9. Riley
9
RILEY
R iley was at work, wondering why Dr. Everett was being more chatty than normal. She didn’t mind it too much; the two had always gotten along well. Dr. Everett had moved from England a couple of years ago and often had bold ideas that matched Riley’s own innovations. However, while the two would occasionally chit-chat, most of their conversations were work-related.
Now, though, Dr. Everett was getting personal. Riley typically tried to keep her work and personal life separate. Which was funny if she thought about it, since lately she had been failing to do that with Jett.
Dr. Everett was talking about Jett’s new niece, showing pictures to Riley, and talking about any updates in the little girl’s life. Not that there was much since Emma was only a week old.
Riley smiled as Dr. Everett talked to her, but she couldn’t help the unnerving feeling that she felt any time Dr. Everett would talk about what was going on in her family. Riley felt like an outsider, and she wondered what she had done to make Dr. Everett no longer feel that way. She supposed it had something to do with a particular tall and dark-haired firefighter paramedic,
“So, anyway, every Sunday we typically meet at Maria, Jett’s mom’s, house for lunch and hang out the entire day until supper, but she’s been too busy being a new grandma and spending time with her son and daughter and law. So Becky and I decided to host it at our house this coming up Sunday instead,” Dr. Everett said.
Riley nodded, passively wondering why Dr. Everett was telling her this.
“Anyway, I know that Becky is going to invite Jett,” Dr. Everett said, “but we’re expecting to see you there, too.”
Riley choked on air. Being invited to a family gathering? There was no way that was real.
“What?” Riley said. “I can’t—” She was interrupted by Dr. Everett raising her hand in front of Riley’s face.
“No,” she said, “now that you and Jett are together, you’re part of the family.”
Jett and Riley together? They had never told anyone that they were together—hell, the two of them had never decided they were together. This had to be some kind of mistake. Dr. Everett must just be assuming things.
“We’re not together,” Riley said.
Dr. Everett rolled her eyes and shot her a quick glare. “Right,” she said, unconvinced, “you just spend all of your off time together, flirt with each other in public and sleep together. But sure, you’re not together.”
Lucinda Everett wasn’t born yesterday.
Riley’s head was racing. She didn’t flirt with Jett in public, or at least she didn’t think she did. But maybe all of the looks and smiles were more noticeable than she had thought.
“I don’t think people who aren’t together stay for the seven-hour labor of someone’s niece,” Dr. Everett said, “which is exactly what Becky told me happened. She even said you stayed to wait for Jett after everyone else left. But whatever, if you want to say that you’re not together, fine, but you’re still coming to my house Sunday. You can pretend you aren’t together if you like!”
Riley looked at Dr. Everett, wide-eyed. She didn’t know what to do or say. She supposed the only thing really to do was to agree with her in order to avoid further argument, but she didn’t know how Jett felt about all of that.
“Okay,” Riley said, “but I’ll only go if Jett asks me, I don’t want to overstep.” She had no clue if that would or would not happen, but at least she wouldn’t show up at a family gathering where the woman she was most likely falling in love with didn’t want her there.
“Oh, she will,” Dr. Everett said with full confidence, and Riley just nodded, a little stunned at the invitation, before Dr. Everett started talking about her cats and getting photos up on her phone.
That’s lesbians for you , Riley thought to herself.
Riley let her talk about her beloved cats, Mr Sweetie Pants and Mr Toodle Rabbit, giving nods and hums where it was appropriate, but her mind was reeling. She was invited to a family gathering. She hadn’t participated in any family events since she was a kid, and even then no matter how much her foster families tried to make her feel welcome, they were always just temporary families, and she always felt out of place.
She didn’t know how she felt about going to Dr. Everett and her wife’s house, but she decided she would worry about that later. After all, it was only Tuesday, and she had until Sunday before the event, if Jett even invited her.
* * *
Because of their shifts, the next time Riley saw Jett was on Thursday. The two decided to meet at the bar after work for a couple of drinks, and when Jett texted Riley, she also said she had something she wanted to talk about.
Riley was nervous about that. She didn’t know what Jett wanted to talk about, but in her previous relationships and flings, wanting to talk usually meant something bad, or a breakup.
When Riley got to the bar, just like last time, Jett was already there, so Riley joined her at her table.
Jett looked beautiful, her short dark hair slicked back, she was wearing tight jeans and a casual shirt in a beautiful shade of blue with buttons undone that revealed a hint of her breasts that Riley couldn’t stop her gaze going to.
