said Pa dismissively. “Hey, do you want me to film the kids opening your gifts with my camcorder

Calix 

that Chasity slept in the same bed with us. She sometimes slept alone downstairs

is the greatest gift, Chasity, so I want to wake up

Ma and

I was really close to Mom, I was not that close with her Dad and

colourful,” said Chasity as she entered Alex’s

the door, locking it. Alex was sitting at his work desk, typing away on his laptop.

laptop screen. “Pack stuff,” mumbled Alex. “Urgent pack

sneaking suspicion that she liked Alex’s room the best. We seemed to sleep in here the vast majority of the time. It was the neatest room by far, I knew she was afraid of all the eyes in Felix’s paintings and i felt she was biased against my Jurassic Park Sheets because

grandparents all sleeping

Alex’s lap but he had resumed typing. She would sharing

why we opened their presents tonight,” said

for Chasity, repeat. “What are you looking at?” Snapped Felix at me for staring at him. “Nothing much,” I said snidely.

ducked out from under him and put my fists up. Felix jumped to

Alex. I could sense he was one carpet wrinkle away from using his eldest Alpha voice on us. “Don’t fight,” cried Chasity, pouting. She came and stood between us. “Baby,

watch a human movie with her. “I love movies from the

women involved listening intently or acting like you were. Tonight was a night

Chasity playing with the doll she had gotten. She was brushing its hair.

I’m too old for dolls but it’s a

I knew she had missed out on playing with dolls and just being a normal little girl since the day she had come here. Alex was looking at

you see all your presents tomorrow! We went all out!” I exclaimed, grinning. “Thanks,” she said softly. “I got you three presents too.” “Thank you, Baby,” murmured Felix, pulling her onto his lap. “But you didn’t have

sorry. I hope you know that,” added

remember,” said Felix. “What did you get us?” “I made you paper dolls,” she whispered, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “Hey, hey,” said Felix. “Shh, Baby,” he

forehead against Chasity’s. I remembered what she was talking about all

Ago on Christmas Eve

actually We would decorate the house together. Felix liked helping with the lights and Alex liked going around straightening ‘crookedly hung’ decorations. This would be our first Christmas with the new girl. Chasity. She had come to live with us all of a sudden. It was weird. She came out of nowhere. She just showed up on our doorstep one day out of the blue. Her parents dropped her off. Our parents said she was not to be our playmate,

her tiny room, cutting up some paper. She was making paper dolls. She was colouring them in. They were us: Me, Felix and Alex. There was a lourth one. A little paper doll Chasity. They were cute but I could not adnut to liking them. My brothers would

Wer 

presents. Chasity was helping the current cook with making

won’t ever need to hire a cook, sald Dad while he and Mom cuddled near the fireplace.

the cook served breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, Christmas ham, a pitcher maple syrup, a stick of salted butter, toast, bagels with cream cheese, chocolate chip muffins. The list went on and on. I ate until/was

and Dad had gotten us every toy we had asked for. Calix was ripping open his gifts in record time. I unwrapped mine carefully, preserving

had made paper doll versions

don’t play with dolls,”

could play with them together,” suggested Chasity. “See this one is mine,” she said, showing him the

and held it up high so she couldn’t get it. She did not jump for it, she just watched

I don’t want to play with you,” she said, frowning. Felix scowled. He threw the paper doll version

playing with dolls, Baby

threw it in the fire. Chasity was upset. She ran up the stairs. I quickly put my paper doll