A Place Of Hope And No Pain (Avenged Sevenfold)

Chapter 79

Chloe's POV

I was surprised, Christmas was working out so well. Everyone was here, we were having fun. Matt's parents were going out of their way to make Harper and I feel welcome and I appreciated that, a lot. Matt's Mom had even been accepting of our engagement and that settled my nerves a lot, it would seem his family was accepting me after all.

Well everything was going well, until the doorbell rang. I went to answer it, wondering who it could be and also wondering if Matt failed to tell me about someone else who was coming for lunch, maybe one of the guy's.

I opened the door and there was Lucy, standing there looking smug with an armload of gifts.

"I'm here." She said, pushing her way in and that was it, no hello, no nothing.

I watched her walk in, announcing her arrival to everyone and I was pleased to see they were all as shocked as me. I was hoping no one had invited her and it seemed that they hadn't.

Of course she went out of her way to make sure that Harper and I knew we weren't included in her gift giving, not that that bothered me, I just took Harper and we went into the kitchen. The bitch was purposefully trying to ruin my Christmas.

Matt and his Mother eventually joined us in the kitchen and they made a collective decision to announce our engagement at lunch. I thought that was a bad idea, I knew Lucy would probably make a scene about it and I wanted to at least mildly enjoy the rest of Christmas.

"Oh." She said as we walked back into the living room. "I forgot one present in the car, I'll be right back."

I glared at her back as she walked out, wishing she would suddenly disappear, preferably forever.

"Fuck." Matt hissed, throwing himself onto the couch and pulling me next to him.

I kind of didn't want to sit there, knowing bitch face would be back in a minute, but everyone was looking at me.

I held out my arm's and Harper climbed onto my lap. watching the boys ooh and aah over the ridiculously expensive gifts Lucy had given to them.

"Matt." I hissed softly, so nobody else would hear. "The engagement, we shouldn't announce it now."

"Bullshit." He whispered back and at that moment, as Lucy walked back inside I decided we were announcing our fucking engagement, we were going to take a headline in the fucking newspaper.

"Here you go." She announced, holding a fluffy white puppy out to the boys.

I wanted to slap the bitch, now she was trying to piss my dog off and I'd had enough.

"I didn't think you could have dogs at your place?" Matt asked her as the boys went crazy over the puppy.

"Oh I can't." She said smiling at me. "It's for here."

I glanced at my poor Lucy and she was standing there with a what the fuck look on her face, then she turned and walked out of the room. My pup's feelings were hurt.

"And what." Matt snapped. "You never thought of asking?" And he glanced at me.

I was sure my face was red, I was fuming. You could fuck with me, but don't fuck with my daughter or my dog.

Of course that brought on a bout of whingeing from the boys, begging their father to let them keep the puppy but I just ignored it all, walking out to check on my Lucy.

"Mommy." Harper called, following me. "That puppy is dumb."

I walked into the kitchen and Lucy was staring out the glass doors, looking upset. If my dog was one thing, it was dramatic.

"Baby." I cooed to her, covering her faces in kisses. "Now Harper, it's not the puppy's fault." And it wasn't, it was that dumb bitches fault.

"I know." Harper said, joining me in showering Lucy in affection.

"Lucy." I cooed. "You have a new friend, to play with." And her ears perked up.

I knew that it wouldn't take long and Lucy would be showing the puppy the ropes and letting her know who the boss was too.

"Come on." I said to Harper, opening the door and letting Lucy out. "We had better set another place at the table."

"Yeah well." Harper said, helping me. "I don't much like Jackson and Ryder's Mommy."

"Me neither." I muttered to myself, fixing up the table.

I went back to the kitchen, lunch was just about ready and I went about taking things into the table. Matt's Mom came out to help me and I appreciated it.

"Look at her." She said, looking out the window at Lucy the dog, who was sitting there, still looking hurt.

I shrugged. "She'll be okay." I told her. "Now tell everyone to come to the table."

She turned and smiled widely at me. "Oh I will." She chuckled. "And I kind of can't wait."

Yeah, I couldn't wait either, I was dying to see that bitches face when she found out we were engaged.

Everyone got up and made their way to table, sitting down, getting comfortable.

"Put the dog down." Matt told Jackson as he sat at the table clutching the pup.

"Fifi." Jackson announced. "Her name is Fifi."

"Whatever." Matt muttered, reaching under the table and squeezing my knee. "Put Fifi down."

He put Fifi on the floor and I couldn't help but smile as the tiny puppy tottered off, exploring the house, no doubt she would run into Lucy soon and learn the rules of the house.

"Well." Lucy said as she sat at MY table, stuffing her face with MY food. "It's not as good as last year."

Of course it fucking wasn't. I knew she would have to bring up when her and Matt were together, I mean it wouldn't be normal if she hadn't.

"Well I think it's better." Matt's Mom said, smiling at me. "Matt is sober and." She looked at us and raised her eyebrow's. "And now he has Chloe."

Matt shifted in his seat and took hold of my hand. This was it, he was going to do it.

He squeezed my hand lightly. "Speaking of Chloe."  And he smiled as Lucy the dog wandered in followed closely by Fifi, who I might add was looking at Lucy like she was some kind of god.

Lucy the bitch snorted at the sight and I smiled, her plan to upset the household had failed once again and I sat there squeezing Matt's hand, encouraging him to go on.

"Well." He said, smiling at me once again. "Chloe and I are engaged."

I sat there smiling as the table exploded with congratulations and I was pleased to see Jackson and Ryder were excited about it, it made me feel so much better.

"The ink is hardly dry." Lucy snapped, glaring at me and ignoring all of the congratulations.

"Oh well." Matt's Mom piped up, smirking at Lucy. "Matt's finally happy, you should be glad."

She snorted, not daring to argue with Matt's mother, but she was fuming, she really was.

I felt pretty damn satisfied with her reaction, she deserved to have it rubbed in her face, but as I sat there I couldn't help but wonder if there'd be revenge and looking at Lucy I knew there would be.

She'd do something for sure.