Jett had on some mascara and it made her eyes even more magnetic.
“Hey,” Riley said, sitting down.
Jett smiled at her; it was a happy smile, not a strained one, which settled Riley’s nerves slightly.
“You look beautiful,” Riley said and she watched as Jett blushed.
“Thanks,” Jett said, pushing over a glass. “I already bought you a drink. It’s a vodka cranberry like last time, but if you don’t like it, or want something else, let me know and I’ll get it for you.”
Riley smiled. Okay, Jett definitely seemed nervous, and Riley really didn’t want to beat around the bush and make either of them wait any longer for whatever was on Jett’s mind.
“So,” Riley started, “what did you want to talk to me about?”
Jett smiled, but this time it was slightly strained, and Riley’s belly fluttered with nerves.
“So, my family has a lunch and supper every Sunday, and my Aunt Becky was wondering if you would like to join us this week,” Jett said.
Oh, it was that. Riley felt silly for being so nervous, but when she thought about Jett’s words, she realized that Jett didn’t say anything about her wanting her there.
“Do you want me to come?” Riley asked. “Or is it just your aunt?”
Jett looked taken aback. “I mean, I would love it if you came,” she said, “but only if you want to.”
“Well,” Riley said, “Dr. Everett already asked me to come and I said I would if you invited me, so I kind of have to.”
Jett laughed. “Well, as persuasive as Lucinda can be, you really don’t have to if you don’t want.”
“No, it’s fine,” Riley said. “If you’ll have me, I’d love to come.”
Jett smiled. “Perfect,” she said. “Plus you’ll get to see the baby.”
Riley nodded. “Oh, I’m excited.”
“Perfect,” Jett said again. “I’ll pick you up around noon.”
Riley took a sip of her drink feeling nerves building deep in her belly. “That sounds great.”
* * *
Riley was definitely nervous as she got ready Sunday. She took a shower and started getting dressed over an hour before Jett was supposed to pick her up. When she was done, she sat on her couch and tuned on the TV.
Jett had told her that she didn’t have to worry about bringing any food, which was good because Jett knew that Riley was a terrible cook and Riley had no clue what she would have made anyway.
When Jett finally got to Riley’s apartment, she knocked on the door and Riley immediately answered. Part of her was more than ready to get this over with, but she was also curious and wanted to learn more about Jett and her family. From what little she had already seen, Jett’s family seemed incredibly close. Riley didn’t know how she was going to fit into that kind of gathering, but she liked that there were so many strong women in Jett’s family and she already knew Lucinda Everett well.
“You ready?” Jett asked with a breathtaking smile.
“I think so,” Riley said.
“Nervous?” Jett asked. Of course she would clock that.
“A bit,” Riley said, although she hated to admit it.
“Don’t worry,” Jett said. “You’ll be fine. And fair warning, my family members like to tease each other a lot. I don’t think they’ll do or say anything to you, but if they do and you’re not comfortable, just say something. Though I do hope you’re okay with hugs, because you will probably get hugged around a dozen times.”
Riley gulped. She wasn’t a hugger, or generally a very affectionate person, but she could do this. She helped people survive horrific injuries; she could meet and interact with Jett’s family. After all, she had already met almost everyone who was going to be there at least once and she worked with a third of them. This wouldn’t be too difficult, she told herself, taking deep breaths.
Riley and Jett talked in the car on the way to Becky and Lucinda’s house. It wasn’t about anything important, just whatever each of them could think about, but it helped calm Riley’s nerves. And when Jett pulled into her aunt’s driveway, Riley was laughing at some lame joke Jett told.
Jett smiled at Riley and even got out to open her car door. Riley blushed slightly, but tried to hide it. She definitely wasn’t used to other people doing things for her, but there was something about Jett doing something for her that made her heart flutter.
“I made sweet tea, baked mac and cheese, and blueberry muffins,” Jett said. “They’re in the backseat and if you don’t mind helping me carry them in, I’d appreciate it.”
“Of course,” Riley said, immediately going to help.
It was a juggling act. Riley didn’t want to be the one to open the door, so she balanced the muffins on top of the casserole dish holding the macaroni and cheese, and Jett carried the sweet tea so that she could open her Aunt Becky’s front door.
Riley followed Jett into the house and saw Becky, Lucinda, Ember, and a little girl who looked exactly like Ember sitting in the living room talking. She looked outside through the sliding patio doors and saw Jett’s mom and an unfamiliar man talking in lawn chairs.
