Riley took her hand and they walked in silence back to her place. They were still holding hands when they went inside her home and when she tried to pull her hand away he glared. Riley walked up to her father and asked for permission to date Christina. Christina wanted to die on the spot and to her surprise, her father said “yes,” but her mother wasn’t happy.
They had their first argument as a couple about Riley’s actions. Christina thought he should have warned her first about outing them, but he laughed. “No way. I want everyone to know you’re mine and we’re together.”
And so Riley and Christina formally began.
Johnny and Dave were concerned about their relationship, and the possibility of any repercussions if they ended acrimoniously. Riley scoffed at the suggestion. “I’m not going anywhere,” he declared, “and if I do, she’s coming with me. This is it for me.”
Their relationship was met with excitement in her circle of friends and outrage amongst Stephany Gilmore’s group. They tried to bully Christina and her friends, spreading rumors and catcalling whenever they saw them. Christina, however, was a stronger person with Riley by her side and her position in the band.
They formed the outcast crew and confronted the bullying head on. It created some nasty scenes at school, but it established boundaries between the groups. Eventually, an uneasy peace formed with a “no provocation, no retaliation” attitude.
She even stood up to her mother and told her she didn’t want to go to college, but wanted a music career. They had a showdown about what Christina viewed as the double standard in treatment between her and Johnny. Christina reasoned if Johnny wanted a musical career and they were supportive, then why didn’t the same rule apply to her. Her mother had been furious and blamed Riley, but her father had sided with Christina. For that, she was grateful and for the first time in her life, she tasted freedom, but within limits, and always with Riley.
********************
Christina, Shanwick, The Past, November 2000 (Twelve years earlier)
They were standing on opposite sides of Riley’s pickup truck and were about to get in when she heard Stephany Gilmore say, “Hey Riley” behind her. She turned and met Stephany’s malevolent stare with one of her own. Stephany was in a cheerleading outfit, standing with her sister, Bethany, and her friend, Tiffany Ellis. Christina spitefully hoped she’d freeze to death or at least get frostbite, but turned her attention to Riley.
Riley gave Stephany the briefest head nod and then looked at Christina with a grin. “What? You can’t be worried about her?” He laughed and her eyes narrowed.
She was about to retort when she heard. “Uh, hey Dina,” turning to see Jason King, Carl Beaumont, and Shane Palmer behind her.
“Hey,” she grinned. “What’s up?”
They smiled and looked nervous, leaving the talking to the more forward Jason King. They were in her year at high school and hung around the band, but weren’t part of the outcast crew. They were jocks, but crossed the school cliques with relative ease. Carl and Shane were tall, and blonde with blue eyes, but Jason was different. He was shorter and stockier, with coppery red hair, hazel eyes, and a winning smile.
“So I hear there’s a party at your house tomorrow night?” Jason grinned.
Christina spun and looked at Riley. He was glaring at the three boys with real menace and his eyes were like cold green glass. Christina ignored Riley’s look and asked. “Is there? I thought we had a gig.”
Riley dropped eyeballing the guys and smiled at her. “Yeah, we do have a gig.” He pulled a face at Christina. “I was about to tell you. Your parents have gone out of town for the weekend and taken Gabby with them, so Johnny’s throwing a party after the gig.”
“Cool,” Christina beamed and turned to the other guys. “You’re coming, right?” They laughed and her invitation was met by “hell yeah,” and “see you there.”
Riley glared at them and his jaw clenched. When they left, he stared at her and growled. “I hate those guys.”
Christina rolled her eyes. “Why? Seriously? At least they’re not psycho like Stephany Gilmore and the Anys.”
Riley laughed. “Okay, but I still don’t like them. There’s… just something I don’t like.”
She had come to realize there were no half measures with Riley. He loved and hated with equal passion, she was just glad he loved her the way he did because he could be unforgiving. As far as Christina was concerned, he was the perfect boyfriend and she thanked whatever deity for letting her find the person that was put on earth just for her.
