June
Ch. 3: June
Riley’s parents were having their anniversary. That was Riley’s excuse for being in town for the week. Yes, while it was about them, Riley of course knew she would make time for Sloane. She wasn’t sure what their relationship was at this point. It was hard with the distance, but they talked and texted every day and every night. That was an upside to technology, it made long-distance relationships easy. If that’s what this was.
“Are you sure this is okay,” Sloane asked feeling guilty as she, Riley, and the twins, were hanging out at a pizza place.
“It’s fine,” Riley said, “Really. I’m just glad to see you at all.”
Magnus and Matilda were off in the game room. Sloane sighed, “Eric was supposed to take them but he had to switch things around last minute and me trying to be the perfect ex-wife that I try to be I agreed.”
“Perfection isn’t everything.”
“Says the surgeon.”
“Hey,” Riley said as she reached out her hand on the table to take Sloane’s. Sloane didn’t resist. She longed for this contact since they had very little of it. “It’s okay. What we’re doing, your kids are a big part of your life, they’re important to you, so they’re important to me too.”
Sloane smiled, grateful that Riley wanted to be part of her life in a way that included her kids. Sloane feared finding someone after Eric, someone who would want to be part of the kid’s lives as well.
From the corner of her eye, Riley saw Matilda and Magnus coming toward them so she pulled her hand back.
Magnus looked at Riley and then at his mother. “Are you too dating like aunt Harper and aunt Abby?”
Sloane looked at her son and then at Riley, then back to her son. “Wha…why would you think that?”
Matilda looked at them with curiosity. “Because whenever she’s in town,” Matilda said pointing to Riley, “you two hang out with each other.”
Sloane didn’t know what to say and Riley could see her getting nervous, so she stepped in. “That’s because your mom and I are friends.”
“You never used to be,” said Magnus.
There was no getting around these kids. They spoke the truth the way it was. They were also very observant about a lot of things.
“True,” said Riley, “but things change. People grow, they get to know one another again. They come to find out they have more in common than they realized.”
“Like what?” asked Matilda.
“Well for starters,” Riley said, “they might realize that what happened in the past doesn’t matter. It’s about what you do in the present that does.” Riley looked at Sloane when she said the last part. Riley then added for good measure as kind of a tease, “Your mom’s not so bad when you really give her a chance.”
Sloane moved her lips without vocalizing the words, ‘Thank you.’
Riley nodded.
Magnus wasn’t too convinced. “I still think you’re dating.”
Riley couldn’t help but laugh at this. Matilda on the other hand had enough. “Since you and my mom are friends now does this mean you can play with me too?”
“Sure,” said Riley.
Matilda smiled and took Riley’s hand. She followed the little girl. Magnus was done playing so he took a seat next to his mom. Sloane decided to take it as an opportunity.
“Magnus,” she said, “let’s say for pretend-sake, if Riley and I were dating, just for pretend, would you be okay with that?”
Magnus shrugged. “Do you like her?”
“Let’s say for pretend that yeah, I did like her, that I liked her a lot.”
“Does she make you happier than daddy?”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Magnus shrugged again. “Magnus listen to me.” Magnus turned to face her. “No one could ever replace your daddy. He’s going to be a part of your life no matter what. He loves you that much. Just like I do.”
“Just like Riley too?”
“Yeah, just like Riley.”
Magnus sighed, “Then I guess just for pretend that it would be okay. It would be fine if it were real too though. Can I go back and play now?” Sloane nodded and gave him some coins to go use in the game room.
As Sloane watched Magnus she saw him go up to Riley and hug her. Riley looked back and smiled at Sloane. Sloane smiled and gave a nod. In that moment she knew things would be okay, when she was ready to be open about their relationship.