Riley set down the food where Jett showed her, and followed Jett as the other woman walked into the living room to face her extended family.
“So,” Jett said, “where are Hannah and Josephine?”
“Josephine is coming over later,” Ember said. “She just has a little bit of paperwork left, but it shouldn’t take her long.”
“And Hannah is in the bathroom breastfeeding,” Becky said.
Jett looked confused. “Why the bathroom?”
Becky shrugged her shoulders. “Beats me,” she said. “I told her she could breastfeed out here. It’s nothing any of us haven’t seen before.”
“And I offered to let her use my old bedroom,” Ember said, “but she said no.”
“I’m sure she’s fine, though,” Becky said. “New mothers are still figuring it all out.”
Lucinda smiled and laughed a little. “I don’t know how you all did it,” Lucinda looked to Becky and Ember. “I’m still figuring it all out and I think having a baby would have tipped me over the edge!”
Everyone laughed at that, and Riley found herself smiling.
As soon as she did, she made eye contact with Lucinda, who immediately stood up and walked toward Riley.
“Riley,” she said, lightly patting her on the shoulder, “it’s good to see you here.”
“Thanks,” Riley said. “It’s good to be here.”
“Who are you?” the little girl with wild red hair who was sitting in Ember’s lap asked.
“I’m Riley,” Riley said. “I work with Dr. Everett over here and I’m friends with Jett.” At the mention of being friends, Riley saw at least two eye rolls.
“You can call me Lucinda,” Lucinda said. “And friends, really?”
Riley was a little frozen and stunned, but she didn’t know how else to respond, so she just nodded, resulting in more eye rolls. But her and Jett had never talked about what to call their relationship. Sure, meeting the family had always been something that Riley had thought of as something you do with your girlfriend, but the two of them still hadn’t labeled their relationship.
Riley looked to Jett to see if she said the right thing, but when she looked at Jett, she had an unreadable expression on her face and then sighed.
“Can you all just leave it?” Jett asked. “Really.”
“Okay,” Jett’s aunt, Becky, said. “I’m sorry if we’ve made you uncomfortable. Would you two like to sit and talk with us?”
“Actually,” Jett said, “I was thinking about introducing Riley to Brody. And then, hopefully Hannah will be out by the time we’re done.”
“Okay,” Ember said, “but we’ll see you back inside in a little bit.”
Jett nodded and led Riley to the back patio. When they arrived outside, Riley saw Jett’s mom sitting on a patio chair and in the patio chair beside her was a man she didn’t know.
The two of them were looking into the backyard away from the house, having a conversation that Riley couldn’t hear. The only reason she knew they were talking was because Jett’s mom’s mouth was moving and the man was nodding along even though Riley couldn’t see his face very well.
“Hey guys,” Jett said, interrupting the inaudible conversation. The man turned in his chair to look at Jett and Riley, and when Riley saw him, she was shocked with how similar to Jett he looked. He also had sharp, angular features and short dark hair. Though his hair was styled in a more masculine fashion and his jaw was a little more square with a bit of stubble on his cheeks.
Riley knew that this man was Jett’s brother from Jett talking about him, but looking at him she would have been able to tell even if she hadn’t said anything, they looked that similar.
Looking at Jett’s mom, Riley realized that the two Thompson siblings must have taken after their dad. Their mom was a lot softer, less muscular, and her features were not as sharp. Also, she had lighter brown hair that was starting to gray.
Brody looked at Riley and looked at Jett and smiled wide before he stood up.
“Hey bro,” he said, wrapping Jett in a hug and Riley watched Jett hug him back. “Who’s this?” Brody asked, pulling away, and looking at Riley again. Riley felt the intense pressure to make a good impression with Jett’s family, but she wasn’t exactly sure how to do that.
So Riley held out her hand for a shake and smiled, albeit a little awkwardly. “Hi, I’m Riley,” she said, but instead of shaking her hand, Brody looked at Jett with a laughing smile.
“She’s my friend,” Jett said as way of an explanation.
Brody laughed. “Yeah, okay,” he said. “Whatever you say, little bro.” He turned back to Riley and opened his arms.
Riley didn’t even have time to brace for the hug that Brody gave her, but she tried her best to accept it. Riley wasn’t very familiar with affection, but it was clear that the Thompson family had no such issues, so Riley hugged back.