“Oh yeah,” he smiled. “I’m driving us to the gig. Your dad loaned me the van and made me promise: no drugs, no alcohol, and no molesting his daughter. I agreed to the first two. That was easy. As if I’d drink or do drugs when I’m driving you, but I crossed my fingers on the last one.”
They climbed into his truck and started kissing before she became self-conscious that people might see them. Riley waggled his eyebrows at her and smirked. “My place or yours?”
She scowled at him. “Have you cleaned the farmhouse up yet?”
He laughed. “No. Hey I know, why don’t you marry me and then you can clean it up for me?” He laughed loudly at her horrified, indignant look. His laugh was magnified in the cabin of the truck and infectious.
“You,” she jabbed him in the arm giggling, “are so sexist. I’m not cleaning up after you. I’m not your mother.”
Riley put his hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, but you’re going to marry me right?”
Christina turned to stare at him and frowned. Was he serious? His face was impassive, but his eyes were burning with emotion. She was pretty sure he meant it.
“Riley, I’m 16,” she started. “I’ve just turned 16 and you’re not even 18 yet. Even if I said yes, my parents would never allow it.”
Riley shrugged. “I can wait – two years until you’re 18 and then we’re getting married.”
Christina’s mouth opened in shock and she blurted. “Are you crazy?” making Riley guffaw with laughter.
“About you? Hell yeah,” he laughed, “and I know you’ll say yes to me… eventually.” His eyes were glinting and he leaned over rubbing his nose down her face, kissing her on the cheek. He growled in her ear. “That’s what I love about you, Dina. You always say yes to me. Underneath the good girl act, you’re naughty and dirty, but just for me.”
Riley blocked her first and second slap, tickling her until she promised not to hit him. He started the pickup and grabbed her knee, making her squirm. “I love you, Dina,” he said with meaning. “Always. Never forget that.”
Chapter Eleven – Transits
Christina, Seattle, the Present, Monday 8 October 2012
Christina woke early in the hope of getting to the hospital before there was any rush. She held bittersweet memories of Seattle. At one stage, she wanted to make this place her home permanently, but that was not to be.
Other people might enjoy Seattle’s Space Needle and waterways, but Christina’s interest lay elsewhere. She loved the city’s history with music: Jimi Hendrix came from here and this was the birthplace of grunge. She’d always felt at home with its offbeat character.
Some of her favorite haunts were: Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, where she and her friends used to giggle at the shrunken whale penises, the Pike Place Market, and in Bonnie’s words, Seattle was the only city where you could “legitimately ride the SLUT” (the South Lake Union Trolley) to work. When Christina and Riley were teenagers, they used to come to Seattle, on a regular basis, to get a rush watching the planes. They would jump the fence at Sea-Tac, letting the planes fly over them and run before security got them. You couldn’t do it after 9/11, but they had loved it.
Christina nervously drove Bonnie’s car and was relieved to arrive with no damage. She made her way to reception, muttered what she needed and was directed to where she had to go. It took several hours and a wide range of embarrassing questions about her and Riley’s sex life. On
the former, she could answer honestly, but on the latter, she didn’t have a clue.
The hospital decided to run the gamut of STD tests on her and as a precaution, they insisted on giving her a cervical one as well, due to the history of cancer in her family. She was told she’d get her STD test results within the next 24-72 hours, but was advised to see her own OBGYN when she got back to D.C. She was also advised, quite stridently, to go on the pill and use condoms when she was having sex with people who weren’t regular partners. To emphasize this point, they handed over her a large box of condoms that she hurriedly stuffed in her handbag, looking around in the hope no one had seen.
It was still too early to go and see Gabby without raising suspicion, so she made her way to the hospital cafeteria to get a cup of coffee and something to eat. Both were hideous, but it was better than nothing. Lifting up her sleeve, she scowled at the bandage on her arm from the blood test. She wasn’t afraid of needles or blood, but it reminded her that, yes, she really had been an idiot.
