INDIE SEPTEMBER
INDIE
SEPTEMBER
“So, you must be Cindy.”
The day already started off wrong.
Originally, I was off this Sunday, which is why I agreed to go to Teddy’s family dinner after some hesitation. But, early in the morning, a resident called and woke me from much-needed sleep asking to cover their shift.
I—begrudgingly—agreed because it’s always best to have some leverage in the future for emergencies.
I barely had time to wash my face before rushing to work where I was dryly informed by Phoebe that we had a system crash, forcing us all to do physical charting. Then, when the systems came back up, my senior resident told me to upload everything manually, which took a while.
I didn’t have time to go home, shower, or even change before rushing to Teddy’s family house.
When I texted him, he told me it would be casual, that my scrubs would be fine, and that Nana Ellie was excited I was coming. That made me feel better. At least I had my black Northwestern hoodie on to make it look a little better.
My hair is a disaster, still in the French braid I slept in that’s now coming undone, stray hairs falling around my face.
I feel completely out of place as I stand on the front porch, especially compared to this house.
As I was driving into the neighborhood, it seemed that each house was more perfect than the last, and Teddy’s house must be the creme de la creme with its perfectly green lawn and perfectly bloomed flowers lining the walkway to the huge front porch.
Not a crack in the concrete, not a chip in the paint, not a stone out of place.
It’s eerily perfect.
Even the welcome mat beneath my feet is perfect, reading The Williams in elegant script.
I used to drive by neighborhoods full of houses like this on the way to school. The ones that motivated me every second to keep showing up, even when it felt impossible, because one day I would live in one of those houses.
It makes me feel good to know Teddy grew up in a house like this, never wondering if he could scrape together forty cents to buy a pack of ramen. I don’t want anyone else to experience what I did.
Dawn, Teddy’s mother, opened the door after I rang the doorbell. She looks me up and down, her gaze lingering on the loose pieces of hair around my face that I try to push behind my ears.
“It’s Indie,” I correct, not missing that this is the second time she’s called me the wrong name, just the first time to my face.
It’s a different name, just takes some time to get used to. It’s fine. She’ll get it.
I paint on a bright smile.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Williams.”
Her lips twist even more before she plasters on a wide smile.
“So nice to finally meet you. My mother just won’t shut up about you.”
There’s an edge to her voice that makes my stomach twist, and my smile drops. Her eyes look back down at my scrubs and I feel the need to explain and excuse my appearance.
Especially in comparison to the crisp, no doubt expensive dress she’s wearing, and the high heels on her feet. Dawn’s blonde hair is perfectly curled and styled, and her makeup is flawless.
Teddy said everyone dresses casually, but she looks like she’s in her literal Sunday best.
“I’m sorry, I had to cover a shift today. I didn’t have time to go home and change,” I explain, pushing another stubborn hair back from my face.
Her smile widens almost painfully.
“Well, we ladies should always try to look our best,” she says, her chin lifting. “Of course, there are… exceptions.”
“Is she here?” I hear from inside the house, and then there’s Ellie, wearing one of the caps I gave to her—blue waves that reminded me of the story of her and her husband meeting.
She screeches happily when she sees me, pulling me into a hug that very briefly calms my nerves.
“Oh, my girl,” she squeezes me tight. “I’ve missed seeing you every week! You have no idea how excited I was when Teddy told me you were coming—and that you’re dating now!”
“Mother,” Dawn sighs, exasperated.
Ellie rolls her eyes before whispering to me. “Maybe you could remove the stick from this one’s ass one day.”
I snort. Too loudly.
Dawn’s smile cracks, but Ellie just cackles.
“Lighten up, Dawn. You’ll give yourself those wrinkles you hate.”
“Mother,” she grits out, though the smile doesn’t move. “Please. Must you act so—”
“Anyway,” Ellie says, sliding her arm through mine and pulling me into the house. “I’m so happy you’re here. Teddy’s outside with his father, but he’ll be in soon.”
“Thank you for having me,” I reply, and Ellie’s smile widens.
I catch a particular look from Dawn over her shoulder, and the intensity of irritation in her green eyes startles me. When she notices me watching, she quickly restores her serene expression.
Unease tightens in my stomach.
“Indie?”
Realizing Ellie is looking at me expectantly, I shift my attention from Dawn, and turn back to her.
“Sorry,” I shake my head. “Long day.”
“Come meet the girls,” Ellie smiles, guiding me into the kitchen.
I look around at the open-concept space: high ceilings, crown molding, shiny new appliances, marble countertops, dark wood cabinets.
And every surface and wall holds some decoration meant to feel warm, but comes across as territorial and kind of backhanded.
Family Over Everything
How blessed are we?
Where Love Never Ends
Mom of a boy: less drama than girls, but harder to keep alive.
There’s this boy. He kind of stole my heart. He calls me Mommy.
The last two make me grimace.
Ellie catches my look and shoots me an amused one, before turning to the others in the kitchen.