Brody pulled away after a short moment. “Any friend of Jett’s is family,” he said, putting an emphasis on the word friend and Riley blushed a little while Jett smacked her brother’s arm and he laughed.
“What?” Brody asked Jett. “You called her your friend, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“You’re going to make her uncomfortable,” Jett said, looking at Riley.
Riley was honestly a little uncomfortable, but people knowing about their relationship was not why. She felt a little bit like she was invading on Jett’s family and playing girlfriend when she didn’t know if that’s what she was or not.
“It’s okay,” Riley said. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“See,” Brody said, vindicated. “Besides, you’re my bro; I have to tease you.”
Jett laughed, and so did Riley. She didn’t know how siblings were supposed to act, but this was definitely not what she imagined. She liked it, however; it seemed like the two of them really loved each other even as Jett smacked her brother’s arm.
“Anyway, when you two get married, you do have to let me be the maid of honor,” Brody said.
Jett choked on laughter. “Yeah right.”
“Oh, come on,” Brody said. “We both know that you don’t have actual friends to make into your bridesmaid.”
Jett gasped, mock offended, before she stuck her tongue out at her brother. “Fine,” she said, “but only if you wear a dress.”
“Okay,” Brody said with a completely serious expression on his face, “but you better know I’ll steal the show. I’m gonna rock that dress so hard all the girls will cry.”
Jett laughed and so did Riley. The idea was too funny. But she was also starting to get a little worried. Here Jett and Brody were talking about marriage and Riley didn’t even know where their relationship stood. Was that normal banter between siblings, or did Jett see more of a relationship with Riley than she let on?
Riley looked at Jett’s mom, who was watching her children argue and rolling her eyes. She caught Riley’s eye and smiled. “Just ignore them,” she said. “Those two are rarely ever serious.”
“Oh, I’m serious about this one,” Jett argued. “If I ever get married, I’m making him wear a dress.”
“I am also serious,” Brody said. “I’m going to look hot as fuck in said dress.”
Jett’s mom rolled her eyes again and looked back at Riley to smile again. She walked over to Riley, who was able to prepare herself for a hug this time. Jett’s mom’s hugs were definitely weaker than her brother’s, and it was a short hug, to Riley’s relief.
“It’s good to see you again, sweetheart,” Jett’s mom and Riley immediately understood where Jett got the calling her sweetheart thing from.
Riley smiled. “It’s good to see you again, too,” she said, and then looked back to Brody, who was still teasing Jett.
“Oh, and congratulations on the baby,” Riley said.
Brody stopped his smacking war with Jett and turned to Riley with a wide, happy, new-father smile. “Thanks,” he said. “She’s absolutely beautiful. Though it’s kind of crazy to realize that I’m now a dad. I had nine months to prepare and it still doesn’t feel real.”
Riley smiled as Brody reached for his phone and offered to show Riley some pictures of the baby, Emma, and she let him show her every picture he had taken—and there were a lot.
The baby was beautiful and although Riley wasn’t sure she was saying the right things, she did her best.
“Speaking of Emma…” Jett’s mom said after Brody finished showing Riley the pictures. “Hannah is in the living room right now, so why don’t we join them?” she asked and pointed through the glass patio doors to the living room where a young woman with long brown curly hair was holding an infant.
Brody saw his wife and his face lit up. “Good idea,” he said.
The four of them walked back inside and Becky looked up at them from the couch as Riley closed the patio doors behind her.
“It’s about time you two came back in,” Becky said. “What on Earth were you all doing?”
“Brody was showing Riley pictures of Emma,” Jett said.
Becky laughed and nodded. “Oh yeah, that’ll keep him going for a while.”
Riley walked over to where Hannah was standing, in order to introduce herself.
“Hi,” Riley said, a little nervous, “I’m Riley.”
“She’s Jett’s friend ,” Brody said.
Becky laughed and pointed at Jett. “See, even your brother sees it and you expect us not to?” she asked.
Jett’s face was burning bright red. “Oh, shut up.”
Riley was definitely unfamiliar with this kind of family dynamic—the close proximity, conversations, teasing, and telling one another off. She looked around at everyone else and they all seemed incredibly comfortable.
“It’s nice to meet you, Riley,” Hannah said. “I’m Hannah.”
Riley smiled and looked at the baby in Hannah’s arms. She gave the infant a tiny wave.
“Your daughter is beautiful,” Riley said, and Hannah smiled.