For someone who hated confessions, she’d discussed her sex life in depth with complete strangers. She knew they were medical professionals, but that didn’t stop people talking around the water cooler. She just hoped she wasn’t a topic of conversation because of her connection to her brother and her infamous sister, but she knew she probably was. Around 10:00 a.m., she made her way to the elevators and Gabby’s room.
********************
Riley
Riley got to the hospital with Jed around 9:00 a.m. and spent half an hour talking to Gabby, until she begged him to go get her some proper coffee, and food. He was given strict instructions to avoid the corporate evils of Starbucks and find something organic. Rolling his eyes and saying, “Only for you,” which elicited a “me too, please” from Jed, he left.
He knew a place not far from the hospital and decided it’d be easier to take a cab than find a parking spot. He made the cab wait, while he placed his order with a cute, little, smiling blonde behind the counter. Putting on his friendliest grin he explained his strict instructions from Gabby and laughingly took her recommendations on food, and drink. She put his items in a cup holder and bag, and made a point of touching his arm when she handed over the goods.
Right now and as far as he was concerned, flirting was good for his soul. Riley left her with a wave and grinned when he found she’d put her number on the back of his receipt. He turned around and walked back in, introducing himself. She gave him a wide grin, went a bit red and giggled. “Hi, I’m Callie.”
Smiling widely, Riley said, “Nice to meet you, Callie. I’ll see you later.”
As he was leaving, he looked over his shoulder. Yep. She was watching. He gave her one of his full smiles and said meaningfully, “I’ll definitely be back later.”
Riley jumped in the cab, heading back to the hospital. For the first time since leaving Shanwick, he was feeling upbeat and good about himself. His day was getting better and better.
********************
Christina
When Christina walked into Gabby’s room, Jed and Gabby looked up in surprise. She smiled at them, “Hey,” turning to Jed asking if it was okay if she crashed at the townhouse tonight. Jed looked at her and said, “Agh, um,” which she took as confirmation.
She saw the looks that passed between Jed and Gabby, wondering if she’d interrupted something, but didn’t think anything more of it. She wandered over to Gabby’s bed and gave her sister a hug. Gabby grinned at Jed, saying, “that should be fine, shouldn’t it, Jed, Dina staying at the townhouse?”
Jed just mumbled, “Um” and let out a breath in response.
Christina picked up Gabby’s iPad and iPhone saying: “What’s this?”
Gabby grinned. “Presents from Johnny. He even gave me a credit card.” Gabby’s eyes glittered and her smile turned impish. “Jealous much?”
Christina looked at her and nodded. “Jealous a lot actually,” making them both laugh.
Her baby sister looked at her and beckoned her to come closer. “I’ve been ordering all sorts of things on his card that he’s going to hate,” Gabby whispered. When Christina started with “GABBY,” Gabby waved her away saying, “erotic novels, gay porn, and country and western music…”
Christina burst out laughing. “He’s going to kill you and take the card back. You know that, right?”
Gabby shrugged. “I’ve got a month before the bill comes in. Then I’ll blame Jed.” Jed looked up with a “wait a minute,” making all three of them laugh.
“Not long to go now, baby girl,” grinned Christina, “and you’ll be out of here.”
“I know,” said Gabby, “can’t wait.” Then Gabby’s eyes turned calculating, “You’re going to come see me in Shanwick, right?”
Christina tried not to show the horror on her face and mumbled a non-committal, “Mmmm.”
Gabby pouted and batted her eyelashes. “You have to come and see me.”
Out of all of them, Gabby was the most charming, manipulative, and calculating. It might work on Dad or Johnny, but not her. She wasn’t completely immune, but more aware when she was being played than the other two Martins.
Christina smiled sweetly. “I don’t have to do anything. You made your protest in the tree house, precious, you deal with the consequences.”
