“Why not? It works for a boy or a girl.” She pouted, pushing her lips out. “It’s not that funny.” She folded her arms across her chest in mock outrage. Riley was a good strong name, one she was proud to have. She couldn’t imagine being called anything else.
“Your ego is big enough without me naming my child after you.” Turning serious, she added, “Actually, if it’s a girl I was going to call her Emily, after my mum. If it’s a boy, then Peter after Dad.”
By silent agreement they stood from the table. Riley slung her leather jacket on despite the warmth of the day, and linked arms with Kelsey.
“That’s awesome! Your folks would have loved that.”
“Yeah. God, I miss them.”
Riley steered them down the path, narrowly avoiding colliding with the other pedestrians out shopping. “Me too. I only knew them for a year, but they were always welcoming to me. Not like Snobby McSnob.”
Kelsey stopped, her eyes flashing. “Don’t call Jen that, she isn’t a snob. She just doesn’t like….” She drew in a breath, then let it out forcibly.
“You can say it.” Riley gestured to herself. “Me. She doesn’t like me.” Riley knew she was scowling. She hated how Jennifer had managed to crawl under her skin and worm her way into her heart, but she had, and she wasn’t budging. It all began when Riley had been fourteen and had seen nineteen-year-old Jennifer in a bathing suit. Since that day, Riley couldn’t get her out of her head. Jennifer never paid her any attention, so the only way Riley could get her to notice her was to wind Jennifer up. Unfortunately, she took it too far sometimes and she supposed that was why Jennifer hated her now.
Kelsey’s mobile rang, pulling Riley’s thoughts off that dark path.
“Hiya, Jen,” Kelsey said once the call connected, grinning at Riley.
Riley couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she started them walking again. Her mood got darker as she listened.
“Of course you can come to the scan with me … Riley will be there too … Because she’s my best friend … She’s also family … She’s going to be there whether you like it or not. It’s up to you if you want to come.” She disconnected. “Sorry about that.”
“No, it’s fine. I think after seventeen years I get the message: she hates me.”
Kelsey stopped her again with a light touch on her arm. She pulled Riley over to a narrow walkway between two shops, out of the flow of people. “She doesn’t hate you. I think in a way she admires you.”
“Yeah, right.”
“It’s true. You’ve always done things your own way, been free-spirited. Since Mum and Dad died, she had to look out for me and she couldn’t just come and go as she pleased like she used to. I think she respects how well you’ve done for yourself considering your deadbeat dad.”
Riley stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets. “Do you think she knows how much she helped me growing up? Even after your folks passed, Jenny always allowed me to come stay with you guys, even when she didn’t want me to. Especially when Dad was drunk.” She shrugged. “It was like she just knew I needed to get away from home.”
“I doubt she sees it that way. I think I just nagged her enough at the beginning that she gave up telling me no. She was too busy yelling at us for skipping school and messing the house up to notice anything else.”
Riley let out a hoot of laughter, flipping her fringe out of her eyes. “We were little stinkers back then, weren’t we?”
Kelsey looked at her sideways, wrinkling her nose and sniffing. “One of us still is.”
“Hey! I can’t help it if trouble seems to find me.”
“Maybe if you settled down, some of your stink might wash off,” Kelsey said seriously.
“Doubtful.” She shrugged again. “Who in their right mind would want to settle down with me?”
“Jennifer?”
She glared at Kelsey. “That’s not even funny.”
“Oh, come on. You’ve had a crush on her for years.”
They stepped out of the alley and started walking again. “Just because I have a teeny-tiny crush doesn’t mean we’re made for each other. And don’t forget, she hates me.” Did I just admit I have a crush on Jenny? Shit. Deciding to move past her momentary lapse, as it was now too late to worry about Kelsey knowing, she said, “Why are you so fixated on my stupid crush anyway?”
Kelsey looped her arm through Riley’s. “I don’t know. I guess with the baby coming it would be nice if all my family could get along. You’re like my sister, so you two being at each other’s throats all the time is tiring. I just want you both to be happy.”