“Thank you,” Hannah said. “Would you like to hold her?”
Riley was shocked that a practical stranger would entrust her to hold her baby, but she also really wanted to.
“I haven’t held a baby that tiny in so long,” Riley said, “so I should probably sit down if I do.”
“There’s an empty chair right there,” Becky said, pointing out a forest green armchair.
“You can sit right there and I’ll put Emma in your arms,” Hannah said.
“Thank you,” Riley said, her heart warming. She sat in the chair at the same time as Ember’s text tone went off and she went to check her phone.
As Ember was reading her text messages, Hannah put Emma into Riley’s arms, and Riley looked at the tiny baby that she was holding. She looked like she was half between asleep and awake, her eyes fluttering open every so often.
“So Josephine just texted me,” Ember said. “She’s going to be here in about twenty to thirty minutes, but she said it’s okay if we start eating before her.”
Becky scoffed and wrapped her arm around Lucinda’s neck. “I can wait half an hour to eat. I think we all can,” she said and then looked at Hannah, “except you, Momma. If you’re hungry you go eat.”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m good right now,” she said, pulling away from Riley and sitting at another chair.
Riley looked at Emma and smiled sweetly.
Becky pointed at Riley. “You better be careful holding that one,” she said, “or you’ll be wanting one.”
Riley shook her head and felt herself blushing. “I don’t think so,” she said, “I don’t think I’d make a good enough Mom.” And it was true. As perfect and precious as the tiny baby was, Riley would be terrified if she had one herself. She had no Mom to look up to herself as a child, so what would make her think that was something she could be to a tiny baby?
“Oh, you’ll change your mind,” Becky chuckled, good naturedly.
Sometimes she did wish that she had a sibling in the way that Jett did. Riley would love to be an aunt and a helper sometimes. Though, if she was honest, babies and children did scare her somewhat. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do, and she was terrified of the idea of being alone and something happening to the kid.
But she was definitely happy to hold Jett’s niece.
* * *
While waiting for Josephine to show up, everyone started talking about all kinds of things, and the conversation pulled into about ten directions. Riley couldn’t keep up, even though she tried to at first. She didn’t want to talk and wake up the baby or have her start crying, so she just tried to listen. But after a while she gave up on that, opting to get distracted looking at Emma.
When Dr. Josephine Mars finally arrived immaculate in dark pants and a cream colored blouse, she came into a bustling living room smiling but looking exhausted.
“Paperwork get to you?” Ember asked.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Josephine said before she went to sit in her wife’s lap and gave her a quick kiss.
Natalie looked at them like she was used to it, but then scrunched up her face.
“You know you’re going to get cooties like that,” Natalie said.
“Nuh-uh,” Ember said.
“Yuh-huh,” Natalie nodded.
“No,” Ember said, “because only boys can give you cooties.”
“That’s not true,” Natalie said. “My teacher said that anyone can give you cooties.”
Lucinda and Becky were both laughing at this interaction, but stopped when Natalie turned on them and pointed at Becky, who still had her arm around Lucinda.
“You’re going to get cooties too,” she said.
“Well you see, little girl, we’re married,” Becky said. “And if you’re married, your wife can’t give you cooties.”
“Really?” Natalie asked, but it didn’t sound like she was buying it.
“Yes really,” Becky said. “That’s why you can get cooties, ‘cause you’re too young to get married.”
Natalie frowned. “I guess so,” she said and everyone had a good chuckle, though her moms just rolled their eyes.
Riley found that she really loved watching everyone interact. She never really got this growing up, and even though she was a little uncomfortable and didn’t always know how to react or what she was supposed to do, she felt accepted amongst the Thompson Family. Jett’s family certainly was something else. Riley kind of wished that she had had that kind of upbringing growing up, but she also knew that she was the way she was because of how she grew up, the bad and the good.
“Since Momma’s here, does that mean we can eat now?” Natalie asked.
“Sure thing, little munchkin,” Becky said, moving to stand up.
Hannah walked over to Riley and Emma and looked like she was about to get the infant back, but Riley shook her head.
“If you want, I can hold her while you go eat,” Riley said. “And you can pick her back up when you’re done.”
Hannah looked at Riley and had a relieved expression on her face.
Riley could only imagine how difficult it was to be a new mom, and how difficult it must be to try to balance a baby and a plate of food.
“Thank you so much,” Hannah said. “I’d really appreciate that.”