Gabby’s bottom lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears. Oh she was good, thought Christina. “You can’t leave me alone with Dad or Johnny or the both of them. Please, Dina.”
Christina grimaced. “I’ll try, but I’ve taken a lot of time off work, Gabby and I need to get back.” She decided a change of subject was in order and said, “Did you know Dad has a girlfriend?”
Gabby’s eyes widened in shock. “Nooooo. NO! Who is it?” With that, all the fake tears were gone and the two sisters were gossiping like crazy.
Jed was waiting for a break in the conversation to ask the Martin girls some questions. He waited for the shrieks and “ewwwwws” to end and when they’d finally finished laughing, he cleared his throat. Christina was the first to look up and he said, “Can I ask you something?” He noticed the shadow that crossed Christina’s face, but she nodded. “Do you have Irish ancestry?”
Gabby and Christina looked at one another, and Gabby said, “We do – don’t we, Dina?”
Christina nodded. “On our Dad’s side. His mother was Irish, but they moved to England when she was a child.”
“Do you know which part she was from?” Jed asked.
Christina frowned. “Derry? I’m pretty sure it’s Derry.”
Jed’s eyebrows knitted together, “Catholic or Protestant?”
Christina and Gabby looked at each other, and Gabby shrugged. Christina answered. “Catholic,” which made him smile and Gabby say, “Really?”
Christina nodded. “Ye-ah. Dad’s Catholic, or he was raised Catholic - not a very good one, but still…”
Gabby turned to her. “Why aren’t we?”
Christina grinned. “Mom.” The two sisters giggled. Mom had been brought up in some happy-clappy religion that was highly suspicious of Catholics. In actuality, their parent’s real religion was music and dancing.
She stood behind her sister, grabbing a comb, and hairbrush making Gabby protest. Christina gave her the “big sister” look and started dragging the brush through her sister’s long, dark, curly hair. Gabby hated having her hair done, especially when she had a story to relay to an audience.
Gabby grimaced as Christina started working on the knots and tried to get away from her by sitting forward. “But it’s Mom’s family that has the most interesting history, isn’t it Dina?”
When Christina mumbled, “Mmmhmmm.”
“How come?” Jed asked curiously.
Gabby sat herself up, saying dramatically. “There’s Native American ancestry in there AND African-American heritage, too.”
Jed looked from one sister to the other and then asked Christina. “Truly?”
Christina nodded and Gabb
y puffed herself up saying authoritatively. “We have Native American on both sides of Mom’s family.”
When Jed looked suitably impressed, Gabby continued as if addressing an audience for a presentation: “Our maternal grandmother was Iroquois and white. Dad thinks that’s awesome because Winston Churchill was supposed to have Iroquois ancestry too and he thinks maybe we’re related. And then, our maternal grandfather was Cherokee. He’s where we get the African-American heritage connection. He had some white as well, but Dad and I think he probably got that from his former slave owners, and maybe through – you know – forced dubious means.”
Christina made eye contact with Jed and like him she was trying not to laugh. She bit back the giggle that was making its way out of her mouth and concentrated on the knots in Gabby’s hair. She doubted their father agreed with Gabby’s master/slave version of their ancestry. More like he mumbled agreement to shut her up so she wouldn’t go into any further detail about speculative historical plantation sex.
Like all the Martins, Gabby could sing, but Christina thought her real calling might be writing fiction. Hopefully not down and dirty fiction, but there were always nom de plumes. It might also keep her out of protests and trouble. Christina doubted it, but one could always hope.
Jed put on his serious face and focused on Gabby who was in full disclosure mode. “They mainly had to pass as white – you know,” Gabby said, making her eyes fill with tears and her mouth turn down. “It was because of all the racism and oppression. People can be so racist and oppressive. According to Dad, Mom never really spoke about it until it was okay in the 1980s. It was too painful for her.”
Turning to Christina for confirmation, Gabby said, “She never talked about it much to us – not really – did she?”
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