6: Gretchen

Each room we walked through kindled something warm and welcoming deep inside of me, filling me in a way I could never accurately describe.

I made sure to memorize how everything looked because I doubted I’d ever be invited back after our crazy week out of time.

Everything was beautiful and perfect and that was when it hit me, that feeling as one of finally coming home. I don’t mean Megara herself, I’m not crazy enough to think we’re soulmates or anything so farfetched, though there was something between us beyond mere lust. I wasn’t entirely sure what it was, maybe a dubbing friendship?

“I knows dis room,” Kit interjected himself into the conversation.

But beyond whatever was happening between Meg and me, the heart of these feelings stemmed from the realization that Megara Sutton owns and lives in my dream house! I frequently daydream/fantasize about a house almost exactly like this one.

“Is yike the one you drawed,” Kit spoke again, not allowing himself to be ignored. He wasn't wrong but how I wish he'd kept his mouth shut. I’ve sketched out similar rooms and floor plans for at least a decade now…

“I guess we both have really good taste?” I shrugged it off, hoping Megara and Amalia wouldn’t think me to be some creepy stalker or worse.

“You like to draw, Gretchen?” Mal inquired sweetly.

“Sketching ideas for my future home relaxes me after long shifts, of which I work a lot. This is my first vacation in five years,” I admitted that much but kept the conversation between Doc A and me to myself.

“Then we’d best make it memorable enough for you to come back and use up more of what must be an insane amount of accrued leave.” What? “Because I’d like to get to know you, but there won’t be time this visit.”

“I suppose you’re right,” I agreed reluctantly. Mal’s forlorn-looking face pulled at my heartstrings and I found myself scrambling for a way to make it up to her. “I had planned to take off some additional time when the Lennox's move so that I could help them out. Maybe we’ll have more time during that visit?”

“You can stay here when you do that!” Meg was quick to offer, surprising me entirely.

“Let’s reevaluate that after our trip. You might end up finding me incredibly annoying and then where would you be?”

“Still shacking up with a hottie?” Mal sniggered.

“Kitty!”

“What?” she asked, the picture of innocence.

“Never mind, just argh! Are you sleeping here tonight?” I loved how flustered she was getting and I was really starting to miss my brother.

“I’d be a pretty crappy chaperone if I didn’t,” she teased back.

“Not what I asked, Amalia Catriona. Are you staying the night here or do I need to take you to Addie’s?” Mall pressed her hands against her chest, overdramatizing her “pain” and I burst into laughter. Watching these two sisters together was just so heartwarming and hilarious.

“Oh my god Mal, I adore you!” I told her as I gathered her into a half-hug.

“Hey! Wrong sister! Hands off the basic jailbait!” Meg piped up indignantly. She curled into my other size and nuzzled my neck. Oh my God!

“But I the fav’rite!” Kit added his indignant two cents as well.

“Kit, darling, there’s always space for you!” I assured him. I bared the unclaimed front of my body and he careened into me, hugging me tightly around my hips. This really feels like home now… Breathe! Do not cry, you sentimental cow!

* * * * *

An hour later, Meg and I were working side-by-side in the kitchen while Mal entertained Kit in the living room off to the side. The open floor plan made it easy for everyone to keep an eye on one another. Not that being “chaperoned” stopped Meg and me from stealing occasional kisses while we prepared our late-ish dinner.

The strangest part was how effortlessly we worked together and around each other in the kitchen, only bumping into each other intentionally before getting back on task. I’ve obviously never been in this kitchen before, let alone with her, but everything seemed so intuitive in this space. Everything I looked for, I found exactly where I would have put it had it been mine.

“Kitty Cat really likes you,” Meg told me as she was rinsing the vegetables I had just peeled.

I chuckled as I took the colander from her. “Should I be offended by how shocked you sound?”

“No! Not at all, I didn’t mean it that way,” she insisted vehemently, drying her hands on a nearby dishtowel.

“I know, but some further explanation would still be awesome,” I prodded her to enlighten me. I went back to chopping so as to not rush her.

