Chapter Four
Meadow
" M om, let's go. We're going to be late for my first day if you don't hurry up!" River hollers from outside my room.
Rolling my eyes, I snag my phone off my nightstand and squint to look at the time. Shit. Maybe I did oversleep a bit, but I've been so freaking exhausted lately. I've chalked it up to all the long days we were pulling when we first opened the shop, but we've been working the new schedule for weeks, so my late nights have been cut way back. I shouldn't be burned out anymore, but I just can't seem to get enough sleep anymore.
"I'm coming, Riv. Just give me a minute."
Shuffling to my bathroom, I grab a hair tie off the sink and attempt to tame my curls into a messy bun. I'd probably be better off braiding it, but I don't have enough time for that. Back in my room, I grab one of my favorite crochet crop tops and a flowy skirt, and tug them on, then rush out to find River.
"Whoa, Mom. You really wanna show that much cleavage on the first day?" River huffs, then immediately looks contrite as her face flushes with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. That sounded bitchy. I didn't mean anything by it other than you're…" She gestures to my chest, and I look down to see that I'm filling out this top way more than I normally do. "It's just more than what I remember it exposing, you know? People already think we're sisters. You know how high school guys can be?"
"No, you're right, babe. This is not the impression I would like to make. Give me a sec to go change. In fact, go wait in the car, and I'll be right out."
I race back to my room and find a gray Once Upon a Tattoo tee that will look fine with my skirt. I throw it on, over my crop top, and head out to the car. I don't have a scale in my house because I don't believe in obsessing over one's weight, but I also haven't really looked at myself in a mirror in a while. I must have gained some weight since the last time I wore this top.
"Sorry for cutting it so close." I give River a guilty smile. "Are you ready for your first day?"
"I suppose. I've got all the necessary paperwork and equipment, know where my classes and locker room are, and I met the guidance counselor, so I should be okay."
"Oh, you didn't tell me that. Are they nice?"
"Yeah, Mr. Harding seems legit. He told me a lot about himself, and he actually had a pretty similar experience in high school as me. I think he could be helpful."
"That's great to hear, Riv. You know you can always come to me or the girls if you need something as well."
"I know, Mom. "
"Okay. I think I have an appointment when school gets out, but I’ll see if one of the girls is around to come grab you. Or even Brooks or Ezra if you want."
"I'll just walk. It's supposed to be nice, and walking to the shop will only take me ten minutes."
"Okay. You have your phone, right?"
"Yes, Mom." I can tell she's getting annoyed with me by the tone of her voice.
"Sorry. I know you're more responsible than most adults, but it's my job to worry. Give me a break."
"I know."
We fall silent as I pull into the drop-off line for the school. It's mercilessly shorter than at River's previous school.
"Have a great day, Riv. I'm just a phone call away if you need anything."
"Thanks, Mom." She hops out, her head down as she walks into the school.
Pulling out of the parking lot, I make my way back home. Once I'm there, I shoot off a text to Wren and Daphne to ask if either of them would be willing to join me at yoga. I can almost guarantee Wren will. She's using yoga as part of her therapy after everything that went down between her and Brooks. Well, not even really between her and Brooks but rather herself and her demons. I'm so damn proud of how much hard work she's put in already.
In my kitchen, I scrounge for something to eat while I wait to hear back from the girls. It's been a minute since I went shopping, so I add it to my list of things to do for the week. The bread hasn't gone completely stale yet, so I decide to make French toast since it's quick and will satisfy the sweet tooth that's been nagging me lately.
With my food and coffee in hand, I sit down at our little breakfast nook and dig in while I check if the girls have responded.
Wren: Ugh, it's too damn early for this, woman.
Daphne: Sure. Count me in. What time does it falskajhfds
Daphne: Start? Sorry about that last text. Ezra was, um, distracting me.
Meadow: Oh, get it girl! You've got plenty of time. It starts at 9:00 A.M.
Wren: I don't know if that will be enough time for those two, Dow. I know you've had to live in the land of quickies because of River, but they are insatiable for each other.
Daphne: Oh my god, Wren. Stahp!
The group text buzzes with a voice message from Daphne.
Ezra’s voice sounds from my phone when I press play. “ Ignore her, ladies. Wren's absolutely correct. I can't get enough of Daphne. I will do my best to hand her over to you for yoga, but for now, she’s mine. I hope you have a wonderful day.”
Meadow: *Gif of woman fanning her face*
Wren: Gif of women smirking while slow clapping*
Wren: Take care of our girl, Ez.
I'll see you there, Meadow.
Meadow: Sounds good. Xoxo
God, I love these women and am so happy they've found amazing guys who love and respect them like the queens they are. I never thought I've missed out on having a partner, but with River leaving me soon, I'm wondering if I should've made dating more of a priority. I was so busy making sure I was taking care of her and providing her with the best life I could that I at times forgot I should be living my own.
Don't get me wrong, my life has been very fulfilled with my tattooing career, gardening, jewelry making, and making my clothing. I've always been able to sell my wares as a side hustle to earn a bit of extra cash and make sure River could never want for nothing, but it left little time for dating.