“I am happy. I’m not tied down to anyone, the garage is doing well, and I get to do what I want, when I want. What’s not to like about all that?” They stopped outside the restaurant where Kelsey worked, and Riley turned to face her. “And besides, Jenny would need to lose the stick up her ass so her face muscles could relax into a smile.” Who was she trying to kid? She was content with life, but she wasn’t happy, not really.
Kelsey laughed. “You know she’d kill you if she heard you calling her Jenny. She hates that name.”
She shrugged. “As I said, she needs to lose that stick.”
They said their goodbyes, and after Kelsey headed into the restaurant, Riley turned and headed back the way they’d come. The barista at Starbucks had definitely been checking her out. What better way to forget about Jennifer Wilson than to chat up somebody else?
Chapter Three
“Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late,” Riley said as she rushed through the reception area of the maternity ward at their local hospital. She was short of breath and knew she looked a state.
Kelsey waved her hand in the air and gave her a reassuring smile. “That’s okay. They’re running behind anyway.”
Riley gave her a quick hug. She glanced around the drab waiting room, noting the women also waiting to be seen. Some were heavily pregnant, sitting by themselves or with their partner. A young woman sat on her own, not looking particularly comfortable on the plastic chair, and a teenager sat, with whom Riley assumed was her mother, crying.
“What’s her name this time?” Jennifer asked from her chair, flicking through an out-of-date magazine.
Riley didn’t miss the look of disdain on her face. She hated that Jennifer always saw the worst in her. “If you must know, I got stuck on a breakdown. Couldn’t get the damn winch to work on my truck.”
Jennifer merely nodded and tossed the magazine onto the seat next to her.
A nurse came down the hallway to their right, and said, “Kelsey Wilson? We’re ready for you.”
Kelsey took the hands of her sister and best friend, pulling them along the hallway, trailing behind the nurse. “Let’s go meet our newest family member,” she chirped.
The room the nurse led them into was small and dimly lit. A hospital bed sat in the middle, and posters of the stages of birth graced the walls. The nurse indicated the bed. “Jump on up and I’ll let the sonographer know you’re ready.” Kelsey did as asked and fidgeted on the paper sheet she rested on, looking anxious.
After Kelsey was settled on the bed, Riley took one of her hands, and Jennifer took the other. “Everything is going to be fine.” Riley smoothed Kelsey’s blond hair back from her face. “You’ve no need to worry.”
A young woman came into the room, who Riley assumed would be doing the scan. She couldn’t help but smile at the pretty redhead. She heard Jennifer blow out a breath. Riley flicked her gaze to her just in time to see Jennifer shaking her head. Great, another reason for her to hate me. Riley couldn’t help her natural reaction to meeting beautiful women. It was hard-wired into her to flirt, even if she didn’t mean to.
“Hello, Miss Wilson. I’m Doctor Baily and I’ll be doing your scan today.” She lifted Kelsey’s pale blue T-shirt, then squirted a clear gel-like substance onto her belly.
“That’s cold.” Kelsey shivered.
“Sorry about that.” The doctor rolled over, what looked like to Riley, a
portable small TV, then moved a plastic wand over Kelsey’s stomach for a few moments. The screen flickered to life and filled with a black-and-grey grainy image. Riley realised she was holding her breath, trying to make sense of what she saw on the screen.
“Ah, here we are.” Doctor Baily beamed. “Say hello to your baby.”
The black-and-grey image morphed into the same pattern Riley had seen of other scans from friends and she released her breath in a long exhale as the doctor pointed out the head and heart. She grinned. “This is so cool. That is definitely a ‘Riley’ in the making. Just look how gorgeous he or she is.”
Jennifer tutted “Typical. It’s all about looks with you.”
“Guys, please,” Kelsey snapped.
“Everything is looking good,” the doctor said. “The heartbeat is nice and strong. No abnormalities from what I can see.”
“Can you tell if it’s a boy or girl?” Jennifer asked from her place at the head of the bed, her hand resting on Kelsey’s shoulder.