Riley smiled and everyone left to go to the kitchen to get food. Well, everyone except Riley and Jett and Emma. While everyone else was walking to the kitchen, Jett walked over to Riley and sat on the floor in front of her.
Jett smiled warmly. “You know,” she said, “that was really sweet of you.”
Riley shrugged. “I just wanted to help,” she said, and then whispered, “Plus I think I’m starting to get really attached to Emma.”
Jett laughed and smiled. “As you should,” she said. “I do have the best niece, after all.”
Riley smiled and looked down at Emma’s peaceful sleeping face again. “You sure do,” she said, and after that, the two of them sat in silence, just watching the baby and occasionally glancing at one another with smiles on their faces.
When Hannah came back having eaten, Riley tried not to show how reluctant she was to give her baby back. She waved at the little thing once more and smiled at Hannah.
“Thank you,” Hannah said.
“Oh, I was happy to do it,” Riley said, and then she and Jett walked to the kitchen together, passing the dining room where everyone else was finishing up their food and talking.
Riley wasn’t used to eating this well, so she grabbed a little bit of everything, as it all looked and smelled so delicious.
When she and Jett went to the dining room they were welcomed by everyone but Brody, Hannah, and Emma, who were in the living room once again. And, once again, Riley felt a little overwhelmed and out of place.
“That hungry?” Becky asked, pointing at Riley’s overflowing plate.
“It all looked so good,” Riley said. “I wanted a little bit of everything.”
Becky laughed. “Well at least you’ve got a good appetite, but I’m sure your food is good too.”
Riley paled a little. “I, um, I actually can’t cook,” she said.
Becky looked a little shocked, but not judgmental. “Really?”
“No one ever taught me,” Riley explained.
“Well, I’m sure Jett would love to teach you sometime,” Becky said. “She’s a great cook.”
Jett looked surprised, like she was wondering why she hadn’t thought of that before. “Oh yeah,” she said, looking kindly at Riley, “I would love to teach you sometime.”
“Thank you,” Riley said, smiling back. “I’d like that.”
She was still trying to make a good impression, but she wasn’t prepared for this. She barely knew what the word family meant and she definitely hadn’t expected to be treated like it. Even though everyone dialed back a little bit with Riley, there was still teasing, jokes, and inappropriate questions.
“Do you guys use toys ?” Becky looked at Jett and then Riley, deadly serious.
Once Riley realized what kind of toys Becky was meaning, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her up.
“Oh my God, Aunt Becky,” Jett said, covering her face. “I’m begging you, please shut up.”
“I’m just saying,” Becky said. “Wicked Orchid have just opened a store in Phoenix Ridge and they give discounts for healthcare workers and first responders and they have an amazing range for lesbians, I must say, don’t they, baby. I mean just last week we picked up their new…” she smiled cheekily at Lucinda who laughed back at her.
“Becky!” she admonished. “I don’t think Jett and Riley want to know about which toys we have!”
Riley laughed uncomfortably. She couldn’t believe that they were just talking about this at the dinner table. Even if Jett seemed mortified, the rest of the family didn’t seem to be.
“I definitely don’t want to know about your toys !” Jett exclaimed.
“Normally I wouldn’t want to know either,” Ember said, “but I could definitely deal with a discount right now!”
“Oh my God,” Jett complained once again, “Riley is never going to want to come back here ever again.”
“Ah, nonsense,” Becky said. “The woman has been elbow-deep in blood. I doubt a little sex talk is going to scare her off.”
Becky certainly was a character, and as the day wore on, Riley found herself enjoying the older woman’s company and getting to know her more.
Riley had always liked Lucinda when they worked together. They often both had unusual and innovative ideas, and Lucinda was not afraid to call out nurses or even other doctors when they were being idiots. And while Riley tried to keep her personal life separate from her work life, Lucinda had no problem talking about whatever was on her mind.
Becky seemed to have a similar, nothing-is-off-bounds view of conversation. And as Riley watched her and Lucinda interact it was clear that the two of them loved each other very much. In fact, every relationship in Jett’s family seemed to be working well, and everyone seemed to be deeply in love. It made Riley wonder, why hadn’t Jett asked her to be her girlfriend yet?
Did Jett not want that kind of relationship?
Riley wasn’t sure what she wanted in a relationship, but she found herself falling for Jett the more she learned about her, even though she was scared about making it official. All of her past relationships had ended in disaster and Riley wasn’t sure that she even knew how to have a healthy relationship.