“Girls,” she announces cheerfully. “This is Indie!”
“Ah, the famous Dr. Indie,” says a pretty brunette sitting at the kitchen island. She looks to be in her mid-thirties, with brown eyes and a kind smile.
I feel relieved when I see how she’s dressed, jeans and a You Are Now Entering Free Derry sweatshirt. She adjusts the thick-framed black glasses as she smiles at me.
“Don’t you mean The Beautiful Dr. Indie?” Another brunette corrects with a smirk from the sink, where she’s washing vegetables.
She’s wearing a white tank top that shows off the colorful ink up and down her arms. Her nose is pierced, and her long brown hair falls to her shoulders in curls.
I know who they are instantly. Danielle and Stephanie, Teddy’s older sisters. Danielle lives in Ireland with her husband, and Stephanie lives in Arizona after graduating from ASU, where she now teaches.
“It was actually The Beautiful and Brilliant Dr. Indie. The one that Theo can’t shut up about,” Danielle finishes with a laugh.
My cheeks are reaching magma levels of hot, and I’m sure they’re as red as the tomatoes Stephanie is washing right now.
“Hi—it’s Indie, just Indie,” I mutter.
The sisters share a happy smile.
“We’re just teasing. I’m Danielle, that’s Stephanie. It’s really nice to finally meet you, Indie,” Danielle says, standing to give me a quick hug, easy since she's only an inch or two shorter than me. She then murmurs right in my ear, “Have you met the barracuda yet?”
I look at her in confusion until I hear from behind me.
“Stephanie Anne, I accept what you’ve done to your body, but I don’t have to see it,” Dawn says. “Please put your sweater on.”
Danielle shoots me a look, and I understand immediately.
Her mother, the barracuda.
As I see the sharp look she’s giving her daughter, all I can think is accurate.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Dawn,” Ellie snaps, pouring herself a glass of white wine. The spoils of remission. “The girl has some ink on her arms, she’s not shooting up heroin in front of us!”
“Mother,” Dawn snaps, glaring at Ellie, who doesn’t pay her any mind.
“‘Ink,’” Ellie snorts, twirling around the kitchen with surprising grace for a woman in her seventies. “Don’t I sound hip?”
I grin, picturing Ellie in her prime back in the seventies, twirling to Stevie Nicks, as we once passionately debated music from the seventies and eighties. We reached a stalemate by agreeing that the sixties were amazing for music.
“The hippest, Nana,” Danielle laughs, shaking her head. Stephanie just rolls her eyes, but grabs her blue cardigan, pulling it around her shoulders.
“Happy?” she snarks to her mother, who glances at her dismissively.
“Yes, thank you,” she says as the back door opens, and in comes Teddy.
He’s dressed in his usual clothes, bits of grass clinging to his gray t-shirt that’s dark in areas because of his sweat.
Unfortunately, sweaty Teddy immediately reminds me of last Thursday—his mouth on my breasts, the growling noises he was making underneath me.
Need to splash water on my face. Immediately.
Teddy’s eyes scan the kitchen and brighten when he spots me. The smile that crosses his face is devastating. “Indie!”
I smile, and he comes hustling over like he’s on a warpath, boots stomping across the tile.
Dawn smiles and steps toward him, arms out for a hug. Teddy doesn’t even glance at her, sweeping me up in a hug and twirling me around.
“Damn, Romeo,” Stephanie laughs. “Stop manhandling your girlfriend.”
“Alright, alright—we’ll stop hogging your Indie,” Ellie laughs.
Over Teddy’s shoulder, I see Stephanie and Danielle sharing a smile before their eyes come back to us.
“Hi, honey,” he rumbles in my ear, pressing a kiss to my temple. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here—Dad needed my help with the yard.”
“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I haven’t been here too long.”
“I’m so happy you’re here,” Teddy says, kissing my cheek.
I smile and bury my face in his neck, his scent easing the anxiety churning in my gut. This isn’t so bad. His mother will warm up to me. His sisters already seem to like me. Ellie likes me. I haven’t met the rest of his family, but I’m sure it will be okay.
How bad can it be?
“Theodore James,” Dawn huffs. “You didn’t greet your mother.”
Teddy pulls back and frowns.
“I greeted you this morning when I came over.”
“And that was only in passing as I headed to church,” Dawn pats her cheek. “Affection, please.”
With a reluctant sigh, Teddy lets go of me, crosses to Dawn, and gives her a quick peck on the cheek.
“I’m so happy you brought your girlfriend,” Dawn beams, brushing a hair away from his forehead. “But I’m still your number one girl, right, Theodore?”
“Yeah, sure, Mom,” Teddy says, and it sounds like an automatic reaction rather than a meaningful one.
He looks at me and rolls his eyes in a way that’s supposed to feel like a joke.
But it doesn’t.
Because Dawn is looking at me with a strange smile on her face.
One that feels like she’s declaring victory.