“It’s still a little early to know for sure. The next scan will be able to give you more information. I’ll take some measurements so we can give you an exact due date.”
A few minutes later, the doctor wiped off the gel, and Kelsey tried to sit up.
“I’m feeling a little dizzy,” she murmured, her hand going to her head.
“Lie back for a moment,” the doctor said. “I’m going to check your blood pressure just to make sure everything is okay with Mama.” She placed a pulse meter on Kelsey’s finger and then a blood pressure cuff around her arm and switched on the machine. “Your heart rate is a little fast and your blood pressure is high. Go home and rest and I’ll make an appointment for you to see your doctor.”
“Is everything okay?” Jennifer asked, her brows pinching as she frowned. Riley could tell she was worried. Hell, she was worried too.
“I’m sure everything will be okay. However, it’s wise for Kelsey to get checked out just to make sure she is healthy. Pregnancy is hard on the body and we want to make sure she’s in the best possible shape. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”
†
Back at Kelsey and Jennifer’s house, Jennifer said to Kelsey, “You head on upstairs and I’ll make you some tea.”
“I don’t need a fuss. I’m fine. I’m sure it was just the excitement of seeing the baby for the first time.”
Riley took Kelsey’s hand and pulled her through the kitchen towards the stairs. “Do as your sister says, Kels. You don’t want to get on her bad side.” She smirked. “Trust me, I know.”
“Don’t start, you guys. The last thing I need is you two at each other’s throats.”
“Sorry,” they said at the same time, glancing at each other and smiling. Riley felt that smile all the way down to her toes. She looked away, not wanting Jennifer to notice how much she affected her. That one smile took away all her effort in the past couple of weeks to get Jennifer out of her system. Damn woman. She pulled harder on Kelsey’s hand until Kelsey had no choice but to follow her up the stairs. She helped Kelsey settle into bed, then sat on the edge.
“How are you feeling?”
“I told you, I’m fine. Stop fussing.”
Riley ran her fingers through Kelsey’s hair, an unfamiliar dread settling in her stomach. “Can’t help it. I love you.”
Kelsey smiled. “You big softy.” Before Riley could offer her a retort, Jennifer cleared her throat from the doorway.
“I have your tea.”
Riley looked over her shoulder at Jennifer who, for some reason, was staring at Riley in what could only be described as longing. Which was ridiculous, as Jennifer hated her. She stood from the bed and made room for Jennifer to put the cup on the nightstand.
“I need to head back to work,” Riley said. “I’ll call you later.”
“Thanks for coming today.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” She glanced at Jennifer. “See you later.” But Jennifer didn’t respond. She just nodded, not even giving Riley a second glance. Riley turned on her heel and left, trying not to let the confusing feelings coming from Jennifer work her up any more than she already was.
Chapter Four
Three weeks later Jennifer was leaning back against the kitchen counter, cradling a wine glass in her hand. It was Friday night and she, Riley, and Kelsey were in the midst of planning Kelsey’s baby shower.
“Are you sure you two don’t mind me helping with the planning?” Kelsey asked from the kitchen table as she sipped her juice.
Riley smiled from the seat across from her. “Of course not. This is going to be your baby shower. If you want to be involved, you can.”
Jennifer took a large gulp of her red wine and without thinking, said, “We’ll probably need all the help we can get. With Riley on board it’ll probably end up in a stripper fest.”
Riley whipped her head around to glare at her. “What is your problem?”
Jennifer lifted a shoulder. “I don’t have a problem.”
“You clearly do. Look, I get you don’t like me. I’ve no idea why, but you don’t. I just don’t get why you have to keep making snarky remarks about me, and to my face.”
This wasn’t the time to do this, but Jennifer couldn’t stop herself from saying, “Come on. You’d be the first to admit you’re not exactly Snow White.” Jealously was an evil emotion, and Jennifer didn’t like it on herself. She wished she had the guts to just admit she had a crush on Riley instead of picking fights with her all the time.
Riley stood from the table and faced her, crossing her arms over her chest. Jennifer couldn’t help but find her sexy standing there like that. She willed herself not to blush.
