Off To England

Some time passed an it was finally December. Youth teams had decided to give their players a break. Riley and his teammates appreciated that. Grandpa Nux had found Samantha and told her Riley will talk with her during this break in the presence of his mother. Riley had promised Kiara that he would come to England to spend Christmas with her family.

-Dortmund airport-

"I'd feel really stupid if you drag me all the way to England and you end up not signing with me." Sam said with a hint of frustration. Riley just smiled. He had gotten a little closer to Sam since she came to watch his games and afterwards talk to him. She had replaced grandpa Nux on pick up duty.

"Well if you prove trustworthy and good at your job, you will definitely get me okay." Riley said with a little laugh, which was rare nowadays and Sam had not seen him laugh. He was obviously excited to see his little sisters.

They eventually boarded the plane and it took off towards England. Riley was anticipating a good visit. The plane touched down in England, Liverpool.

They disembarked, and made their way out of the airport. They had met up with a man who held a board with Riley's name on it. He was the guy tasked with picking him up at the airport. Sam was on the phone with her mother who was scolding her for not being home during the festive season.

Sam had booked herself a hotel in Liverpool not that far from Riley's grandparents house and the car dropped her off there. She said her goodbyes to Riley and told him she will see him tomorrow since Kiara had extended the family dinner's invitation to her.

The driver drove for a few more minutes when they entered a very nice looking neighbourhood. Riley liked how clean it was. The car came to a stop in front of a very humble two story house. As Riley got off he saw Kim, the twins au-pair on the phone.

"What? Mom, if she is coming her then she has to be fast. Maybe the family dinner here will move somewhere else." She said to her mom on the phone. Riley waved at her when she saw him and she waved back and continued talking on the phone.

Riley walked towards the door with his suitcase and knocked. The door opened an elderly black woman with a red apron on opened the door. "Uhm… hello." Riley said but the woman recognising him moved faster than a certain french winger and hugged him. Squeezing him so much that Riley marvelled at her strength. "Hello, my grandson. You look as handsome as your grandfather." She said, Riley didn't know whether to laugh or cry, 'Grandpa? He wishes!' Riley thought jokingly.

"Timothy, Kiara come see who has arrived." She called over after releasing the hug. Riley could hear frantic footsteps coming towards them. Kiara didn't think to break as she jumped at Riley after seeing him, also hugging him. The twins also showing up and hugging their brother. Timothy was the only one missing.

"Why are you hugging the boy outside? This is his home too, let him get in." He commanded. The others immediately realised that they hadn't even let Riley in the house. They allowed him in and went to the living room, Riley got there and saw an old white man sitting with another middle aged man. Riley recognised the middle aged man, this was Kiara's husband.

"Hahahaha, Riley my boy!" Timothy said as he got up from the couch. "You look like me in my younger days. Hahahaha" he said as he hugged him. Riley looked over at his grandmother and she nodded with a look that said 'told you so.' Riley just rolled his eyes. "Then you must've been a lady killer back in the days father." Dave Benson said teasingly and that earned him a death stare from Timothy and Ruth.

"Hahahaha, just kidding of course." He laughed awkwardly. Everyone laughed out loud at this man's antics. "Hey Riley, my name is Dave Benson and uhm you can call me father… no uhm just call me whatever way you want to call me." Riley was starting to think this guy is goofy by nature but he nodded. "I think I'll just call you Dave." Riley said with a smile and Dave just chuckled, "Sure"

The room was filled with laughter as Kiara took Riley for a tour around the house and showed him the room he would be using. Riley liked the room and he quickly got comfortable. Tomorrow was Christmas and he was looking forward to it, since it would be the first Christmas he spent with the people who he 'thinks' love him. The day he wanted to come sooner however, is the 26th of December 2022 because Liverpool have a game and his mother had bought them tickets. He was looking forward to the game.

Riley slept for a bit since he was tired but woke up later for supper. The was one extra body in the house, it was a very beautiful girl around his age. He quickly found out that it was Kim's younger sister she had come to spend time with Kim since she couldn't go to her family.

Riley learnt a lot about his family, about how his grandmother and grandfather met. Timothy Johnson was a tourist and he had traveled to South Africa for a tour of the place and met Ruth Khumalo who was their tour guide and he instantly fell in love. They got together and a few years they got married and had two children, a boy and a girl. They were left with one of those kids in Kiara as their son sadly passed away living a daughter. Who was supposed to be present but couldn't because of some of her maternal family's issues.

All in all, this is a loving family and Riley was glad he was part of it. Now he really couldn't wait for Christmas.