Hearing about somebody's little brother

"Who was that guy?" Riley couldn't help but ask Tessa as they were leaving the bakery for the evening. He was very blonde, yet rather gothic.

 "Oh, just my mom's love child," Tessa said ever so joking.

"What are you talking about?" Riley was curious but didn't want to pry. Yet, they were engaged now and she thought she knew everyone in Tessa's family.

"That's Sterling, I feel like I raised him. He's the baby," she shrugged. "We don't talk all that much anymore. He's been down at Lincoln for some time. At least, he got on at the University in the mailroom. I think that might be the best for him." She spoke of how he was an aspiring film student. Only there wasn't a great deal happening for him lately. He'd been in a few indie films and worked on a couple of movies in Nebraska, but she doubted many of the directors remembered him.

"But.. but you're so close with your sister," Riley knew. They saw each other every couple of days and they did take care of Tessa's niece on weekends from time to time. "You are an amazing Aunt."

This made Tessa smile more, "But you are the best Aunt."

Tessa told her how much her niece loved Riley's storytelling and being at the library. "She thinks you live there."

Now they both laughed on the ride home.

"But, but what was Sterling doing here?"

"Women troubles," Tessa said as she parked the Forrester in the driveway. The leaves were falling. Riley knew what they would be doing this weekend, yard work.

"Women?" Riley winced as she went to unlock the front door.

"Well, it's just the one," Tessa shrugged. "I mean, all this time, I thought he might be an alien or something and would never ever date. But I guess it's serious. He is living with her. She's older than him. Of course, he lets her be in control of the relationship. She doesn't even like his friends."

Riley nodded. She didn't like control freaks either. It made her think of Melissa. Riley took a deep breath. She turned on the kettle while Tessa went to check dinner in the crockpot. 

"The roast smells so savery," Riley said. This was no time to be thinking of Melissa.