“I’ve made a few mistakes, yes, but that doesn’t make me a bad person,” Riley seethed. “And so what if I date a lot? Is it that hard to understand I’m just looking to find the right person? And having fun while I’m doing it?”
“It’s not just about your ‘dating’ habits.” Jennifer put her empty glass on the counter behind her and picked up the wine bottle to top it up again. “Since you were a kid you’ve been nothing but trouble for Kelsey.”
“That’s enough!” Kelsey slammed her hand on the table, causing them both to jump, and stood. “I’ve had it with you two. Jennifer, I have asked you a thousand times to respect my friendship with Riley. You go on and on about how childish she acts, but right now, the only childish one is you.”
“I’m sorry, okay. I can’t help it.” It was a lame excuse, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t true. She had always belittled Riley. It was the only way she could cope with the attraction she had for her.
“Well that’s okay, then,” Riley bellowed, throwing her hands up in the air. “I’ll just keep letting you use me as a punching bag cuz you ‘can’t help it’. Jesus, you’re such a pain in the ass.”
Jennifer tore her gaze away from Riley’s handsome, angry face to glance at Kelsey. She had gone pale, clutching her chest. “Kelsey? God, what’s wrong?”
“My heart is racing. I can’t catch my breath.”
Riley rushed to her side and guided her back into her chair. “Quick, sit down. Jenny, call an ambulance.”
“No, I’m fine. Honestly. Just give me a minute to settle down.”
Jennifer couldn’t move. She had never seen her sister look so ill, not even when she had the worst hangover ever. Her skin had gone sallow and sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Jenny?” Riley said, breaking her out of her fear for her sister. Jennifer blinked rapidly and looked at Riley, who was kneeling on the tile floor next to Kelsey’s chair, rubbing her back. “Get her a glass of water.” Riley turned back to Kelsey. “Try and slow your breathing. Nice and slow. That’s it.”
Jennifer grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water from the tap. As she passed it to Riley, Riley gave her a reassuring smile, and Jennifer’s panic lessened.
Riley took the glass. “Thanks.” She turned back to Kelsey again. “Here, sip.”
/> “You two need to sort your shit out,” Kelsey said between breaths. “I can’t keep dealing with this whilst I’m pregnant.”
“We’re fine, I promise,” Jennifer said. They would have to be, because she’d be damned if her stupid pride would stand in the way of Kelsey’s health and the life of her unborn baby. She would need to make peace with Riley, no matter how much she wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.
After a couple of minutes, once Kelsey’s breathing had returned to normal, Riley stood, took hold of Jennifer’s elbow, and led her into the lounge.
“You heard her. We need to call a truce or something. This isn’t good for her.”
Jennifer stared at her sister still sitting at the kitchen table for a few moments, thoughts swirling in her head. This was the second time since the announcement of her pregnancy that Kelsey had had health issues, and Jennifer worried something might be wrong with her or the baby. She looked back to Riley, drawing strength from her solid presence. “Do you know if she ever went to her doctor’s appointment? She hasn’t mentioned anything to me, and when I ask her about it, she blows me off.”
“She told me everything was fine. She had no other funny turns after her scan, so she didn’t see the sense in going.”
How could she be so irresponsible? “For fuck sake, Riley. She’s pregnant. She needs to keep up with appointments in case there are any problems.”
“Hey, don’t take it out on me.” She lifted her hands, palms facing forward. “I can’t force her to go.”
“I can still hear you bickering,” Kelsey rasped quietly from her place in the kitchen, head resting in her hands.
Riley took Jennifer’s elbow and moved her out of view of the kitchen. “As I said, we need to call a truce,” Riley said. “I love her, and I won’t let your hatred of me get in the way of her being happy.”
Riley’s eyes were filled with sorrow, and Jennifer loathed herself for everything she had said over the years that made Riley think she hated her. “I don’t hate you.” At Riley’s raised eyebrows, she said, “I don’t. It’s just sometimes….”
Unknown Forces Page 2