“She’s been overly sheltered for her entire life by her/our parents, and as a result, she’s not good at opening herself up to new people. But she took to you and your nephew right away! I’ve never seen her so free and playful at first meeting with anyone!”

“To be fair, so did you,” I reminded her. “Took to me anyway.” I had no idea what, if any, feelings she had toward my nephew.

“Kitty Cat better not be wanting you the way I do.” Her warning tone sent delicious sparks up and down my back.

“This again? Even if she did, it wouldn’t be reciprocated. I like her too, a lot, and she’s adorable, but nope. Nothing would ever happen there.”

“I should hope not, she’s not even nineteen yet!” She paused and pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I know I'm not supposed to ask…” she hedged and it didn’t take a mind reader to figure out what she wanted to know.

“Hmm? Oh, I’m a year younger than you and am in no way into the cradle-robber lifestyle.” I winked at her, showing I was full of humor but she froze entirely.

“What?” she asked somewhat coldly.

“I’m not into your sister?” I repeated hesitantly. What did I do? Everything was going so great!

“How do you know how old I am?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“Oh, that? I may have read or watched some of the interviews you’ve given over the years.” I shrugged helplessly. What? Was I supposed to pretend like I’d never heard of her before?!

Shifting restlessly, she asked me point-blank, “That’s not why you’re here, is it?”

“I’m not a reporter and I didn’t even know I’d be meeting you.” I scoffed. Oh my goodness, this is really bothering her! I knew I needed to be straightforward and honest if this was going to progress at all, so I came clean about everything. There was no point in pretending otherwise. “You’re part of why I planned to go to Inked & Pierced, but I would have gone even if you didn’t have a booth this year. Maddy living so close seemed like the perfect excuse for me to finally go. As for the rest, I was kissing you, not your name, or your business, or your public image. Maybe your talent, because day-um girl…” I set aside the knife and removed the dish towel from Meg’s hands so they were free for me to hold. “I’m here with you partly because you invited me to be and a little bit because your family is intent on pushing us together. I’m mostly here because I want to be, I want to get to know you the way Tahlia’s friends know you.”

“I’ve never gotten naked with any of them or even thought about most of the fun I plan to have with you with any of them either.” Slowly it seemed her humor was returning.

“Good to know, but I mean I want to know you, not just your rockin’ body.” I teased her. “That’s not to say I am not also dyin’ to explore this crazy, instant connection I'm feeling when I’m with you.”

“You forgot the part about how hot my kisses make you and wanting to know how far my talent extends.”

“And here I thought that was a given, I assure you I’ve forgotten nothing.” I ended the conversation with a lingering kiss before getting back to dinner. Another crisis averted? “I’m going to know all about that pretty soon, but for now it’s family time, right?”

Meg glanced over her shoulder at our younglings and sighed. “Yeah, we’ve got a whole week ahead of ourselves to play,” she promised me.

“What if it’s not long enough?” I mused aloud, and boy did I not mean to let those thoughts out! “Forget I said that!”

“I like that you’re thinking beyond this week… if things progress the way I think they will between us, we’ll make it work, Gretchen, have a little faith.”

“What are we having faith in?” Mal perked up, “Hopefully it’s in dinner being ready soon, cuz I’m starving!”

“Huuuun-gwey Annie! You hasta feed your ’ittle bittle Kittle!”

Laughing, I opened my arms to him and he launched himself at me. Good to know that Mal hasn’t replaced me entirely! “You’re absolutely right, handsome. Let’s get some food in you! I wouldn’t want to lose my place as your favorite Auntie!”

Adorably confused, Kit says, “You’s mine only annie, Annie.”

Meg was still making plans for us, wonderful ones. “And maybe a movie after dinner. We can make a fort in the living room and be one big cozy mess together.”

“Sounds like a perfect ending for this crazy day, okay with you, Kit?”

“No kissy-face movie!” he warned us all with a sour expression.

“We will pick it out together Kitters, maybe find something to torture both of them with.”

“I love you too Kitty Cat,” Meg stuck her tongue out at her sister. But I was still reeling over how easily she could say those words, whereas I have never said them to anyone other than my Kit.