Sitting here, eating alone, I can't help but think of Colton.
He hasn't been far from my mind since our thrilling night at The Tavern . I'm starting to think I might have made a mistake in not giving him my phone number or taking his. I truly believe that if we are supposed to be more to each other, our paths will cross again. I was just hoping it would’ve happened by now. I know I didn't really make it any easier by giving him very vague details about my personal life, but at the time, it added to the magic of the night.
Lost in my thoughts, I realize I need to get a move on it if I don't want to be late for yoga. I quickly change, then pack a bag of clothes I can wear later at work. I can use the bathroom in Daphne and Wren's art studio to get ready for work after.
I'm pleasantly surprised when I make it to the yoga studio and find both Daphne and Wren there.
"Wasn't sure I'd see you," I tease Daphne as I give her a big squeeze.
Her cheeks flush red. "Ezra had to work today. He went in a little late." Her blush spreads, making Wren and me laugh.
"Morning, Wrenny." I squeeze her too.
"Morning, Dow. You doing okay?" She holds me at arm’s length, giving me a once-over.
"Yeah, just a little tired. Not really sure what's going on."
"Hmm, will you go to the doctor if it keeps up?" Wren's brows are furrowed as she crosses her arms and stares me down, knowing I'm not a huge fan of modern medicine.
"It's probably just a vitamin deficiency. You know it happens since I don't eat meat. I'm going to do some of my old tricks and try to get better sleep, but if that doesn't work, I'll consider seeing a doctor," I promise, and I mean it.
I don't want to be an added stressor to Wren's life. Losing her parents when she was only thirteen affected her immensely. If going to the doctor can bring her some peace of mind, I'd be willing to do it even though I'm not a huge fan. I'm sure that if I do some research, I'll be able to find a more holistic doctor in the area.
"Alright, class. Who's ready to flow?"
For the next hour, I lose myself to yoga and then feel ten times better than I did when I woke up this morning. I'm refreshed, and excited to get back to the shop and start our day.
We all head off to different apartments to get ready and meet back at the shop to open for the day. It's no surprise that Daphne and I beat Wren there. We're both a lot lower maintenance than she is.
Our first appointments funnel in, and it's off to the races. When River got home from camp, Wren officially offered her a position at the shop. We had to get her a worker's permit through the school, but she's been working a few hours here and there, and has already been a huge asset to our shop. She's got our schedule as efficient as it can be, and our social media is exploding. We're running like a well-oiled machine, and my mama heart couldn't be prouder of my girl.
Around lunch, Brooks pops in with food for all of us, which is perfect since I'm starving.
I instantly liked Brooks. His aura was so inviting, and we quickly bonded. I've been an only sibling my whole life, but with Brooks around, I finally know what it's like having a brother. He's the best, and I‘m so happy for him and Wren. Well, now that I think about it, Lark adopted Daph and me as his own too, but we don't get to see him nearly as much as we'd like.
"Oh, have I told you two how damn happy I am that you've husbanded up?" I croon as I inhale the heavenly scent of my cheesy French onion soup .
Wren spits her drink across the table as Daphne's cheeks flush red. I ignore them as a moan spills from my lips, the flavorful soup stealing my entire attention.
"Umm, I wouldn't say we're husbanded up yet," Daphne mutters as she digs into her food.
"Eh, close enough. And, honestly, I'm not complaining. I couldn't have picked out better men for you."
"Thanks, Meadow. What about you? When are you going to find your Mr. Right and settle down?" Wren teases.
For a second, Colt flashes in my mind, but I quickly dismiss the thought. Unfortunately, not fast enough.
"Oh, who is he? Spill!" Wren throws her napkin at me.
"Nobody, really. Fate hasn't brought him back to me, so I'm starting to think it wasn't meant to be."
Daphne looks at me sympathetically as Wren groans and drops her forehead to the table.
"What?"
"I love you, Meadow, but please don't tell me you met a great guy but didn't exchange any information because you are leaving it up to fate or destiny, or the goddess above."
"What's so wrong with that, Wren? If we're meant to have more than that night we met, then we'll make our way back to each other."
"So, you did meet someone?" Daphne looks at me hopefully.
"Yes. His name is Colton, and I met him after Brooks caveman carried Wren out and you went home after our girls’ night out. He was sweet and fun to talk to. It was a lovely night, and I will absolutely see him again if that's where our paths lead. "
"Fucking hell, Dow." Wren drops her head back to her shoulders dramatically. "I love you like crazy, girl, but I have no idea how you can leave something like that up to fate."
"Me neither, but I trust your judgment and I hope things work out how they're supposed to. You're an amazing woman who deserves everything good in this world." Daphne squeezes my hand, making my tears spill.
"Ugh, why am I always the crier of the bunch?" I whine as I dab at my eyes.
Daphne and Wren look a little startled at how hard I'm crying at their sweet words, but when I send them a watery smile, they both stand from their chairs and hug me.
"It's because you've always had the biggest feelings out of all of us and have known how to embrace them the most. We're used to the tears by now."