Was something wrong with her? Did Jett maybe sense it? Or was something else stopping the other woman from furthering their relationship? Riley knew that Jett had had a few long-term relationships, but not too many. And Riley didn’t even know if Jett wanted another one, if that was something she was willing to try again.
Riley was tempted to bite the bullet and ask Jett to be her girlfriend, but she was scared. When it came to initiating things like that, Riley was always passive. And besides, Riley told herself that she’d rather keep things as they were than lose Jett, which was something that might happen if she asked to label their relationship.
Riley wished she had some of the confidence she had while working in the ER when it came to relationships, but unfortunately for her, she was in way over her head. She wondered why Jett didn’t say anything either. Was Jett also scared and nervous? The idea of the firefighter paramedic being too scared to ask her to be her girlfriend was a funny thought—but so was the idea of an accomplished trauma surgeon being too scared to do the same.
* * *
The rest of the day continued smoothly, and after a while, Riley started to get used to Jett’s family, even though they were definitely different than anything she had experienced before. She loved watching the tight knit group even when she wasn’t sure how she fit into it.
It did bring some worries to Riley, though. She was beginning to realize that her and Jett’s worlds were vastly different. Riley hardly knew what the word family meant, whereas Jett was surrounded by it. She didn’t know what that would mean for their relationship.
Riley was sitting at the dining room table with Natalie and the two of them were drawing pictures. Riley was no artist, but the six-year-old girl at the table with her didn’t seem to care.
Riley was making colorful hearts all over her paper, and every time she tried to see what Natalie was doing, the little girl would cover up her paper and stick her tongue out at Riley.
“Stop it, it’s a secret,” she said.
“Okay, okay,” Riley said raising her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry.” Riley went back to coloring her paper.
After a while, Jett came back into the dining room after talking with her family.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Jett said. “Are you ready to go?”
“Sure,” Riley said, standing up and pushing her paper of colorful hearts over to Natalie so that the girl could keep it.
“Wait,” Natalie said with urgency in her voice, “I’m not done yet.”
“Baby, we need to go,” Jett said.
“No!” Natalie demanded. “You have to wait until I’m finished.”
Riley laughed and Jett shook her head and rolled her eyes in a playful manner. “Okay, fine,” she said.
Natalie started to rush her drawing, so it didn’t take long for her to finish. While she was working on it, Jett and Riley just looked at one another.
“Okay, now I’m done,” Natalie said, standing up from the table and walking with her paper to present it to Riley. “Ta-da!”
Riley looked at the paper with two people standing close to one another with sunshine and a rainbow in the background. One person was taller than the other, and the shorter person had a wide smile on its face.
“It’s you and Auntie Jett,” Natalie said, pointing at the shorter figure first and then the taller one.
Riley smiled. “Oh my goodness, it’s beautiful,” she said, and she laughed a little. Jett wasn’t too much taller than her, but she supposed that in a child’s mind a couple inches was noteworthy.
“You gonna take it home and put it on your fridge?” Natalie asked.
“Of course,” Riley said. “I don’t have any pictures on my fridge, so this is going to have its own special place of honor.”
Natalie smiled and gave Riley a hug. “I like you,” Natalie said and Riley’s heart warmed.
She looked at Jett, who smiled at her and went to ruffle Natalie’s already-wild hair.
“Okay kiddo, we’ve got to get going,” Jett said.
“Okay.” Natalie frowned and wrapped Jett in a hug. “I’ll see you later, right?”
“Of course,” Jett said, “and I love you.”
“I love you too,” Natalie said before turning to Riley, “and you, too.”
Riley smiled, and for the first time in a long time she said words that she never heard growing up. “I love you too.”
The two of them prepared to leave, and Riley followed Jett into the kitchen, confused.
“Aunt Becky was worried about you feeding yourself since you can’t cook and all and told me to grab you leftovers,” Jett said, looking in the cabinets for a large plastic container before she started to fill it up with food.
“Oh, thank you,” Riley said, “but you don’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.”
Jett just gave her a look and kept piling food into the container. “It’s best that you take some anyway. I’m usually left taking home the leftovers and I never know what to do with all of them.”
Riley just nodded.
When they finished and got out to the car after a long goodbye to the rest of the family and well wishes to get home safely, Riley found herself drained. In a way, it was a good drained, but she found herself wondering how Jett seemingly still had energy as she put the leftovers and picture in the backseat and then reminded Riley to buckle up in a chipper voice.