The Christmas Glow

Ch. 8: The Christmas Glow

That night the Caldwell family all met at a fancy restaurant. Earlier in the day, after some alone time together, Sloane and Riley had gone to Eric’s house where Sloane told her the situation. The two of them then explained it to Matilda and Magnus, neither of whom were surprised by the news.

At dinner, the kids stayed with Eric, Sloane’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Riley walking toward their group dressed in a casual suit.

Harper leaned in quietly to Sloane, “She cleans up nice.”

“Shut up, Harper,” Sloane whispered back.

Tipper raised her eyes in surprise. “Riley,” she said, “this is a surprise.”

“It certainly is,” Riley said.

“Will you be joining us?” Tipper asked.

Sloane walked over to Riley. “I invited her.” Sloane looked at her family. “Mom, dad I have an announcement to make. I’m not sure how to say it…”

“Just say it already,” Harper said.

Sloane shot her a look, afraid that Harper would out her, but she didn’t. Taking a deep breath Sloane took Riley’s hand. Riley squeezed it in support.

Sloane then said, “Riley and I are together. We’ve been seeing each other for almost a year.”

“Wait,” said Jane, “You’re gay too, that’s great!”

“No,” said Sloane, “I’m not gay, exactly.” She still wasn’t sure how to define herself. She wasn’t gay, and using the term bi seemed off too. There had to be some kind of other word out there.

“So, this was the secret you’ve been hiding from me since those flowers showed up in February?” Tipper asked her daughter.

“I’m sorry, I just wasn’t sure how to tell you,” Sloane said.

“Are you both happy,” Ted finally asked speaking up.

“Very,” said Sloane.

“I love your daughter, Ted,” said Riley. She then looked at Sloane. “And she surprisingly feels the same way.”

Ted smiled. “Then that’s all that matters. Come on let’s sit and eat.”

When the waiter came around after they had ordered their drinks. Harper raised her glass. “To Sloane for finally realizing what I knew all along, that guys just weren’t her type and that sometimes enemies make the best girlfriends.”

Sloane shook her head and laughed, “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”

Harper laughed too. “Seriously, I’m happy for you. You too, Riley. You both deserve to find the same kind of happiness I found.”

Sloane raised her glass. “To family.”

“To family,” they all said before they got down to dinner and started various conversations with each other into the evening.

Sloane looked at Riley. The two of them smiled at each other. Though they did not know what the future would hold, it was clear to both of them that they had found something special, something neither of them had really expected, or maybe they had on some small level. After all, Harper had clarified it perfectly, sometimes the enemies made the best girlfriends and they’d come a long way from not being able to stand each other to now never wanting to be away from each other.

Riley would eventually have to go back to Maryland but at least they had this Christmas. Whatever happened would work itself out, they were sure of it.

‘I love you,’ Sloane silently whispered.

‘I love you too,’ Riley said doing the same.

They went back to the family conversations that were going on. Questions of how long they’d been together were asked every now and then, and how they managed to keep it a secret for so long. It was the perfect evening.

*****

END.