"Thanks for the hug. I'm fine. I promise."
They settle into their seats and dive back into our lunches.
"So, is Riv walking to the shop, or does she want one of us to grab her?"
"She said she would walk. You know how independent she is, and Sparrow Falls is so small. It's only a few blocks for her. Besides, I think it's bad enough being a freshman surrounded by seniors. She doesn't need the entire student body to know her mom's a MILF and that her aunts are bombshells. I think it's a bit of self-preservation on her part."
"Please, send those little ass wipes my way. I'd love to educate them on— "
"Umm, yeah. Let's keep Wren away from the teenagers. I think it's probably a good idea that she didn't want us to come pick her up." Daphne shakes her head at Wren in exacerbation.
"Will you both keep an eye and ear out for her? I know we have great communication, but this year is a lot different, and I'm sure there are some things she would feel more comfortable talking about to you than me. Especially you, Daph, since you two are so similar."
"You know we've got her back." Wren's fierce protectiveness shines through and makes my eyes leak some more.
"My door is always open for her. You know that, but I'll make sure she does too." Daphne smiles sweetly.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"Alright, our next appointments will be rolling in any minute. Someone holler when our girl gets here. I don't want to miss any details about her first day." Wren stands, dumps her garbage in the trash, then heads back to her station.
Daphne and I clean up and are quick to follow her.
I'm lost in a sketch when I hear feet shuffling behind me. Turning, I find River, shoulders sagging and head hanging. I jump from my chair and race over to her, wrapping my arms around her, relieved when she sinks into my embrace.
"Was it that bad?"
"Yes and no."
"Is it okay if we include Daph and Wren if they aren't busy? Or would you prefer me to pass on how your day went myself?" Taking a step back, I hold my girl at arm’s length and take her in.
"They can join. I would actually feel better having Daphne here." She lets out a shaky breath .
"Okay. Head to the break room, and we'll be right back."
Hustling, I pop my head into Daphne's space and motion for her to follow me. She doesn't have a client, so it's not an issue. Wren, on the other hand, is mid-tattoo, but her client needs a break, so she's able to slip away for a few minutes.
"I don't know what happened, but I don't think it was a great first day. Our girl's waiting in the break room. Wren, please promise you'll keep the threats of violence to a minimum. Daph, she actually said she would feel better having you there. Just a heads-up."
"Alright, let's not keep her waiting." Daphne squares her shoulders and leads the way. Her confidence has grown so much since she started dating Ezra, and I couldn't be prouder of her.
We walk into the breakroom, where River is sitting at the table, typing away on her laptop. She still looks tense but not nearly as bad as when she first stepped into my station.
"Alright, Riv. We're all here. Lay it on us."
River slowly closes her laptop, puts it away, then starts picking at her fingernail polish. We all wait patiently, giving her a chance to find her words.
"Nothing really bad happened today, I promise. I just don't fit in. I'm the new girl, but not only am I the new girl, I'm also an oddity. None of the seniors really paid any attention to me because they all have established friendships and are planning on leaving at the end of the year, but then none of the freshmen paid me any mind either because we’ve never crossed paths.
"And you all know how damn awkward I am when I first meet someone. I'm not really great at reading social cues until I get to know them. I can't pick up on whether people are being sarcastic, dramatic, or if I need to be empathetic and caring. It was a long-ass day of being invisible by my peers and marveled at by my teachers. It was a really weird dichotomy that I just haven't figured out yet."
"I'm sorry, babe. That sounds rough but also like there's a ton of room for improvement." I try to be encouraging, but I'm not sure if it hits. My mama-bear feelings are hurting for my little girl.
"I can absolutely relate to what you're going through, Riv. I don't have a client right now. Would you maybe wanna head up to my studio with me for a bit? We can talk if you want. I can tell you about my horrid boarding school experience. Maybe give you a few tips on how to break through the awkwardness of first meeting people."
"Would that be okay, Wren? I'm technically on schedule for tonight."
"Yeah, Riv. That's fine. Besides, you make your own schedule with the understanding that you can change it whenever you need. We'll be fine." She squeezes River's hand. "As for school, don't sweat it. The teachers will get used to you being smarter than them, and the students will realize that although you're fucking brilliant, you're just another kid like them. It will get better. Promise."
"Thanks, Wren."
"No problem, babe. And if not, you just let Auntie Wren know, and I'll make an appearance at school. We'll get shit squared up real fucking quick."
"Oh, lord," Daphne mutters.
"How about no," I implore, but I can't be too annoyed with Wren when I see the first smile on River's face since she got here.
"Alright, I need to get back to my client. See you all later." Wren blows us kisses over her shoulder .
"And I need to get ready for my next client. You know where to find me if you need me. Got it?"
River nods as I lean over and kiss her head.
I head back to work, but I can't help but worry about River for the rest of the night and the days to come. She doesn't say much when I ask her how school is, but I have a feeling my girl is struggling, and I have no clue how to help. Hopefully, she finds her stride soon, or I may have to call the school and see if there's anything more I can do, even though I hate the idea of going behind her back. For now, I'll wait and wish for better days.